Tuesday, May 8, 2012

Deadly Pleasures - Sex and the City Meets James Patterson*


Today we’re welcoming author Mary Firmin to our blog. We’ve both read and enjoyed her mystery,  Deadly Pleasures, and now we have a few questions. Mary has kindly agreed to satisfy our curiosity (plus give away a copy of her book!)  

S&S: What made you decide to write a murder mystery?
 Mary: I love to read murder mysteries about serial killers, and I really enjoyed creating a puzzle. Most people who read the book do not figure out until nearly the end who is actually the Bondage Murderer. Of course, there are a few who do. I originally heard a true story about four men who hired a woman to be available for them sexually, and I was going to weave the murder mystery around them.  But then I thought how much more interesting and forbidden it would be if four women did the same thing.

S&S: Tell us a little bit about your characters, especially Megan Riley and Matt Donovan. Which character was the most fun to write?
 Mary: Megan was the most fun to write. I think Megan is a lot like me, but I’m sure there is a little bit of me in all my characters. Matt Donovan is a character that came to me whole. When he first arrived on the Ecstasea to question the girls, I saw him in my mind’s eye and then just described him. He is a good man and it shows through in the story. He still gets shocked at grisly murder scenes; he has a great deal of love for his daughter. He is an all around good guy and was the easiest to write about.

S&S: You did a great job with the settings – the yacht club, Catalina Island, etc. Why did you feature those particular places in Deadly Pleasures
 Mary: I lived in Santa Monica for many years and sold real estate in all the areas of the book. Malibu, Venice Beach, Marina del Rey.  In fact I walked Venice Beach every day. My husband and I owned a power boat and were long-time members of a Southern California yacht club.  We spent a lot of time cruising up and down the coastline and spent many days and weeks on Catalina Island.  We both loved the ocean.

"... never let me tie him up."

S&S: The BDSM clubs included in your book must have been an “unusual” thing to research. How did you come up with your ideas for that part of your story?
 Mary: I am not a member of the BDSM community nor do I subscribe to the lifestyle.  But I did decide to create a serial killer with a serious sexual problem. At the time a friend of ours, who is a psychologist, told me how to research the BDSM lifestyle and recommended Psychopathia Sexualis as a book describing the clinical approach. My husband and I visited loads of porno shops and viewed the apparatuses so I could describe them in my book.  We had lots of fun doing the research, but he would never let me tie him up.  And I wouldn’t let him either, so we were a bust when it came to the bondage scene.  My husband passed away before the book was on the market, and that makes me very sad because he never saw the book in print.

S&S: What part of the book was the most difficult to write?
 Mary: The most difficult part to write was the first crime scene with Sherrie Weston. I have a daughter and it was hard to think about the terrible things that the killer did to Sherrie and the other women.  I know from reading tons of non-fiction and true crime, that there are a lot of bad people out there and that’s why we worry so much about our children.

"... some of them have Deadly Secrets."

S&S: Are you currently working on another novel? If so, could you give us a few hints about it?
 Mary: Yes, I am planning a Deadly Trilogy. The second book is Deadly Secrets. It is about a murder, or two or three, in a golfing community in the desert. Megan is there to sell a house for Kathleen, who ended up marrying the boytoy.  As usual she jumps right into the middle of it, and when Matt comes to visit she is knee deep in the drama.  The relationship between Matt and Megan is having some difficulties so their romance continues to be a part of the story.  Most people in the desert migrate from other areas and many go there to retire, but some of them have Deadly Secrets. 


Here’s the synopsis of Deadly Pleasures:
    Megan Riley has bigger things to worry about than the fact that her neighbor has just been found dead.
    Her engagement has just ended, and she is once again on a quest to find Mr. Right—or at least Mr. Right Now. Tired of emotional ties and ready for a new adventure, Megan and her three best friends make a fateful decision. They hire hunky stripper Michael Harrington as their timeshare boytoy—unaware he is the prime suspect in a series of gruesome murders. Suddenly, they find themselves involved in a complicated murder investigation led by a handsome detective who is focused only on finding the twisted serial killer before he strikes again. But who will be the next to die? Megan, the hardworking real estate agent; newly divorced Kathleen; Alex, married to a wealthy businessman; or Rachel, the spurned wife of a hot Hollywood screenwriter?
   Following her own investigation, Megan takes a wild ride through L.A.'s bondage parlors, hidden sex clubs, and the extravagant lifestyles of the rich and famous; soon she discovers that her quest for adventure has abruptly transformed into a dangerous game of life and death.

* "Sex and the City Meets James Patterson" - Blueink Review

GIVEAWAY !!!

Mary is graciously giving away an eBook copy of Deadly Pleasures. All you have to do is leave a comment below. Be sure to include your email address so we can contact you if you win.

For a limited time, Deadly Pleasures is only 99¢ in eBook format. Here’s the link: Deadly Pleasures
It’s also available in paperback.

Visit Mary’s website for more information about the author: 

17 comments:

  1. sounds like a very interesting book! the catchphrase "Sex and the City Meets James Patterson" definitely makes me want to read it, as i love both of those! i would love to win a copy of the book. my email is iselynjenniep@yahoo.com.

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    1. Dear Jen, Thanks for your interest. I too hope you get to read Deadly Pleasures. And most of all I hope you like it. If you do not win you can get a copy for .99 on Kindle. All the best, and good luck, Mary Firmin, author of Deadly Pleasures

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  2. yes, I definately need to get this book. Just from the description I NEED to read it. I too am writing a book about an alternative lifestyle, D/s (Dominate/submission) and I am having a blast doing the research. I don't know if I would ever be able to be a submissive though, because I am to stubborn.

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    1. To B Swangin Webster, Thank you for your comment and I am with you, I would not make a very good submissive either. I am a Taurus and we are stubborn and bossy. But I know you are having a blast with the research. See if you can get a copy of Psychopathia Sexualis at the library it will help you figure it out. Good luck with your book, Mary Firmin, author of Deadly Pleasures

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  3. Hi Sandy and Sandy, I did not know when you asked me for an interview you would be giving me a double dip maybe even a triple dip into your followers and readers. Thank you again so much from the bottom of my heart. Mary Firmin.

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  4. Interesting sounding book and I'm glad you're going to make it into a series.
    Congratulations and good luck

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    1. Dear Lindsay, I hope you win a copy of the book but if you do not, and you have a Kindle you can download it for .99. I know you will enjoy it. All the best, Mary Firmin, author of Deadly Pleasures.

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  5. It's a great book, everyone should read it! Loved the interview. (not entering the contest)

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    1. Dear Ladystorm, Thank you for your kind comment. I am glad you have read the book and that you like it.
      All the best, Mary Firmin, author of Deadly Plesures

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  6. This sounds so good. I would love to be entered into the giveaway. I'd love to read this.

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    1. Dear Yvonne, I hope you win too. I'm sure you would like the book, besides being a mystery it is great fun. And the thrilling chase is very exciting. Regards, Mary

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  7. WONDERFUL interview and I wish your husband could have lived to see the success of your book! You're a born writer and I'm so glad it's going to be the first of a trilogy--I love your titles! I have your book on my kindle and I'm going to read it this weekend as my reward after I get all my yard jobs done! Again, wonderful interview, wonderful book, wonderful author!

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    1. Dear Sandra, I hope you enjoy the book and feel it is a good enough reward for doing all those chores. Please let me know if you like it. The reviews have been excellent and I appreciate your interest. Regards, Mary Firmin, author of Deadly Pleasures.

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  8. Great interview. I love it when writers put themselves into their characters. I like the idea you will be doing an trilogy. When authors take the time to create and develop characters, it's a shame to have them used only once. I hope to be in the running for the book. Sorry about your husband.I'm sure he'd be proud to see the book finished and published. My email: synlab1@yahoo.com. TY

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    1. Hi Cindy, I had not thought to do it as a Trilogy but an editor who reviewed the book suggested that I think about it. Immediately, I knew he was right. I love my characters and don't want to say goodbye. I have two great ideas for the next books. Thanks for your kind comments, Mary Firmin, author of Deadly Pleasures.

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  9. Looks cool! I love both sex and the city and James Patterson so this sounds perfect! Haleyferguson43@gmail.com

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    1. Dear Haley, Thank you for you great comments. My book received fabulous reviews from Kirkus, ForeWord Clarion, and Readers Favorites, but Blueink Review called it Sex and the City meets James Patterson, and I ran with it. A screenwriter called it Sex and the City meets Criminal Minds. I'll take either one. Best regards, Mary Firmin, author of Deadly Pleasures.

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