Greetings, Friends! A very warm welcome to fellow author Mindy Mymudes! We’re here today celebrating her book Tillie’s Tale! Mindy will be awarding a $25 Amazon or B/N Gift Card to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. (You can enter the rafflecopter near the end of this post!)
Here is the delightful cover to her book:
Here’s the blurb for you:
Who is the mysterious ghosty haunting puppygirl Tillie? And why? George, the magical basset hound familiar is on the trail.
It’s not often a basset hound puppy is haunted by an unhappy ghost, but George’s packmate, Tillie, manages to attract one. George and Tillie need to find out how to help the ghost before she turns into a poultry-ghost.
And here’s a fun little excerpt for you:
“Wrrrrttttle.”
Tillie’s tail is spinning in circles. She’s staring at a filmy thing sitting on the steps of an old, rough-brick building. I know it’s really a large Peeps’ den, but since it’s bad to be in the dog house, I assume it’s bad to be in a house. Why don’t they just call it a den if houses are so bad? From the smelltaste of cooking, Peeps, dust, skin, and the other stuff Peeps like, there are many small dens inside. Tillie “wrrrrrtttles” again and adds a soft “wuff.” Her front goes down into a play bow. The thing she’s trying to get to play is shimmery and clear, with thick and thin spots swimming on the surface.
“Snoof. Snuffle” I lick my lips. There’s a disturbing smelltaste of dustmoldlightningozone.
Oh mousefleas.
It’s a ghosty.
Today, I’m not only interviewing the author, but also George, the main character! (He’s the magical basset hound!) Have fun:
Where are you from?
Mindy: Originally, New York. I’ve been in Wisconsin for years, now.
George: My mom.
Tell us your latest news?
Mindy: I’m working on the third book of the Magical Drool series, Phoebe’s Pause. I’m also dog sitting whippets and retrievers. I suspect they’ll show up somewhere in the story.
George: <Raises a brow> If they weren’t in the story why do you think they’ll suddenly appear there? You seem to think you can dictate what’s in the story. You forget, it’s my life I’m dictating to you.
When and why did you begin writing?
Mindy: I think when most kids do, first grade or so. I wrote a poem called ‘If I was a raindrop’. It was actually about the water cycle. Which is weird. It won an award, though, which is why I remember it.
George: I don’t write, it’s beneath me. However, my story is important, so I hired my Secret-ary.
Mindy: Hire would imply I get money.
George: <Noses over a partially chewed rawhide bone>
Mindy: Bleah.
When did you first consider yourself a writer?
Mindy: Honestly, I don’t. It doesn’t feel like I’m an author. Maybe if I had an agent? It feels like I’m just telling a story.
George: You are. Mine.
What inspired you to write your first book?
Mindy: I wanted to remember my foster child, Joey, who had recently passed on, and our dog, Quark. The two of them were inseparable, and got into some interesting predicaments.
George: <Whimper> He’s Karly’s brother.
Do you have a specific writing style?
Mindy: I don’t think so. I sit down and write. There’s a loose outline, but generally I put down what I see in my head. Not quite a pantser. Not exactly a plotter.
George: Best way to show her what to put on the computer.
How did you come up with the title?
Mindy: George Knows
George: Tillie’s Tail gets into everything.
Mindy: And George thinks with his Nose.
The series is named for George’s magical drool.
Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?
Mindy: I was a teacher for a long time. Without hitting anyone over the head, I wanted to show how important history is. In the end, I want the story to be fun.
George: It’s meant to educate Peeps on how to understand and speak dog. If we have to understand you, then you need to understand us.
How much of the book is realistic?
Mindy: Many of the individual scenes are real things that my dogs have done. They were tied together by the mystery and fantasy.
George: <Huffs at Mindy> This is my life. It is all realistic.
Are experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own life?
Mindy: In Tillie’s Tale, the story is about rescuing a ghost searching for something. Other than searching for my keys and phone very day, I can’t say that it’s anything I’ve experienced.
George: I hate repeating myself, but it is my life.
What books have most influenced your life most?
Mindy: I think the science fiction I read as a kid led me to getting an advanced degree in biology. Brave New World is one that comes to mind. There were the Robert Heinlein books, Isaac Asimov, Anne McCaffrey. Not specific books, but authors who built intricate worlds.
George: I don’t need books. I have in stink.
Mindy: You sure do.
Thanks for putting up with us. (Ha ha! My pleasure!)
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
I’ve worked in a hazardous waste lab, where under the sign for the Right To Know law, was added: if you can figure it out. I’ve been a metals tech, a bakery clerk, a professional gardener, taught human anatomy and ran two university greenhouses. Along the way I picked up my Master’s Degree in Biology, specializing in the population genetics of an endangered plant. I am also a top breeder, handler, trainer of English springer spaniels, with three in the equivalent of the National Club’s (ESSFTA) hall of fame. Every time I think I know dogs, another dog comes along and proves my beliefs are totally wrong.
Check out Mindy’s links:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Author-Mindy-Mymudes/486126501426333
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6702514.Mindy_Mymudes
Website: http://mindymymudes.weebly.com
Blog: http://bassetbones.wordpress.com
PURCHASE LINK (Click here)!
Friends, enter the prize drawing here: Enter to win a $25 Amazon/BN GC
And as always, thanks for stopping by! Let me know how everything’s going! 🙂
Brenda
P.S. If you’re in the mood for a bit of romance, try Amish Days: Abram’s Bride!
Brenda Maxfield 