Hawaii and pineapples and mysteries...Oh, my!

Cheryl-Linn Martin and I are represented by the same agent (Hi, Terry!) and I had the pleasure of meeting her in St. Louis last year at the ACFW conference. I couldn't be happier to share her debut release with you! PINEAPPLES IN PERIL is  the first book in the Hawaiian Detective Club series for middle-grade readers. Check out the interview below, followed by the book trailer for this fun mystery series. Christmas will be here before you know it....what a great stocking stuffer!

First, congratulations on your debut novel! What inspired you to write this series? I was first inspired to write as a child, reading Nancy Drew. I knew at that young age that I would one day write a mystery! I also fell in love with Hawaii when I lived there while attending The University of Hawaii. I combined that with my interest in writing for ages 8-12 years and The Hawaiian Island Detective Club was born!

So I'm slightly jealous (said by someone who's always dreamed of vacationing in Hawaii). You must have had some interesting experiences there. Yes, I did! I learned to surf, got scared by a pipefish while snorkeling (thought it was an eel!), nearly lost my suit while body surfing, ate every kind of island food I could (including poi), took hula classes, and performed at my dorm’s luau. I loved every moment of island life!

What is Pineapples in Peril about? Leilani Akamai and her two best friends, Maile and Sam decide to investigate the vandalism taking place in the pineapple fields near their homes. They’ve been The Hawaiian Island Detective Club for years, solving pretend mysteries. This is their chance to solve a real one. Unless, of course, Kimo, Leilani’s annoying ten-year-old brother ruins everything. And then there’s Maile’s 16-year-old brother who’s the love of Leilani’s life.

Ahh . . . the angst of adolescence!

Do your characters ever get into messes? Oh my, do they! When they’re planning stakeouts and following people, Leilani and her friends have found themselves in some weird and sometimes scary situations.

Which character is most like you, and why? Probably Leilani. She is determined, yet in many ways has issues with her confidence. She also finds herself in trouble a lot, even though it always seems to be her brother’s fault. Yup, I have a younger brother!

When are Books Two and Three of The Hawaiian Island Detective Club coming out and what are their titles? Menehunes Missing has a tentative release date of February 5, 2013. Ukuleles Undercover will probably be out in the summer or early fall of 2013.

A question I've always had for mystery writers (which I also hope to write one day): Do you know at the beginning of the mystery who will be the culprit? Not usually. I’m not a “plotter” but I do need to know what the mystery is and also something about where I’m going. The in-between can take many unusual turns before the real culprit is revealed.

How can your readers connect with you? My website address is www.cheryllinnmartin.com I also have a blog all about Hawaii at www.lifeinflip-flops.blogspot.com.You can also connect with me on my facebook author page at www.facebook.com/authorcheryllinnmartin

Twitter at http://twitter.com/clinnmartin

If “tweeters” would like to comment on The Hawaiian Island Detective Club, they can add the hashtag: #HIDC

Cheryl grew up in Southern Oregon and earned a BA with honors in Recreation and Park Management from the University of Oregon. She went on to work for a number of years as a Recreation Coordinator and Community Center Director in Portland, Oregon.

After years of working with and teaching kids, she is now writing for Middle Grades. Her childhood love of Nancy Drew sparked a never-ending appreciation for mysteries, and her sun-worshipping spirit led her to the Hawaiian Islands for a year while she attended The University of Hawaii.

Her series, The Hawaiian Island Detective Club, springs from her experiences in mystery and the exotic land of pineapples, palms, sand, and surf. The first book in the series, Pineapples in Peril, won the Novel Journey YA/MG contest in April 2010 and placed third in The Kiss of Death, Daphne Du Maurier Mainstream Mystery Competition in July 2010.

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