Blog, blog, blog
Thank you to the following blogs for helping me get the word out about GPJ:
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2018
April 7, 2018: Sly Twin Tiger February 18, 2018: Books are Love February 15, 2018: Buried Under Books February 12, 2018: The Mystery Section February 11, 2018: Books A Plenty Book Reviews February 8, 2018: The Attic Ghost February 4, 2018: Girl With Pen January 31, 2018: 411 On Books, Authors, and Publishing News January 29, 2018: A Writers Life January 24, 2018: Lisa's Book Blog January 23, 2018: Quiet Fury Books January 21, 2018: Readeropolis January 18-February 18, 2018: Silver Dagger Book Tours 2017 August 17, 2017: Jen's Favorite Authors January 17, 2017: Paul Anthony 2016 August 15, 2016: New York Army Mom July 19, 2016: Vision and Verse July 18, 2016: Sleuth Cafe July 8, 2016: Eden's Exchange June 22, 2016: Brooke Blogs June 19, 2016: Lisa Ks Book Thoughts June 18, 2016: Author Annette Drake June 17, 2016: Cozy Up With Kathy June 14, 2016: Island Confidential June 11, 2016: Lisa Ks Book Reviews June 10, 2016: Readsalot June 9, 2016: Girl With Book Lungs June 8, 2016: Bubble Bath Books May 23, 2016: Read Your Writes May 23, 2016: Christoph Fischer May 21, 2016: Cassidy Salem May 16, 2016: HBS Author's Spotlight May 16, 2016: Jersey Girl Book Reviews May 15, 2016: New York Army Mom May 15, 2016: A Blue Million Books May 14, 2016: Literary Wealth May 12, 2016: Lisa K's Book Thoughts May 12, 2016: Booth Talks Books May 4, 2016: Meg Muldoon April 4, 2016: A Cup of Tea and a Cozy Mystery February 17, 2016: The Book's the Thing February 15, 2016: Nothing Any Good 2015 November 14, 2015: Cafe Art Space October 29, 2015: Escape with Dollycas Into A Good Book October 29: 2015: HBS Authors Spotlight October 27, 2015: Killer Crafts & Crafty Killers October 27, 2015: The Self-Taught Cook October 26, 2015: Chloe Gets A Clue October 25, 2015: Jane Reads October 24, 2015: Girl With Book Lungs October 22, 2015: Deal Sharing Aunt October 21, 2015: FUONLYKNEW October 20, 2015: Escape With Dollycas Into a Good Book October 19, 2015: Frankie Bow October 18, 2015: Authors to Watch October 18, 2015: Laura's Interests October 17, 2015: 4cover2overt: A Place In The Spotlight October 17, 2015: Christa Reads and Writes October 16, 2015: 4cover2overt: A Place In The Spotlight October 16, 2015: Babs Book Bistro October 15, 2015: Lifestyle and Literature October 8, 2015: Readers Favorite October 2, 2015: Readers Favorite September 15, 2015: New York Army Mom August 28, 2015: Desert Cities Mysteries August 4, 2015: Diane Harman June 2, 2015: Reade & Write April 18, 2015: Fire Your Mentor April 8, 2015: Writers Who Kill March 31, 2015: Book Tour.Tips March 15, 2015: Book Reader Magazine February 27, 2015: A Little Bit of R&R February 21, 2015: Up All Night Read All Day February 18, 2015: Katya Amrock February 9, 2015: eBook Addicts February 6, 2015: Author Sandra Love February 5, 2015: 2 Bibliophiles February 5, 2015: Traci Hayden February 4, 2015: Literature Lighthouse February 3, 2015: Authors To Watch February 3, 2015: Dowie's Place February 3, 2015: Books and Bindings February 2, 2015: Literary Nook February 2, 2015: ebooks galore January 16, 2015: The Dan O'Brien Project January 5, 2015: Chloe Gets A Clue 2014 December 27, 2014: Christoph Fischer Books December 16, 2014: Examiner.com December 11, 2014: Writers and Authors December 6, 2014: cover2overt: A Place in the Spotlight December 4, 2014: Bedroom Bookworms November 1, 2014: Melina's Book Blog October 30, 2014: Queen of All She Reads October 28, 2014: Chloe Gets a Clue October 27, 2014: Rantin', Ravin', and Reading October 25, 2014: Readalot October 24, 2014: Escape with Dollycas Into a Good Book October 23, 2014: Three Partners in Shopping October 22, 2014: Deal Sharing Aunt October 22, 2014: Turning the Pages October 20, 2014: Girl Lost in a Book October 19, 2014: A Cup of Tea, a Friend, and a Book October 18, 2014: Brooke Blogs October 17, 2014: Olga Nunez Miret October 17, 2014: Cozy Up with Kathy October 15, 2014: Shut Up and Read October 15, 2014: Mysteries Etc. October 14, 2014: Making Connections October 13, 2014: Ognian Georgiev's Blog September 30, 2014: Literary Wealth September 21, 2014: Writers and Authors September 10, 2014: Christoph Fischer's Blog April 30, 2014: Shaun Allan, Making a Metz of Things 
A Moment with Amy Metz by Dan O'Brien
Dan O'Brien, editor of Empirical and author of The End of the World Playlist, Bitten, Cerulean Dreams, and The Journey asked me some really fun questions in this interview for his website, The Dan O'Brien Project. Thank you to the website Before It's News for re-posting it on your site, and thank you to Dan for allowing me to post it here.
Tell us about your most recent release. Murder & Mayhem In Goose Pimple Junction was inspired by events in my family’s history. I remember hearing accounts when I was a little girl of the murders and thinking they were heartbreaking and intriguing. One of the murders is unsolved to this day, except for in my novel, where main character Tess Tremaine comes up against the killer’s relative who is intent on keeping the murder a cold case. But Tess is a little too stubborn to let a little mayhem get in the way of her solving the mystery and bringing a murderer to justice. What else do you have coming out? My next book due to be published is a photography coffee table book on Locust Grove, a historical house in Louisville. It’s one of my favorite places to go, and I was able to combine my love for the estate and my love of photography to create this book. The second book in the Goose Pimple Junction mystery series is complete, but I’m not sure when it will be published. What’s the most blatant lie you’ve ever told? Two years ago I had to tell my mother that she was going to an assisted living facility for just a few weeks for rehab, when in fact her dementia had earned her a one-way ticket. What is the most demeaning thing said about you as a writer? Someone said my book was offensive and sadly idiotic. But I have twenty 5-star reviews and 10 4-star reviews that counteract that comment. How do you react to a bad review of one of your books? I try to keep it in perspective, remembering that everyone is entitled to a different opinion. What really bothers me are the people who don’t say anything. When someone tells me they can’t wait to read my book but they never comment on it. Or they say, “I read your book,” followed by silence. I can deal with constructive criticism—I may not agree with it, but at least I know what they didn’t like—it’s silence that I find hard to deal with. It’s difficult, because we’re talking about people I know, and I thought they’d be more supportive, but also their silence doesn’t help me become a better writer or write a better book. When are you going to write your autobiography? Actually, I’ve already written it. It’s not an actual autobiography, because I wouldn’t make anyone read that drivel, but it’s a memoir about my mother, her dementia, and our contentious relationship. I’m currently collecting rejection letters from agents and publishers for it. Are you an agent or publisher? Let’s talk—it’s fabulous! Are the names of the characters in your novels important? Yes, names are important. My book is set in the south, where oftentimes names are varied, interesting, and weird. I’m particularly fond of nicknames, like Pickle and Butterbean, and double names, like Henry Clay and Martha Maye. What about the titles of your novels? What about them? Oh, are they important? Well, yes. Many times a title can make or break a reader’s decision to buy the book. I named my town Goose Pimple Junction and put it in the title because, to me, the name reflects the quirkiness of the town and the book. It’s a fun town, and I hope the title reflects that. But I think people either love the title or hate it. Are there any occupational hazards to being a novelist? Besides being a little mentally unbalanced? Yes, I’ve found extra poundage to be an occupational hazard. Sitting all day at a computer doesn’t burn many calories, and weight gain is inevitable. I’m trying to be more disciplined and get my big behind up for exercise periodically each day, but sometimes it’s hard to stop when I’m on a writing roll. What’s your favorite fruit? Lemons. Does that count? A runner up would be peaches. Although it really depends on the season. In the summertime I love strawberries, honeydew, and peaches, in the fall I love crisp apples, early winter is those little Clementine oranges. And then there are pineapple and bananas, which are both good pretty much year-round. And lemons. I love lemon anything. Is that TMI? How many people have you done away with over the course of your career? Well let’s see . . . I think the total is only five. Maybe I should bump that up a bit for GPJ3. Ever dispatched someone and then regretted it? Yes. I can’t say whom, because I don’t want to ruin it for someone who may not have read the book yet, but there’s one character in Murder & Mayhem who is maybe my all time favorite. It killed me to kill him off (sorry, that was lame—but true). I’m still in mourning. Maybe I can make him have an evil twin. Double trouble! Have you ever been in trouble with the police? Hahahahahahahaha. That’s funny. At least, people who know me will get a kick out of it. I did have to go to the county jail two years ago, but that was to deliver some evidence. That’s a whole nother story. The answer to your question is a big no. So when were you last involved in a real-life punch-up? Way back when I was a little girl, fighting with my sister. That’s as bad ass as I get. If you were going to commit the perfect murder, how would you go about it? I think it would involve poison. And that’s all I’m saying on that one. What do you want to be when you grow up? Betty White. What is your favorite bedtime drink? Sweet tea or juice. Do you ever wish that you had an entirely uncreative job, like data entry or working in a factory? Absolutely not. Are you nuts? Do you believe in a deity? Yes. I am a Christian, and I believe in God. Who would play you in a film of your life? Maybe Oprah. Yes, I know I’m Caucasian, but who wouldn’t want Oprah to play them? What are the most important attributes to remaining sane as a writer? I think a sane writer is an oxymoron. Have you ever read or seen yourself as a character in a book or a movie? Maybe Eeyore. Or the Catwoman, played by Halle Berry. Oh wait, that was in my dreams. What is the single most powerful challenge when it comes to writing a novel? For me, it’s coming up with a good plot. It seems like all the good ones have already been taken. I had a plot all planned out for GPJ3, and I hadn’t told a soul about it. One day, my son started telling me about a book he read—and it was my plot! Or mine was theirs. I swear I’d never heard of it. I changed my plot line pdq. What do you consider your biggest failure? Dropping out of college my sophomore year. I transferred to another college the following fall, but leaving school remains a big part of my checkered past. Do you research your novels? In Murder & Mayhem I researched the real murders that were the impetus for the plot. I read everything I could find so that I could get the facts right for that portion of the book. How much impact does your childhood have on your writing? Well, considering I wouldn’t be who I am if I hadn’t had a childhood, I’d say a lot. Is that too cheeky? What was the greatest thing you learned at school? When God sends us on hard paths, He provides strong shoes. That, and you should dress for every occasion. There’s no sense in looking like a wash-woman. Do you laugh at your own jokes? Sure, somebody has to. (LOL.) Do you admire your own work? Yes and no. I love the characters and the town I created, but I have a hard time reading the book. It’s kind of like actors who say they can’t watch themselves on screen. I find myself wanting to rewrite or edit it every time I pick the book up. What are books for? Different things for different people. For me, they’re for escape. Pure pleasure. Are you fun to go on vacation with? That would be a better question for my family. I think that my son would say I spend too much time behind my camera. How do you feel about being interviewed? It’s somewhere in between getting a root canal and a day at the beach. What’s the loveliest thing you have ever seen? A full moon reflecting on the ocean. 
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