MBN Welcomes Norma Huss, Author of the Jo Durbin Mysteries

Mystery Books News is delighted to welcome Norma Huss as our guest blogger. Norma is the author of Yesterday's Body (Wings ePress Trade Paperback, 978-1-59705-609-0; and Kindle edition), the first book in the Jo Durbin mystery series.

Today, Norma inteviews her character Jo Durbin, an over-40, out-of work journalist. And she's also providing our readers with an opportunity to win a signed copy of her book. Visit Mystery Book Contests, click on the "Norma Huss: Yesterday's Body" contest link, enter your name, e-mail address, and this code (4549) for a chance to win! (One entry per person; contest ends July 01, 2010.)

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Photo courtesy of Norma Huss

Norma: Jo, I understand you plan to revitalize your career by living as a homeless woman and writing about it. Since you were quite well-known for your financial reporting, why haven’t you continued that instead of starting this new endeavor?

Jo Durbin: You know the economy. I was downsized, pure and simple. Everyone wants younger and cheaper.

N: But there is another, rather unsavory reason. Am I right?

JD: Lord love a duck! Is that scandal still making the rounds? Which, I might add, was tossed out of court. Can I help it if those CEOs jump first, then never look beyond their noses?

N: What do you mean by that?

JD: Next question.

N: I see. You’d rather discuss something else. So, tell me more about this new project you are researching.

JD: With the popularity of anything “reality,” I’ll give the public what it wants. An in-depth exposé of the homeless should interest publishers. My weeks of immersion research have taken me to the streets of Queensboro living as a bag lady.

N: Isn’t it dangerous?

JD: You have to go slow, get to know the homeless guys. And gals--there is one other woman in the bunch. Gradually you’re accepted . Maybe they never really trust you--or each other. But you learn their specialties. Who knew Orin had a word of the day, for instance? And Ears? His moniker is definitely related to his talent.

N: Living on the street doesn’t sound pleasant. Do you ever take a break?

JD: I stay with my sister Sylvie once in a while. Truth be told, I picked Queensboro since she lives there. Problem--she wants to act the older sister, despite being younger. I can take only so much of her advice. She tells me every horror story she reads about any unfortunate homeless person. And, she, personally, wants to solve every murder on the Eastern Seaboard.

N: Really? Is she a detective?

JD: In her dreams! No, she’s in real estate--another troubled industry. Actually, she’s more into mystery games. But heaven help me if I should EVER know anything about a dead person.

N: Then it’s you, Sylvie, and the homeless.

JD: Plus Mel. He’s a sweetie, and very considerate. But, whatever you do, don’t tell him I’m not homeless! He thinks he’s saving me from the street. Or, trying to, at least.

N: Aha! A love interest?

JD: Let’s get real here. I’ve been married. Twice. Both disasters. Mel is a friend. On occasion he lets me use his spare room, no strings. In exchange I cook supper and clean his house, which rarely needs much. If supper includes ice cream, I run him through a half hour of karate. He’ll turn into a porker if he doesn’t get more exercise, but I don’t tell him that.

N: You know karate?

JD: Started young, never gave it up. Comes in handy some times. Is that about enough information for this interview?

N: Wait. I understand there’s a cat involved in your work.

JD: You mean Clyde? Lovely long-haired tiger. Rather big. He definitely has an attitude. But, he’s entirely imaginary, part of my faux homeless persona. I mean, when Officer Rivlin is making his early morning run through the park to boot out the gang, it really adds something to my credibility to yell, “Watch out. You nearly stepped on my cat!” Especially when there is no cat.

N: Before you go, I have one last question. Your book, the story of the homeless as you lived it--is it now complete?

JD: Almost. Do you realize that there are homeless people that the public doesn’t suspect are homeless? For a chapter on the working homeless, I’ve taken a part-time job, replacing the vacationing Francine. She’s gone for a month they say. The woman left a key ring in her desk drawer. I also want an additional chapter on devious ways to find a place to sleep. So, what can it hurt if I borrow her house for a night? Of course, I’ll clean it as a thank you. Maybe I’ll regret it, but the opportunity is there. Yes, I will do it. No one could possibly know. Those two chapters will complete the book and I’ll be out of Queensboro, out Mel’s life, and definitely far away from any police involvement.

N: Thank you for an informative interview, Jo. I’ll be looking forward to your adventures.

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Norma is a member of Pennwriters, a group of mainly Pennsylvania writers, and Sisters in Crime. Visit her website at NormaHuss.com.

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About Yesterday's Body: "I’m not saying Abbott Computing Services suffered from an acute form of TV demographics, but, how did  get the job? I wasn’t under forty. I wasn’t anorexic slim. I didn’t have a face that would launch a thousand ships, or even a rowboat. Of course, I was a temp, and the young and beautiful wouldn’t have to look at me forever."

Jo Durbin knows the down-side of acting the homeless bag lady. The police will never suspect one of those beautiful people she works with. Nor will they believe that Jo just happened to find the very dead Francine.

For a chance to win a signed copy of Yesterday's Body, courtesy of the author, visit Mystery Book Contests, click on the "Norma Huss: Yesterday's Body" contest link, and enter your name, e-mail address, and this code (4549) in the entry form. (One entry per person; contest ends July 01, 2010.)