Interview with a Cozy Mystery Main Character

I have to admit, it was difficult to catch up with Maginty ("Maggie") Gemini Aster, the protagonist in my Gemini Sister Sleuths cozy mystery series. She's a busy woman and though I tried for months to get her to sit down with me for this interview, it wasn't until just yesterday that we actually connected. She apologized for rescheduling on me three times in a row. I get it, though. She's a mother and a business owner, and spare time for things like this is hard to come by.

I managed to ask her a handful of questions before she got an urgent call from her identical twin sister, Belinda, about a case that the two of them are working on. Maggie hung up the phone in a tizzy and excused herself, saying something about how a prime suspect was on the move and she had to hit the road. Well, at least we connected. Here's the interview. Enjoy!

Interview with Maginty ("Maggie") Gemini Aster

Me: What’s the best vacation you have ever gone on?

Maggie: For our honeymoon, my ex-husband Jake and I went to Italy. We spent a week in Rome and then went to Florence. I loved everything about Rome… The hotel we stayed at was very old and quirky—I still remember the teeny tiny bathroom with a bright red toilet and black-and-white tiled floor. Anyway, it had a fabulous restaurant where we ate breakfast every day. Sometimes we had dinner there, too. The food was incredible. So fresh! The city was vibrant and alive. I’ve lived in Silver Ridge, Colorado, for my entire life. If you’ve never been, it’s a smallish town in the mountains. Being in Rome made me realize that I’m a city girl at heart! The shopping was to die for. I still have many of the gorgeous pieces I bought while in Florence, including the cutest leather purse. I don’t have Jake anymore, but that’s a different story. 

Me: I'd like to hear more about that one day. What’s your favorite movie for a rainy day? 

Maggie: I like action adventure. The Mission Impossible series comes to mind. There's nothing like a good challenge! Sometimes my life feels like one impossible mission after another, but I manage. 

Me: What is a typical day like for you? 

Maggie: Whew, boy! The typical day is a whirlwind! If I'm working, I wake up at three o'clock in the morning so that I can start baking by four. The morning is the best part of the day, so don’t feel bad for me that I rise so early. I love being up ahead of the crowd and getting a head start.

By eight o'clock in the morning I’m usually done with the prep, baking, packaging, and cleaning. Then I take a quick break for breakfast before getting started on client visits. I deliver my meal replacement muffins (they’re high in protein and fiber) to clients by hand, and usually do health check-ins while I’m at it. In the afternoon, I sometimes pick up my daughter, Charlotte, from middle school and then spend the afternoon with her. If she’s with her dad, I visit her at his place (literally... his restaurant is called Jake’s Place). I’m usually in bed by seven or eight. And I squeeze in a lot of other things, too. Like visits with my twin, Belinda, and workouts. I can’t miss my exercise. If I do, you want to stay far, far away from me because I get seriously cranky.

Me: If you could be any age again for a day, which age would you choose?

Maggie: Oh, twenty-eight for sure! I was a new mom and loving every minute of it. I used to just hold Charlotte and look into her big, beautiful eyes and think how I was the luckiest woman in the world. She was a very happy baby.

Me: If you were a season, which one would you be?

Maggie: Spring. It’s a time when everything’s bursting with energy… grass popping up, rivers rushing, flowers blooming. And that’s me. I like growing as a person; I’m always trying to learn new things. Hey, in this day in age, you have to if you want to be successful in business. You have to keep up with the times, right? I’m also always on the move. People tell me to slow down, but I don’t have time for that.

Me: Favorite smell?

Maggie: Fresh baked muffins.

Me: If you could go back in time, which era would you travel to?

Maggie: Tough question. I don’t know if I’d like to go back in time. I’m not a fan of going backward. I’d much rather go forward. Can I choose to go ahead ten years and see if I’ve made it to the podium yet, at the Silver Ridge Business Woman of the Year awards ceremony? I know my muffin business is going to be a huge success. It’s already doing well, but I think it can do much better. If I could pop into the future to verify, that’d be great motivation for me now. 

Me: What do you like to do in your free time?

Maggie: Free time? What free time?? Just kidding. When I manage to get a day off. I like to get outside. Walking on the bike path by the river is good for me. I love to visit with my grandmother, Celeste. She's always up to something exciting, and she's wise in her own way. I also spend time with my daughter, of course, and my identical twin, Belinda. She’s a character. Are you going to interview her?

Me: Maybe. We’ll see. In your opinion, what’s the most interesting thing about you? 

Maggie: Can I say two things?

Me: Please do.

Maggie: Okay, here’s the first. I just learned this recently, actually, and I’d appreciate it if you didn’t spread it around. But since you asked… I come from a long line of witches. The women in the Aster family come into their powers later in life. I mean, later than the average witch, it seems to me.

And the second thing is that my identical twin sister, Belinda, is involved in fighting crimes. She’s highly intelligent, and people come to her with all sorts of problems. Then, she goes about picking up seemingly random details and stringing them together until eventually she figures out who committed the crime. I help her. Sometimes it's a pain in the butt, but I still do it. I feel duty-bound, I guess. She’s smart, like I said, but lacking in common sense and people skills. Sometimes that gets her in trouble. Oh, shoot. That's her calling now. (Picks up phone.) Yikes, I gotta run. (Stands and grabs her purse.)

Me: Thanks, Maggie! (I don't think she heard me. She ran right out the door.)

That's it! Hope you enjoyed this interview with the energetic, career-oriented, glamorous Maggie Aster. If you want to spend some time sleuthing with Maggie and her witchy twin Belinda, pick up the first book in my Gemini Sister Sleuths series today. The mystery of The Man Who Vanished is waiting for you:)

What other question would you like to ask Maggie? Post it in the comments, below. Who knows, she may even pop by to answer a few...