Just like life, Kim Hunt Harris's Trailer Park Princess cozy mystery novels are a healthy mix of funny moments and challenging times for her amateur sleuth Salem Grimes.

When I read The Middle Finger of Fate, the first book in the series, I was struck by how funny Kim's writing is, and how touched I was by her character Salem's ups and downs. Salem is someone really REALLY trying to turn her life around. And she's going through one of those times in life when no matter what she does things seem to wrong. And the harder she tries to right them, the wronger they go. (We've all had times like that!)

And yet, Kim's writing is so funny, and so sweet, that I laughed outloud throughout the book. Don't even get me started about the car with the 'bucket' seat. Oh my! ;-)

If you like Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series, do yourself a favor and try out the Trailer Park Princess books. You can thank me later. ;-)

You can find out more about today's guest, Kim, and all her books on her website KimHuntHarris.com. And you will find her on Twitter @kimhuntharris.

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.

Transcript of Episode with Kim Hunt Harris

Alexandra: Hi mystery readers, this is Alexandra Amor with It's a Mystery Podcast. I'm here with Kim Hunt Harris. Hi, Kim.

Kim: Hello.

Alexandra: How are you?

Kim: I'm good, I'm excellent. How are you?

Alexandra: I'm very well thank you. I see it's hot there in Texas today.

Kim: It is hot here today in Texas today, in fact we had a string of 100 plus degrees days for I'm not sure how long now, but for too long. But of course it's nothing out of the ordinary. But, there are some clouds building up and we have a chance of rain and that's always welcomed here in west Texas.

Rain, we take it any chance we can get it. So keep your fingers crossed, that always helps bring temperature down, makes everybody happy too.

Alexandra: Yes. Good, absolutely we will keep our fingers crossed for you. So, let me give our listeners a little bit of introduction.

Kim Hunt Harris is the award-winning author of the Trailer Park Princess comic mystery series. Kim knew she wanted to be a writer before she even knew how to write. She loves to not only make her readers laugh and entertain them with a good mystery, but also to examine the issues that everyday people face, issues like faith and forgiveness, perseverance - I always have trouble with that word - and tolerance.

Set in Lubbock, Texas, this mystery series feature a cast of quirky characters, outrageous situations, a drama queen of a dog, and from time to time, a tear or two. Kim lives with her husband of more than 30 years and 2 teenage children in Lubbock, Texas.

Why don't you tell us about Salem. She's described on your website and on Amazon as a bit of a hot mess. So tell us about her.

Kim: Well, Salem is a hot mess. She has been so much fun to write. First of all she is a recovering alcoholic, which is not funny,