Check out my newest author interview with mystery author Teddie Peacock!
Alexis: Tell us about yourself! What would you like readers to know about you?
Teddie: Hi! My name is Teddie. I just wrote and published my first book at 59. My second book publishes on May 30th. I taught college level writing classes for 11 years. I still don’t know where commas go! A death in my family and relocation to another state with my husband’s company left me feeling out of sorts. On a whim, I joined my neighborhood book club “Book Club is my Alibi.” These wonderful, supportive women encouraged me to write and publish my first book Secret Keepers.
Picture of Teddie Peacock, the author of Secret Keepers
Alexis: Awesome! What book or books have most influenced you as a writer?
Teddie: I love Jane Austen novels, and all of the descriptive details of every day life and relationships.
Alexis: Jane Austin is one of my favorite authors too! What are some tropes of fiction in your genre that you love/hate? Why?
Teddie: I hate the shocking “ twist that no one saw coming” that makes no sense. For me as a reader, there has to be some tie in that makes sense. I love that you can write “ over the top” villains that you love to hate!
Alexis: Agreed about twists! I love when I get a really shocking reveal, and then I look back through a book and see tiny hints or clues that showed it was coming. Who is your favorite character in your book? What do you like about them? (or, which character do you hate most and why)
Teddie: Tessa is my favorite character. She is the moral compass in the story and the “ truth seeker”. Kelly Ryan is the worst! Everyone hates him and I’m not sure he has even one redeeming quality.
Alexis: What do you like to do other than read or write? Do you have any interesting hobbies?
Teddie: I kid myself into believing I am an awesome flower gardener. When really I am an awesome neglectful weed gardener.
Alexis: I also love gardening, but it can definitely be a challenge! Tell us about a mystery/urban legend from your hometown (or another place you’ve lived).
Teddie: On the farm across the hill from ours in KY, certain times during the year, the old large plantation style farmhouse would appear to be engulfed in flames. Legend goes that the daughter and her handmaid were burned to death when the house caught on fire due to a lightening strike . The daughter was being forced to marry a local doctor when she was in love with a Civil War officer who later went on to become a very famous general. The daughter is rumored to haunt their family cemetery calling the name of her forsaken soulmate.
Alexis: What a fascinating story! What TV shows/Movies do you like to watch or stream?
Teddie: My all time favorite was Supernatural. I just rewatched Outlander. I’m trying to pace myself watching Bridgerton.
Alexis: I’m a huge fan of Bridgerton, and I’ve watched some of Supernatural. What’s your favorite animal?
Teddie: Dogs - definitely dogs. They love you even on the worst days.
Alexis: Do you like playing video games? What’s your favorite game right now? Has a video game ever influenced you as a writer?
Teddie: Nope! But I do watch my young grandson play and act like I know what is going on.
Alexis: Do you like playing board games or role playing games like D&D? If so, which games do you like best?
Teddie: I do like board games. But right now they mostly trend toward kid games
Alexis: What advice do you have for other writers or people just getting started in writing?
Teddie: Just Do It! Don’t listen to that self doubter in your head. Be your own best cheerleader! Get out of your head and read your work like a reader.
Alexis: That’s a great answer! Certainly we can sometimes really discourage ourselves with too many doubts. How do you choose what books you want to read?
Teddie: Book club mostly! But I also try to support other indie authors and read their work.
Alexis: Great! I read tons of books, but definitely read indie when a book speaks to me.
Cover of Secret Keepers, a book by Teddie Peacock
About Secret Keepers
Kelly Ryan was bad, very bad and they all knew it!
But they were friends with him anyway. Kelly was a walking, talking chaos creator.
Years later, when Kelly dies suddenly under mysterious circumstances; Tessa can't let it go. Not after the night that caused so much destruction, shattered friendships and changed all of them, forever.
They've all been telling lies and keeping secrets about that night and nearly everything else. They all had reasons to end Kelly but who wanted revenge enough to actually do it? Can Tessa stop the cycle of destruction that comes from being in Kelly's orbit? Lies, secrets, loyalty, revenge and murder- how far would they really go?