Wright, Nina 1964-

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Wright, Nina 1964-

PERSONAL:

Born February 16, 1964; divorced. Education: Obtained master's degree.

ADDRESSES:

E-mail—[email protected].

CAREER:

Writer and playwright.

MEMBER:

Authors Guild, Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators.

WRITINGS:

Homefree, Flux (Woodbury, MN), 2006.

Sensitive, Flux (Woodbury, MN), 2007.

"WHISKEY MATTIMOE MYSTERY" SERIES

Whiskey on the Rocks, Midnight Ink (St. Paul, MN), 2005.

Whiskey Straight Up, Midnight Ink (Woodbury, MN), 2006.

Whiskey and Tonic, Midnight Ink (Woodbury, MN), 2007.

Whiskey and Water, Midnight Ink (Woodbury, MN), 2008.

Author of a Web log.

SIDELIGHTS:

Nina Wright is a writer and playwright. When asked about her inspiration for writing the "Whiskey Mattimoe Mystery" series on her home page, Wright replied: "When I wrote Whiskey on the Rocks, I was sharing my rural home with Lucille, a dog rescued in late pregnancy by my then-husband and me." Just like Abra, she "had a propensity for chasing anything that promised misadventure. Given the slightest opening, Lucille would take off running full-tilt toward the nearest tavern…. She'd ignore our calls for at least twenty-four hours before—I swear—she came home stinking of whiskey and cigarettes. I could never figure out what the bitch was up to. So my creativity kicked in. A good friend had an energetic Afghan hound; mentally I morphed the two dogs into one and added a healthy dash of imagination. The result was Abra."

Wright began the "Whiskey Mattimoe Mystery" series in 2005 with the publishing of Whiskey on the Rocks. Whiskey Mattimoe is a widowed, disheveled woman in her thirties who fills her days with running a real estate agency and taking care of her husband's Afghan hound, Abra, who has a tendency to snatch purses. When an out-of-town visitor is found dead in town and his widow is murdered while taking care of his burial arrangements in the house that Whiskey is renting to her, she gets involved in solving the crime. A contributor to the Fresh Fiction Web site described the characters as "eccentric." The same contributor said the story was a "fast-paced, darkly comic tale." A contributor to Publishers Weekly found it "fun" reading the story. The critic added that "if Wright can simplify things a bit, she'll have a cozy series." Rex E. Klett, writing in Library Journal, called the novel "an entertaining debut," noting its "sprightly humor" and "delightful characters."

The following year Wright published the second installment, Whiskey Straight Up. After nearly drowning in an icy lake, Whiskey finds the mayor's murdered body. She also finds that Chester, an eight-year-old boy she is looking after, is missing and possibly even kidnapped. Meanwhile, Abra is still stealing purses.

In 2007 Wright continued the series with Whiskey and Tonic. Whiskey, no longer selling real estate, is still coping with life in Magnet Springs, Michigan, and dealing with her thieving dog. An intern at her real estate firm wins the title of Miss Blossom, a title that has a dark past, often with bad fortune for the winner. Abra steals the crown twice, leading to Whiskey's involvement in this mystery. A contributor to Publishers Weekly commented that "Wright's playful narrative touch … lightens the ‘curse’ theme in this fizzy cozy" novel.

In a departure from her series, in 2006 Wright published Homefree. Sixteen-year-old Easter Hutton is an outsider with family problems. However, her biggest problem arises when she experiences astral projection, where her body travels through time and space, placing her in varying situations that require her to play a helping role in the conflict. This gift appears when it is needed, and she later learns that she must help other troubled teens find Homefree, a refuge for them. In an interview on the Slayground Live Journal Profile, Wright related that "Homefree was born of the discontent that followed my move from the Midwest to Florida a few years ago. At the time I was in a miserable, doomed marriage, and—much like Easter—I felt as if I was being dragged from a bad situation into a worse one. Without going into more personal detail, I'll just say that I deeply missed the places where I had lived before and the friends I had left there." She added: "In time, I became very fond of Tampa Bay, and I still am, but during my transition, I channeled (no special abilities involved!) the loneliness and isolation I was feeling into this story about sixteen-year-old Easter Hutton. I didn't do it consciously. I just found myself writing about an alienated girl who involuntarily ‘revisited’ her former homes. On some level, I must have wished that I could zap myself back to the places and people I used to know."

Chris Shanley-Dillman, writing on TeenReads.com, found the book full of "imagination and page-turning excitement." Shanley-Dillman added that "Wright continues to prove that she has a talent for writing. She uses a descriptive flair that helps readers connect with the characters and a sense of humor that adds a few laughs along the way." Roxanne Myers Spencer, writing in School Library Journal, called the story "quirky and evocative." Spencer commented that "the suspense keeps up the pace," adding that "the eccentric characters" were both "mysterious and alluring." Amanda MacGregor, writing in Kliatt, found the writing "uneven." MacGregor added that "Wright's story falls somewhere between realistic fiction and science fiction, which gives this a wide audience. Initially it is difficult to grasp what is happening."

The following year, Wright published a sequel called Sensitive. Easter, now living in historical and mysterious St. Augustine, Florida, voyages via astral projection with friends Cal and Andrew, even though they know there are consequences. Easter searches for clues about her mother with the help of Placida's ghost while developing a relationship with Cal. Meanwhile, Andrew tries to recover from a disturbing astral experience. Booklist contributor Heather Booth warned that new readers will need to finish reading Homefree before starting this account. Booth, however, stated that "those who are will enjoy the story and look forward to another episode."