Carolyn Marie Wilkins’ newest novel, Murder At The Wham Bam Club, was released at the end of July. It’s her fourth mystery and her seventh book overall, the other three being non-fiction. Murder At The Wham Bam Club, set in the Roaring Twenties, features Nola Ann Jackson, a young widow, World War I having claimed the life of her husband, Harlem Hellfighter William Bartholomew Jackson. Nola has returned to her hometown of Agate, Illinois, where she lives with her psychic aunt, who helps her learn how to tap into her own inherited abilities.

Nola loves jazz, and in Agate, the premiere place to hear it is the Wham Bam Club, where rules—not only those about Prohibition—are broken all the time. One night a fire breaks out at the Wham Bam Club, and a showy trumpeter is shot to death. Nola’s new friend Lilly Davidson dated Eddie Smooth, but Nola is certain she didn’t kill him. To clear Lilly’s name she uses her natural detective skills and her  psychic gifts, a valuable combination when it comes to solving crime.

Carolyn and I had a conversation last week about Murder At The Wham Bam Club and the fact that she’ll be a featured author at Maine Crime Wave on September 27. Here’s what we talked about:

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Q.      Murder At The Wham Bam Club, your newest novel, is a tale of music, murder and supernatural happenings set in small-town Illinois during the Roaring Twenties. What kind of reactions have you had since you launched it on July 29 and what’s made you happiest about the response?

A.   What a great question, Brenda! It has been wonderful to see my book, five years in the making, out in the world at last. The thing that has most pleased me is that readers seem to get my spunky psychic protagonist and enjoy spending time in her world.

Q.   What parts of Murder At The Wham Bam Club were most enjoyable to write? How did the experience of writing it differ from your earlier novels?

A.   The most enjoyable parts to write were the parts where I was able to fold real-life people and events from African American history into the story. I made the decision to include more history in this book than in my previous novels

Q.   Like all of your mystery novels, Murder At The Wham Bam Club revolves around a murder, set in a milieu of fine jazz music, Black culture and psychic healing arts. To my knowledge you don’t solve murders in real life, but you’re an accomplished jazz pianist and vocalist, you hold dear the traditions of Black Americans and work tirelessly for racial justice, and you’re also a gifted psychic healer.  Does it feel as organic as it looks to bring those important parts of yourself into your crime novels?

A.  The writing process was not easy, but it was definitely organic. You know what they say – “write what you know.”

Q.   Where did you grow up?  What did you see yourself being when you were a child – a musician, a teacher, a writer or a healer?

A.   I was born and raised on the South Side of Chicago, in the bosom of the black middle class. As a little kid, I wanted to be a cowboy. Since I could not persuade my family to move to Montana, I opted instead for music. My mother was a music teacher, and started me on the piano when I was four.

Q.    When did you realize you could (or needed to be) all four simultaneously?

A.   Not until late in life, about 3 years ago. When I was going to college, the expectation was that students would pick one discipline, major in it, then pursue it exclusively for the rest of their lives. It took me a while to understand that I could use a more wholistic approach.

Q.  Given that you write books, teach and make music, and actively practice as a Reikki healer and a medium, how do you maintain balance in your life?  What do you do for fun?

A.  Such a great question! In the striving, success-oriented culture in which I grew up, fun was given short shrift! As I age, I’ve learned how important it is to savor every minute, especially the mundane, quotidian things – taking a walk, eating breakfast, laughing with friends and family etc. I’m a big fan of walking on the beach when I can. I am also a huge Celtics fan. Big fun to sit in a stadium full of like-minded people and scream myself hoarse. Go, C’s!!

Q.  And go Red Sox until the Celtics season starts!  You’ll be at Maine Crime Wave on September 27, hosting a roundtable discussion about bringing paranormal and supernatural elements into mystery novels. Can you give MCW blog readers some hints about how those conversations might unfold?

A.   I’m super excited about having the opportunity to share this side of myself with my writing community! I have studied mediumship and the psychic arts for over ten years. In this round table, I’ll share some tips on how to write credible psychic characters. I’m also really looking forward to hearing from others about their ideas and  experiences. It’s going to be a great conversation!!

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Carolyn Marie Wilkins describes herself as “a multifaceted entrepreneur working at the intersection of spirituality and creativity.”

In addition to her writing, she’s an accomplished Jazz pianist and vocalist who is a Professor at Berklee College of Music Online. A graduate of Oberlin Conservatory and the Eastman School of Music, Carolyn has performed with the Pittsburgh Symphony and represented her country as a Jazz Ambassador for the U.S. State Department. She’s also a Reiki master and a psychic medium who maintains a private practice in healing and mediumship.

Murder At The Wham Bam Club is available from your favorite bookseller. Carolyn will be signing copies at Maine Crime Wave, to be held at Mechanics Hall in Portland on Saturday, September 27 from 8:30 – 4:30, with special events (including a Noir At The Bar) to be held the previous evening, Friday, September 26.

FMI and to register: https://www.mainewriters.org/maine-crime-wave