Guest Blogger, Misa Ramirez

Please join me in welcoming author Melissa "Misa" Ramirez as the special guest blogger here today at Thoughts in Progress.

Misa’s latest release in the Lola Cruz Mystery series is “Hasta la Vista, Lola!” She will drop back by today to answer any questions you might have.

Misa is here today to talk to us about how we like our mysteries - straight up or with a splash of romance and fun. 

You don’t know me, but I’m a mystery writer. I’m the author of the Lola Cruz Mystery Series. “Living the Vida Lola” came out last January, and “Hasta la Vista, Lola!,” was released on Feb. 2nd. I’m still celebrating and thrilled to be here at Thoughts in Progress. Thank you for hosting me, Thoughts in Progress!

When you aren’t a regular on a blog, it can be hard to know what to write, and how to present it to a brand new audience. Should I be funny, like in my books? Serious, because murder is serious business? Or some combination of the two, perhaps? 

The truth is, I’m no stand up comedian (not by a long shot), but I am funny--in my books. Like any fleshed out character, I’m a combination of things. I love a good mystery (cutting my teeth on Nancy Drew, graduating to Agatha Christie, and branching out from there), read the occasional romance (Julia Quinn makes me laugh), but stick mostly with women’s and/or literary fiction (The Help is my new favorite book).

How, then, did I come to write mysteries, and why aren’t my mysteries serious instead of sexy and sassy? The short answer is, I like the mystery device. What better way to propel a plot forward than to have a crime to solve? The little-bit-longer answer is that crafting a puzzle that the sleuth and readers need to piece together is challenging--and fun; watching characters you love to spend time with grow and discover themselves--and each other--is rewarding. 

Having humor and wit in a book is icing on the cake. For me, then, the mystery is only half the story. Lola Cruz came about long before the framework of “Living the Vida Lola.” She came to me as a character who was at once sassy, smart, sexy, determined, strong, feminine, Latina, black belt in kung fu, idealistic, American, sister, daughter, friend, and so much more. 

When it was time to figure out how I was going to tell her story, it made perfect sense to put her into an investigative role. Elements of the mystery, I knew, could pit Lola against external conflicts, as well as internal conflicts, of which she has many. It would force her to evaluate her life, her choices, her dreams, her desires, and her future (all in a funny, light way).

Balancing her drive to be a detective, her traditional Mexican family, cultural expectations, her American sensibilities, and her love life is no easy task. Add in a mystery, and it’s a wild ride!Lola Cruz Mysteries are character driven more than anything, but the mysteries really interest me. They’re ‘ripped from the headlines’, twisted, redefined, and Lola-fied. 

The mysteries shape, form, and/or enlighten Lola in her personal life or with her decision-making. They are equal, then, to Lola’s own story, which spans the arc of the series (we’re only on book 2, so have a ways to go yet).

I’m always curious to find out from readers if you like your mysteries straight up, or do you enjoy the zany, romantic elements which are in many series like the Lola Cruz Mystery Series?

On another note, I’ve just launched a brand new site for book lovers! It’s called Books on the House (http://booksonthehouse.com), and Books on the House for Kids and Teens (http://booksonthehouse.com/kids). Great authors are giving away books every Monday. I hope you book lovers will stop by and enter to win! Thanks again for hosting me today!

Misa, thank you so much guest blogging here today. It’s interesting finding out about how Lola developed. In addition, your new site for book lovers is wonderful. It’s a great site to visit.

Misa’s Lola Cruz Mystery series: “Living the Vida Lola” (January 2009) and “Hasta la Vista, Lola!” (2010) is from St. Martin’s Minotaur. A former middle and high school teacher, and current CEO and CFO for La Familia Ramirez, this blonde-haired, green-eyed, proud to be Latina-by-Marriage girl loves following Lola on her many adventures.

Whether it’s contemplating belly button piercing or visiting nudist resorts, Misa’s always up for the challenge. Misa is hard at work on a new women’s fiction novel, is published in Woman’s World Magazine and Romance Writers Report, and has a children’s book published. For more on Misa, visit her website at www.misaramirez.com.

Now, how do you like your mysteries?