Whew! The title of this post is a tongue twister for sure LOL!
Today's guest is brand new so please give Wendy a huge, SWLA W-E-L-C-O-M-E....
A
Passion For Purses & The Stories Of The Women Who've Carried Them
I have reveled in a passion for
purses many years. I enjoy all kinds. You name it and I'll claim it. My
curiosity and wildly growing peronal collection led me to investigate the world
of purses. That resulted in my new mystery novel Kat Out of the Bag,
introducing Katherine Watson celebrated international purse designer and
amateur sleuth.
Why do women love purses? I had my
suspicions, of course. I followed many clues. I devoured everything there was
to read about designers. I researched art appreciation. But it was when I
interviewed every day women about their favorite purse, and learned about their
incredible lives and families that's when I knew I was hot on the trail to
uncovering the mystery of a passion for purses.
I met with a variety of women who
enjoy purses. Their favorite purse, the one they told me all about, was often a special gift, maybe a family
member, loved one, friend, or mentor. Sometimes their purse was a style similar
to another woman's who they'd known. Often it evoked a cherished memory, like
an aunt who had a purse pocket with surprise candy treats for kids. There was a
sisterhood here.
For some women their favorite purse
represented a cause that they supported wholeheartedly. They were wearing their
heart on their arm, or sometimes crossbody.
No matter how contemporary, these
stories had roots in history. Yes, a woman's purse tells a story, that's unique
and at the same time shared. The final piece of the puzzle fell into place. I
traveled from Seattle, Washington to Little Rock, Arkansas to visit one of only
three purse museums in the world – Esse. The ESSE Purse Museum does not simply showcase
accessories. It makes HERstory tangible and familiar. ESSE is focused on
honoring women, artisans and the stories that make us unique and connected.
Mystery solved! And my novel underway, about
Katherine Watson the purse designer. She creates purses because it was a
passion that her great grandmother had shared with her when she was a young
child. It was then she learned inside
every purse there's a treasured story of the woman who carried it, and those
stories are important. When Katherine ends up temporarily back in her hometown
of Bayside, she decides to create a purse museum in honor of her great
grandmother, and all the women who's stories would be told in the exhibits.
Never did she imagine that the mayor would be murdered at the Gala Opening.
My character Moonjava is a fan of the hippies of
the 1960's. She's also the museum historian. She loves the idea of showcasing
history in creative exhibits. She shares a daily meditation with anyone who
will listen, often with interesting repercussions.
Amber is the college student who manages the
museum gift shop. She's a wristlet gal. She stumbles on her own cold case
mystery when she and her boyfriend Michael find a note in a donated vintage
purse.
While Michael and Amber partner on their cold
case, Katherine finds herself investigating the murder with, and sometimes at
odds with local cop Jason Holmes and his K-9 partner Hobbs. Jason ends up
learning some things about purses as the mystery deepens.
I wrote Kat Out of the Bag for the fun of
mysteries, for the fun of creating the characters, for the women who are making
history right now, and to honor memories of the women who have gone before.
Wendy
Kendall has a passion for purses and stories of the women through history who
carried them. Her cozy mystery Kat Out of the Bag is the first book of the In
Purse-Suit Mystery Series, introducing Katherine Watson an international purse
designer/sleuth. Wendy is a blogger, editor, speaker, project manager, and
syndicated columnist. Catch exciting author interviews on her YouTube Podcast—A
Novel Talk, and the debut of her podcast – Wendy Kendall In Purse-Suit of
Fashion. She loves her two sons, Alex and Brad and her Purrada cat.
Find out more and connect with Wendy by visiting her Website – Wendywrites.org
Blog – ApassionForPurses.blogspot
Facebook– Wendy Kendall, Mystery Author
Twitter - @wendywrites1
Podcasts – Kendall & Cooper
Talk Mysteries . . . A Novel Talk . . . The Cozy Mystery
Quartet
Columns – Recommended Reads and Kids Are Bookin' It
Esse Purse Museum
When celebrated international purse designer
Katherine Watson hosts a gala for her Purse-onality Museum, she never expected
the next day's headline to read: 'Murder at the Gala Prmiere.' But after a dead
body is found during the event, that's exactly what happened.
Working to solve the murder, Katherine matches
wits with local cop Jason Holmes and his K-9 partner Hobbs. Although Holmes and
Watson disagree often, they discover an undeniable attraction building between
them. But they'll have to put their feelings on hold and focus on solving the
murder, before Katherine becomes the killer's next knock off.
Excerpt -
“There's
an officer nearby. We'll alert him. Hold the line.”
Katherine
was worried by the operator's monotone. Did she understand the urgency?
Katherine watched in disbelief as the shadow figure moved toward the shed
attached to the waterwheel. Too late, she thought to get a picture after the
person disappeared inside the shed.
“Oh
no,” Katherine muttered. She spoke into the phone, “Hurry, I think it's the
killer, maybe looking for something left behind? Hello?” Had the operator hung
up?
“Yes,
the officer is on the way. Please stay on the line.” The operator's voice now
sounded bored.
A sharp ray of light from inside the shed cut
through the darkness. The light jumped around. Sweat collected on Katherine's
upper lip as she imagined the killer looking through her things for something,
maybe critical evidence. Fear gave way to irritation at the invasion.
Irritation gave way to anger. Someone had to stop that killer from removing
whatever incriminating thing was so critical it had driven a return to the
scene of the crime. Katherine wanted to scream. Where were the police? Maybe MJ
was right about them. She pressed against the french doors. The light in the
shed went out. Her breath caught in her throat. The silhouette walked out of
the shed toward the alley leading to the maze that burrowed throughout Bayside
and beyond.
Katherine
spoke gruffly and fast, “Hello. Where's your officer? The suspect is getting
away.”
“Ma'am,
please stay calm and hang on the line. They're on the way.”
Katherine
unlocked the door to the yard and whispered to the 911 operator, “I'm in
pursuit.”
Kat Out of the Bag is available on Amazon
Purse-Stachio Makes A Splash is available on Amazon
Such an interesting post, Wendy and great premise for your books/characters! I'm not a huge fan of purses, mine is a usually a black one, on the smaller side.
Wishing you the best of luck and God's blessings.
PamT
