Where did the idea for Homicide in Hardcover come from?

I've had a lifelong love of antiquarian books and used to hang out at book fairs and auctions--not that I could afford the books. I just loved the atmosphere. A good friend at the time was a master bookbinder who took a damaged book of mine and turned it into a beautifully bound work of art. I was so intrigued by his work that I started taking bookbinding classes on my own, just for fun.

Years later, when I needed a unique hook for a new mystery series proposal, I came up with the idea of a rare book expert whose bookbinding and restoration skills invariably uncover old secrets, treachery and murder.

Any adventures in researching the book?

Well, I have to admit I'm not seriously into researching--not that I'm shallow or anything! But research sort of feels like being in school, and I was never a great student. So when I came up with my bookbinder protagonist, Brooklyn Wainwright, I decided to design her world in such a way as to make me really, really happy to do research.

So, Brooklyn is surrounded by the rare books she loves, and she lives and works in a loft in the SOMA area of San Francisco, and she was raised in a commune in Sonoma County where her family now owns vineyards and a winery and a restaurant. So I'm constantly forced to research good food, great wine and beautiful books. It's not easy but I pray for strength to get through it.

You're a member of the ITW Debut Author Program, how have they helped?

The ITW Debut Author Program is amazing. First of all, there are fabulous mentors who share invaluable information on the publishing industry and the writing craft, along with great ideas on promotion and suggestions of new markets and ways to sell our books.

Then there's the camaraderie of the group itself. Where else can you scream so ecstatically about a new contract, or whine about your crummy cover art or that stinker of a review you got? Who else will understand what you're going through quite as clearly as a peer? I feel so fortunate to be a part of this group and I can't thank ITW enough for the opportunity.

You're also a member of the Romance Bandits, tell us about that group.

Ah, the Banditas. Well, that's another very special group of peers! The Romance Bandits are twenty writers from among 80 or so 2006 RWA Golden Heart finalists who hit it off and became friends and decided to blog about our adventures and struggles and everyday craziness and ... well, it's all become a bit of a mini-phenomenon in blogdom (or is it blog-dumb?). We have a blast every day and our friends and followers seem to enjoy themselves, too.  Anyone can join in on the fun at http://romancebandits.blogspot.com/

What's up next for you?

I'm hard at work on book two of the Bibliophile Mysteries which takes place at the annual book fair in Edinburgh, Scotland. Oh darn, more research! I also just sold another book to ... (brace yourselves, thriller fans) ... Harlequin Romance! I must say I'm thrilled to be working for Harlequin. Talk about worldwide domination! I'll be working on that book next, then a third Bibliophile Mystery for NAL, and we'll see what happens after that.

Kate Carlisle's debut, Homicide in Hardcover, has been called "saucy, sassy, and smart."  Look for it coming in February, 2009.

As a pediatric ER doctor, contributing editor CJ Lyons has lived the life she writes about in her cutting edge suspense novels.  Her debut, LIFELINES (Berkley, March 2008), became a National Bestseller and Publishers Weekly proclaimed it a "breathtakingly fast-paced medical thriller."  The second in the series, WARNING SIGNS, is due out January, 2009.  Contact her at http://www.cjlyons.net