Lida Sideris is an author, lawyer and all around book enthusiast. She was one of two national recipients of the Helen McCloy Mystery Writers of America scholarship for her first novel, Murder and Other Unnatural Disasters. Murder Gone Missing is the second book in the Corrie Locke series.
Friendship goes a long ways
When asked if she was addressing an issue in Murder Gone Missing, Lida said, “I don’t know that there’s an issue, but there is a theme. And the theme is one of friendship: the lengths people will go to for their friends; leaving their comfort zones way behind, tackling fears, risking jobs, facing possible arrest and worse: putting their lives on the line.”
The writer’s therapy…and mistakes
Many writers find writing to be a cathartic process, one that helps them to feel more grounded in their day-to-day lives. Lida is no different. “In my former life, I was a newbie attorney who’d landed a dream job in a movie studio. That was a very interesting time in my life, thanks to the crazy cast of characters and situations surrounding me. Fast forward to present day and I run a legal non-profit. I help people who have nowhere else to turn for legal help. My days can be a bit grueling. I needed to find an escape hatch. Meanwhile,I’d been wanting to write a mystery for a very long time. I knew I had to write a feel-good, light-hearted mystery and I did. Writing helped take the edge off my day job. My books are loosely based on my life at the studio. I play around with what happened, what didn’t happen and what could have happened.”
Lida also said it’s important to her that readers have as much fun reading her books as she has writing them. “I view my stories as an adventure with a mostly fearless heroine who doesn’t always do the right thing, but manages to get the job done.”
Although she knows better now, Lida says she has made mistakes many new writers make. “Right after I finished the first draft of my first book, I committed a writer’s cardinal sin: I sent it out to six New York agents. One agent responded. He said the only thing he liked about my book was the title Murder and Other Unnatural Disasters. I swore off writing forever after that. Two weeks later, I was raring to go. And many, many drafts later, the manuscript was ready to be sent out—without any further embarrassment on my part.”
When pigs…er…talk?
“My latest book has a scene at an animal farm where pigs play a starring role. I wrote the scene first, then visited a local pig sanctuary to make sure I got my facts straight. I “interviewed” a sanctuary pig. I sure learned a lot from him! I didn’t realize that a pig has the smarts of a three-year-old human, and that pig hair is as coarse as a fishing line. The pigs were very generous in sharing information with me. :)”
To learn more about Lida, please visit her website: www.LidaSideris.com
Book & a Latte Contest
What: This month, Lida is giving away one soft cover copy of “Murder Gone Missing” and I’m adding a $5.00 Starbucks gift card. One random entry will be chosen as the winner. The winner will receive a book and a gift card.
How to enter: Choose one or more of the options below. Each option gives you an additional chance to win.
Who can enter: This contest is only open to continental US residents over 18 years of age.
Winners: Selected winners must claim prizes within 72 hours of notification. Verification of entries: All winning entries are subject to verification.
Thank you for introducing a new to me author. This book sounds great. Always enjoy hearing about the research behind the story.
Thank you so much, Jill! I appreciate your taking the time to visit and leaving such a lovely comment!
Hi, Lida, love the cover
Hi Ellen,
I’m so glad you like the cover! Thank you very much for stopping by and for the nice comment! 🙂
I can’t wait to read it. Thank you for the chance to win a copy of the book – and a cup of Starbucks coffee.
Hello Lei,
Oh, thank you so much! Good luck to you!
This book sounds so good. Love the storyline and the fact that friendship is so much more than a lot of people think.
Thank you, Crystal, for your kind words. Never underestimate the power of friendship! 🙂
this sounds like just the kind of book I’ve been looking for. thanks
Hello Kai,
Thank you for the visit and for taking the time to comment. Good luck!
Wow, it must have been heartbreaking to receive such harsh words when you sent your book in. Glad you reconsidered!
Hi Jeanine,
It was, but only for a short time, thankfully! Thank you for your kind words and the visit!
Friendship is a great subject!
Thank you, Linda! And thanks for visiting!
I’m glad you didn’t get discouraged for long, and eventually wrote your book. Pigs are very smart, and I can’t wait to read this book! Thank you for this chance!
Thank you, Robyn, for stopping by and for the very nice comment! Good luck to you!
I can’t imagine how devastating it must have been to send out your first draft and have such a negative response. Well, as they say, live and learn. You won’t be making that mistake again.
Hi Cheryl,
It was upsetting, but in perspective (easy for me to say now!), it was the opinion of one person. Granted, it was the right opinion, but, as you said, live and learn – wise words! Thank you very much for the comment and for stopping by!
I like that “Murder Gone Missing” highlights friendship and what we do for our friends. My.kind of read. Looking forward to reading the book.
Hello Dianne,
Thank you, Dianne! I love the concept of loyal, sturdy friends and that unbreakable bond between them. I appreciate your comment and your taking the time to visit!
Murder Gone Missing sounds like my cup of tea, and a cup of chia tea from Starbucks seals the deal! Thanks!
Hi Rebecca,
Thanks so much for taking the time to visit today and leave a comment! Good luck!
This sounds good. I enjoy this type of mysteries. BTW, I don’t have a starbucks anywhere near here, and I don’t drink coffee anyway. That’s alright, I love reading.
Hello Nancy,
I appreciate your visit and comment. I love reading, too! Thanks for stopping by!
What an interesting book! I’m curious to see how pigs play a role
Hi Rhi,
I was curious about how the pigs would fit in, too! 🙂 Thanks for the visit and comment!
The friendship theme sounds interesting.
Hi Lori,
Yes, it is to me as well. I’m always fascinated by how far a friend will go to help another friend. Thank you for the visit! 🙂
I seldom read mysteries but this one sound interesting.
Hi Sandra,
It’s a mystery and an adventure. Thank you for taking the time to visit!
I have to admit, I love books with animals in them. This will certainly be different!
Hi Sandy,
I’m with you on that. I love books with animals in them as well! Thank you very much for the visit! 🙂
Enjoyed the interview. Thanks for the introduction
To a new author whose books sound intriguing.
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Hello Carol,
Thank you for your kind words! I’m so glad you enjoyed the interview! 🙂
Can’t wait to read this book. It sounds excellent!
Hello, Deborah,
How nice of you to say that! Thank you so very much! I sincerely hope that if
you have a chance to read it, you enjoy it! I appreciate your taking the time to
stop by. 🙂
Thanks, Terry and Lida
Hi Libby,
Thank you very much for stopping by! 🙂
That book sounds exciting – would love to read it!
Hello, Karen,
Thank you! I would love for you to read it!! 🙂 I appreciate your stopping by.
Good to have a release from a stressful job.
Writing is cathartic for Lida and a pleasure
for the readers. thanks for sharing
txmlhl(at)yahoo(dot)com
Hi Mary,
That is the truth! Reading and writing are wonderful ways to escape. Thank you kindly for the visit and comment!
You always have a good latte and contest authors and I thank you for that!
And I thank you, Peggy, for visiting and for leaving a comment! 🙂
“Murder Gone Missing” sounds like a book I’ll really enjoy reading.
Hi Peggy,
If you get a chance to read, I sincerely hope you do enjoy! Thank you for the comment and the visit! 🙂
Pigs, interesting!!! My mom when she was young had a pet pig that she pushed around in a baby carriage. Thank you so much for this chance at the giveaway.
Hi Paula,
That’s so cute about your mom’s pet pig! She must have been a country girl. 🙂 Thank you very much for the visit!
Any animal in a book draws my interest. They say pigs are an intelligent animal and it is great to see your use of one in your book, “Murder Gone Missing”.
Hi Robin,
Yes, pigs are intelligent, and I agree with you, I like animals in books, too. I used to write essays for “Animal Wellness” magazine about my dogs, my chickens and my goats. I had a lot of material to write about! Thanks so much for the visit and the comment! 🙂
I really enjoyed the first book in the series and am looking forward to the next. Thank you for sharing a bit about yourself with your readers and the opportunity to win one of your books.
Oh, Sue – you made my day! Thank you so much for reading – I’m SO happy you enjoyed it! Thank you very much for the visit. Good luck to you!
Interesting about pigs in your story. Usually dogs and cats are characters in stories. So will be interesting to read about piggies.
Hi Jackie,
There is actually a dog in the story as well (I had a cat in my first novel). I love animals, so I can’t imagine writing a story without one. Thank you for the visit!
Enjoyable interview. Thanks for the contest oportubity!
Thanks, Karen, for stopping by – so glad you enjoyed the interview!!
Thank you for being part of the book tour for “Murder Gone Missing” by Lida Sideris.
Enjoyed reading the author interview. I can imagine that her “interviewed” a sanctuary pig was something to “squeal” about for sure. 🙂
I like the storyline of “Murder Gone Missing” and how friendships mean more than saying so. I know I’d go the distant for my friends. Think that is what makes our friends our family by choice.
Thank you for the chance to win a copy of this wonderful book which is on my TBR list and a $5 Starbucks card which I would definitely put to good use. <3
Hi Kay,
Thank you very much for taking the time to stop by. I expected the pigs to “ham” it up during my visit, but they were quite polite in taking turns to “talk” to me. 🙂 It was fun!