Guest Post & Giveaway: THE SPIRIT IN QUESTION by Cynthia Kuhn

As part of a blog tour organized by Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours, I am happy to host Cynthia Kuhn on my blog today.  She is here to tell us about her writing and her recent release, The Spirit in Question.

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Surprise! I’m in Your Book by Cynthia Kuhn

Recently, the family went back to my grad school—which I haven’t visited in about 15 years — for a sporting event. When we arrived at the center of campus, I realized with a jolt that the beautiful building facing us, where I had happily attended many classes, may have (subconsciously) been the inspiration for Randsworth Hall in the Lila Maclean Academic Mystery series.

In the books, Randsworth is described this way:

We headed out of Crandall Hall and kept to the outer perimeter sidewalk, passing Randsworth, the colossal building that housed the chancellor and other administrative VIPs. Crandall’s columns, while moderately impressive, were nothing compared to the embellishments of Randsworth, which could have been a cathedral with its lavish turrets, spires, and other ornamentations. Presiding over campus directly across the circle from the entry gates, Randsworth announced its own importance. – The Semester of Our Discontent

I passed the administration building, Randsworth Hall, which dominated the north side of campus. The gargoyles perched on the edge of the upper levels appealed to my Gothic sensibilities. Though many found their existence baffling and inexplicable, my humble opinion was that they added a certain whimsical charm to the campus. The designer had been a close friend of the university founder, Jeremiah Randsworth, and had been given carte blanche. He was also responsible for the pair of stone gryphons positioned at Stonedale’s main gates as well as the underground passageways linking many of the buildings together—though not everyone knew about those. – The Art of Vanishing

Obviously the building in the picture does not have numerous turrets, spires, or gargoyles. But I still feel as though the real building and the fictional building are related. It’s difficult to articulate, but it has something to do with aura. (Can a building have an aura? Let’s say yes and move on.)

To me, they both exude the same sort of presence: an undeniable embeddedness within the landscape. They clearly belong where they are. And since Lila—a new assistant professor in book one—is unsure whether she fits into the community, Randsworth serves as a visual counterpoint for her ongoing emotional journey in some ways. If you’d asked me before I went back to campus, I wouldn’t have even known that there was a connection.

Immediately second-guessing myself now. What does it mean that they “belong”? Doesn’t every building? They’re put there on purpose.

I know, I know. All I can say is that when I caught a glimpse of that building, I gasped and took a picture.

Yes, of its aura. If that’s a thing.

If not, we can just admire the blue skies…

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About The Spirit in Question

English professor Lila Maclean knew drama would be involved when she agreed to consult on Stonedale University’s production of Puzzled: The Musical.

But she didn’t expect to find herself cast into such chaos: the incomprehensible play is a disaster, the crumbling theater appears to be haunted, and, before long, murder takes center stage.

The show must go on—yet as they speed toward opening night, it becomes clear that other members of the company may be targeted as well. Lila searches for answers while contending with a tenacious historical society, an eccentric playwright, an unsettling psychic, an enigmatic apparition, and a paranormal search squad.

With all of this in play, will she be able to identify who killed her colleague…or will it soon be curtains for Lila too?

Giveaway

Click here to enter a rafflecopter for a chance to win any two Lila Maclean Academic Mysteries (ebook) and a $25 Amazon gift card.

About the Author

Cynthia Kuhn writes the Lila Maclean Academic Mystery series: The Semester of Our Discontent, an Agatha Award recipient for Best First Novel; The Art of Vanishing, a Lefty Award nominee for Best Humorous Mystery; and The Spirit in Question. She teaches in Denver, serves as president of Sisters in Crime-Colorado, and blogs with Chicks on the Case. For more information, please visit cynthiakuhn.net.

Author Links

• Webpage: cynthiakuhn.wordpress.com
• Blog: mysteristas.wordpress.com
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/cynthiakuhnwriter
• Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/cynthiakuhn
• Twitter: @cynthiakuhn

 Purchase Links

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