Since I’ve interviewed author Casey Daniels/Kylie Logan here at Southern Exposure, I thought you might enjoy a visit with one of Casey’s close allies, Pepper Martin, of the Pepper Martin Mysteries. Supernatural Born Killers has just arrived at your favorite bookstore, so make sure to grab a copy fast.  Pepper’s a busy lady–as you’ll see–so let’s get right to it.  You never know what this young woman will say.

1-Pepper, you look like an ordinary young woman. Prettier and more stylish than most, I grant you. But there’s a rumor circulating that you have a very special talent. Want to share?

You’re not talking about my talent for coordinating colors, pairing jewelry with outfits, or finding just the right shoes at the right price, are you? Didn’t think so. If I had to guess, I’d say you’re talking about my ability to talk to the dead. It’s a Gift, as they say, and honestly, there are days I’d like to return it. See, I am the world’s only PI to the dead. Some ghosts can’t get to the Other Side because of the unfinished business they have here, and they need help. That’s where I come in. Sure, it means I get to meet plenty of interesting people, both dead and alive. But it also means I’ve been shot at, mugged, kidnapped, pushed in a grave . . . well, I could go on and on. It’s not easy figuring out the mysteries that tie ghosts to this world so they can pass to the next!

2–Your love life is unbelievably complicated. Don’t you find that exhausting? Are you ever going to settle down with somebody, or are you going to keep looking? 

A girl’s love life isn’t something she likes to broadcast. At least not publicly. But since you mention it . . .

There have been a couple guys in my life, but you probably remember Quinn. He’s the gorgeous, tough, headstrong Homicide detective I met back when I first got this Gift that keeps on giving. We’ve been on and off since then, me and Quinn, and we were really off when I finally confessed to him that I speak to the dead . . . and he told me I was nuts and walked out on me. Oh, his story changed, all right. You see, you got shot on the job, and he was dead for a couple minutes. While he was, his ghost showed up at my apartment. Trouble is, Quinn refuses to talk about it. Like I said, headstrong.

The good news is that in my newest adventure, “Supernatural Born Killers,” it looks like he’s going to learn to open up a bit. Who knows where things may go from there!

3–What’s your favorite “case?” Or do you have even one you liked solving? I mean, they really ARE foisted on you, more or less.

Foisted is a kind word. I don’t have a choice, that’s for sure! The ghosts tell me that if I don’t help them, they’ll haunt me forever. Not a happy thought. As for a favorite, I’ve got to say the new one I mentioned above (“Supernatural Born Killers”) has got a lot going for it. There’s the thing with Quinn, of course, as well as a family reunion of sorts, my new job at the cemetery (I was promoted to community relations manager) and the fact that I now have “staff.” Oh, don’t look for them on the Garden View Cemetery roster. They’re all ghosts, bored with the afterlife and looking for ways to keep busy. I’ve got peeps…and they’re all dead!

4–Do you have a plan for your future? Do you see yourself leading cemetery tours until you retire? 

Now that I’m community relations manager, I’ve got a whole lot more to do than just tours. I write the cemetery newsletter (well, actually, one of those ghosts I told you about is doing that for me). I take care of my department’s budget (no, wait, another ghost has stepped up to help with that). I keep my department organized (well, actually, there’s a third ghost who’s volunteered for that duty). I guess that means I don’t have to worry a whole lot about cemetery business and I can concentrate on being PI to the dead.

5–Can you tell us about any particularly “odd” people you’ve met in your crime-solving journey?

Honestly, to me dead = odd.  I mean, really, are they supposed to come back and bug the heck out of me?  I think not.  So far, I’ve had 9 separate investigations and every resting-but-not-in-peace client qualifies as odd to me.  Then there are the living I meet every day.  In “Supernatural Born Killers,” I’ve got a Superman freak to contend with, and an entire convention’s worth of comic book geeks.  Freaky?  Plenty.

Well, I for one can hardly wait to read about THAT.  Thank you so much for stopping by on your whirlwind book tour.  Wait, I forgot to ask why you’re wearing a wedding dress on the book cover. . .  Pepper. . . Pepper. . ?

I guess we’ll have to find out for ourselves and read the book. Supernatural Born Killers is available at Amazon, B&N, or your favorite independent bookstore.

Late Breaking News:  Pepper’s offering one copy of a Pepper Martin mystery to one commenter on this blog.  Being the impatient person she is, she says you have only a week to comment, so giveaway closes next Friday at midnight, and random.org will make the choice. North American address needed.