Meet Detective Danny Gregg, Marnie Reilly’s leading man. With a muss of thick brown hair and a dimpled smile, the man is built to intimidate. His six-foot-five well-toned frame fills the interview doorway in all the right ways. Armed with a sharp wit, an astute sixth sense, and a piercing blue gaze, he is a criminal’s worst nightmare. I was surprised when he agreed to an interview, but he didn’t share everything. The detective plays his cards close to his vest and keeps secrets about his life before Creekwood clenched tightly in his big fists.
Q: What’s your full name?
DANNY: Daniel Gregg
Q: How old are you?
DANNY: Is that pertinent?
Q: When’s your birthday?
DANNY: August 8th. Yeah. I’m a Leo. Is that why you’re asking? You want my star sign, so you can figure me out. Weirdo. *rolls eyes*
Q: Where were you born?
DANNY: Am I being interrogated? About an hour outside of Creekwood, NY.
Q: Are you a main character?
DANNY: Nope. My girlfriend, Marnie Reilly the star of the show.
Q: Do you have any nicknames?
DANNY: Umm … Marnie called me Detective Stick-up-his-butt once, but she was pissed at me. My sister calls me Buck sometimes. And I guess Danny is a nickname and officers at the precinct call me Lieu.
Q: Do you have a catchphrase?
DANNY: Yeah, but it’s stupid. Is that right? It has to be said in a condescending tone, though, to get it right.
Q: What do you do for work/career?
DANNY: I’m a cop. Detective Lieutenant with Creekwood PD.
Q: Without giving anything away, do you have scars? Physical or emotional?
DANNY: Tcha! Yeah!
Q: What do you know about your backstory so far?
DANNY: My father is a cop. My mother passed away many years ago. I have a twin sister. My late wife Sarah suffered from depression, and like my mother, she took her own life. I’m pretty sure I suffer from survivor’s guilt and tend to be overprotective of the people I love. Uh … I’m pretty handy around the house. In fact, I built my own log cabin. I like to refinish furniture, hunt, fish, and hike.
People say I’m grumpy, but I’m really not. It’s just that I take my job seriously and expect the same from others. Marnie says I have resting bitch-face until I smile. She’s got a thing for my dimples.
I’m not superstitious per se, but I do believe bad things happen in threes. I keep a tally in my head, but I can’t tell you what number it’s on right now, for obvious reasons. Shari checks in with me from time to time to see where we’re up to.
Q: Describe where you live?
DANNY: Hmm … I live between my log cabin and Marnie’s house at Wild Creek Ranch. The cabin is on a lake in the middle of a forest and the ranch is wide open spaces surrounded by woods. It’s the best of both worlds.
Q: How many stories have you been in?
DANNY: Divine Guidance, Torn Veil, Fatal Vow, and Vacant Grave will be out soon. There are few short stories, too.
Q: Plans for future stories?
DANNY: Shari has been writing two more that I know of, but I can’t be sure what’s next. She tends to be secretive.
Q: As a character, who is your favorite character in your stories?
DANNY: Marnie, of course.
Q: Do you have superpowers or defining traits you’d like to share?
DANNY: *dimples make an appearance* Ha! I won’t be rude, but maybe ask Marnie.
I trust my gut, so I guess intuition is my superpower. Is being sensitive to spirits, a superpower? I’m not like Marnie or my grandmother, but I can see them.
Q: If you could have any superpower, what would it be?
DANNY: Considering I’m a cop, bulletproof would be nice.
Q: Are you a good guy/gal or a bad guy/gal?
DANNY: Good. I mean, do I ever think of throttling criminals? Of course. But would I? *glances away and smirks* Only twice.
Q: Any archenemies you can tell us about?
DANNY: Oo! A few I can’t talk about yet. But I guess anyone I’ve ever arrested and sent to prison would be high on the list.
I intimidate people, but I don’t think it’s because I’m a scary guy. It’s more likely their lack of scruples, or it could be my size. I’m pretty tall.
Q: How about a love interest? Do you have a significant other?
DANNY: Yep. Marnie Reilly.
Q: Do you have any phobias?
DANNY: Ah! Geez! I despise creepy dolls. I don’t know why. They just creep me out. I know, right? A big guy like me, afraid of dolls. Oh! Geese. Marnie has a whole gaggle on the ranch, and they hate me.
Q: Do you ever lie? Or are you always truthful?
DANNY: Not if I can help it. I may not always tell the full story, but that comes with my job.
Q: Do you have a best friend? If so, could you tell us about them? Their traits?
DANNY: *Looks down and runs a hand through his hair* Next question, please.
Q: Do you have a pet?
DANNY: I count Marnie’s Border Collies Tater and Dickens as my pets. And Gus. He’s a black Lab.
Q: Name three things you love.
DANNY: Marnie Reilly. My grandmother. My sister. Three really isn’t enough. My father. A perfectly cooked steak. I could go on and on, you know. I’m a lucky guy with lots to love about my life.
Q: Name three things you loathe.
DANNY: Liars, geese, porcelain dolls.
Q: What’s your favorite food?
DANNY: Steak. And Marnie’s homemade raspberry pie. Oh! Marnie’s pot roast and my Gram’s meatloaf are excellent too.
Q: What music do you like?
DANNY: I’m a country music fan and classic rock, but I listen to anything but rap and newer pop.
Q: If you had a theme song, what would it be?
DANNY: Ah! Well, you’ll probably laugh. But sometimes, I hear the Starsky and Hutch theme song in my head when we’re close to breaking a case. What’s it called? Gotcha?
Q: Do you like to read? What sort of books?
DANNY: I don’t have much time, but I like history and other non-fiction books. And I’ll pick up CJ Box, Cormac McCarthy, James Patterson, Steve Berry, or James A. Michener.
Q: Do you drive? If so, what type of vehicle do you have? Or do you walk? Take public transportation?
DANNY: I drive an old Jeep Grand Cherokee I bought from the station. It’s the boxy one, not the newer model. A new vehicle is on the horizon, though. *glances at Shari, who wags a finger*
Q: What’s the most beautiful thing you have ever seen?
DANNY: Marnie Reilly. Even when she’s pissed at me. Ha-ha!
Q: What’s the most horrendous thing you have ever seen?
DANNY: Geez! In my line of work, I’ve seen way too many things to say one is more horrendous than the other. But last July … after the explosion. Well. That was pretty horrific.
Q: Does your author make you do stupid things? If so, would you like to share an example?
DANNY: Yes. And no, I would not like to share. Look, she does less mean things to me than others, but I’ve often thought if she lived in Creekwood, I would have locked her up in Pine Ridge by now.
Q: If you could visit a fictional place, other than our own, where would you go?
DANNY: I could get in trouble for saying this, but Shari is working on a place that sounds interesting. Forget it. She’s giving me a dirty look. I better shut up.
Q: Are there other fictional characters you would like to meet?
DANNY: Yeah. Harry Bosch, Alex Delaware, and Milo Sturgis, Mickey Haller, to name just a few. Marnie was planning to have a party and her guest list includes Lucie Bellerose, Emily Swift, Rabbit, Templeton, and a few others from TL Brown’s two series. I saw Jennifer Brasington-Crowley’s Raven and Stanzie on the list too. She’s got it stuffed in a drawer in her study. Maybe she’ll do a Christmas or New Year party.
Q: Do you ever worry that your author will kill you off?
DANNY: Mm … Not so much. I mean, who knows? She’s unpredictable.
Would the author like to comment on any of the character’s answers?
SHARI: Nah. I’m good. He nearly said too much, but that’s okay. Unlike his girlfriend, he didn’t give me a hard time this past year.
Things That Might Interest You
Check out other Indie Author interviews:
Rose J. Fairchild: https://sharitmitchell.com/2024/09/06/indie-author-chat-with-rose-j-fairchild/
Writer TL Brown: https://sharitmitchell.com/2024/05/29/indie-author-chat-with-tl-brown/
Jennifer Brasington-Crowely https://sharitmitchell.com/2024/07/05/indie-author-chat-with-jennifer-brasington-crowley/
Raylo Kinn https://sharitmitchell.com/2024/08/02/indie-author-chat-with-rylo-kinn/
Here’s my interview with my main character Marnie Reilly: https://sharitmitchell.com/2024/06/19/get-to-know-my-main-character-marnie-reilly/
TL Brown’s Lucie Bellerose: https://sharitmitchell.com/2024/06/28/meet-lucie-bellerose-mc-of-tl-browns-bellerose-witchline-series/
Jennifer Brasington-Crowely’s Raven Xerces: https://sharitmitchell.com/2024/07/19/meet-raven-xerces/
TL Brown’s Sebastian St. Michel: https://sharitmitchell.com/2024/08/16/meet-tl-browns-sebastian-st-michel/
Rose J. Fairchild’s Aura Prisma Cordyline: https://sharitmitchell.com/2024/09/13/meet-rose-j-fairchilds-aura-prisma-cordyline/
Thanks so much for hanging out with Danny and me. I’ll be back soon to share the cover reveal of Vacant 🪦 Grave, Marnie Reilly Mysteries Book 4, and again on November 1st with author Lanie Mores in new Indie Author Chat.
Take care and see you next time!👋
*applause* A fantastic interview! You know that Danny is one of my… *glances about to see if Marnie is around, then whispers* …book boyfriends. But seriously, I loved this! Totally can see him answering or avoiding some of these questions. Love that he called you a weirdo.
My characters are honored to be on the invite list for a shindig! It would be such fun! (But now Sebastian is whining that he’s not on the list… GAH!)
Sebastian can come if he behaves himself and doesn’t pick a fight with Templeton—who should also control his temper.
Danny send a bear hug your way, and Marnie’s fine with it. They’re in a good place. 😉 Although … he’s miffed at me. He had a peek at the outline for book five. Cats will be let out of bags regarding his past and he is not happy! 😲
Oooo…I want to know Danny’s secrets! *rubs hands together*
Are you sure? 😏