Mystery We Write Tour: Evelyn Cullet

Evelyn Cullet has been an aspiring author since high school, but didn't begin her first novel until attending college, later in life. Now, after taking early retirement, she finally has the chance to write full-time. She is currently a member of Sisters in Crime, and lives in a suburb of Chicago. To find out more about Evelyn, visit her website evelyncullet.com.

What mysteries or strange occurrences in your real life have inspired your writing life? 
Being a life-long mystery buff, and reader of the Agatha Christie, Dorothy L. Sayers, and Arthur Conan Doyle mysteries inspired me to be a writer. Each of their writing styles, in its own way, has influenced my love of writing. I always feel inspired to write after reading one of their mysteries. These days their novels may seem a bit dated when compared to contemporary mystery authors, but their stories will always be classic. 

What's on your writing desk right now? 
On my writing desk right now there is a computer,  a small desk lamp, two dozen Post-it notes stuck around the desk reminding me of things that need to be done (which I ignore most of the time), several spiral-bound notebooks filled with ideas for characters, and notes about novels I've yet to write.

What book makes you say, "Damn, I wish I'd written that!"? 
Hands down, the novel has to be Daphne DuMaurier's Rebecca – the ultimate in romantic suspense! From the opening sentence to the very last word, the author mesmerized and swept me along with the protagonist, and I couldn't put it down. After I did, I thought, damn, I wish I'd written that! Maybe some day someone will say the same thing about one of my novels. (Sigh.) 

About Masterpiece of Murder
Masterpiece of Murder is a fast-paced, romantic suspense novel that takes you on a madcap adventure through the beautiful resort city of Bariloche, Argentina, where brokenhearted art student, Charlotte Ross, is intent on locating her errant fiancé. But he has is own reasons for being in Bariloche that threaten Charlotte’s life and thrust her into a world of deceit, art forgery and murder. When circumstantial evidence convinces the local police that Charlotte is the killer, she must use her detection skills to discover who is really behind the murder. 

Leave a comment below to win a signed copy of Masterpiece of Murder. Winners will be announced on Dec. 11. Check out my guest post on Larissa Reinhart's blog today at this link to find out about the books, music and films that inspired my novels, Conquering Venus and Remain In Light.