Heather Weidner
author of the Delanie Fitzgerald series
Glitter, Glam, and Contraband is Heather Weidner’s third novel in the Delanie Fitzgerald series. Her short stories appear in the Virginia is for Mysteries series, 50 Shades of Cabernet, and Deadly Southern Charm. Her novellas appear in The Mutt Mysteries series. She is a member of Sisters in Crime – Central Virginia, Guppies, International Thriller Writers, and James River Writers. She lives in Central Virginia with her husband and a pair of Jack Russell terriers. Heather earned her BA in English from Virginia Wesleyan University and her MA in American literature from the University of Richmond. Through the years, she has been a cop’s kid, technical writer, editor, college professor, software tester, and IT manager.
Me: What was the inspiration for the Delanie Fitzgerald series?
Heather: I knew I wanted to write a mystery, but I wasn’t sure what kind of job to give my sleuth, so she had time to leave work and investigate. At about the same time, a female private investigator did a program for our Sisters in Crime Central Virginia chapter, and she described the perfect job for my character. She could snoop and ask lots of questions.
Me: In describing your books, what subgenre(s) of mystery do they fall within?
Heather: The Delanie Fitzgerald series is a light, humorous mystery. Since the sleuth is not an amateur detective, it doesn’t really fall in the cozy genre (with sleuths like Miss Marple), but it doesn’t have graphic sex, violence, or language. It is a traditional mystery with a female private investigator. The books are set in and around Central Virginia. Delanie gets herself in and out of a lot of sticky situations. She has a partner at her PI firm, Falcon Investigations. His name is Duncan Reynolds, and he’s a web designer (computer hacker), who can get computers to cough up really good information. Duncan is shy and quiet, and he prefers to fly under the radar with his trusty sidekick, Margaret the Wonder Dog. She’s a white and brown English bulldog, a log with legs.
Me: How do you research the criminal and investigative aspects of your books?
Heather: I’m a C.K. (cop’s kid). I grew up thinking everyone talked about murder and mayhem at the dinner table. I was shocked to find out that they really didn’t. I grew up picking up shell casings at the police range, playing with his night scope, and listening to the chatter on the radio. (I got in trouble a couple of times for blasting the siren in our driveway.) My dad is retired now, but he still teaches criminology at the community college. He’s my best source for things you don’t really want to Google. (“Hey Dad, what’s a meth lab smell like or how long will a body stay submerged?) I’m fortunate to be a member of Sisters in Crime, and our chapter has really good programming. They bring in all kinds of law enforcement, who graciously answer all of our questions. We’ve talked to police, conservation officers, fire investigators, police spokespersons, FBI agents, forensic specialists, private investigators,…. And I now have two bail bondsmen in my contacts in case I ever need them. Twitter is also a great resource if you’re looking for subject matter experts (SMEs). People are so helpful and generous with their time. I do research on the internet quite a lot, too, and I’m probably on someone’s list. For Glitter, Glam, and Contraband, I researched illegal reptiles, drag shows, guns, stolen antiquities, and cornerstones. (A lot of the drag queens’ websites have great makeup tips!)
Me: What are two of your favorite mysteries?
Heather: (Two, just two?) I started out with Scooby-Doo and Nancy Drew. They were gateway mysteries that led to Christie, Poe, Hitchcock, Doyle, and the list goes on and on. I have an entire “TBR” (to be read) shelf in my office of mysteries. My favorite contemporary authors are Amy Reade, Sherry Harris, Maya Corrigan, Libby Klein, Kate Young, J. D. Griffo, Ellen Byron/Maria DiRico, Mary Lee Ashford, Debra Goldstein, Hank P. Ryan, Lisa Scottoline, John Grisham, Lee Child, and K.L. Murphy. I am reading Camino Wind right now by John Grisham, and next up are more of Ellen Byron’s Cajun Country Mysteries.
Me: What are you working on now?
Heather: I am working on three books in a cozy mystery series set in Charlottesville, Virginia. This one has an amateur sleuth who has a knack for finding dead bodies. I have two short stories coming out in anthologies next year, and we also have a new dog-themed anthology coming out in the fall in the Mutt Mysteries series. My Delanie characters will appear in the short stories and the novella.
Here’s the link to purchase a book by Heather Weidner.
Love mysteries? Here’s a Q and A with another mystery author: Michelle Cox and check out this blog post Mad for Mysteries.