Girl Scouts, the CIA and Writing Mysteries

I am thrilled to welcome author Leslie Langtry to my blog today! She discusses the inspiration for her Merry Wrath Mysteries!

Girl Scouts, the CIA and Writing Mysteries

By Leslie Langtry

Thank you for hosting me, Nina! I’m thrilled to be guesting on NOT EVEN JOKING today!

My name is Leslie Langtry and I write humorous cozy mysteries. My very first book, ‘SCUSE ME WHILE I KILL THIS GUY, part of the Bombay Family of Assassins Series, was published 9 years ago. My newest series, the Merry Wrath Mysteries – starts with MERIT BADGE MURDER – which will be on sale for 99c March 29-April 3 – to celebrate the release of my newest book – MARSHMALLOW S’MORE MURDER on March 29. The second book, MINT COOKIE MURDER is out now.

My main character, Merry Wrath, is an ‘accidentally’ outed CIA agent who returns to small-town Iowa to figure out what to do with the rest of her life. She is talked into becoming a Girl Scout leader for a troop of first-graders at the local elementary school – just as dead terrorists start popping up on her doorstep. In fact, she has a hard time figuring out which is more dangerous – her past as a spy, or her present working with little girls.

My inspirations for this book include the fact that I also grew up in small-town, Iowa, and the fact that I was a Girl Scout leader for 10 years. My former troop is my main source of material – and let me tell you – a lot of what you’ll find in the books actually happened to me…except for the dead terrorists parts – that is totally made up. And I was never, ever a former spy. Really – I’m telling the truth. On my honor.

Little girls are hilarious and my troop was no exception. Those girls – many of whom are graduating from high school in a few months – made my life so much better. They are my inspiration, and when I watch them walk across the stage to accept their diplomas – I’ll be seeing them as precocious, Daisy, Brownie, Junior, Cadette & Senior Scouts who made me laugh every Wednesday afternoon and on our annual camping trips for a whole decade.

They taught me a lot about life, and I hope I taught them more than just starting fires and teamwork games on the ropes course. I’m a better person because of them.  And no, once again, I was never in the CIA. Not even in my dreams. I’m way too lazy to be a spy. You have to work all the time, 24/7 and people may shoot at you. And you almost never get cake. I like cake. It’s my favorite.

Just in case it isn’t obvious, I’m a HUGE supporter of the Girls Scouts. I think it’s the most important organization available to young girls. My troop has disbanded, but I still volunteer out at our local camp, running the zip line and ropes course, and teaching archery and canoeing. I’m out there a few weekends in the spring and a few in the fall, helping (at least, I hope I’m helping) girls try new things by enjoying the outdoors.  I also buy enough Girl Scout cookies each year to feed an elementary school (Seriously – I buy a LOT of cookies, cuz cookies, like cake, are awesome).

Lately, I’ve been getting emails from women who tell me that these books have made them laugh and have inspired them to lead their own troops, or get back into Girl Scouting.  And that, may be the best part of writing the Merry Wrath Mysteries. Unless someone sends me cake. And Girl Scout Cookies. Thin Mints are my favorite. Just sayin’…

Leslie Langtry is the author of the Bombay Family of Assassins Series and the Merry Wrath Mysteries. She lives in the Midwest with her husband, two teenagers and an assortment of dogs and cats who misbehave regularly. A former Girl Scout leader, Leslie uses that material in her books. She likes cake, puppies and hiking, in that exact order and would someday like to combine all three, unless the puppies eat all the cake on the trail. You can visit Leslie at www.leslielangtry.com.

MERIT BADGE MURDER by Leslie Langtry
Merry Wrath Mysteries book #1

When CIA agent Merry Wrath is “accidently” outted, she’s forced her into early retirement, changes her appearance, and moves where no one will ever find her—Iowa. Instead of black bag drops in Bangkok, she now spends her time leading a young Girl Scout troop. But Merry’s new simple life turns not-so-simple when an enemy agent shows up dead at scout camp. Suddenly Merry is forced to deal with her former life in order to preserve her future one.

It doesn’t help matters that the CIA sends in her former, sexy handler to investigate…or that the hot new neighbor across the street turns out to be the local detective in charge of her case. And when Merry is forced to take on a roommate in the voluptuous form of a turned KGB agent/bimbo, things become trickier than wet work in Waukegan or cookie sales in the spring. Nothing in the CIA or Girl Scouts’ training manuals has prepared her for what comes next…

MERIT BADGE MURDER will be on sale for 99c March 28-April 3

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