Today we have Lois Winston visiting – Thank goodness, you get a break from me! Take it away Lois…
First, I’d like to thank Kate for hosting me at Mystery With a Side of Laughter today as part of my virtual tour for the release of Death By Killer Mop Doll.
Laughing Out Loud
by Lois Winston
Have you ever been reading a book and come across something so funny that you laughed out loud? It’s not a problem when you’re home, but when you happen to be reading on a train or plane, people tend to give you really odd looks. Especially if you keep laughing as you keep reading. If you’re like me, the more you try to contain yourself, the more you laugh.
I can’t tell you how many times this has happened to me, but it’s far better than when I’m reading an emotionally gripping book and begin blubbering during an extremely sad scene. I’m one of those people who cries during Hallmark commercial, so you can imagine how the waterworks flow while I’m reading certain books. The last book that did this to me was Kristin Hannah’s Winter Garden. Not only did I cry while reading the book, I teared up for weeks afterwards whenever I thought of it. I’m even tearing up now as I type this.
However, this blog is called Mystery With a Side of Laughter, so enough with the sad stories and onto the funny ones.
We writers are extremely needy creatures. We need to know that readers “get” our books. A note from a reader, telling me how much she enjoyed a book of mine, is priceless to me. I walk around with a huge grin pasted on my face for the rest of the day as I channel Sally Field: You like me! You really like me!
Since I write humorous amateur sleuth mysteries, my favorite reader comments are the ones where I’m told the reader laughed so hard, she snorted coffee out her nose. One reader told me she read Assault With a Deadly Glue Gun on a flight to Florida and laughed so hard, the flight attendant came running! The reader waved my book over her head so all the passengers could see what was making her double over with laughter. Wow! Whether that episode resulted in any of those other passengers buying a copy of my book, I’ll never know, but talk about fabulous promo! Fans like that are priceless!
Death By Killer Mop Doll, the second book in my Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mysteries, officially releases in two days. Initial reviews have called it “droll” and “offbeat,” “sure to bring chuckles” and containing “oodles of laughs.” The true test will be whether readers snort coffee out their noses.
Overdue bills and constant mother vs. mother-in-law battles at home are bad enough. But crafts editor Anastasia Pollack’s stress level is maxed out when she and her fellow American Woman editors get roped into unpaid gigs for a revamped morning TV show. Before the glue is dry on Anastasia’s mop dolls, morning TV turns crime drama when the studio is trashed and the producer is murdered. Former co-hosts Vince and Monica—sleazy D-list celebrities—stand out among a lengthy lineup of suspects, all furious over the show’s new format. And Anastasia has no clue her snooping has landed her directly in the killer’s unforgiving spotlight.
Have you ever had an over-the-top reaction to a book you were reading? Post a comment, and you could win one of 5 signed copies of Death By Killer Mop Doll I’m giving away as part of my blog tour this month. The full tour schedule can be found at my website, http://www.loiswinston.com, and the Killer Crafts & Crafty Killers blog, http://www.anastasiapollack.blogspot.com. In addition, I’m giving away 3 copies of Death By Killer Mop Doll on Goodreads, http://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/15173-death-by-killer-mop-doll
Also, for anyone attending The American Library Association’s Mid-Winter conference January 20-24 in Dallas, Midnight Ink will be raffling off the hand-crafted mop doll shown in the photo and signed copies of both books in the series during the opening reception Friday evening. Register for the drawing at the Midnight Ink booth #1459.
Bio:
Lois Winston is the author of the critically acclaimed Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mysteries published by Midnight Ink. Assault With a Deadly Glue Gun, the first book in the series, received starred reviews from Publishers Weekly and Booklist. The new year brings with it the release of Death By Killer Mop Doll (Jan. 8th), the second book in the series. Read an excerpt at http://www.loiswinston.com/excerptap2.html. Visit Lois at her website: http://www.loiswinston.com and Anastasia at the Killer Crafts & Crafty Killers blog: http://www.anastasiapollack.blogspot.com. You can also follow Lois and Anastasia on Twitter @anasleuth.
{ 20 comments… read them below or add one }
Patty, I hope you enjoy Glue Gun! As for Ol’ Yeller, you’re wise to stay away from it. I still remember being blindsided as a child.
I love to laugh out loud, and the unexpected bursts of laughter are always the best. I also cry easily and refuse to read or watch movies whose sole purpose is to make me cry. Yes, I’ve never seen Terms of Endearment, or Old Yeller.
Ones that I remember laughing at, an oldie but Blackbeard’s Ghost, there is a scene where he walks down the street pinching out the streetlights. For some reason that scene had me rolling (well, I was about 12 or so, so maybe not too surprising). I also laughed really hard during the letter scene in Harry Potter, the book not the movie. When the flood of letters came bursting into the room I just cracked up!
I laugh almost as easily as I cry, so I seek out the humorous mysteries so am looking forward to this series. Haven’t gotten to Assualt. . . yet, have it on my brand new Kindle Fire. Soon, I hope.
Thanks, Julie! Hope you enjoy Assault With a Deadly Glue Gun enough that you want to read Death By Killer Mop Doll.
How did I miss this?! Jeez, sorry Lois and Kate. I love the names of these books and oh! a new series is always good. On my way to find the first one so I’ll be ready for the second.
Thanks so much, Earl! Comments like that keep me Snoopy dancing all day long.
Lois, I’m three chapters into GLUE GUN and happily confess I found myself chuckling many times times. You’re good, girl, and and I know I’ll enjoy MOP DOLL just as much.
Thanks, Cris and Mageela! I hope you both enjoy Death By Killer Mop Doll.
Jeff, I’ve never read A Walk in the Woods, but it’s now on my to-buy list.
Lois, you asked about ‘over-the-top’ reactions to books.
Well, I was visiting at my daughter’s house but had not brought a book to read, as I typically do. So I asked if she had anything that might interest me. She said, prob. not, but her sister-in-law gave her this book called “A Walk in the Woods”. I figured it was a nature guide and it did not interest me at all. I’d never heard of Bill Bryson before. But, I picked it up and began reading.
About an hour later, I was laughing so hard, tears were rolling down my cheeks and my belly was cramping. Everybody ran into the room to see if I was having a fit.
Jeff, I love Bill Bryson! I love the way he describes situations, and some of the ones he get’s himself into can make you bust a gut! It doesn’t hurt that he’s traveled to some of the same places as I have and his descriptions bring back vivid memories. But laughing is the best part!
I love a book that makes me laugh…. and if it’s uncontrollable, so be it! I often read in bed before I turn out the light. My husband is usually fast asleep but I’m always afraid I’ll wake him up when I’m reading a particularly funny passage. So far so good. He hasn’t been disturbed when I start to laugh.
Lois,
I cry at those sappy commercials too and now I’m laughing at myself. I have laughed on the subway and people have stared but most of the time people gawk at the cover trying to see the title or ask me what I’m reading. I’ll be getting my copy of Death and will be sitting on the bus laughing out loud.
….er, that’s “chuckling out LOUD.” Didn’t proofread very well.
My over-the-top experience isn’t all that dramatic, but I vividly remember reading the last few chapters of ORDINARY PEOPLE way back in the 1980s when my not-yet-husband came home from work and did the “What’s for dinner?” thingie that men did in those days. Without looking at him, and crying audibly, I choked out, “Don’t bother me, I simply HAVE to finish this book!” Luckily for him, he understood.
OTOH, I do remember chuckling out lad when reading ASSAULT WITH A DEADLY GLUE GUN. So I’m looking forward to the same experience with KILLER MOP DOLL.
Cris
LD, that’s a tough one. You don’t want to be laughing in such a circumstance, but I’ll bet that book helped you get through all the misery around you.
Kate, thanks for loving Assault With a Deadly Glue Gun and buying Death By Killer Mop Doll. I hope I give you lots of laughs this weekend.
Cindy, I hope I give you lots of laughs on your flight. Winter Garden is definitely a book that needs to be read at home and alone.
HI Lois. Great blog as always. Thanks for the warning about “Winter’s Garden.” I will not be taking that on the plane with me as intended and fortunately Killer Mop Doll is being released that day. I love being entertained and humorous mysteries such as yours are the perfect antidote for anything. My favorite comment from a fan was that her cheeks hurt from laughing so hard at my character’s antics.
Books that make me laugh are the ones I love the best. ASSAULT WITH A DEADLY GLUE GUN was great, I can’t wait to read this one. I’m having it sent to my kindle for this weekend…
I was working at a Red Cross shelter during the aftermath of Katrina, doing watch duty from midnight to 3:00 A.M., and trying to stay awake. Some church ladies had brought in a box of books for our guests to read and I picked one at random. It was Three to Get Deadly, the third of Janet Evanovich’s Stephnie Plum books. I got a couple chapters into it and started laughing. Now, remember, I was keeping watch over a hundred or so sleeping evacuees, in a shelter, in the middle of the night. No noise allowed! I almost hurt myself staying quiet.
I’d love to win a copy of Death by Killer Mop Doll. I’d even be able to laugh out loud while reading it.
Thanks, Delia. I hope you like the books.
Caridad, I can’t even watch those dog and cat in the pound commercials; they’re so gut-wrenching. And FINE THINGS? Talk about a twelve hankie read! But best of all, I’m so glad I make you laugh!
I love it when a book makes me laugh out lout. I don’t feel self-conscious about it one little bit, either.
I love your title. I shall have to check it out.
Can’t wait to read this one, Lois. I love your humor. Like you, I blubber at commercials, especially those sad dog and cat in the pound ones. I once found myself blubbering in an airport bathroom while I finished a scene in FINE THINGS and often have to contain myself from crying. However, it takes a lot for me to laugh, so I know when someone makes me laugh, like you do, that they have a truly unique gift.