Free Mystery eBook: https://LynnFranklin.com EXCERPT FROM A RECENT INTERVIEW WITH LYNN FRANKLIN: WHO WOULD ENJOY YOUR MYSTERIES? Anyone who likes their mysteries fast-paced but without all the sadness, blood and gore. All my stories feature a strong female amateur sleuth, a dog sidekick, likeable characters, humor and a touch of romance. The idea is to entertain and leave the reader smiling. WHAT MAKES YOUR MYSTERIES DIFFERENT FROM OTHERS? I’m a big fan of books that not only tell a good story, but also pull you into new worlds. Kimberley West, for example, uses her knowledge of jewelry and gemstone lore to solve the mysteries. Readers say it's great fun learning about Cleopatra's influence on her favorite gemstone, why turquoise appealed to ancient desert dwellers, how a certain actress lost money on her famous diamonds. SO THE GEMSTONE STORIES IN THE BOOKS ARE REAL? THERE REALLY ARE ANTS THAT MINE GARNETS LIKE YOU DESCRIBE IN THE PIRATE'S RUBY? (laughing) Yes, all of the gemstone stories are true. The Carolina Emerald, in fact, is based on a real museum burglary that was never solved. The human fascination with gems, gold and everything bright and shiny creates some interesting tales. Take amethyst, for example. During the height of the Roman Empire –- a period known for its decadence –- people believed that wearing amethyst would protect them from getting drunk. After all, wine is purple and so is amethyst . . . As I keep discovering, gemstone lore often reveals more about human psychology than the gemstones themselves. WHAT ABOUT RORY AND AL, THE DOG SIDEKICKS? ARE THEIR ANTICS REAL? Absolutely. Anyone who’s lived with a dog of any breed will recognize some of Rory's and Al's behaviors, from finding creative ways to steal food to ecstatic running and leaping. As members of our human families, dogs contribute much to our emotional well-being –- including providing comic relief when life grows too intense. YOU'VE TALKED A LOT ABOUT THE REALISM IN YOUR BOOKS. SO WHY IS YOUR NEWEST BOOK, THE POODLE WHO SANG UNDERCOVER, ABOUT A PAIR OF WISECRACKING DOGS? My main goal in writing The Poodle Who Sang Undercover was to make people laugh. But there's more realism in that story than you'd expect. Anyone who's ever lived with a pet will recognize the dogs' banter as something they'd imagined their own furry friends saying. And seeing the world through the dogs' perspective sheds light on some of the silly things we do.