Welcome to Around The Fire! Today's guest is author, Marilyn Baron.

I don't know where you're from by here in Northern New Jersey the Hazy, Hot, and Humid is in full force. We don't have central air but are blessed with two window units. One on each side of the house makes it comfortable. Though not cool, it pulls the humidity out. So, we're going to have pretend fire here. I'm so glad you joined us. My guest today is the fabulous Marilyn Baron! 

​Hi, Marilyn. While I perform my hostess duties, tell us, did you ever win something?
Yes, when I was 14, I won a contest called “My Burning Yearning,” about what famous person I’d like to meet. And it was Jackie Gleason. They picked me, my parents and my best friend up in a limo and took us to watch The Jackie Gleason Show on Miami Beach and I got to meet Jackie Gleason. While he was standing next to my mother in the photograph his cigarette was burning my mother’s dress, but she didn’t care, she was so excited to meet the performer.

To the moon, Alice! What was your first job?
My first job was in high school selling popcorn and candy at the concession at the Miracle Theatre in Coral Gables, Florida. On my breaks I watched movies and practically memorized them. One I’ll never forget is “How Sweet It is,” with Jackie Gleason. That was the year The Graduate was first released. My most unusual job was as Information Specialist at the Florida Department of Offender Rehabilitation, basically public relations for the Florida prison system. I also wrote a book based on that experience called The Alibi.
    
Inspiration comes from life. What’s the most amazing natural occurrence you’ve witnessed?
We used to own a condo on the beach at Palm Coast, Florida, and I got to see the wild baby sea turtles leave their nest during sea turtle nesting season and race into the ocean.
 
I love sea turtles. How do you select the names of your characters?
I have to have the names of my characters and the title of the book before I can start to write. I will just be going along, living life and suddenly I’ll hear a name and say, “That’s going to be one of my characters.” I’ve selected names listening to someone in line to buy a wedding present at Bloomingdales and names of children visiting the Atlanta Aquarium. Sometimes I’ll look up popular boy or girl names in Germany or Italy or whatever country I’m setting my book. I tend to use (or overuse) M names. My favorite name is Alexandra. I named my dog Cinnamon Alexandra, but I also named one of my characters Alexandra.

Do you read your book reviews? How do you deal with bad or good ones?
Yes, I do. I really appreciate reviews. If I get a bad one, I (try to) ignore it.

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The Case of the Missing Botticelli
A Massimo Domingo Mystery – Book 1
​Marilyn Baron

In this cozy mystery, American art history major Hadley Evans joins an art detective agency in Florence, Italy, working for Massimo Domingo, once a major player, now the ‘Inspector Clouseau’ of the art world. Determined to save the flailing agency and prove her worth, Hadley and her sexy Carabinieri boyfriend, Luca Ferrari, take on a mysterious client behind her boss’s back. Hot on the trail of a missing masterpiece, they discover a hidden cache of stolen Nazi art in a Venetian villa and encounter an enemy with a link to an evil past.

Get your copy of The Case of the Missing Botticelli
AMAZON
BARNES & NOBLE
APPLE

What other's are saying.
Redi44Crew
5.0 out of 5 stars 
Reviewed in the United States on January 30, 2022 Verified Purchase
Transported to Italy
The Case of the Missing Botticelli by Marilyn Baron is an escape to Florence, Italy. When I pick up a Marilyn Baron book, I know I will be transported to a beautiful place and this book delivers! The story was surrounded with lavish Italian flavor which swept me away and kept me turning pages.
Our heroine Hadley is a feisty, adventurous art-historian intern. Seriously, she needs a raise because she does the work while her employer lives off his reputation (probably built on a multitude of interns). He is an odious character that I loved to hate. Kudos to Baron for creating such a relatable work environment which makes the reader wish for Hadley to succeed. While I must warn the reader of a possible cheating trigger with good characters and bad, as well as negative and positive consequences, I understood Hadley's choices.
Is Luca the love interest swoon-worthy? He is the Italian police officer who sweeps Hadley off her feet and becomes her sidekick. They reminded me a little of John Steed and Emma Peel in the old Avengers cozy mysteries. Luca is accommodating and supportive of Hadley's schemes to a fault. (Those who read the blow-up will know exactly what I'm referring to--but no spoilers here!) He bucks the old cliché of the emotionally distant detective by allowing Hadley's expertise to take the lead on the case.
Overall, I recommend The Case of the Missing Botticelli by Marilyn Baron to anyone who wishes to escape to the art museums of Florence, Italy.

More about the author and where to find her.
Marilyn decided to become a writer when she read Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder. Her first short story was The Gold Lace Dress. She wrote her first book, East West Island, in grade school. It featured all of the children in her third-grade class and her teacher read it to the students in installments during class every day. She wrote and directed her first play at age 13, starring her brother and sisters and some of the neighborhood kids. The show raised money for the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum.
Marilyn is a public relations consultant in Atlanta, a PAN member of Romance Writers of America (RWA) and Georgia Romance Writers (GRW) and winner of the GRW 2009 Chapter Service Award. She is also a member of Atlanta Writers Club. Marilyn was past chair of the Roswell Reads steering committee and serves on the Atlanta Authors committee. She writes in a variety of genres from humorous women’s fiction, historical romantic thrillers, romantic suspense and paranormal/fantasy. She loves to travel and often sets books in places she’s visited.
She was born in Miami, Florida, and graduated from The University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida, with a Bachelor of Science in Journalism (Public Relations) and a Minor in English (Creative Writing). Go Gators! She lives in Roswell, Georgia, with her husband, and she spends a lot of time hovering over her two wonderful daughters.
Listen to my author interview on Author Provocateur podcast HERE.

Website: www.marilynbaron.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MarilynBaron 
Personal Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/marilyn.baron.5?ref=bookmarks
Author Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/Marilyn-Baron-286807714666748/ 
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Marilyn-Baron/e/B008PJFQPC%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/marilyn-baron 
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/search?q=marilyn+baron&qid= 
Instagram: Marilyn Baron (@marilyn.baron.5) 
Pinterest: (1230) Pinterest 

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