Spotlight on Lucy Burdette #spotlightsunday #giveaway

 LUCY BURDETTE: Happy Father’s Day everyone! I will always be grateful for my sweet dad, and miss him every day.

 I’ve been looking forward to my day in the spotlight at our Kitchen—I’ve loved reading the backstories of my fellow writing cooks! Don't forget to scroll all the way to the bottom of the post and leave a comment about which books got you started reading mysteries to be entered in a drawing for your choice of the Key West mysteries, one through eleven!

Like my friends here and probably lots of you, I’ve always, always loved to read. We didn’t have a bookstore nearby when I was a kid (nor a lot of money to spend on books), but we had a wonderful library in Berkeley Heights, New Jersey. Every weekend, Mom would take us kids to the library and we’d come home with stacks of books, including many mysteries. After school, my older sister (and best pal in the world to this day) would dash to our room to read. Both of my parents loved to read too—I consider that the greatest gift they could have given me.

On the other hand, it never occurred to me to become a writer. In eighth grade, I wrote my first short story featuring a jilted teenager. She runs to the top of a lighthouse to nurse her heartbreak, and finds Micky Dolenz, who consoles her with a kiss. (Hey, hey, we’re the Monkees…remember?) The story was rock-bottom awful and I can’t blame anyone for failing to encourage me…

I went on to become a clinical psychologist, and had a private practice for a number of years. I remember the moment when I first imagined writing. I was obsessed with learning to play golf, because the man I’d fallen for was a golfer (and is now my husband of 30 years.) We’d spent the day in New York City with family and friends. On the train back to Connecticut, I was talking to a dear friend about how difficult it was to get freelance articles related to the psychology of golf published. She asked the question “why not write a mystery?” The light switch was tripped!

My first book featured neurotic wannabe professional golfer and amateur detective Cassie Burdette. It was called Final Round and it took place at a men’s golf tournament where she was caddying for curmudgeonly but handsome Mike Callahan. That book did not sell, but it did sell the series. My new editor wanted the character to be a golfer, not a caddy, so I wrote it that way. There were five books in the series and I had so much fun researching and writing them. 

My next series featured clinical psychologist Rebecca Butterman, who was also a good home cook. (Those are available as ebooks.) Finally, in 2012, I sold the first of my Key West food critic mystery series, AN APPETITE FOR MURDER. As we now live in quirky Key West half the year, and as I love to eat and talk about food, this series suits me perfectly. The twelfth book,  A DISH TO DIE FOR, will be published in August. A long-running series with characters who grow and change suits my psychology background too!

Tbone's first morning with us

Oh and ps, I asked my Facebook friends what you might most like to hear about—they voted overwhelmingly for my pets! Here are T-bone and Lottie—my trusty furry companions. 

Lottie was 'helping'

One last tidbit before I go: The editor of the Key West mysteries asked me to change my name, so I took on my grandmother’s name, Lucy (Lucille) Burdette. She was a painter who died too young—I hope she is enjoying this continuation of her legacy!

Thanks so much for sharing my day! xoxo Lucy

Don't forget leave a comment about which books got you started reading mysteries to be entered in a drawing for your choice of the Key West mysteries, one through eleven!

And here are some links in case you’d like to do a little more investigation:

Sign up for my monthly newsletter

Follow me on Facebook, and Bookbub, and Instagram

T-bone’s gotcha day story

Pre-order A DISH TO DIE FOR