Friday 23 March 2012

The One-Link Lowdown on...Maggie Toussaint



I'm beyond thrilled to welcome Maggie Toussaint to The Lowdown today!

In the list of 'people I'd like to 'write like,'' she's definitely in my top five. Her latest book,
Murder In The Buff, has just been released by Muse It Up Publishing, and you can expect more in the same vein soon with her next release, Death, Island Style.

Writer of both romantic suspense and cosy mysteries with a touch of murder and mayhem, Maggie is warm, witty, funny and so darn talented she ought to be illegal! If you think I'm egging the Maggie-pudding a bit, well, dear reader - read on to find out why I adore this lady so much, and prepare to become a fan. Welcome, Maggie!


Okay, lady, here we go! Let's kick off with you telling us three surprising things about yourself, one of which is a fib - and we'll try to guess the fib!

I walked out to the screened edge of the Eiffel Tower and basked in the night lights of Paris.

I nearly cut my big toe off while I was wading in the surf.

My houseplants live for the day when someone else takes them home

Which household chore would you happily give up for ever?

I hate cleaning the grout in the shower. Ugh. Would someone please invent self-cleaning grout?

What talent or skill would you love to have that you don’t have now?

I sing by hearing something and repeating it. Sometimes I get it right, sometimes I don’t. I’d love to have perfect pitch. Then I’d never sing a sour note. Mostly never, anyway.

Which animal do you think you’re most like, and why?

I’m most like a baby roo, a joey. I like to be warm and comfy and close to my family. And it would be ultra cool to be carried around and be close to all the milk you could ever want to drink.

Doesn't that sound like bliss? On the other hand, though, what drives you seriously nuts?

When food gets between caught my teeth, it feels like there’s a 2x4 lodged in there. I have to get it out right away or I can’t think.

Oh, I hear you, that's so annoying. So maybe apart from a lifetime's supply of toothpicks, what single invention would change your life for the better?

I want one of those meal machines on the wall from the Star Trek Next Generation series. I would love to go stand in front of the wall, tell it what I want, and have breakfast/lunch/dinner pop out ready to go.

What's your guilty pleasure?

Well...it’s in the bedroom. And, um, I’m not sure how to come right out and say this...but...I, uh, like to...no, I LOVE to...take naps. Hah! Had you going, didn’t I? Seriously, nothing I like better than to drowse in a warm puddle of sunshine.


Ah, Maggie, you and me both! I adore napping, so much so I think I must have been a cat in a former life. Now, tell me this - what’s the best review you've ever had?

The last one! Seriously, a fan wrote me today and asked for a sequel to a stand-alone mystery. Asking for more more of my work is music to my ears.

That's wonderful, no wonder you were thrilled! Aside from writing achievements, family, etc - what are you most proud of?

When I was a cancer researcher, my company patented a drug with antitumor properties and named it after me: Maggiemycin. It didn’t make a big splash in the world of cancer treatment as other drugs had better modes of action, but even so, it’s out there, and it’s named for me. If you google maggiemycin, you’ll see. I’m very nearly famous.

That's something to be seriously proud of. Maggie, I could chat with you all day, but sadly it's time for our last question. Tell me - what’s your favourite piece of music?

I love the Louie Armstrong version of What A Wonderful World. And his signature tag at the end “oh, yeah,” hits a marshmallow spot in me that makes me smile from the inside out.

Oh...I hear it now! Beautiful. That will make me smile all day. I'm so glad you've been my guest today, Maggie. I'd love to send our visitors off with that same warm smile to your One-Link, your truly gorgeous website. Oh, but before you go - time to 'fess up on the fib, I think!

My fib was...walking to the edge of the Eiffel Tower. I got off that elevator and hugged the elevator housing like it was my salvation. I have vertigo, and I felt sure I’d fall off even from the safety of the middle of the platform. We went for medicinal crepes as soon as we hit solid ground.

Love it! Great to see you, Maggie. Good luck with all your future projects!

25 comments:

  1. Hi Jane,
    I'm getting a late start on the day, not enough nap yesterday, so I made up for it by sleeping in. It's a pleasure to be here, that's for sure. Before I leave to let folks know about this post, I was very surprised at the number of your guests who wanted to sing better - me included. Who knew? Catch up with you in a few shakes. Maggie

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  2. Ooooh, really nice cover for Murder in the Buff! Congrats on the new release.

    And I bet self-cleaning grout would be a big hit, so someone should get on inventing that. Or we could just hope to sell enough books to hire a housecleaner, thus making it someone else's problem!

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  3. What a delightful interview. Love the title of your new book. Love mysteries too. And what a sweet thought to be a baby roo. Best wishes!

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  4. Hi JQ,

    I am a cuddler and a nester and nearly always cold, so a baby roo seemed like the perfect animal choice for me.

    Thanks for stopping in and leaving a comment.

    Maggie

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  5. Maggie--crepes will cure you every time. Good choice. I saw the Eiffel Tower but it was closed for repairs. Boo-hoo. I am so glad two of my favorite people in internet land love to take naps, too. Now, I feel an even closer connection. I was born to take naps. This is very hard to do when you teach high school, though. However, I have made up for it since retiring.
    I love all your answers--so good, as usual. And Jane's One-Link Lowdown is at the top of my favorite blogs--I rarely pass it up--although I might not comment every time.
    Have a good day, girls!

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  6. Hi Celia,

    I never knew we were nap sisters. What fun! I also feel that I was born to take naps. I don't usually need a long one, just a tiny bit of a snooze resets my engine.

    Thanks for the visit and the comment.

    Maggie

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  7. Hi Jane and Maggie, this was fun! I guessed your fib and I'm with you.. no heights, please.

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  8. What a fun interview! I never thought I'd say this, but I agree on naps. They are wonderful. I love the title of the new book and the cover. And so agree about the self cleaning grout. How awesome would that be?

    stacygreenauthor.com

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  9. What a wonderful interview. I think every answer made me smile. I'm with you on drowsing in the warm sunshine, although I like to do it with a book.

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  10. Hi LK,

    Did I remember correctly and we both don't care much for heights? Wishing you all the best with your projects!

    Maggie

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  11. Hi Stacy,

    Greetings fellow napper! Thanks for the nice things you said about Murder in the Buff.

    Come on you inventors out there. Get to work on making self-cleaning grout for us!

    Thanks for stopping in.

    Maggie

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  12. Hi Keena,

    I'm glad to have brought a smile to your face today. Who knew there were so many of us nappers out here in cyberspace? We should form a club or something, except who'd be awake enough to run it???

    Thanks for the love!

    Maggie

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  13. Hi Maggie, hi everyone!

    It's fantastic to see you all! Didn't you just love Maggie's answers?

    United in cat-napping, I love it! It should be taught to everyone as a life skill, in my vho. How much nicer the world would be if people took time to nap instead of stressing out. The European idea of the post-lunch siesta should be adopted and made compulsory!

    As to heights - me too. Not good with heights. A step-ladder is about as much as I can manage and even then my knees are shaking, so Maggie, I am full of admiration for you even climbing that far up the Eiffel Tower, never mind venturing out on the platform. (When I was a stage manager, I perfected the art of ordering my assistants up the ladders!)

    The lovely thing about blogs is you can meet old friends and make new ones, so I do hope that's what's happened today.
    Maggie, I just put Murder In The Buff on my Kindle, and can't wait to settle down with it!

    It's just after 6 in the UK, so I'll be making dinner shortly, but I'll be back later. Have a great day, everyone!

    Jane x

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  14. Hi Jane,

    I've had a blast visiting with friends here today, and I encourage all visitors to leave comments so that we get a chance to know you.

    Your blog has such a nice feel, Jane. Thanks so much for your stellar hospitality!

    Maggie

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  15. I'm with you on the high places. Forget it. I feel like I'm going to fall off. I went up to the Peach Tree Restaurant in Atlanta once--you know, the disc that spins on a spindle high up in the clouds. The elevator was glass and I clung to the control panel with my husband parked right behind me. I tried to get drunk so I could have the courage to go back down--couldn't even get drunk I was so scared. I thought you were going to say your houseplants were waiting for someone to take them away. LOL
    I really enjoyed your blog and learning new things about you, Maggie.

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  16. Hi Sarah,

    Thank you for stopping by Jane's place to read all these odd facts about me. God save us both from high places. If I ever think I have writer's block, I'm going to go out and climb a tree to the very top to experience terror again.

    My houseplants, and I should say house plant because I gave my aloe plant to a friend undergoing radiation treatments - all I have left is a spider plant - well anyway, somewhere in this mess is a sentence. I have a black thumb, and my plants survive in spite of me. I try to find them good homes before I murder them.

    Take care! Maggie

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  17. Hi Maggie, I was out all day and just got around checking emails and blogs. Your interview is so funny. Best of luck with Murder in the Buff. I'm sure every reader will love it as much as I did.

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  18. Loved this interview. I also went up the Eiffel Tower but couldn't go right to the edge. And I have a nap every afternoon. Maybe you were intended to be Spanish!

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  19. Hello from a fellow napper! Napping to Louie Armstrong...what a wonderful world it would be...

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  20. Hi Mona.

    It's never to late to say something nice! I'm thrilled you had time to stop by and share your opinion aobut Muder in the Buff. I'm glad your review is out there on Amazon and other places for folks to see.

    Thanks! Maggie

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  21. Hi Jenny,

    Thank you, my Spanish friend, for stopping in at the blog. Perhaps I am Spanish and didn't know it. God knows the Spanish have the right idea with siestas. Maybe I was not only born to the wrong parents, but on the wrong soil. Interesting concept!

    Maggie

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  22. Hi Liana,

    ((secret napper head nod)) Welcome to Jane's place and a bit of fun. You know how much I love music. I thought for several hours before I could come up with one favorite song. But this title, in addition to sounding great, has personal meaning to me and it has become something of a motto. What a wonderful world it would be if everyone had happy endings.

    Thanks for the visit!

    Maggie

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  23. Maggie, you are my kind of gal, other than hugging the the elevator. My husband did that. I leaned as far foward as I could and wanted to fly. That screen is there for a reason! On another note, can't wait to read Murder in the Buff. It's on my to do list.

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  24. Maggiemycin, I love it! Interesting interview and your story sounds like a hoot!

    Congratulations Maggie and nice to learn a little more about you. Sorry I'm a day late:)

    Cheers, Sara

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  25. How smashing to see more visitors today! Thank you all for coming over to see my mate Maggie!

    Maggie, it's always lovely to spend some time with you!

    Jane x

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