the gregg and jackson interview

“Framed for Murder” is the first full-length novel in the Pine Cove Mystery series. The series began with the novella, “The Starlight Mint Surprise Murder” and the characters grew on me so much I gave them their own series. 

In “Starlight,” Mel meets neighbor and café owner Jackson Thibodeaux and Deputy Sheriff Gregg Marks over a dead body. From the get go, both men annoyed her. Once Jackson found out about her debilitating fear of heights, he treated her like she was made of glass. Gregg thought she was perfectly capable, just not of investigating the suspicious death. She’d hung up her police badge back in L.A., after all. Their constant bickering, a leftover from high school, didn’t help. But in the end, the three came together to find justice. Now where does that leave them? That’s what I came to find out.  Join me as I interview my characters!

Bonus -- I tried to create images of them using AI getting...mixed results.  Tell me what you think in the comments!

Jackson...sort of

Marla: Gentlemen, thank you for taking time out of your busy day to talk with me. I really appreciate it. 
​Jackson: My pleasure.
Gregg: (scoffs) Like you’re really that busy. I’m out there keeping the mountain safe while you’re baking cookies, but whatever. 

​Jackson: At The Hungry Puppy, we make healthy, nutritious food for humans and dogs alike and yes, do some baking. What was the latest crime spree you saved us from? Oh, right (leans in toward me and stage-whispers) there was a rash of houses getting toilet papered. Thank goodness the deputy was there to protect us from rambunctious teenagers.  

​Marla: Gentlemen, before this gets too out of hand, readers are dying to know if there’s a love triangle between the two of you and Mel O’Rourke?
Jackson & Gregg: (both snort derisively in agreement) No, there’s no triangle. 
Gregg/Jackson: Mel has feelings for me. (turn to look at each other) What? You’re crazy/You’re delusional.

Marla: Okay guys, so we can agree that there are sparks flying around Pine Cove. Let’s talk about the object of your interest. What do you like most about Mel?
Jackson & Gregg: Her smile. (glare at each other) Stop it! 
​
Marla: How about one at a time? Gregg, what was the first thing you noticed about Mel?
Gregg: (with a smirk) If I’m being honest, her ass. I walked into the Babbling Brook while she and some guests were taking a yoga class. She had me from down dog. 
Jackson: Sweet baby Jesus (rolls his eyes)

Mel & Gregg

Marla: What about you, Jackson? First impression?
Jackson: Her fiery temper that matches her hair. It was right before Christmas and she came charging out the front door, yelling at me for taking up her guest parking. Not ten seconds later, we hear a scream from her lobby and run back to find a dead guy. (smiles) For the second time in like thirty-seconds she’s mad at me, this time for trying to protect her from seeing the corpse.  
Gregg: She was a cop, you idiot. Pretty sure that wasn’t her first DB.

Marla: Let’s talk about that, Deputy. Currently, Mel is looking into the murder of an oil executive and you keep telling her to stay in her lane. So what’s the deal? Either she deserves the respect of having been a cop or she doesn’t?
Jackson: (smirking) Yes, Deputy, do tell?
Gregg: Well, like you just said, she was a cop. Past tense. She needs to stay out of the investigation before she messes up the evidence, or worse, winds up getting hurt. She nearly got killed the last time. I won’t let that happen again.
Jackson: Won’t let that happen? Go ahead, order her to stand down. I can’t wait to see how that goes for you.

Marla: Thank you both for talking to me today. I'm going to end this now before things get out of control.
​
To read more and decide for yourself who’s going to get the girl in the end, pick up a copy of “Framed for Murder” at any online book site!