After the magnificent Tom Doherty, founder of TOR/Forge, bought these books, he said to me: “I don’t know if these are terrific books where people happen to die, or if they’re mysteries.” I told him I didn’t know, either. I still don’t. I did love writing them, and people have enjoyed reading them. Here’s the scoop on each:
The Hummingbird Wizard, first in the Mystic Cafe series, is a sexy, suspenseful mystery filled with humor, magic, and Gypsy flair. Somewhere in the midst of all that, there’s also a lot of heart. Library Journal named it one of the top five mysteries of the year. Inside the chaos, and the mess of life, there are some wonderfully sensuous pages. I stole those from poems and stories that my husband, Win, wrote for me.
In a starred review, PW wrote: “Fascinating Gypsy lore, unforgettable characters and a wicked sense of humor distinguish Blevins’s highly unusual novel . . . This stellar first, with its assured prose, will delight any mystery or women’s fiction fan.” Go for it!
The Vanished Priestess is based on a lot of real people and true events, including ones from my very own life. There was a trapeze school set up to secretly fund vulnerable people. (Although, in this book, it’s a different kind of vulnerable.) The circus artists had the grace to let me interview them about the feeling of flight, and the mechanics of the rig. And, of course, the bad guys face justice. Karma. Whatever you choose to call it, in the end they get what they deserve.
“Blevins blends a wild story, wonderful wit, and great characters. THE VANISHED PRIESTESS features idiosyncratic characters, sharp-tongued wit, and wild plot peregrinations. And the exotic embodiments of Gypsy lore and culture add immensely to the mix.” —starred review, Library Journal
The Red Hot Empress “A rich, fast-paced plot with fascinating characters and a glimpse into Gypsy traditions and San Francisco’s intense melting pot.” —Library Journal, starred review.
I loved writing this book. The main character, along with Annie, is a twelve-year-old boy who lives in Chinatown. Jimmy. I hated saying goodbye to him when the book was finished. I was a music therapist, working in hospitals, and I’d read about toning. Then I’d felt it. Jimmy has the gift of toning. Soon, everyone from the tongs, to an evangelist, to the CIA, and etcetera, want to exploit Jimmy. And Annie is having none of it.
“This is a book for those of you who like off-the-wall characters and different settings . . . What follows is a story of murder, of love gone sour in more than one case, and a story of hope. Peopled with outlandish characters, this book is one of a kind, made equally captivating by a strong plot.” – Mystery News
And here I’ll repeat my favorite review:
“If you don’t fall in love with the Szabo’s you don’t have hormones!” Starred Review, Kirkus