| The last thing Mabel needed was a flying saucer, not to mention a rash of similar sightings all over town. Her life’s already been upended by getting fired and moving to Grandma’s old house in Medicine Spring. So far, the deceptively sleepy village has delivered several murders—and romance with a handsome private investigator. Are little green men next? While Mabel tries to get to the bottom of the apparent space invasion, she also gets herself caught between competing candidates for township supervisor. Small-town politics call for more diplomacy than she has—not to mention the ability to duck, run, and hide. And unfortunately, her UFO investigation only raises more questions. Long-buried secrets surface, all tied to one night in 1958 and another seeming alien attack. But something more troublesome than any Martian invasion is on its way. A film crew descends, bent on producing a documentary on the historic UFO crash. Hordes of tourists follow, all infected with flying saucer fever. When an all-too-human body turns up at the alleged alien gravesite in a local cemetery, Mabel realizes murder is bound to follow her, whether of this world or not. |  |
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Release date: October 5, 2023
Release date: October 5, 2023
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Interview with Susan
1. What was the inspiration for this book?
I’ve always enjoyed stories that combine the three elements of mystery, humor, and what I would call “the unexplained.” One example is the old Bob Hope/Paulette Goddard movie, The Ghost Breakers, which combines a supposedly haunted Cuban castle, a zombie, mysterious criminal goings-on, and of course, lots of comedy. I’m always looking for a way to add quirky elements to my stories just for fun—and, of course, I always treat them with a lighthearted touch! My friend’s had two unexplained sightings, which made me think “UFO fever” in Medicine Spring would provide lots of opportunity for mild chills and wacky humor.
I’ve always enjoyed stories that combine the three elements of mystery, humor, and what I would call “the unexplained.” One example is the old Bob Hope/Paulette Goddard movie, The Ghost Breakers, which combines a supposedly haunted Cuban castle, a zombie, mysterious criminal goings-on, and of course, lots of comedy. I’m always looking for a way to add quirky elements to my stories just for fun—and, of course, I always treat them with a lighthearted touch! My friend’s had two unexplained sightings, which made me think “UFO fever” in Medicine Spring would provide lots of opportunity for mild chills and wacky humor.
2. What drew you to write in this particular genre?
I came by it honestly! Mysteries were my mother’s favorite reading, and she, my sister, and I used to pass cozy mysteries back and forth. I was blessed to start reading during the Golden Age of children’s mysteries, but believe I first sampled adult mysteries with an Agatha Christie paperback Murder, She Said, from a Scholastic book order in about 6th grade, followed by Mary Stewart’s romantic suspense.
I came by it honestly! Mysteries were my mother’s favorite reading, and she, my sister, and I used to pass cozy mysteries back and forth. I was blessed to start reading during the Golden Age of children’s mysteries, but believe I first sampled adult mysteries with an Agatha Christie paperback Murder, She Said, from a Scholastic book order in about 6th grade, followed by Mary Stewart’s romantic suspense.
3. How long did it take you to finish writing this book?
Because I’m writing a series, books need to come out roughly one year apart, which means I have less than a year to complete a book, including plotting it out and doing any necessary research. Meanwhile, edits and promotion continue for my completed books, and I also spend time reviewing audiobook recordings for approval, so it’s a tight pace!
Because I’m writing a series, books need to come out roughly one year apart, which means I have less than a year to complete a book, including plotting it out and doing any necessary research. Meanwhile, edits and promotion continue for my completed books, and I also spend time reviewing audiobook recordings for approval, so it’s a tight pace!
4. Tell us a little bit about yourself, your family, friends.
I’m a country girl, born and raised in northern Appalachia—southwestern Pennsylvania, where my books are set. I attended Shanksville-Stonycreek schools (actually all twelve grades plus kindergarten—which did not exist when I was growing up—all occupy the same building), and I graduated in a class of thirty-eight. You may be familiar with my tiny school from reporting on the crash of Flight 93 on 9-11.
I’ve been married over fifty years to my husband Dave, a civil engineer. I was a lawyer before “retiring” to raise our three kids, whom we adopted as infants from Honduras. We stayed in Honduras for a month when we adopted our son. For the second adoption trip, I was there three months, two of which I spent with our two baby girls, after Dave and our then two-year-old son returned to the States. I was so grateful my tiny school began teaching me Spanish in elementary school, and I’d gone on to minor in it, in college. It certainly got a workout!
Now, our kids have grown up, and we’ve acquired a son-in-law and a granddaughter (and numerous animals). We currently have three dogs and a cat—one of the dogs is a dead ringer for Barnacle in my books, and the cat you’ll see on my book covers could have been modeled after our cat.
I help lead a weekly Bible study and sing in the church choir. My husband and I also love to travel. We’ve been to forty-two states and over a dozen countries. Last year, we took a wonderful rail tour of Switzerland.
I have precious friends from just about every era of my life—including some from grade school, as well as college and the law firm. Of course, I also have lots of church friends and writer friends. I especially treasure time once a month at our local tea shop with my writers’ group.
I’m a country girl, born and raised in northern Appalachia—southwestern Pennsylvania, where my books are set. I attended Shanksville-Stonycreek schools (actually all twelve grades plus kindergarten—which did not exist when I was growing up—all occupy the same building), and I graduated in a class of thirty-eight. You may be familiar with my tiny school from reporting on the crash of Flight 93 on 9-11.
I’ve been married over fifty years to my husband Dave, a civil engineer. I was a lawyer before “retiring” to raise our three kids, whom we adopted as infants from Honduras. We stayed in Honduras for a month when we adopted our son. For the second adoption trip, I was there three months, two of which I spent with our two baby girls, after Dave and our then two-year-old son returned to the States. I was so grateful my tiny school began teaching me Spanish in elementary school, and I’d gone on to minor in it, in college. It certainly got a workout!
Now, our kids have grown up, and we’ve acquired a son-in-law and a granddaughter (and numerous animals). We currently have three dogs and a cat—one of the dogs is a dead ringer for Barnacle in my books, and the cat you’ll see on my book covers could have been modeled after our cat.
I help lead a weekly Bible study and sing in the church choir. My husband and I also love to travel. We’ve been to forty-two states and over a dozen countries. Last year, we took a wonderful rail tour of Switzerland.
I have precious friends from just about every era of my life—including some from grade school, as well as college and the law firm. Of course, I also have lots of church friends and writer friends. I especially treasure time once a month at our local tea shop with my writers’ group.
5. What one piece of advice would you like to give readers?
Not to get so busy with all the mundane routines and distractions of life that you miss the precious gifts of each moment. They are always there, even in dark times, if you look for them. I suspect most of us tend to skate over the surface, rushing from one task to another or scrolling mindlessly on our phones or computers. This life passes quickly. I don’t want to miss it.
Not to get so busy with all the mundane routines and distractions of life that you miss the precious gifts of each moment. They are always there, even in dark times, if you look for them. I suspect most of us tend to skate over the surface, rushing from one task to another or scrolling mindlessly on our phones or computers. This life passes quickly. I don’t want to miss it.
More from Susan
It’s a Bird! It’s a Plane! It’s a…UFO?
Have you ever looked up at the night sky and seen something you couldn’t explain? What did you—or would you—do? Call a friend? The police department? Post a picture on social media? Or maybe you’d keep it quiet, trying to convince yourself it was a figment of your imagination.
In Mabel & the Little Green Men, I had so much fun giving Mabel a UFO encounter and then seeing where it led her, while more sightings and the arrival of a TV documentary crew turned the small town of Medicine Spring topsy-turvy. Wacky characters and situations kept surprising me too!
My best friend has had UFO encounters—twice. Once, while sitting at her desk studying, she looked out to see a strange light hovering beyond her window. Another time, she spotted a large object in the sky ahead of her while driving home alone from a movie. Alas, though I’ve scanned the skies for years, this has never happened to me!
My friend is far from the only sane person to report seeing a UFO. Every year, hundreds of sightings are reported in the US, including many from police, ministers, military pilots, and others not known for fabrication or flights of fantasy. The term UFO (unidentified flying object), as well as the now-preferred term UAP (unidentified aerial phenomenon), both simply refer to an airborne object that can’t be readily identified. Neither term has anything whatsoever to do with flying saucers or “little green men.”
Most UFOs are eventually explained—some as atmospheric events, deflated balloons, or experimental aircraft. But the mystery fascinates me—especially for the handful that have never been satisfactorily explained.
While I’ve never personally seen a UFO, many people in my area reported the 1965 crash of the Kecksburg “space acorn,” an event now celebrated with an annual festival benefiting the fire department. Do you have a UFO story in your town?
Have you ever looked up at the night sky and seen something you couldn’t explain? What did you—or would you—do? Call a friend? The police department? Post a picture on social media? Or maybe you’d keep it quiet, trying to convince yourself it was a figment of your imagination.
In Mabel & the Little Green Men, I had so much fun giving Mabel a UFO encounter and then seeing where it led her, while more sightings and the arrival of a TV documentary crew turned the small town of Medicine Spring topsy-turvy. Wacky characters and situations kept surprising me too!
My best friend has had UFO encounters—twice. Once, while sitting at her desk studying, she looked out to see a strange light hovering beyond her window. Another time, she spotted a large object in the sky ahead of her while driving home alone from a movie. Alas, though I’ve scanned the skies for years, this has never happened to me!
My friend is far from the only sane person to report seeing a UFO. Every year, hundreds of sightings are reported in the US, including many from police, ministers, military pilots, and others not known for fabrication or flights of fantasy. The term UFO (unidentified flying object), as well as the now-preferred term UAP (unidentified aerial phenomenon), both simply refer to an airborne object that can’t be readily identified. Neither term has anything whatsoever to do with flying saucers or “little green men.”
Most UFOs are eventually explained—some as atmospheric events, deflated balloons, or experimental aircraft. But the mystery fascinates me—especially for the handful that have never been satisfactorily explained.
While I’ve never personally seen a UFO, many people in my area reported the 1965 crash of the Kecksburg “space acorn,” an event now celebrated with an annual festival benefiting the fire department. Do you have a UFO story in your town?
 Susan Kimmel Wright | Susan Kimmel Wright began her life of mystery as a child, with reading. That led to writing kids’ mysteries and eventually to Medicine Spring with Mabel. A longtime member of Mystery Writers of America and Sisters in Crime, Susan’s also a prolific writer of personal experience stories, many for Chicken Soup for the Soul. She shares an 1875 farmhouse in southwestern PA with her husband, several dogs and cats, and an allegedly excessive stockpile of coffee and tea mugs. |
It's Time For A Giveaway!
To celebrate her tour, Susan is giving away the grand prize package of
a $50 Amazon gift card and a signed copy of the book!!
a $50 Amazon gift card and a signed copy of the book!!
Click below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries!
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Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, May 24
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Happily Managing a Household of Boys, May 27
Lily’s Corner, May 28
A Modern Day Fairy Tale, May 29 (Author Interview)
For Him and My Family, May 30
Stories By Gina, May 18 (Author Interview)
The Lofty Pages, May 18
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, May 19
Texas Book-aholic, May 20
Tell Tale Book Reviews, May 21 (Author Interview)
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, May 22
Blogging With Carol, May 23
Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, May 24
Vicky Sluiter, May 25 (Author Interview)
Pause for Tales, May 25
Locks, Hooks and Books, May 26
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, May 27
Lily’s Corner, May 28
A Modern Day Fairy Tale, May 29 (Author Interview)
For Him and My Family, May 30
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