Introduction

Cozy mystery author Cassidy Salem has set her first book in a Think Tank in Washington, D.C. In this interview I ask Cassidy what a think tank is, why she chose such an unusual setting and what her plans are for future books.

Cassidy is not only an author, she’s an avid fan of mysteries, and a book reviewer. We discuss the different approaches she takes to writing, reading and reviewing.

You can find out more about Cassidy and her books at CassidySalem.wordpress.com.

She is also on Twitter.

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

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

Transcription of Interview

Alexandra: Hi, mystery readers, I’m Alexandra Amor. This is It’s a Mystery Podcast and I’m here today with Cassidy Salem. Hi, Cassidy.

Cassidy: Hi, how are you today?

Alexandra: I’m good, how are you?

Cassidy: Fine, thank you.

Alexandra: It’s kind of late where you are.

Cassidy: Yeah, pretty much, I say so.

Alexandra: So I’m just going to give our listeners a little bit of an introduction to you.

Cassidy Salem has always been an avid reader. She is especially fond of mysteries, both cozy and traditional and police procedurals. When she’s not reading, she enjoys singing, dancing and spending time with family and friends. Her travels have taken her to destinations throughout the United States, Europe and Scandinavia. Cassidy Salem is the author of Think Murder, the first book in the Adina Donati mystery series. The second book, Dying for Data, is slated for release in the summer of 2016, which is this summer. We’re recording this April 2016, so it should be out shortly, the second one.

Cassidy: I hope so.

Alexandra: Do you have a date that you’re aiming for?

Cassidy: Originally, I was aiming for the beginning of the summer, but life kind of got in the way, so now I’m hoping for mid-summer.

Alexandra: Okay, yeah. Well, that makes total sense.

Cassidy: I don’t want to rush it. I’d rather take the time to make sure it’s edited properly and work with the beta readers and proofreading and all the other stages and not rush it.

Alexandra: Yeah, exactly. I’m exactly the same way. I totally agree. So let’s talk about Think Murder a little bit then, the book that’s out now.

Adina Donati is your amateur sleuth. And she works at a think tank, which made me realize I don’t know what a think tank is, so why don’t we start there?

Cassidy: A think tank is generally an organization that can be university affiliated or not university affiliated where they discuss and handle all kinds of current events, politically-related very often, national policy-related. There are some of the more common ones and it’s actually nothing to do with the book, will be like the American Heritage Foundation, or the Georgetown Center for Strategic Studies, where you have your basic academics spouting their knowledge and learning and discussing issues of the day.

Alexandra: Okay,