Have you ever wondered if your favorite characters from books were based on real people?

Today author Vicki Vass answers that question for us. Her Antique Hunters cozy mystery protagonists are based on two of her close friends. Now these are ladies I'd love to meet.

Vicki and I also spend time talking about her latest mystery, Bloodline, a book that cozy mystery reviewer Karen Owen named the best mystery she's read so far in 2017.

You can find out more about today's guest, Vicki Vass, and all her books on her website VickiVass.com. You can also find her on Facebook at VickiVassAuthor.

Links and resources mentioned in this episode

* Click on any of the book covers to go to Vicki's books on Amazon

* Biltmore Estate Wikipedia page

* A Cup of Tea and a Cozy Mystery book review site

Press play (above) to listen to the show, or read the transcript below. Remember you can also subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts. And listen on Stitcher.

You can also click here to watch the interview on YouTube.

Transcription of Interview with Vicki Vass

Alexandra: Hi, mystery readers, this is It's a Mystery podcast. I'm your host, Alexandra Amor, and I'm here today with Vicki Vass. Hi, Vicki.

Vicki: Hi, Alexandra.

Alexandra: How are you doing?

Vicki: Good. How are you today?

Alexandra: I'm very well, thank you. So let me just introduce you to our our listeners.

After visiting Asheville, North Carolina, Vicki Vass found herself transfixed by the magic that surrounded this beautiful mountain town. She knew she wanted to capture that magic in her new "Witch Cat Mystery" series and live there so she bought a lot. "Bloodline" is the first novel in that series.

An avid reader, Vicki researched Appalachian folklore, Celtic legends, and the Biltmore Estate. All of these things play a role in "Bloodline." Vicki has written over 1,400 stories for "The Chicago Tribune." I want to ask you about that as well.

Let's start out today talking about your "Antique Hunters Mysteries" because you've got four books in that series.

Vicki: Yes, and I'm working on book five. I used to spend my weekends antiquing with my two best friends, and that series grew out of those experiences. The characters are loosely based on my two friends.

Alexandra: Oh nice.

We've got Anne Hillstrom and CC Muller. Tell us about those ladies.

Vicki: Anne is very much in real life as she appears in the book. She is an avid collector and sometimes does not know when to get rid of things, and she's never had a antique or a sale that she does not want to visit.

Whereas CC is very much like the practical German journalist and always keeping Anne on track. So it was just very fun to write about them and to share their story,