Margaritas, Mayhem, & Murder by Mary Cunningham

In addition to the mystery genre, Mary Cunningham is the author of books in the middle-grade fantasy and women’s lifestyle genres. Margaritas, Mayhem, & Murder is the first And Anna Jones Mystery.

Behind the story of Margaritas, Mayhem, & Murder

“Struggling through my time as a travel agent in North Miami, was made easier because I worked with another fantastic agent, Ellen (Ellie in the series), who marched to the beat of her own drum. Many of Ellie’s eccentricities also belonged to Ellen. For instance, dressing in the agency parking lot, brushing her teeth and applying deodorant in the agency bathroom/break room. She had an accent straight from the mountains of Tennessee.” She added that the settings are based on some of her travel experiences, which includes an emergency trip to Cancun.
Mary also said her main character is based on a horrendous experience she had as a travel agent. “It was so awful and completely out of my comfort zone. Andi Anna Jones gives me the opportunity to laugh at that stressful time in my life. Writing the books and the series is a cathartic experience. Andi gives me permission to face my weak points and appreciate my strength.”

Finding creativity

Mary says her first memories are of her dad’s original bedtime stories. Those stories inspired her imagination and love of a well-spun yarn. Today, she hopes her writing expresses empathy and humor. “Like many of us, I’ve successfully traversed some dark experiences thanks to a sharp wit. If we can’t laugh through the bad times, how can we appreciate the good? I hope readers can see the humor in my writing and let it lighten their days.”
So where does Mary find her creative energy? Part of it comes from her husband, who she describes as her best critic. “I was about 10 chapters into writing Margaritas, Mayhem & Murder and asked him to read it. He HATED it! Told me to not waste my time; the story would never go anywhere. I persisted and he’s now a big fan of Andi Anna Jones and her cohorts.”

Living in New Orleans

“My year living near New Orleans was the craziest time of my life. Visiting is one thing. Living there is quite another. The atmosphere, people, food, and entertainment were similar to living in a foreign country. I was born in Southern Indiana, but I’m of French heritage. One line of ancestors came through New Orleans from France, then made their way north. I always stood out among the blue-eyed blondes and red-heads from the Midwest. However, the first time we went to a restaurant in Louisiana, I wanted to shout, ‘These are my people!’ For once, I didn’t feel out-of-place.”
Learn more about Mary Cunningham at http://www.marycunninghambooks.com. Did you like this interview? If so, click here to read more Behind the Story interviews from your favorite authors.