About Sue
Hi. I’m Ned Nickerson and I’m here today to interview Sue McGinty, California Central Coast Mystery writer who has a new book she wants to tell us about. Hello, Sue.
Sue: Hello, Ned. It’s great to be with you. Before we start, where’s Nancy today?
Ned: Uh, it’s kind of a secret, but you know WITSEC?
Sue: The Witness Protection Program? What does that have to do with Nancy?
Ned: Well, he, he, Nancy’s past finally caught up with her and she had to go into the program for a while. She’s now at an undisclosed location and I’m here at Sun City all by my lonesome. But it’s kind of nice not to have people calling me “Mister Drew.”
Sue: Of course, Ned. We all need to have our own identity, and Nancy can be a bit, shall we say “overwhelming?”
Ned: You don’t know the half of it. On the other hand, I’ve heard that about you.
Sue: Can we just talk about the new book, Ned?
Ned: Of course, that’s why we’re here. Do tell us about this second book in the Bella Kowalski series.
Sue: Well, it’s called “Murder at Cuyamaca Beach.” In it, our favorite former nun and current obituary writer Bella Kowalski, takes on the homeless program at her church, and soon uncovers exploitation and murder of the homeless and addicted in Tolosa County.
Ned: Sounds fascinating. I understand this wretched economy has grown into a character in the book.
Sue: You bet, this economy affects everyone, even Bella and Mike, who’ve overextended their one credit card.
Ned: I can relate. Nancy can’t pass a store without whipping out the plastic.
Sue: Can we stay on the subject, Ned?
Ned: Of course. Sorry. Why don’t you tell us a little bit more about yourself, Sue.
Sue: I grew up in Detroit after WWII and first met Nancy at the library. Getting acquainted with her inspired me to write mysteries of my own after a career in the Los Angeles area as a computer programmer at Lockheed and a technical writer for McGraw-Hill, to say nothing of raising three boys. I moved to the Los Osos area after retirement.
Ned: Where you wrote “Murder in Los Lobos.” Why don’t you tell us about that one.
Sue: I thought you’d never ask. “Murder in Los Lobos” tells the tale of a wastewater project gone horribly wrong. Bella and her husband Mike, a former Chicago cop who left the force under a cloud, move to the Central Coast hoping for a peaceful semi-retirement, he to buy the local septic tank service, she to work as an obituary editor at the Central Coast Chronicle. Their problems begin when the woman who owns the land where wastewater plant is to be built is murdered.
Ned: The story’s a real roller coaster ride, now in its second printing I understand.
Sue: That’s right. By the way, I want to talk to Nancy about her experiences in WITSEC, an area I want to explore in my next book.
Ned: Consider it done. Speaking of Nancy, you know I am pretty lonely here without her. How about dinner and maybe a show after the interview?
Sue: Uh, thanks Ned, but I have to go. Nice talking to you. Give my best to Nancy.
