The Greeks of Beaubien Street by Suzanne Jenkins

THE GREEKS OF BEAUBIEN STREET


by Suzanne Jenkins

Mystery
CreateSpace

5 autographed copies will be given away on Friday, February 15, 2013!


www.SuzanneJenkins.net

About the Book:


Nestled below the skyline of Detroit you'll find Greektown, a few short blocks of colorful bliss, warm people and Greek food. In spite of growing up immersed in the safety of her family and their rich culture, Jill Zannos doesn't fit in. A Detroit homicide detective, she manages to keep one foot planted firmly in the traditions started by her grandparents, while the other navigates the most devastated neighborhoods in the city she can't help but love. She is a no nonsense workaholic with no girlfriends, an odd boyfriend who refuses to grow up, and an uncanny intuition, inherited from her mystic grandmother, that acts as her secret weapon to crime solving success. Her story winds around tales of her family and their secret laden history, while she investigates the most despicable murder of her career.

The Greeks of Beaubien Street is a modern tale of a family grounded in old world, sometimes archaic, tradition, as they seek acceptance in American society. They could be any nationality, but they are Greek.

Exclusive Interview with the Author!

1) No matter how many books you write, I'm sure each one has it's own challenges. How was this book more challenging to write than your others? How was it easier?

The most difficult thing about The Greeks of Beaubien Street was writing about the police procedural stuff. I wanted it to sound realistic, but know that readers are savvy, and most people are familiar with CSI so I didn't have to get too detailed about it. While I was writing I had to keep that in mind.

The easiest, and most fun was writing about the location because I had a vision of what it was like when I was growing up. I wanted it to be a mix of the old and the new; really a fictional account but something people who live there can identify.

Also, the stories about the gatherings and the food...I remember my dad explaining how to make Avogolemono Soup just exactly the way I wrote it in the book.

2) What's the first thing you do when starting a new book? What's the first thing you do when finishing a new book?

I start with a title. Not sure if that is the norm or not! I get a title in my head and the story follows.

I print the novel out and sit and read with the red pen. Then it goes to the editor. This is my biggest struggle...a book needs many pairs of eyes to find all the mistakes. I need to take more time with this step!

3) What was your favorite book growing up and why?

I was a voracious reader as a child, and Little Women popped out when I read this question.The details about the attic where Jo wrote intrigued me as a kid. She had her own space. And the characters were very much the ensemble; there were so many of them. I do the same thing; I like lots of characters who interact.

4) When did you start to write? What motivated you? What was your first story about?

Back in 1985 I went on a business trip to New Orleans with my husband. I was very curious about the way the horses who pulled the tourists around the French Quarter where treated. I wasn't sure it was such a good thing, but didn't have time to investigate.

I couldn't stop thinking about it, and when I got home I knew I wanted to write a child's book about a neglected little girl who could speak to the horses. It turned out too much "Mr. Ed" and I abandoned it, but New Orleans and the little girl persisted. I was working full time at the time, and it took twenty years to write, evolving into a dark horror story. I doubt I'll ever publish it.

5) Do your ideas for stories or scenes come to you when you're actively thinking about them? Or do they come to you while dreaming, or out of the blue?

The ideas just come to me, and the story develops as I sit and write. Not all of them come to a finished book and I think it is a good thing!

About the Author: 

Suzanne Jenkins is the author of the Pam of Babylon Series and The Greeks of Beaubien Street, a new series about a Greek homicide detective who grew up above the family grocery store in Greektown, Detroit. Jenkins has fond memories of growing up in a Greek American household in the suburbs of Detroit. She currently lives in the west Michigan lakeshore area with her husband, two dogs and two sheep. Visit the author online at: www.SuzanneJenkins.net.

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