Sneaky here with another pawsome interview of a pet character. Today, it’s my pleasure to chat with a cozy mystery dog whose current book, Death by Committee, is on tour with Escape with Dollycas Into a Good Book.
Meow there.. What is your name and your author’s name?
My name is Zeke, and my author’s name is Alexis Morgan.
Tails wags to you, Zeke. What book(s) have you appeared in? Please list them and their genre.
The first book I’m appearing in is a cozy mystery entitled DEATH BY COMMITTEE.
DEATH BY COMMITTEE is the first book in The Abby McCree mysteries. Abby recently moved to Snowberry Creek, WA, to live in the house she inherited from her Aunt Sybil. She inherited me as well as her aunt’s tenant, who lives in a small house on the back of the property.
Sounds pawsome. I love to interview pet characters with debut series. Are you based on a real dog such as your author’s? If so, please give further details.
My author has two granddogs she adores. One is an English Bulldog and the other is an Olde English Bulldogge, each of which weighs about fifty pounds. As a result, she has a special fondness for dogs with jowls and a tendency to both drool and snore (often at the same time.) She combined the best of both dogs’ characteristics (and their weight) to create me. I’m a mastiff mix who weighs about ninety-five pounds.
Wow, Meow! That’s big. The co-star in my Cobble cove series is a Golden Retriever, but Fido doesn’t weigh quite that much but a lot more than me, of claws. Coincidentally, my author Debbie has two new grandkittens. I’m sure they will show up in one of her books soon. I’m based on her senior Siamese who passed away last year, but I’m not exactly his duplicate.
Can you share an excerpt from one of your books that features you in an important scene? If so, please include it.
Here’s a scene when I was the one who sounded the alarm when Abby was danger. Although I really wanted to go after the person who threatened her, she insisted I stay with her. I didn’t argue too much, because comforting her was also important.
The sharp stab of Zeke’s teeth on her arm was too real to be a dream. It stung a little, but that didn’t mean Abby was ready to wake up. Then he barked right in her face, blasting her with peanut-scented doggy breath. Her eyes popped open, or at least she thought they had. It was hard to tell if the room was dark or if she was still trapped in a dream.
Zeke’s growl definitely sounded real enough. Something had him upset, and that something that had him in full-on protection mode.
She rubbed her arm. There was a hint of slime, making her ask, “Why did you nip me, boy?”
He woofed again and then growled, his attention focused on the front window. “What’s wrong?”
Like he could actually answer questions. There was only one way to find out. Night had fallen big time, so it was too dark to see much of anything. Before she could stand up to get a better look, the window behind her chair shattered and sent her diving for the floor. Landing hard on shards of glass hurt like crazy, but she needed to get out of the line of fire.
Zeke went crazy, barking and scrambling to reach the window. She ignored the pain in her hands and knees as she made a grab for his collar. If he tried to jump through the broken window, he could get badly hurt. Even if he succeeded without mishap, he’d be in danger from whoever had just lobbed something through her front window.
“Come on, boy, we need to get to the kitchen.”
It was hard to crawl while dragging an angry dog in her wake, but she managed to reach the relative shelter of the hallway. Once there, she risked standing up and then bolted the rest of the way to where she’d left her cell phone on the counter. Who should she call first? The police or Tripp?
The decision was made for her when the man in question suddenly appeared on the back porch as if she conjured him out of thin air. How had he gotten there so fast? Had the sound of the glass breaking carried all the way to his house?
“Come on, Abby, let me in!”
Either she trusted him or she didn’t. Her hands were shaking badly enough that she had trouble turning the lock, but finally she managed it. As soon as the door swung open, he charged inside.
“What happened? I was taking out the trash when I heard glass shatter and then a minute later a car tore off down the street.”
She held up her bleeding palms. “I was napping in the chair by the bay window when Zeke started pitching a fit. Before I could figure out what was going on, the glass broke right behind me. I dove for the floor and then grabbed Zeke to keep him from diving through the broken window to go after whoever was out there.”
All of that poured out in one breath, leaving her gasping for air. Tripp set something down on the counter and then pulled out a chair at the table and gently shoved her toward it. “Have you called the police yet?”
Abby shook her head. “I was debating whether to call you or them first when you got here.”
You are quite the actor, Zeke. Thanks for that doggone great tidbit.
What do you like most about your role in your authors’ books?
I’ve never shared the details of my early life with Abby, but she knows it wasn’t pretty. I love being part of a good pack now, even if the other members are both humans. Abby and Tripp, the man who rents the small house in the backyard, take good care of me. They’re both soft touches when it comes to giving me treats. In return, I keep them company, make sure they get plenty of exercise, and do my best to keep them safe.
Protecting your protagonists is the main duty of all pet characters. I also make sure Alicia and her friends and family are safe in Cobble Cove.
Do you talk in your books or remain silent like I do who just meows occasionally?
I mostly communicate by barking and slobbery licks. When Abby seems to need comfort, I let her know I’m there for her by either laying my head in her lap or curling up next to her on the bed.
I also use body language, cat sounds, and clues to get attention in my series.
What advice would you give other dog characters?
Keep a close eye on your humans at all times. It’s amazing how much trouble they can get themselves into. Who knows how bad it would get if we weren’t there to save them!
Purrfect advice, and I think it applies to all pets characters especially those in cozy mysteries.
Do you have any new books coming out? Please give dates and details.
DEATH BY COMMITTEE came out on January 29th. The second book in the series, DEATH BY JACK-O’-LANTERN will be out in the fall of 2019. The third book will be released in the summer of 2020.
Condogalations on your new release and upcoming books!
It’s been great having you here, Zeke. I’m sharing you and your author’s blog tour information below. Best tail wags to you both.
Death by Committee (An Abby McCree Mystery)
by Alexis Morgan
About the Book
Death by Committee (An Abby McCree Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Kensington (January 29, 2019)
Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages
ISBN-10: 1496719530
ISBN-13: 978-1496719539
Digital ASIN: B07CWF6QBL
When Abby McCree suddenly inherits her favorite relative’s property in small town Snowberry Creek, Washington, she soon realizes that the ramshackle home comes with strings attached—one of which is tied to a dead body!
After a rough divorce, Abby McCree only wants to stitch up her life and move on. But other loose ends appear after her elderly Aunt Sybil passes away, leaving Abby to tend to a rundown estate, complete with a slobbery Mastiff of questionable pedigree and a sexy tenant who growls more than the dog. As Abby gets drawn into a tight-knit quilting guild, she makes a twisted discovery—Aunt Sybil’s only known rival is buried in her backyard!
Despite what local detectives say, Abby refuses to accept that her beloved aunt had anything to do with the murder. While navigating a busy social calendar and rediscovering the art of quilting, she launches an investigation of her own to clear Aunt Sybil’s name and catch the true culprit. The incriminating clues roll in, yet Abby can’t help but wonder—can she survive her new responsibilities in Snowberry Creek and still manage to patch together a killer’s deadly pattern without becoming the next victim?
About the Author
USA Today Best-selling author Alexis Morgan has always loved reading and now spends her days imagining worlds filled with strong alpha heroes and gutsy heroines. She is the author of over forty-five novels, novellas, and short stories that span a variety of genres: American West historicals (as Pat Pritchard); paranormal and fantasy romances; and contemporary romances. She is excited to say that next year will also see the release of her first cozy mystery series. Alexis has been nominated for several industry awards, including the RITA, the top award in the romance genre.
Author Links –
Website – http://www.alexismorgan.com/
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/AMorganAuthor
Twitter – https://twitter.com/Alexis_Morgan
Blog – http://www.alexismorgan.com/snowberry/index.html
Purchase Links – Amazon – B&N – Kobo – GooglePlay – IndieBound
a Rafflecopter giveaway
https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js
TOUR PARTICIPANTS
February 1 – Moonlight Rendezvous – REVIEW, GUEST POST
February 1 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT
February 2 – The Avid Reader – REVIEW
February 2 – The Power of Words – REVIEW *
February 3 – Nadaness In Motion – REVIEW, AUTHOR INTERVIEW
February 4 – The Montana Bookaholic – REVIEW
February 4 – My Reading Journeys – SPOTLIGHT
February 5 – Jody’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
February 5 – Mysteries with Character – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
February 6 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – REVIEW
February 6 – Mystery Thrillers and Romantic Suspense Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
February 7 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW
February 7 – A Blue Million Books – GUEST POST
February 8 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW, AUTHOR INTERVIEW
February 8 – The Book Diva’s Reads – SPOTLIGHT
February 9 – Mallory Heart’s Cozies – REVIEW
February 9 – Sneaky the Library Cat’s Blog – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
February 10 – Cassidy’s Bookshelves – REVIEW
February 11 – A Wytch’s Book Review Blog – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
February 12 – That’s What She’s Reading – GUEST POST
February 13 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
February 13 – Socrates Book Reviews – REVIEW
February 14 – Melina’s Book Blog – REVIEW
Have you signed up to be a Tour Host?
Sneaky The Library Cat's Blog 
Hi, Sneaky! Thank you so much for interviewing Zeke today to get his take on his life with Abby in Snowberry Creek!
Alexis Morgan
LikeLike
You’re welcome, Alexis. Good luck to you and Zeke on your new release and blog tour.
LikeLike