Hi Frankie, welcome to my blog and may I just say thank you for taking the time to interview with me today! I have to tell you, when I was doing my interview questions research I giggled when I read that you live with your pet rock named: Rockie. (I have an African Violet named: Violet).
Where did you locate Rockie (other than the Rocky Mountains?) and what caused you to bring him/her/it home with you?
My daughters gave Rockie to me. I had said that I wanted a pet, but couldn’t 
afford the pet deposit and pet rent. I’m in an apartment and rent is ridiculously high already. So, they found this rock, painted a face on him, gave him a tail and ears, and even gave him a piece of poop stuck to his butt (Tootsie Roll). He guards my door.
That’s very cute, and it was quite thoughtful of them!
So — in one of your online bios, I did read that you have dated “vampires” and “werewolves.” I don’t think many of us can say the same. *chuckle*
(And out of curiosity), does this mean you now have similarities to Michael from Underworld: Evolution? If so, how’s that working out for you?
LMAO! Oh, man! Uh, I’m a bit allergic to the sun. I stand in it for fifteen minutes and I’m a lobster. Mr. Dork has discovered that the smell of garlic on his breath repels me.
Here’s the full story.
My mother likes to tell me I suck the life out of her soul. I tell her it’s so I can re-fill her voodoo doll. That’s how we show our love for each other. Sarcastic Love Wit.
Nice… *smile*
Aside from being a writer (and all the other career hats you’ve worn) you’re also an investigator with Colorado Paranormal Rescue. Can you share a bit about that calling with us? How did you get started? What is it exactly that you do? And who are you rescuing – the person from today or the spirit from yesteryear?
I was doing research for Whiskey Witches, actually. There’s a ghost hunt in the second episode, and I wanted to do a ride-along. Matt interviewed me and the next thing I knew, I was a tech on the team.
Originally, I was the flashlight holder, but only when I remembered to bring the flashlight. Then I was the EMF (Electro-magnetic field) investigator because I’m an electrician and understand man-made EMF. It’s all over.
Now, I’m lead investigator. I’m in charge of all the investigators, which is me and Collin, and reviewing the evidence. I’m in charge of the website, which I’m quite happy with.
Additionally I get to assist our psychics. I’m a practicing witch, which doesn’t mean a whole heck of a lot in reality, but I do understand how to work shields and protections and stuff like that. I make sure our psychics are safe.
We rescue both the living and the dead, actually. The entity is stuck and needs to move on. This is not where they belong, and the client deserves to live in their house without feeling attacked or watched. So, we rescue both.
Yes, I’m certain most people would agree that their home is where 
they want to feel safe and at peace.
Have you always had an affinity toward the other-world? Is that the correct word to use? And is this ‘draw,’ along with your personal experiences, what started you down the road of writing Paranormal and/or ‘Occult’ fiction?
Yup! When I was a kid, I remember going to the backyard and thinking I could call the wind when I was angry. I probably couldn’t. I just happened to get angry every afternoon and that’s when the wind kicked up. But I would think of something that made me particularly mad, and the wind would whip around me. It comforted me.
When I was a Sophomore, I took up Wicca as a way to rebel. It turned out to be great for me. While I don’t define myself as Wiccan, precisely, I still maintain a lot of those beliefs. I’ve just incorporated a lot of others as well.
I’ve seen ghosts. I’ve seen spirits. I believe I might even have talked to someone from another planet. Hey! You never know! Where else do imaginary friends come from? It’s a theory! I love the occult.
So, what can you tell us about your latest release: Whiskey Witches: Episodes 1 – 4? Can you expand the synopsis a bit further than what the jacket blurb provides?
I threw Paige into the occult world just as her gift gets ripped open and all her memories are returned. So, she is really thrown off-center.
But I also introduce the series villain, Sven. He’s quite the psychopath. Everyone thinks that he’s trying to get to her, but he’s really after her daughter, Leah. No one knows that, but you, me, your readers, and that fence post over there. LOL!
He sends her messages through all the bodies because she’s homicide detective and a witch. So he’s able to say quite a bit without anyone else even realizing what he’s saying. It’s a lot of fun. Gritty, but fun!
*chuckle* My go-to ‘secrecy’ phrase is “you, me, and that doorknob.”
What was your inspiration for this series? And with the series title being Whiskey Witches, (while I’m aware that Whiskey is that last name of a main protagonist) I’m also curious if there’s any historical reference, within any of the four books, to the fact that women also used to be burned at the stake for distilling spirits and not necessarily for practicing witchcraft?
The real inspiration was losing custody of my kids. I was angry and depressed. I had no real outlet. I needed to purge those emotions, and demons and angels made the best landscape for all of that.
Whiskey is their last name and it was chosen just for that reason. There’s another book out there by Fred Minnick called Whiskey Women, and it tells about how women were burned as “witches” because they were caught distilling whiskey, and how women had a greater role in whiskey’s history than is perceived.
Oh, yes. I love playing with history, throwing out crumbs to see who picks up on them. I won’t describe them all, but there are always nuggets in my books.
Aside from the enjoyment of the read, what do you hope your readers will take away with them upon completion of Whiskey Witches?
Several readers have mentioned that people aren’t what they seem in this series. Some demons are good. Some angels are bad. Religion isn’t always good, but the church is used as a sanctuary. A person is good, but still something that would make them bad. I didn’t do that, necessarily on purpose, but I do hope that people start seeing other people as PEOPLE, and not just THINGS that can be labeled, belittled, accosted, and yelled at.
Also, I hope that people see the other side of losing custody of kids. Sometimes, the other parent really doesn’t do anything wrong. They’re just not perfect or always right. Sometimes, they can go on trial for forgetting one thing. They can go on trial for getting their hair cut. I kid you not. I still feel guilty every single time I go to get my hair trimmed. I still feel guilty every single time I splurge on a coffee or a pair of work boots. I hope that people see that they don’t always know enough to judge, and that, maybe, they should just not.
Speaking from personal experience, people should never judge — they do not live in the other person’s life, nor do they always understand the reasons behind hard-to-understand choices.
At the end of the day (especially when it comes to children) parents should always choose what’s best for the child.
Last question though, before we end our interview – would you care to share where Detective Paige Whiskey goes from here?
Well, Blood Moon Magick is coming very soon! I’m so excited! We’re 
introduced to other parts of the paranormal/supernatural world! We meet shape shifters. And one of our characters is bitten by one! EEEEKKK!!!
And then, in A Barrel of Whiskey, we get to go back home to Texas and meet Paige’s family. There’s a lot less plot in that one because there’s a lot more character plot. I love, love, love Paige’s family, and it’s time to get them out of Texas. So much is going on! So. Much! I’m tickled. Just tickled!
Thanks for spending some time with me to answer these questions, Frankie. I certainly wish you the very best in all your current, and future, endeavors!
Thank you so much for taking the time to invite me onto your blog!
*****
Author Bio:
SM Blooding lives in Colorado with her pet rock, Rockie, and her two birds, Jack and Moose. She’s currently up to her to ears in yarn and crochet projects as she’s just discovered one in seventy-five stitches that she didn’t know. Oh, the horror.
Her real name is Stephanie Marie (aka SM), but only family and coworkers call her that, usually when they’re screaming at her. Friends call her Frankie.
Frankie challenges the world around her. She served in the military as one of the first female tactical air traffic controllers, worked at a coal mine, and shot herself through school to become a CAD (computer aided drafter) operator. She’s worked as a stenographer, a lab technician for a scientist attached with NOAA, and traveled with the Renaissance Festival. She’s survived hurricanes in a tent, and ditches in winter. She’s sometimes crass, often crude, and almost always blunt.
She’s dated vampires, werewolves, sorcerers, weapons smugglers and US Government assassins. Yes. She has stories.
She loves to take the real world, find a singular line of truth, and wrap a complex fiction of reality around it. She’s incredibly excited to share her world with you, and there’s a wide selection to choose from.
She’s also an investigator with a local paranormal investigation group, Colorado Paranormal Rescue!
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Thanks Charline, that was a great interview!
Thank you again for having me! You have been fabulous!