We’re thrilled to have here today Deputy Mattie Cobb from Margaret Mizushima’s new mystery, Burning Ridge. Mattie is a 30-year-old K-9 Officer living in Timber Creek, Colorado.
It is a pleasure to have her with us today at Beyond the Books!
Thank you so for this interview, Mattie. Now that the book has been written, do you feel you were fairly portrayed or would you like to set anything straight with your readers?
First, thanks for having me here today, although I don’t usually like to be in the spotlight. As for how I was portrayed in the book, I’d like to say that I wish I hadn’t broken down and cried when I did. But I endured a tough loss and some terrible times, so I won’t apologize. I’ll just suck it up and move on. Get back to work—that’s what I do best to get over the bad things life hands to me.
Do you feel the author did a good job colorizing your personality? If not, how would you like to have been portrayed differently?
She did an okay job. I just wish she wouldn’t get inside my head like that. I’m a reserved person, some call me a loner, and I don’t like to share my emotions with others. I have a couple of close friends I’ve developed, but my best friend by far is my K-9 partner. He’s about the only one I trust.
What do you believe is your strongest trait?
I’m strong and fit, and I can keep up with Robo. I make a pretty good K-9 handler and trainer.
Worse trait?
Hmm… I guess you could say that I relate better to my dog than to other humans. But I’m working on it.
If you could choose someone in the television or movie industry to play your part if your book was made into a movie, who would that be (and you can’t say yourself!)?
Jessica Alba. She’s a bit older than me, but I’m half Hispanic, so we share a similar look. Except that she’s beautiful. Don’t tell anyone, but I feel that way when Cole looks at me a certain way. He seems to think I look decent enough.
Do you have a love interest in the book?
I do. His name is Cole Walker and he’s Robo’s veterinarian. Cole was divorced about a year ago when his wife deserted him and their two daughters. By the way, I love his kids. He’s been on a fast track to learn how to be a single parent while taking care of his busy practice. We share a love for animals and justice, and sometimes he helps me solve crimes that affect our community.
At what point of the book did you start getting nervous about the way it was going to turn out?
About the time a sadistic killer darted me with an animal sedative to knock me out so that he could take me from my backyard. That was enough to put me off my game.
If you could trade places with one of the other characters in the book, which character would you really not want to be and why?
This killer I just mentioned. He’s a truly evil guy. I try to look for the good side in people, even though I’m often exposed to the dregs of humanity in my work, but this guy has no saving grace whatsoever.
How do you feel about the ending of the book without giving too much away?
I learned some valuable lessons about family in this book, and by the end, I realized that family isn’t just about blood relationships. It was a painful way to learn it, but I guess I needed it taught that way.
What words of wisdom would you give your author if she decided to write another book with you in it?
Oh, she will. She’s obsessed with me. I’d tell her not to go quite so rough next time. I might be stubborn, but it doesn’t take that much to get my attention!
Thank you for this interview, Mattie. Will we be seeing more of you in the future?
Burning Ridge is the fourth Timber Creek K-9 mystery, and it will come out September 11, 2018. Watch for Robo and me in the next book after that, scheduled to release in early fall, 2019.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Margaret Mizushima is the author of the critically acclaimed Timber Creek K-9 Mysteries. Her books have garnered a Reader’s Favorite gold medal and have been listed as finalists in the RT Reviewers’ Choice Awards, the Colorado Book Awards, and the International Book Awards. Margaret serves on the board for the Rocky Mountain chapter of Mystery Writers of America, and she lives in Colorado where she assists her husband with their veterinary practice and Angus cattle herd. She can be found on Facebook/AuthorMargaretMizushima, on Twitter @margmizu, on Instagram at margmizu, and on her website at www.margaretmizushima.com.
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