#WhatsYourStory Featuring Monica Yoknis

Monica Yoknis writes Paranormal Thrillers based (loosely) on her own ghostly encounters, and family-friendly Cozy Mysteries.  Monica is a member of Northern Colorado Writers, and serves on the Bunnyzine Development Team.  Her  current projects include: Ears O'Fluffin serial short stories, one novel, and the history column for The Carr Chatter newsletter.  She lives in a cabin on the Colorado prairie, where she writes, crochets, reads mystery novels, and takes care of her rescue bunny.  

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​My most recent book is the result of fan requests.  Our hero, Ears O'Fluffin, made his debut as a series of short mystery stories in the monthly free eMag, Bunnyzine.  The magazine's editor put a request to the Development Team for a regular monthly feature.  I thought back to some of my favorite authors, and remembered that Arthur Conan Doyle published the Sherlock Holmes short stories as magazine serials.  The idea was well received, I just had to figure out how to make it rabbit-related.  

At the same time, I was watching old episodes of the TV show, Castle.  One of my favorite episodes, The Blue Butterfly, features a typical trench coat wearing hard boiled PI.  I flipped through a book of rabbit breeds, looking for the least likely tough guy detective, and found the Dwarf Hotot.  Three pounds of white fluff and adorableness, I'd found my unlikely PI.

Of course he has a tiny trench coat, a fedora hat, and a bottle of carrot juice in his desk drawer.  Ears O’Fluffin is a Pet Private Investigator.  His office is a cardboard box in his human’s living room, complete with a desk, a chair, and a coat rack.  Other pets come to him to solve the mysteries in their lives, while Ears tries to maintain his tough guy persona.  

After about six months of serial shorts, I had run out of ideas for cases.  I asked the Bunnyzine fans for mysteries that Ears should solve.  I got several good ones, including an idea that deserved more than the short serial could provide.  I put the idea of an Ears O’Fluffin novel to the fans, and got overwhelming positive feedback.  

The Adventure of the Scarlet Bird is Ears’ most difficult case, to date.  The boredom of a Pet Expo is broken by a plea for help from a glamorous white cat.  A precious gem is stolen right under Ears’ nose dragging him into the seedy world of jewel thieves.  To top it all off, Ears is subjected to the sarcasm of a British hamster tasked with finding another stolen gem.  A room full of suspects, a hostile local police detective, and only two days to solve the case.  Can Ears recover the gem and preserve his reputation as the country's most successful Pet PI?

Without my rescue bunny, Peaches, I would not have been pulled into the wonderful world of house rabbits.  To give back to that community, and to help other rescued rabbits find their forever homes, I have set up a fundraiser for the Colorado House Rabbit Society.  For every signed copy of The Adventure of the Scarlet Bird ordered from me, I will donate $1 to the CHRS.  More information and purchase links can be found on my website at www.monicayoknis.com/earsofluffin.  

The Adventure of the Scarlet Bird

Follow the adventure of a dwarf rabbit detective as he solves a perplexing theft.  Appropriate for anyone ages 10 and up.
A boring weekend at a pet expo takes a dramatic turn for the mysterious when a bird made of rubies is stolen right out from under Ears’ nose.  With his reputation as the country’s greatest Pet P.I. at stake, Ears finds himself facing his most difficult case.  Is his client really a victim, or is she trying to frame Ears for the theft?  Can Ears find the jewel and apprehend the real thief before the expo closes?  Can he avoid being detained by the local police?  And can he work with a sarcastic British hamster?

Find Monica on Facebook, Twitter and her website! 

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Where to Buy the Adventure of the Scarlet Bird

Amazon