Victoria Benchley

Today we welcome Victoria Benchley to my blog. Victoria is sharing about her new book.

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!

Share your bio:

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. Her recipe for fiction is as follows: The right amounts of mystery, suspense, and romance, a dose of humor, a dash of thrills, a heaping cup of quirky and charming characters, and just a pinch of creepiness (to taste, if needed).

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 (including road trips!), as well as reading and writing.  On Sunday afternoons during football season, she can be found enjoying an NFL game.

Social media and buying links

Twitter                        http://twitter.com/@vbenchley
Website                       https://victoriabenchley.com/
Amazon Author Page http://amazon.com/author/victoriabenchley

Facebook page            https://fb.me/vbenchleyauthor 
Blog                            https://victoriabenchley.com/blog/  Join me here for a cuppa!

Amazon Buying Links:

 http://www.amazon.com/dp/B06X9YTXTJ  Duncan Dewar Mystery 7

 http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00VGU2PTM  Duncan Dewar Mystery 1

 http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00VMVL7M6  Duncan Dewar Mystery 2

 http://www.amazon.com/dp/B012RNONIM  Duncan Dewar Mystery 3

 http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00W3AOJIE  Short Story

 http://www.amazon.com/dp/B017X8MWJ8  Duncan Dewar Mystery 4

 http://www.amazon.com/dp/B017ZND8SA  Duncan Dewar Mystery 5

 http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LWTAWBE  Duncan Dewar Mystery 6