Gator
Queen
By:
Tara Lush
This book was quite entertaining. As a current Floridian,
I can relate to some events, and how people act towards gators. However, I’ve
never been lucky enough to see someone get them off any properties.
The thing that annoys me about people is the fact that
they think that they can shoot and trap gators without any recourse. Apparently,
people don’t do their due diligence and research to know the laws where they
live. Animals are protected in Florida. But that doesn’t stop people and
trappers from anything. It also doesn’t stop them from feeding them. People
will always do what they want and live to regret it later.
Maggie was the Gator Queen. Her father Logan Andrews was
the Gator King, he had passed away and Maggie took over the business. She had
always gone on calls with her dad, and he was the one who called her the Gator
Queen. Her family had been trapping gators for four generations, and she had
caught her first baby when she was six.
Maggie had moved back to Florida, after residing in
Boston. She had a sister named Vera who owned a store devoted to romance
novels. Maggie decided to come back to Wahoo when her father had been diagnosed
with cancer, and he had asked her for two favors. Take care of her sister and
take over the business.
This story is told by Maggie. Another thing that is
fascinating is that she stood five feet tall and maybe weighed in at a hundred
pounds. She was a small thing. But she knew her stuff.
When people and companies started building and occupying
homes in swamp areas, Maggie would get upset. It irritated her. It was like
they were asking for trouble. This caused her to start losing faith in people.
The story intermingles with another gator trapper named
Gene. He makes the sisters’ skin crawl. On top of that, he happens to think he
is something.
The best part of this book is that it is told in a manner
that captivates you. And Maggie and Vera are quite entertaining. But there’s
more. Jack Bianchi, who is from Miami, is a criminal investigator. Vera and her
so-called boyfriend are creating a mystery of their own that is causing
concern. This causes Maggie to worry that something is amuck, and she refuses
to allow anyone to ruin her family legacy. A mystery that is getting a lot of
attention.
The story is fun, entertaining and sometimes even funny.
Especially Maggie and her own thoughts. It is so detailed that I thought for
certain I could smell Gene, and he even made my lip curl. It is worth reading
and is a true five-star mystery. A mystery like none other. I was glad that I
seen an advertisement for it, because it brings animals and people together in
an entertaining format.
Here are my interview questions for Tara:
1.
What made you write this book and how long did it take you to write?
It
took me about three months to write Gator Queen. I’d wanted to write a cozy
mystery with a gator trapper back in 2020. I’m a huge fan of reality TV and
streaming documentaries so this idea came to me and wouldn’t let go. I hoped to
write a funny, bonkers cozy mystery that was a little edgy for the genre,
something like Carl Hiaasen but a little less cynical.
2.
Who designed your cover?
My
publisher, 8th Note Press, contracted with a graphic design firm in the UK
called We Are White Fox. They did an amazing job with both Gator Queen and its
sequel, Swamp Princess.
3.
What is your favorite part of this book and your favorite character?
Setting
aside Catsy the Cat and Harry the Iguana, my favorite character is Maggie. I
love how she’s practical, down-to-earth, and snarky.
4.
Are you working on anything right now?
I’m
indie publishing a series called The Crescent Moon Mystery Series. It’s about a
midlife witch in Florida who solves crimes and other paranormal
mysteries.
5.
Who is your favorite writer and why?
That’s
a tough one. I don’t think I could just pick one writer. My current favorite
writer is Elin Hilderbrand. She really knows how to write an unputdownable
story! I’m reading her book The Hotel Nantucket and I’m so entertained.
6.
What are your hobbies?
I
love to walk and do yoga. Last year I started to learn Italian and that’s
become my main hobby. I study every day.
7.
What made you decide to be a writer when you grew up?
I
thought it would bring adventure to my life! When I was little, I wrote Raiders
of the Lost Ark-like books. Eventually I became a journalist, then a fiction
writer.
8.
What do you suggest to people wanting to become a writer?
Read
a lot. Read outside of your preferred genre. Read everything you can get your
hands on.
9.
What do you like best about writing?
I
love being able to create entire worlds, and to craft stories that end happily,
with justice.
10.
Please share with us all your social media and book links:
Website: https://taralush.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@
