Robin Spano: Congratulations on your new job. You must be excited.
Clare Vengel: I am SO excited. Finally I can use my mind to solve a problem. Even if the case is solved in a day, it will be a day off from those stupid break-and-enter calls.
Robin: Yeah? What don’t you like about break-and-enter?
Clare: The victims. They act all . . . victimy. Like, Oh my god, I lost some material objects. I understand they’re scared; their home has just been violated. But I want to tell them to get a grip; their life is pretty good compared to most.
Robin: Why do you think undercover work will be different?
Clare: For starters, it matters more. There’s a murderer on the loose, and it’s my job to figure out who that is. And the job is way more creative. There’s no rule book for how to handle all the situations I’ll come up against as an undercover. I think it will be more dangerous than writing down some details in a report and making a half-assed attempt to find a burglar, but it will challenge me, and I think I’ll be able to rise to the occasion.
Robin: You don’t know much about politics or university, yet you’re going undercover as a poli sci major. Does that worry you?
Clare: A bit. Yeah. But what can I do? I’ll stay up all night learning, and give this job the best I have. It’s worth it.
Robin: Where do you see yourself in five years?
Clare: In my perfect world? Working undercover. But not boring jobs that repeat themselves, like strip clubs and mob girlfriends. I want to do new things in interesting places.
Robin: What would be your dream assignment?
Clare: Something that’s fun and challenging at the same time. If I could go undercover as a wild water tour guide, or a croupier in Vegas, I’d think that was pretty exciting. Or Europe—ha ha, maybe one day I’ll get a job with Interpol.
Robin: You seem to have a hard time committing to one man. Is there a reason?
Clare: I guess if you wanted to get into the psychobabble, I’m probably not over my ex, Lance. We were friends since we were little, and he cheated on me with half of Orillia, my hometown.
Robin: So it’s hard for you to trust someone?
Clare: I guess. I also just think, until I fall in love again, why commit to some random guy for the sake of it? I might as well have some fun, enjoy different people for the different things we have in common.
Robin: Would you like to fall in love?
Clare: Of course.
Robin: Are you an optimist or a pessimist, generally?
Clare: An optimist. But don’t tell anyone. I have a reputation as a sarcastic tough chick to maintain.
Robin: Why the police force? You love to work as a mechanic, to help your friend Roberta in her shop. Wouldn’t mechanics have been a better fit, career-wise?Clare: I love to groove with cars and bikes as a hobby, but they won’t take me around the world and inside places I’ve never been. And being a cop has a higher purpose: I can fight justice and feel good about myself.
Robin: Like a superhero?
Clare: Like a human being with a contribution to make. Can you hand me a beer?
Robin: Sure. I’ll have one with you. I’m looking forward to following your adventures.
Clare: Yeah. I don’t want to say I hope more people die in fun places. But you know…
About the author ~
Robin grew up in downtown Toronto. She loves books, poker, politics, and exploring on the water. She also loves her motorcycle, a 1987 Virago she bought with waitressing tips when she was 21.
Her historical role model is Winston Churchill, more for his independent thinking than his drinking. Her secret dream was to be one of Charlie's Angels, but since real life danger terrifies her, she writes about it instead.
She is married to a man who hates reading and encourages her endlessly. They live in a suburban fishing village just outside of Vancouver.
Her historical role model is Winston Churchill, more for his independent thinking than his drinking. Her secret dream was to be one of Charlie's Angels, but since real life danger terrifies her, she writes about it instead.
She is married to a man who hates reading and encourages her endlessly. They live in a suburban fishing village just outside of Vancouver.
Learn more about Robin and her writing:
Interview on FNORD July 27, 2010
Interview on Goodreads July 5, 2010
Interview on FNORD July 27, 2010
Interview on Goodreads July 5, 2010
Visit Robin's WEBSITE
Follow Robin on TWITTER
Find her on FACEBOOK
Follow Clare Vengle Undercover Novels on FACEBOOK
Find Robin on Good Reads
When the mayor keels over dead in the middle of a speech, a clandestine student society immediately takes credit for his demise. Their mission is to create a perfect political system by any means at their disposal. Clare Vengel, a rookie officer fresh from the police academy and beyond bored with her routine as a beat cop, volunteers to go undercover as a student to infiltrate the secretive organization. A streetwise amateur mechanic, Clare takes a dim view of book smarts—she is of the opinion that higher education is for people who can't handle the real world. In short order, she alienates a popular professor and begins to lose the respect of her police superiors. Soon, another politician is killed, and Clare steps up her clandestine involvement with the suspect students. When two more politicians die, the race begins to apprehend the culprits before her own duplicity can be revealed.
UPCOMING EVENTS
ONLINE
September 1-30, 2010
Virtual Book Tour
Follow Robin around the web as she takes Clare Vengel and Dead Politician Society on tour. Pick and choose which stops intrigue you (there are a lot!), or dive in and follow the whole tour.
Follow the Tour on Facebook
the easiest, most interactive way to stay updated about daily stops
Bookmark the Tour Schedule
a guide to each day's events; it will be updated with permalinks as the tour moves forward
LIVE
Wednesday, Sept 15, 2010
Launch Party
Nicholas Hoare Books, 45 Front St. E, Toronto
6:30-8:30 p.m.
Everyone is invited. Come alone or bring a book-loving entourage. This will be a fun evening of words, wine, and killer conversation. No politicians will die at this event. (Well, they might.)
Sunday, Sept 26, 2010
Word On The Street Vancouver
Library Square
2:20 p.m.
A short reading from Dead Politician Society followed by an informal Q & A
