Miami Music Mystery – Ladies of Mystery

Many years ago, I became an avid reader of cozy mysteries. The story lines were intriguing, engaging, and funny at the same time. I was so inspired by the authors’ novels, that I then decided to take my musical experiences, and put it on paper. Because I write what I know, I would say that 80% of the plot and characters are drawn from real life experiences, except for the murders! Luckily, I have never been involved in a crime investigation. I was born and raised in Miami, and like the novel’s main character Vy, I am a singer/songwriter, Grammy considered, independent artist, and I was the lead singer for a cover band in Miami. When I wrote my first book, The Last Note: A Miami Murder Mystery, the drummer of my band was a homicide detective, so when it came to the murders and the how to, he was the one I would go to with a list of questions. For my sequel, In the Key of Dead: A Miami Music Mystery, I am fortunate enough to be friends with a retired homicide detective that helped me with the murders this time around. I had to do extensive research on the weight of an electric guitar, and how fatal the swing of the guitar had to be in order to deem a person unconscious. Vy’s phobias, the dream sequences, and the quirkiness of the other characters, are all based on facts as well. No friend of mine is safe. I do get their permission for use of characters, and I ask what they want their character to be named. Surprisingly enough, many of my new supporting characters, wanted to use their birth-given name. After getting their okay to continue, the same question was asked by each one of them, “Are you going to kill me off?” I would always respond with, “Don’t make me upset, and I will consider keeping your character alive.” Overall, the love I have for Miami, the Cuban culture, my family, and music, are drawn from my life, my experiences, and who I am surrounded by.

While reading my books, I hope readers will laugh, fall in love with a character, relate to a character, but most importantly, I want the reader to escape from the real world for a few hours. Having readers say they enjoyed reading my book and commenting that they could not figure out the identity of the murderer is rewarding. But the most rewarding feeling is knowing that I was able to make my dream of becoming an author a reality.

IN THE KEY OF DEAD: A Miami Music Mystery

Killer songs and a killer voice land Vy in yet another melodic murder mystery. Interlude Records has signed Vy to a long-anticipated record deal after years of rejections, but she never thought that murder would be part of the deal. Now, Vy finds herself, yet again, at the center of a murder investigation that may change the course of her music career.

It seems that someone doesn’t want Vy to record her album, and is doing everything to sabotage the release date, including murdering a key member of the production team. So Vy and her sister, Alexia, are back at it again—detecting in their own way. This time they’re using their quick-witted banter, and super sleuthing skills to ensure that Vy’s record makes it to the Billboard Top 100 list before the murderer makes it to the Miami Beach Police Department’s most wanted list.

They say the music industry is cutthroat, but Vy has never taken that statement literally. Could this be the strum of Vy’s guitar playing her last note IN THE KEY OF DEAD?

https://www.amazon.com/Key-Dead-Miami-Music-Mystery-ebook/dp/B0CDHHNMBP

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

The Miami Music Mystery series’ main backdrop, the amazing city of Miami, Florida, is beloved and well-known to me. I was born and raised in Miami, and like the novel’s main character Vy, I am a singer/songwriter, Grammy considered, independent artist. All things relating to music or literature are my passion.

Many years ago, I became an avid reader of cozy mysteries. The story lines were intriguing, engaging, and funny at the same time. I was so inspired by the authors, that I then decided to take my musical experiences, and put it on paper. I published my first novel, The Last Note, a Miami Music Mystery. Now, I have brought my characters back to life, in the sequel, In the Key of Dead, a Miami Music Mystery. The phobia’s, the dream sequences, and the quirkiness of the characters, are all based on facts. I hope that I was able to, once again, show the readers of my novels, the love I have for Miami, the Cuban culture, my family, and music.

You can visit the following websites for find out more about my books and music:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Zaida-Alfaro/author/B079TD61KP

FaceBook: www.facebook.com/zaidaauthor

Instagram: www.instagram.com/zaidamusic

Twitter: www.twitter.com/zaidamusic

Website: www.zaidamusic.com

Since I can remember, I was always writing. I would write poems to my family and to my imaginary best friends. Then as I got older, my poems progressed into song lyrics, and those song lyrics progressed into my two music albums. Then, many years ago, I became an avid reader of cozy mysteries, because of my sister. She gifted me a book because of its cover. I ended up reading the entire series of the author. I didn’t know the cozy genre existed before then. The story lines were intriguing, engaging, and funny at the same time. I was so inspired by the authors, that I then decided to take my musical experiences, and put it on paper. I began writing and completing this first novel, in between my full-time job, my weekend gigs, and my personal life. The phobia’s, the dream sequences, and the quirkiness of the main characters, are all based on facts. I also wanted to bring the love I have for Miami, the Cuban culture, my family, and music, to the readers of my novel, and to the series to come. The ironic thing is the main character is not my favorite character in my book. My favorite character is Alexia. At first, Alexia was not going to have such a big role in my book, but the more I wrote her, the more that I fell in love with her character. The character is based off my older sister, and a lot of the bantering, communication, and the closeness that Vy and Alexia have in the book, portrays my actual relationship with my older sister.

If you are currently writing a novel, the best advice I can give you is to not give up. I received so many rejection letters, that I was on the verge of not sending out any more query letters. Then I attended a book signing for one of my favorite authors. Fortunately for me, and unfortunately for her, I was the only person that attended the signing. I was able to sit with her for an hour and talk about my novel and the hardships. She said to me, “give yourself a deadline of a year before you resort to self-publishing. Do not give up just yet.” So, when I left that signing, I calendared a year from that date. In six months, my book was picked up! So, do not give up. Give yourself a deadline and send out as many query letters as you can. There will be one publisher that will believe in your work, but make sure that you believe in your work first.

I just want to say, thank you readers and to Paty for taking the time to read my book and also blog about it. I hope that you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. Welcome to my crazy world!

THE LAST NOTE: A Miami Music Mystery

Killer songs and a killer voice, but a killer at her gig? Vy has always found herself at the center of attention as the lead singer for one of Miami’s top cover bands, but when she finds herself at the center of a murder investigation, while performing at the Steel Horse Bar, that changes the tune of the night.

Someone believes that Vy knows the truth behind the murder of the bar owner Ricky, and now that person is after her. Vy better figure out quickly who wanted Ricky dead, who is threatening her with her favorite band’s song lyrics, and why she’s falling for the handsome Detective Houston, before she too sings her last note.

With a mixture of mystery, mayhem and comedy, you will find yourself immersed in Vy’s musical and murderous world.

buy link:
https://www.amazon.com/Last-Note-Miami-Music-Mystery/dp/1946063487

The novel’s main backdrop, the amazing city of Miami, Florida, is beloved and well-known to me. I was born and raised in Miami, and like the novel’s main character Vy, I am a singer/songwriter, as well as the lead singer to a self-proclaimed cover band. All things relating to music or literature are my passion. I keep a journal, and I am constantly writing poems, stories, and any thought that comes to mind. I have a fascination for black and white films, that have the element of mystery. As I have been told by many, I have a very creative imagination. Many years ago, I became an avid reader of cozy mysteries. The story lines were intriguing, engaging, and funny at the same time. I was so inspired by the authors, that I then decided to take my musical experiences, and put it on paper, hence the outcome of The Last Note: A Miami Music Mystery.