ANNA ST. JOHN

Website: Anna-StJohn.com
Facebook: CozyAuthor
Twitter: @AuthorStJohn

Anna St. John is a lifelong writer. She began her career as editor of her college newspaper and held positions as a professional journalist, political consultant, and advertising copywriter before she established her own advertising agency — which she ran for forty years. 
Today, Anna writes cozy mysteries from her home office in a small Kansas town where she is within walking distance of a working blacksmith shop like the one in her Josie Posey series. Her Old English Sheepdog, Oliver, serves as an inspiration for the fluffy pooch in her first novel, Doomed by Blooms, now available in paperback, ebook or audiobook.

From Anna’s Website… Josie Posey, a mature yet ever-feisty big city crime reporter turned crime solver, has officially retired to a small, touristy town in middle America. In DOOMED BY BLOOMS, Josie agrees to interview a local ballerina for a story that quickly turns into a murder investigation. The ballerina’s husband is found dead in the couple’s field of flowers, and Josie was the last to see him alive. With her loyal Old English Sheepdog, Moe, by her side, Josie and her posse of mahjong-playing friends are determined to ID the murderer before anyone else gets hurt.

Who is your protagonist’s sidekick?
Josie’s Old English Sheepdog, Moe, is her constant companion. He is modeled after my own dog, Oliver, who bravely guards our property each day–chasing cats, rabbits, squirrels, birds, raccoons and skunks who dare to enter his realm.

What role does the animal play in the story?
Moe is by Josie’s side nearly everywhere she goes. When she gets behind the wheel of her little red VW convertible, Moe jumps into the back seat to ride along. Together they cruise the quaint streets of the village – Josie’s hair and Moe’s ears flying in the wind.

Does your animal help or hinder your sleuth?
Generally, Moe is a helper. He listens to her theories, alerts her when he senses danger, and comforts her when she is injured. He has also been wrong on occasion – like the time he raced into the back garden to chase an intruder and returned saturated with skunk spray.

Give us 1 example of the interaction between your main character and the Fury Sidekick.
Late one night, Moe wakes Josie with whines and nudges, directing her to the back door of her cottage. The two peek through the window to see the shadow of an unfamiliar object on the back deck. Moe is by her side as Josie turns the lock and opens the door, aiming her flashlight at the object. An odor assails Josie’s nose, Moe scrambles out the door, barking with his “big dog” voice, and they tackle the object together. Feathers fly as they pounce on a crate of flapping hens and discover a warning note attached to the top of the crate.|
The book also includes a hint of romance, as Josie’s matchmaking friends encourage her to date again – particularly to pursue an attraction toward a certain local blacksmith, with whom sparks fly.

Give the readers a hint of what’s coming for your character in future books.
In future books, Josie’s sheepdog, Moe, demonstrates his ability to sniff out the bad-guys. Josie and the police chief form a closer working alliance. The mahjong friends take a more active role in some of the investigations. And Josie’s relationship with the blacksmith “heats up.”

Victoria LK Williams