Blog tour: A Nose for Mischief

Welcome to the blog tour for A Nose for Mischief by K.T. Lee. Intrigued?

Hi K.T.! First of all, I would like to congratulate you on the publication of A Nose for Mischief! Can you please briefly tell us what it is about?

A: Thank you so much! I’m so excited to introduce readers to the characters of Riverbend and their K-9 partners! Zoey Butler is a materials engineer whose career implodes after the FBI raids her workplace and arrests the head of development for fraud. Desperate and out of options, she reaches out to the FBI, the only organization that knows without a doubt that Zoey was a victim and not a perpetrator. She soon finds herself the newest trainee at the Riverbend K-9 Academy along with her K-9 partner, Tasha, a mischievous rescue dog in need of her own second chance. When Zoey finds out the trouble at her old company isn’t over, she volunteers to work with the FBI to end it once and for all, with a little help from Tasha and her new colleague, FBI Special Agent, Liam Graham.

Did you have the plot entirely figured out when you started writing the book or did it take an unexpected turn as the characters grew on the page?

A: My characters always have a tendency to elbow their own way through the plot, no matter how much I try to get them to follow my plan! I had a rough outline, but everything else grew as I introduced the characters to various situations.

Was A Nose for Mischief your working title? Either way, how did you choose it?

A: I usually spend months thinking of a title and how to describe the book, so I honestly am not sure when I thought of it! I wanted to let readers know what they were getting – a book with a strong heroine, a clever mystery, and some wagging tails along the way.

If this novel was going to be turned into a film, who would you cast in the roles of Zoey and Liam?

A: This is such a good/hard question. I think based on the looks/age range of the characters, I’d say Dakota Fanning and Taylor Lautner. Personality-wise, though, the list could be a bit longer.

Without giving too much away, can you tell us about a scene in the book that you love or that was particularly difficult to write?

A: Without giving too much away, the crime itself and the resolution meant listening to a lot of podcasts and even diving into some research on how some materials were made to make sure that the ending could actually happen. I was relieved that my browsing history also included writing sites, as I’m sure anyone looking might have had some concerns about my hobbies!

Is there anything that didn’t make it into the final version of the book?

A: There were a couple of days of investigation that I cut for pacing, but the heart of the book stayed the same. However, my writing style usually involves writing about 10k words at a time, then reworking from the beginning, until I reach the end.

If you are already working on your next writing project, would you mind giving us a little anticipation of what we are to expect?

A: I am currently working on the next book in the Riverbend K-9 series, An Ear for Trouble. Zoey’s sister, Elise, will be solving a crime at the wildlife conservation facility in Riverbend. I’m excited for everyone to get to know her better and for another excuse to keep watching animal documentaries!

What are you reading at the moment?

A: I just finished an advanced copy of my friend’s first book! E.M. Storm-Smith is releasing her Pride and Prejudice variation novel, Reputation (An Easy Thing to Lose) in January and I was delighted to get an early copy, so I could tell her everything I loved about it before it went live.

Due to the popularity of social networking websites, interacting with readers – be it via Twitter, Facebook Instagram etc. – is becoming increasingly important. How do you cope with these new demands on authors and do you think that they somehow disrupt your writing schedule?

A: This is a good question and to be honest, I am still learning! I try to focus my efforts on spreading good news and positivity when I see it to at least make my little corner of the internet a welcoming place to be, insofar as it’s possible.

What one piece of advice would you give to aspiring writers?

A: Think about your purpose. What do you want to accomplish and what does success mean for you? I don’t think there is one right answer for every writer, but asking those questions will help you determine the best path forward for you.

Thank you for your time.

A: Thank you!