~Interview with Victoria J Benchley~

Tell us about the book:

The Pernicious Pachyderm is the seventh novel in the Duncan Dewar Mystery Series, yet the book is still a stand-alone.  Throughout the stories, characters and relationships develop while mysteries are solved.  The action takes place in and around the fictional village of Taye, in Perthshire.  The reader will find many similarities between Taye and this real-life area of beautiful central Scotland. This is the same location where the series began with The Merlon Murders - Book 1.  A few months have passed since Angela nearly lost her life, and the experience affects her engagement.

Now, a boutique circus has arrived in Taye, and tourism is on the rise, but so is murder.  Preparing for his upcoming nuptials and refurbishing his cottage aren't enough to keep Duncan occupied.  A gruesome crime intrudes on the idyllic village, and as the detective becomes embroiled in the murky case, a specter from the past returns, threatening his happy ending.  Can Duncan absolve an elephant accused of killing his ringmaster?  Can he find the real murderer before he or she strikes again?  Will a jealous spirit from ancient Clan Neish hinder the Scotsman's wedding and harm his fiancée?  Suspects abound as Dewar returns, joined by the usual cast of family and friends and several newcomers in his latest mystery.

Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?

I became interested in writing at a very young age.  I used to make up stories to entertain myself.  In addition, during my childhood, my mother kept us amused with her own seasonal tales at bedtime.  When I had my own children, she wrote short yarns featuring their alter egos.  I have been surrounded by storytelling my entire life.

What does your writing process look like?

Usually, a detailed scene forms in my mind out of the blue.  From that, I build the story as the characters take over and sort of do their own thing.  Research gets thrown in along the way.  At some point in the process, I have to outline the remaining portion of the book to keep everything on track. 

If you could cast your characters in the Hollywood adaptation of your book, who would play your characters?

For the Dewar brothers, I'd cast a young Jason Riddington as Duncan, Henry Cavill as Angus, Eddie Redmayne as Harold, and Alex Pettyfer as William.  Lily Collins would make a wonderful Angela, Duncan's love interest, while Emma Stone or Isla Fisher fit the role of Skye.  I would love to see Anthony Hopkins as Donald Merriwether, proprietor of the Blue Bell Inn.  Kit Harington would make a smashing Chief Inspector Wallace.  James Norton, no stranger to playing a vicar, might fill the role of Redmond Hayes very well.  Child actor, Shivansh Kotia, could be the ideal Ravi Patel, and I see English character actress Elizabeth Spriggs as Sidney Taylor.

Who was your favorite character in The Pernicious Pachyderm?

I think my favorite is newcomer Sidney Taylor.  While mentioned in The Christmas Contest, she makes her first personal appearance in The Pernicious Pachyderm.  She's a tenacious widow with a unique way of communicating and I had loads of fun developing the character and her dialogue.

What are you working on now? What is your next project?

I am currently working on a new mystery series.  These novels will be quite different from the Dewar books, but hopefully, they'll be just as enjoyable, with many memorable characters.  Duncan will return after a well-deserved vacation!

 When a boutique circus arrives in Taye, tourism is on the rise, but so is murder. Preparing for his upcoming nuptials and refurbishing his cottage aren't enough to keep Duncan occupied. A gruesome crime intrudes on the idyllic village, and as the detective becomes embroiled in the murky case, a specter from the past returns, threatening his happy ending. Can Duncan absolve an elephant accused of killing his ringmaster? Can he find the real killer before he or she strikes again? Will a jealous spirit from ancient Clan Neish hinder the Scotsman's wedding and harm his fiancée? Suspects abound as Dewar returns, joined by the usual cast of family and friends and several newcomers in his latest mystery set in beautiful Perthshire, Scotland.

 

Victoria Benchley 

 lives with her husband of over twenty years and their two children on the West Coast of the United States. She grew up reading the classics and counts Dickens and the Bronte Sisters as her favorite authors. After a career in corporate America spanning public accounting, cash management, and real estate investments, at national and international firms, she chose to become a stay-at-home mom and full time taxi cab driver for her children. She is a Christian and enjoys quilting, cooking, and traveling (road trips included!), as well as reading and writing. Come football season, she can be found most Sunday afternoons enjoying an NFL game. 

Social media and buying links

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