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“Help is coming,” I said. “Don’t worry. You’ll be fine.”
No character in my novels would utter such senseless, banal dialogue but this was no time for editing. Phaedra Jones glared at me as she edged toward the darkness.
“Dim Mak,” she whispered, “Promise.”
“What? Who did this to you?” It was important, a dying declaration that made no sense. I leaned closer putting my ear against her lips as she said it once again. “Dim Mak.”
Then with a final shudder, Phaedra died.

Arlene Kay, Gilt Trip (Kindle Loc. 451)

Among the setting, characters, and vocabulary, I couldn’t resist Arlene Kay’s Gilt Trip, the third book in her Eja and Deming series. Boston’s Back Bay, a wealthy and historical part of Boston, serves as the setting for the series. Arlene’s descriptions of the architecture and depictions of Boston society’s old bastions were captivating. Main character, Eja Kane, is a mystery writer who does first-person research for her books. No mystery writer could resist her. Fiancé Deming Swann practices law in the family firm and has the inside track on who’s who in Boston. In this book, Arlene plies martial arts, marital discord and philandering, with gold and fraternal jealousy. Readers glide through Arlene’s well-written story.

Please welcome Arlene Kay to WWK. E. B. Davis

Could you give our readers your book jacket copy?

What is Dim Mak?

Is Eja her real name?

Why does Eja decide to sign up for martial art lessons?

You describe Eja fiancé, Deming Swann, in many ways, one of which is Eurasian. My image of him is of a legal James Bond. Is that actuate?

I had visions of Lauren Bacall when you described Deming’s mother Anika. Am I right? Don’t Anika and Eja have any nomal daughter/mother-in-law adversarial issues even though Deming and Eja are not yet married?

Eja did not grow up wealthy. She won scholarships through school, and yet, she doesn’t seem intimidated by the Swann’s money or the competitive women who vie for Deming’s attention. How did she get so strong?

Deming’s sister Cece was murdered in a previous book in this series. Her murder makes him very protective. How does Eja and Anika deal with Deming and his father’s interference?

I loved Cato, Cece’s spaniel, who doesn’t favor men, inherited by Eja. When she is threatened, how does Cato deal with the situation?

Your vocabulary is amazing, Arlene. Is that a result of your work experience, knowledge of martial arts, or are you a superlative wordsmith?

Eja is a mystery writer. What mystery subgenre does she write?

Lieutenant Euphemia (Mia) Bates, the detective on the case, treats the Swann family with kid gloves. Is it due to their money, influence, and legal know-how? How does she deal with Eja?

Do you live in Boston’s Back Bay, the setting of this novel?

You tweeted recently that book four of this series will be the last. Why, and can you give us the synopsis of this book, “Swann Songs?”

You are on vacation, Arlene. Where are you, and what are you reading?