Deathbed & Breakfast by Bart J. Gilbertson with Interview

Interview

1)      First, tell us about yourself – where you live, your family, and those sorts of details.

I live in O’Neill, NE.  I’ve been here for about 9 months now.  I was in Tucson, AZ for a few years before the move, but I really missed “small town” living.  It also gets me closer to my family, since they are spread out on this side of the country.  I have two children, one of which is grown and married.  I am single.

2)      How long have you been writing?

I’ve been writing ever since I can remember.  My Mom used to show me stories that I had written when I was 7 or 8 years old.  Some parts I had to laugh at.  My imagination was hard at work in those days!  I have been writing ever since then, through the years.  I used to write stories all the time in my Junior High and High School years.  If I wasn’t reading a book, I was trying to write one.

3)      Do you have a favorite place to write?

No, not really.  Not so much as a favorite “time” to write.  I usually write at home on my personal computer.  However, I love to write into the night.  There are no distractions.  It’s quiet, peaceful.  My creative juices are flowing pretty good at that time.  Sometimes, I’ll even light a candle for a little atmosphere.  I probably stay up too late most nights, an occupational hazard.  Haha!

4)      Why did you decide to write Deathbed & Breakfast?

One night, my sister and I were up late reminiscing about old times (sort of a mini-family reunion as we hadn’t seen each other in a long time), and she began to tell me about a book she was reading by Joanne Fluke at the time.  That was the first I’d ever heard of a cozy mystery.  I loved the concept of a light, easy mystery.  We started tossing ideas back and forth about our own possible series, laughing and having a good time.  We didn’t know it at the time, but the foundation to “Deathbed & Breakfast” was being laid.  Over the course of the next few months, I hammered out a rough draft.  Before I knew it, I had a completed novel on my hands.  And the rest, as they say, is history.

5)      Who is your favorite character in your book and why?

Felix Stiffman, the cantankerous old cook.  That’s because with him, I get to be outspoken, crass and off-the-wall.  And believe me, I am!  I pretty much get to say anything I want and get away with it.  Who wouldn’t want to do that?

6)      How about your least favorite character?  What makes them less appealing to you?

Hmmmm…well, I never really thought of anyone as being my “least” favorite character.  But, if I had to pick one, I guess it would be the “killer”.  And to find out who that is, you’ll just have to read the book!

7)      Do you proofread/edit your own books or do you get someone to do that for you?

Both.  I am always proofreading and editing my work as I go.  And then after the first draft is completed, I go back through it again.  After that is done, I go through it yet again.  When I’m satisfied with what I’ve done, I send it in to my publisher, Patricia Rockwell and she proofreads it and requests edits to be made, if needed.  Then, I edit again until we are both happy with the finished product.  Editing is a very important part of the whole process.

8)      What do you like to do when you’re not writing?

I love to read as well.  I enjoy watching movies, and even at my age, I still enjoy hanging out with my friend and playing a little Madden Football.  I also enjoy music, very much.  I’ve even written a few songs of my own over the years.

9)      Do you read much and if so who are your favorite authors?

I’m always either reading a book or a kindle formatted version of a book.  My personal favorite authors are Terry Brooks, Piers Anthony and Lloyd Alexander, all fantasy writers.  Someday, I would also like to venture into that genre of writing.  I read in many different genres though, not just fantasy.  I enjoy a good mystery, thriller or even horror as well.

10)   What question do you wish that someone would ask about your book, but nobody has? Write it out here, then answer it.

What a truly excellent question!  I’m afraid I’m going to have to “cop out” on this one, though.  To be honest, this is my first book and the whole experience has been new and absolutely wonderful.  All questions that have been asked about it over the last few months have pretty much covered all the pertinent areas.  There really is no question that I am looking for that nobody has asked me when it comes to the book.  The only question I would love to answer for you is, “Where can I get my own copy?”  Haha!  You can find it on Amazon (kindle and paperback), Barnes & Noble (paperback), and Smashwords (all electronic formats).
Thank you for the interview.  I enjoyed it very much.  And thank you to everyone who has supported me these last few months.  I appreciate all of you!

Blurb

Richard Forester, a retired CEO for a major software company, and his granddaughter Penny show up at the Pookotz Bed & Breakfast one evening and find themselves in some rather unpleasant company. All the guests somehow seem to be connected to Richard’s past and when he is found dead the next morning, everyone is suspect. However, there are a few wrinkles that the inn’s owners Edna and Mildred Pookotz need to iron out as the murder investigation unfolds. Not only was Richard deathly ill, but he was also accused of embezzling $750,000 which is still unaccounted for. The local Sheriff suspects that this victim’s death is not a natural one, so he--and the sisters--set forth to discover who the murderer is.

There are plenty of twists and turns in this first 'whodunit' of the Pookotz Sisters Bed & Breakfast Mystery series which introduces you to the quaint mountain Oregon town of Pleasant Lake and its inhabitants.

​Readers of the cozy mystery genre will fall in love with Edna and Mildred Pookotz, sisters and amateur senior sleuths, as they juggle the responsibilities of running a Bed & Breakfast and solving most bizarre mysteries!

About this author

Bart J. Gilbertson is the author of the Pookotz Sisters Mystery Series. Although he was born in Wisconsin, he spent most of his youth and later years in the rocky mountain state of Idaho. He has been all over the northwest and it is his love for the lush green state of Oregon that inspired the setting for Pleasant Lake and its inhabitants.

He attended ITT Technical Institute in Boise, ID and received an Associate in Applied Science Degree for Computer Networking Systems and graduated with honors. 

Bart has worn many hats over his lifetime career, but the one he is most proud of is that of being a writer. 

He currently resides in O’Neill, NE. He has two children.​