Light-Hearted Homicide: Mischievous Mysteries with Pamela Burford
Pamela Burford is the author of the Jane Delaney humorous mystery series, featuring Death Diva Jane, her neurotic canine sidekick, and a fun love triangle
Five Cozy Questions
1. What’s the most unusual source of inspiration you’ve had for a story? Let’s start with my sleuth, Jane Delaney (aka the Death Diva). The idea for her rather unique career came from a New York Times article about a woman who’s paid to perform various tasks related to the dearly departed, such as scattering ashes and placing flowers at graves. Nice, but a little too tame for my liking, so can you blame me for deciding to kick it up a notch? In the beginning of book 1, Undertaking Irene, Jane has been hired to swipe a piece of jewelry from the body of the deceased during an open-casket wake — on behalf of the rightful owner, but still. Awkward.
If we’re talking plot ideas, I’d have to say the most unusual inspiration came during the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy when a skeleton was discovered under an old tree that had fallen over. The body was determined to be that of an 18th-century soldier who’d died of yellow fever. As soon as I saw the news report, I got that familiar tingly feeling and knew I had the premise for book 2, Uprooting Ernie. In poor Ernie’s case, his bones had resided under the tree for a mere three decades rather than three centuries.
2. How do you decide on the titles for your books? Oh, that’s a fun one! Every title incorporates the name of the murder victim, usually in the form of a pun or play on words. Book 1 is Undertaking Irene (and yes, Irene was a handful during her long and irascible lifetime). That book is followed by Uprooting Ernie, Perforating Pierre, Icing Allison, Preserving Peaches, Simmering Stu, Liquidating Larry, and Scrapping Scarlett. A scrapbook may or may not be involved in that last one. ☺
3. Do you have a favorite secondary character in your books? If so, why? That’s easy. Death Diva Jane’s sidekick is a high-strung toy poodle named Sexy Beast. The character is an actual dog in the sense that he doesn’t think human thoughts or solve crimes. Nevertheless, he does find himself in the occasional sticky situation with Jane and has been known to help save the day in his authentic doggy way. Sexy Beast is modeled on my own wonderful if slightly neurotic poodle, Murray.
4. What’s your strong suit? Where do you think you shine as a writer? Everything I write incorporates humor to some degree — it’s just my natural style. When I started this series, I decided the funny had to be front and center, which naturally led to using a first-person POV for my sleuth, Jane Delaney. She occasionally embarrasses herself or makes some dumb mistake, but don’t we all? When pushed to her limit, she’s been known to give her snark full rein in pointed asides to the reader.
My other strong suit has to do with the writing itself since I spent 34 years as an editor. Of course, my books are never released without further editing by some talented folks, but I’m grateful for my decades of experience studying the art of story and polishing other people’s prose.
5. How do you keep your storylines fresh and engaging for returning readers? First let me say that although the details of Jane’s life, and in particular her romantic relationships, evolve during the series, I’m careful to write each book in such a way that a new reader can pick up, say, book 8 and quickly get up to speed. I incorporate just enough background to familiarize new readers with the series, but not enough to bore returning readers.
To keep things fresh throughout the series, I craft a wide variety of characters (both new faces and the “regulars”) and, of course, devise new and intriguing ways for the victims to meet their end. My readers appreciate the fact that they won’t come across any grisly stuff in the Jane Delaney series. Likewise, there is no graphic adult content. (This doesn’t apply to my romance novels, which are quite sexy.)
The Jane Delaney series is set in the fictional town of Crystal Harbor, New York, where most of the residents know one another. And when one of those residents decides they’ve had just about enough of one of the others, I’m here (along with my pals Jane and Sexy Beast) to document the mayhem.
About the Author
Pamela Burford comes from a funny family. You may take that any way you want. She was raised in a household that valued laughter above all, so of course the first thing she looked for in a husband was a sense of humor. Is it any wonder their grown kids are into stand-up comedy and improv? Oh, and here’s another fun family fact: Pamela’s identical twin sister, Patricia Ryan, aka P.B. Ryan, is also a published novelist. Check out her wonderful Nell Sweeney historical mystery series. Patricia is the Good Twin, and yeah, Pamela knows what that makes her. But hey, Evil Twins have more fun.
It should come as no surprise that everything Pamela writes is infused with her own quirky brand of humor, on full display in her popular Jane Delaney mystery series, featuring snarky Death Diva Jane, her canine sidekick Sexy Beast, and a fun love-triangle subplot. Pamela’s own beloved poodle, Murray, wants you to know that any similarities between himself and neurotic, high-strung Sexy Beast are purely coincidental.
Pamela’s books have won awards and sold millions of copies, but what excites her most is hearing from readers. Swing by her website and say hi. And while you’re there, don’t forget to sign up for her newsletter. Not only will you learn about new releases, freebies, and other fun stuff, but you’ll receive a free ebook as her special thank-you.
Author Links
- Website: http://www.pamelaburford.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pamela.burford1
- Sexy Beast (canine sidekick) on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SexyBeastMysteryPoodle
- BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/pamela-burford
- Amazon: https://amzn.to/3Uh6ZHC
- Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/PamelaBurford
- Books2Read: https://books2read.com/pamelaburford
- Newsletter (sign up and receive a freebie): https://bit.ly/3SjkT9F
Featured Cozy Mystery: Undertaking Irene
Did irascible Irene really die of natural causes? Death Diva Jane and her neurotic canine sidekick are on the case. Free ebook and audiobook!
Jane Delaney does things her paying customers can’t do, don’t want to do, don’t want to be seen doing, can’t bring themselves to do, and/or don’t want it to be known they’d paid someone to do. To dead people.
Life gets complicated for Jane and her Death Diva business when she’s hired to liberate a gaudy mermaid brooch from the corpse during a wake — on behalf of the rightful owner, supposedly. Well, a girl’s got to make a living, and this assignment pays better than scattering ashes, placing flowers on graves, or bawling her eyes out as a hired mourner. Unfortunately for Jane, someone else is just as eager to get his hands on that brooch, and he’s even sneakier than she is, not to mention dangerously sexy.
Just when she thinks her biggest problem is grand theft mermaid, things take a murderous turn. But hey, when you’ve teamed up with a neurotic seven-pound poodle named Sexy Beast, how can you go wrong?
Praise for Undertaking Irene
“Look out, Janet Evanovich: Jane Delaney is a worthy rival of Stephanie Plum. Bright, smart, and incredibly funny, Undertaking Irene is a delightful laugh-out-loud roller-coaster ride.” — Lorna Barrett, New York Times best-selling author of Book Clubbed
“Witty characters, humorous story line and a plot so fun you won’t want to stop reading this book!… It’s laugh-out-loud funny and will make people wonder what you are reading!” — Shelley’s Book Case
“This one is definitely ♥♥♥♥♥!” — Rantin’, Ravin’, & Reading
“Undertaking Irene by Pamela Burford is one of the funniest books I’ve read in a long time!… I was laughing out loud right from the start… I can’t wait for book two. If you like humor with your mystery, definitely check this one out!” — Brooke Blogs, 5 Stars!
“Quirky characters, an intriguing mystery, and snappy dialogue!” — Escape With Dollycas
“I hated to put it down… I will be looking to read other books by Pamela Burford!” — Readalot
Buy the Book
Undertaking Irene is a free ebook at all retailers, and a free audiobook at Google Play Books.
Also available in paperback: books2read.com/undertakingirene
Contributions Welcome!
Here at Cozy, She Wrote, we’re always on the lookout for cozy mystery articles and authors’ answers to “Five Cozy Questions.” For submission information, visit cozyshewrote.com/submissions.
Questions or Comments?
Email Cozy, She Wrote editor @CielleKenner.
