Sense & Second-Degree Murder – Blog Tour Interview

I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the Sense & Second-Degree Murder Blog Tour hosted by TBR & Beyond Tours!

Check out my interview below!

About the Book

Sense & Second-Degree Murder by Tirzah Price
Release Date: April 5, 2022
Genre: Young Adult Historical Fiction Mystery

Synopsis

Three of Jane Austen’s classic novels receive a murder mystery makeover in this romantic and thrilling three-book series that’s perfect for fans of The Lady’s Guide to Petticoats and Piracy and Stalking Jack the Ripper. In Sense and Second-Degree Murder, aspiring scientist Elinor Dashwood and her sister Marianne, a budding detective, work together to solve the mystery of their father’s murder.

When eighteen-year-old aspiring scientist Elinor Dashwood discovers her beloved father slumped over the desk of his office study, she knows his death means dire straits for the Dashwood women. To make matters worse, an outdated will entails his estate—including Norland & Company, the private investigation firm where her younger sister Marianne worked as her father’s partner and protégé—to their half-brother and his haughty wife, who waste no time in forcing the Dashwoods out of their home and into a cramped apartment on London’s Barton Street.

But before they go, the Dashwood sisters make a startling discovery that points to foul play, and the killer might be family.

Obviously, the girls must investigate. It could be dangerous; it could ruin their reputations; and most importantly, it won’t bring back their father. But if the Dashwood sisters can combine their talents and bring their father’s murderer to justice, it may bring them all some comfort—and it might even lead to love.

Interview

These books are a fun combination of classics and thrillers, what was your writing process like when it came to this mashup?

It was really fun to play around with these well-loved classics, and while I’d brainstorm the overarching mystery plot of my retellings before writing, I don’t get too detailed until I re-read the source material. I annotate my copies of the classics, underlining lines I like and passages that inspire certain scenes for my own retelling. Then I outline my retelling, do the historical research I need in order to get started, and get writing. I will continue to do more research as I draft, and oftentimes revisit the source material again and again, but revision is where I can bring out a lot of fun quotes from the books. One of the most fun parts about writing these books is taking Jane Austen’s clever writing and twisting it slightly for a mystery retelling.

2. When you first pitched your ideas for this series was it just one book or did you know it was going to be a hree book series?

Pride and Prejudice seemed like the obvious book to retell first, since it is Austen’s most beloved, but ideas for retellings of Sense and Sensibility and Mansfield Park were also there from the beginning. I was fortunate enough that Harper wanted to sign me for all three! I would love to continue to retell Austen’s characters, and it would be fun to reimagine her other three books, but that’s up to my publisher.

3. How did your background as an editor contribute to your writing process? Did it make it more difficult or do you feel it helped?

Most of my editing experience hasn’t been in fiction, but knowing the ins and outs of good writing is always invaluable, no matter what I’m working on. I also have an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults, and while a degree isn’t necessary to become an author, having the experience of two years of intense study in fiction writing has been extremely helpful. Writing is like exercise—the more you do it, the better you get. Sometimes it can be hard to turn off your inner editor, but I am grateful for all of the writing, editing, and life experience that helped me hone my craft.

4. Out of all the classics out there what drew you to Jane Austen’s books?

I love Austen’s work because while most people see them as romantic drawing room novels, Austen is actually a master at social satire! The humor in her works is top notch, and I love her sneaky feminist (for their time) messages.

5. If you’re able to talk about it, what are you currently working on?

I’m currently working on revisions for Manslaughter Park, a retelling of Mansfield Park, which will be out next year!

About the Author

Tirzah Price grew up on a farm in Michigan, where she read every book she could get her hands on and never outgrew her love for YA fiction. She holds an MFA in Writing for Children & Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts, and is a former bookseller and librarian. Now, she’s a contributing editor at Book Riot, where she can be found recommending books on the site, newsletters, podcasts, and social media accounts. When she’s not writing, reading, or thinking about YA books, she splits her time between experimenting in the kitchen and knitting enough socks to last the fierce Michigan winters.

Tirzah is pronounced TEER-zuh. Pronouns are she/her.

Website | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads

Follow the Blog Tour

April 4th
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Worlds Unlike Our Own – Review
Books With Michelle – Top 5 Reasons to Read Sense and Second-Degree Murder & Mood Board
Stephanie Reads – Review

April 5th
Stuck in Fiction – Promotional Post
Bibliophile On Loose – Review & Mood Board
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The Book View – Review & Mood Board

April 6th
Books and Strokes – Journal Spread
Pages & Plots – Promotional Post
Phannie the ginger bookworm – 15 Reactions While Reading Sense and Second-Degree Murder

April 7th
The Book Dutchesses – Interview
Books Are Magic Too – Review
Book Notes by Athina – Promotional Post
Gwendalyn’s Books – Review

April 8th
Nine Bookish Lives – Promotional Post
Fanna for Books – Review
The Blind Scribe – Book Look
Jill’s Book Blog – Review

April 9th
Stuck in the Stacks – Review
decklededgess – Book Look
Confessions of a YA Reader – Promotional Post
The carly library – Review

April 10th
The Clever Reader – Interview
Ana en Noir – Review
Little Corner Reads – 15 Reactions While Reading Sense and Second-Degree Murder
teatimelit – Review

Instagram Tour

April 4th
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stp_reads – Blogger’s Choice

April 5th
hturningpages – Top 5 Reasons to Read Sense and Second-Degree Murder & Favorite Quotes
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thebookviewblog – Blogger’s Choice

April 6th
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booksandstrokes – Blogger’s Choice
books_over_everything – Review

April 7th
atrailofpages – Review
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gwendalyn_books – Blogger’s Choice

April 8th
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ninebookishlives – Blogger’s Choice

April 9th
says_books – Review & Favorite Quotes
stuck.in.the.stacks – Blogger’s Choice
decklededgess – Blogger’s Choice
thecarlylibrary – Blogger’s Choice

April 10th
luna_reads – Journal Spread
anaennoir – Blogger’s Choice
readbycait – Blogger’s Choice