After a week of hearing bits about Perry Kirkpatrick’s awesome series, I figured you’d all be kind of curious about what she has to say about it all. So, for this review of A Spying We Will Go I bullied her into giving me a super-short interview.
No, really. I did.
The poor girl has several small children, is trying to sell one house and move into another one (this week!), and is fighting some health issues, and I said, “Do you want to answer a few interview questions?”
Pretty sure I told her we could record a video if it was easier for her.
I think that’s what did it, folks. Without that final nail in the, “Oh, I so do not want to do this” coffin, we might not have this interview. Introverts know how to get what they want from other introverts.
Okay, okay. I didn’t know any of that other stuff up there when I asked and when I offered to do the video chat.
Although, I did suspect she might jump at the lesser of two evils—the written one. I mean, I may not be cruel, but I’m not stupid, either.
Oh, and another thing…
Don’t You Think Spies Are Kind of Questionable?
C’mon… that was mildly amusing. But seriously, let’s get to the questions, okay?
Q: What made you set your series in a coffee shop in Phoenix?
This time last year I spent time in downtown Phoenix for a conference and enjoyed observing how it differed from my side of town. The bustling downtown feel was fascinating, and it was SO HOT OUT. I’d been wanting to set a story in a coffee shop for a while (I love the atmosphere).
I combined the two and Sunrise Coffee, a fictional, high-end coffee shop was born. Add one very ordinary barista and one friendly neighborhood spy, and you have the recipe for a quirky, upbeat series with lots of coffee references.”
Q: If Emily could go anywhere in the world right now, all expenses paid, for two weeks, where would that be and why?
She’d go to Washington, D.C. No doubt about it. For one thing it’s about 25 degrees cooler than Phoenix at this exact moment (I checked), and for another it’s where all the cool spy stuff normally happens. (If the movies are to be believed.) She’d likely spend a lot of time sitting in parks playing Spot-the-Spy. This is a next-gen version of ordinary people-watching.”
Q: Since I know you’ve never read Harry Potter, where’d you get the “bathroom transport” idea?
The 1980s TV show, Scarecrow and Mrs. King was a huge inspiration for my series, and I wanted to give a veiled nod to the coat-closet elevator in that show while still putting my own humorous spin on it. The shower seemed like the perfect, bizarre place to disguise an elevator.”
Q: I know you’ve lived in the Phoenix area for a long time, so I’m curious. Have you ever gone searching for the Lost Dutchman Mine?
I’ve lived in Phoenix almost my entire life, and I’ve done a terrible job of seeing the state’s sights. (I didn’t make it to the Grand Canyon until I was 16. So, yeah.) With that kind of track record, no, I haven’t looked for the Lost Dutchman Mine… unless reading all about it online and then looking through the Superstition Mountains with Google Earth counts.”
Q: How many books do you want in the Accidental Cases of Emily Abbott, and how many do you think you’ll actually write?
I’m looking at this series like a TV show: individual episodes telling a complete story, grouped in seasons of 6 books, with each season containing its own overarching plot. I’m doing at least 12 books (2 seasons). If people are loving it and I’m not out of ideas, I’d totally be open to the idea of additional seasons.”
Note: I vote for at least 5 seasons if they’re all like A Spying We Will Go. Who’s with me?
Bio: Perry Elisabeth Kirkpatrick lives in an undisclosed location outside of Phoenix where she and her husband chase their four little boys and an escape-artist dog. They don’t chase their cats, however, because cats hate that. She is the author of “The Kitten Files” mysteries, “The Accidental Cases of Emily Abbott” spy series, and multiple short stories.
In addition to her writing, Perry enjoys graphic design, playing a number of musical instruments, and watching movies that make her laugh.
Find her books, newsletter, and free stories at perrykirkpatrick.com.
Perry’s fantastical alter-ego is Denver Evans, author of the Shallows trilogy.
And What’s the Verdict on A Spying We Will Go?
Oh… where to begin and how to get this into my five-answer review? EEP! Okay… I loved that this “episode” ramped up the tension exponentially—in all directions. I hated that I didn’t get to find out something I am becoming curious about (but I loved it, too! Squee!). Additionally, I laughed at myself for all the episodes I kept coming up with for Ms. Kirkpatrick, and I “cried” at the thought of having to wait a whole month to read the next one. Seriously, torture, folks!!!
This is going to sound redundant, but I can’t help it. I recommend A Spying We Will Go and the rest of this series to anyone who just loves good, fun reading that doesn’t take itself too seriously. No, it’s not realistic, but yes, you can so easily suspend that disbelief and become wrapped up in the world of Phoenix spies and baristas who are almost a little too enthusiastic about “helping out” now and then.
I’m sending my Kindle loaded with them with my 14-year-old daughter on Saturday so she can read them on vacation. She’s going to love them!
Title: A Spying We Will Go
Author: Perry Elizabeth Kirkpatrick
Synopsis: Camping doesn’t lead to kidnapping… usually.
When Emily goes on a group camping trip in Northern Arizona, she suspects her biggest danger will be mosquito bites and bear-sightings. The trip becomes far from relaxing, however, when she hears from a family friend that they can’t get in touch with her dad. Unable to call, due to spotty cell phone reception, she manages to send a text asking for Brent’s help in checking on her dad.
But the spy has been incommunicado for several days, and it turns out he’s up North too–trying to locate a missing ICS agent with information about the Ten Thousand.
Not everything is as it seems. More than bears roam the woods, and information could cost a life.
“The Accidental Cases of Emily Abbott” is a series of clean spy-comedies set in Phoenix, Arizona.
1. Red Rover, Red Rover – (Review HERE)
2. Plan to Fail – (Review HERE)
3. Bad Things, Small Packages – (Review HERE)
4. Tutor, Nanny, Spit-up, Spy – (Review HERE)
5. A-Spying We Will Go –
6. Once Upon a Dime – August 26, 2019 (Review coming)
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