Why Josie McKade Wrote Her Mayson-Dickson Mysteries

I have to admit this is the first time I’ve been asked this question. Usually, it’s where did the idea come from? Well, my brain, my brain on caffeine, or my brain sleep deprived.

My latest mystery series Mayson-Dickson is truly me. You see, my entire family was from the Southern USA, then I – a Yankee – came along. Fortunately, I was an adorable and lovable child so they didn’t hold that against me. LOL My family moved frequently, and I went to school above and below that Mayson-Dickson line.

I can go from ‘y’all’ to ‘you guys’ in the same sentence. If you say ‘cart’ or ‘buggy’, I know exactly what you mean. I’m as equally at home with cornbread and cat-head biscuits, as I am with chowder and sourdough. There were days when my Southern soul will erupt and I can sling that accent like a pickup can sling gravel. Other days, my inner Kate Hepburn erupts sending fear through someone who has annoyed me with just an evil eye.

The seeds for Mayson-Dickson were planted a while ago on a road trip with my mom. She made some off-handed remark about that imaginary line and how I could go from Southern Rebel to Yankee hard-ass in a split second.

Roll foreword a few years, and inspiration hit, right after a large and delicious margarita. You’ll understand that if you read the books. Hubby was driving the truck, and I had the radio turned all the way up, and decided to sing to the top of my lungs whilst standing up with my head out the sun-roof. My daughter was not only a witness, but soon joined me in this concert. The other daughter sank as far down in the backseat as was humanly possible and ignored us.

Suddenly, it hit me, right after that big bug struck my cheek. Two sisters, a Yankee and a Rebel thrown together against a common cause. That was when Emme Mayson and Jackie Dickson were born.

Jackie is Boston proud, Harvard educated and with concrete in her veins is pure city girl. Her nerves shatter every time Emme says, ‘ain’t’, which is often.

Emme is from Alabama, Auburn University graduate, loves NASCAR and the country. She wants to send Jackie back to Boston on a hunt for the lost letter ‘R’.

As you can see, they are a match made in hell. While they are only one fist throw away from killing each other, finding out the truth about their backgrounds outweighs their base urges.

Each book in the series, The Line is Drawn and Yankee Tenacity can be read as a stand-alone. To get the full background it is best to read them in order.

It wasn’t enough that they be thrown together, they quickly learn their parents were some sort of spies, or at least worked for the government in a very top secret capacity. They are whisked away to a safe house for their protection. At least that’s what they are told.

Not getting any answers is driving them nuttier than each other, so they try to devise a way to investigate their parents without raising too many red flags. A chance encounter with a terrified man who has been hiding out in the basement of their safe house gives them quite an edge. Zack, is an elite hacker and his skills will be put to good use, if Jackie doesn’t hurt him first.

The safe house also comes with a caretaker who lives in a small cottage next door. What a caretaker! Fender, just Fender, is a hunky beach bum with a ripped body, sexy green eyes, and while he seems to have an almost instant attachment to Jackie, Emme suspects there is way more to the man than he is letting on.

Just as they think the dust has settled, a body is tossed from the ocean and lands on Emme. This disgusting moment is followed by an intense interrogation by Special FBI Agent Chris Meechum. He’s in the beach town on special assignment and meeting Emme, well the assignment just got a whole lot more special.

The sisters find they are remarkably good at solving the murder and seeing details others miss. Yet, in the back of their hearts, the only thing they truly want is the truth about them and their parents and that may be the hardest truth of all to uncover.

Buy Maison-Dickson: The Line is Drawn at Amazon  B&N   Kobo   iTunes

Maison-Dickson: Yankee Tenacity can be bought at Amazon

Jocie McKade is an award winning, Amazon bestselling author of thirteen books. She writes romantic comedies, and humorous cozy mysteries, and has been accused of making readers laugh out loud at inappropriate moments.

Besides writing fun fiction, Jocie pens articles for national publications. The senior news editor for a reader’s news blog, she is part of an award winning production team where she writes video scripts, press releases, and blog posts.

When not writing, she is plotting military maneuvers against hostile dust bunnies.

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I’d like to thank, Jocie for stopping by to share her fun story! I love this premise! And a hint of romance coming? What do you think, dear readers? Do you like house divided stories? Mysterious pasts?

I love comments so much that I pick a favorite to receive my monthly AnaBanana gift basket ($25 value).  (And don’t forget that once a quarter I’ll be tossing in something fun from the Perilously Fun Shop!) Recipient is announced the first blog post of the new month.

And guess what? This is the first blog post of November, so it’s time to announce a new winner! Drum roll please!

Diane Burton

Congrats and thanks for the comment love! AnaBanana will be in touch with you about how to claim your gift basket!

Perilously yours,

Pauline