Main Character Monday: Interview with Kurt Hunter and Giveaway

Interview with Kurt Hunter: Main Character Monday

Welcome to this Main Character Monday Interview with Kurt Hunter. Kurt is one of three leading characters from Show Me Skulduggery by Ellen E. Withers. Show Me Skulduggery is the third in her Show Me Mysteries series from Scrivenings Press and will release on May 13, 2025. Be sure to read all the way to the end to find out all about this new release and learn how you can enter the great giveaway Ellen is hosting.

Welcome Kurt. Why don’t we start with a little bit about yourself.

The best things in my life are my son, my girlfriend, and my Christian faith. I’m thirty years old and the father of an eight-year-old son, Ross. Currently, I’m raising Ross as a single dad.

 Although I’m new to detective work, I enjoyed my time as a patrol officer. Because I was born and raised in this town, I have a special feel for the citizens and take my job as a protector seriously. My promotion to detective with the Mexico, Missouri Public Safety Department is exciting. My partner, Hector, is teaching me the ropes of detective work.

Liesl Schrader is the love of my life. I’m working to convince her to marry me, but it’s a slow process. Back in high school, I betrayed her with a one-night stand with Ross’s mother. Now I’m proving to Liesl that I am faithful and worthy of her love.

You sound like a very busy man. And best of luck with your proposal. Tell me something about you that readers may find surprising?

In my role as a police detective, I’m doing God’s work to protect the innocent. But I also pray for rehabilitation and forgiveness for those guilty of crimes. My desire is for criminals to be given an opportunity to find their way to God’s love and grace while they’re incarcerated.

As much as I give Liesl a hard time about interfering with my work, she and her best friend Nicole have helped me investigate several murders. I’m grateful for their help, but don’t want them in any danger.

Wow. That really makes praying for your enemies come to life. I mean, I know they didn’t necessarily hurt you, but you see firsthand the damage caused by their actions. I wonder how many of us, in the same position, would think to pray for them. What is your favorite Bible verse and why?

Ephesians 4:32 (KJV) “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.”

I broke Liesl’s heart when we were in high school. I resented my transgressions and begged for forgiveness from God and from her. This taught me to always offer forgiveness to others. People can transform themselves if given the chance to benefit from God’s blessings.

Is there a person from the Bible that you relate to most?

Jonah was rebellious to God’s initial command. It took being swallowed by a large fish to cause him to repent and obey God. I was raised as a Christian by Christian parents, but I rebelled from this temporarily. My actions brought a beautiful boy into this world. His birth transformed me into a mature man who asked for forgiveness from God and the people I hurt during this time.

It’s wonderful how God works beauty through even those times when we’ve been rebellious. The fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Is there one of these characteristics you find is easier to show than the others?

Love. Although I disappointed myself, God, my parents, and Liesl when I went wild years ago, my love for them never wavered. I will always take care of, and protect, those I love. This includes the citizens of my town. Protecting their safety as a law enforcement officer is my act of love for them.

Is there one that is more challenging than the others?

Patience. Just recently, Liesl tried to help me learn the social graces of formal tea. An important source in my investigation invited me to her home for tea, and I was clueless about such things. I thought what Liesl was showing me was silly. I got mad and stormed out of her house. She didn’t deserve to be treated like that, and I blame it all on my impatience. The joke was on me. I could have used Liesl’s lesson.

Well, it seems you may have learned it, even if it was the hard way. If you could give one message to those reading this interview, what would you tell them?

Follow God’s laws and public laws. Drugs, drinking, and illegal behaviors are NOT the answers to your problems.

Before we find out more about Ellen and your book, I’ve got a few more questions for you. These are just for fun. No need to stress them. If you could visit just one place your entire life, where would you go?

I’d like to visit Alaska with Ross and Liesl. I’ve heard so much about the mountains, glaciers, and wildlife there. It seems like it would be a perfect place for us to connect with God and his creations.

If you could choose one talent you don’t already have, what talent would you choose?

I’d appreciate having the training and patience to counsel people to turn away from a life of crime. This is a goal I’m working toward in the future. When I retire from police work, I think I’d like to start, or assist with, a prison ministry.

Dark or Milk Chocolate? Dark Chocolate

Beach or Mountains? Mountains

Sweet Tea or Lemonade? Sweet Tea

And this last question is sometimes the most revealing. Using only three words, how would you describe Ellen E. Withers?

Sentimental, curious, blessed

Great answer. Thank you for being with us today Kurt. Readers thank you for joining me for this interview with Kurt Hunter. Now it’s time to learn a bit more about Ellen E. Withers.

Ellen’s Bio:

Ellen E. Withers is an award-winning fiction writer, freelance writer, and retired insurance fraud
investigator. Her award-winning mystery dual-time series, Show Me Mysteries, published by Scrivenings
Press, is set in her picturesque hometown of Mexico, Missouri. The third book in the series, Show Me
Skulduggery, debuts May 2025.
Her nonfiction book about winning writing contests is Magic Words: How to Enchant Judges & Conjure
Contest Wins, inspired by her writing contest column in the digital writing magazine Writers Monthly
PDF.
Coming in 2026, Ellen will have a dual-time mystery series, Spa City Mysteries, set in Hot Springs,
Arkansas. Contact her at www.ellenewithers.com.

Connect with Ellen:

Website: https://ellenewithers.com/

Author Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100071728886831

Amazon profile: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B0BWZ1G7JS

Instagram profile: https://instagram.com/lnwithers?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/33215146.Ellen_E_Withers

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/ellen-e-withers?list=about

More About Show Me Skulduggery

Death comes knocking once again in Show Me Skullduggery, the captivating third book in the award-winning Show Me Mysteries series. These mysteries involve two eras, early 1900s, and contemporary times, featuring a famous Saddlebred horse stable in Mexico, Missouri. Intrigue, deception, underhanded behavior, and murder will keep you turning pages.

Present day: Because of her behavior, the disregard of the needs of her tenants, and her penny-pinching ways, everyone despises slumlord Katherine Mull. When a killer emerges and acts upon their desire to end Katherine’s life, Liesl, Kurt, and Nicole must race against time to identify the killer before this madman kills again. Can they track down the killer before someone else dies? Do they have the skills necessary to identify the killer before they become the target?

1920 through 1953: Mexico, Missouri is famous for being the “Saddlehorse Capital of the World” thanks to world-famous owner/trainers Tom Bass, C.F. Clark, Joseph Potts, George and William Lee, Robert Stewart, and Art Simmons. Each has built upon the solid, respected reputation of the previous trainer at these beloved stables until now. Who can discover and stop sabotage at the stables? Will the Saddlebred trainers be bankrupt if the breed’s sterling reputation is destroyed? Is murder the ultimate act of an evil man seeking revenge?

Pre-order Show Me Skulduggery

Time for a Giveaway

Ellen is giving away one paperback copy of Show Me Skulduggery (or Show Me Betrayal if the winner is unfamiliar with the series). US entrants only please. To enter, just answer the question in the comments. While you’re there, you can ask Ellen your questions or leave any other comments for her. But don’t forget to answer this question. Ellen likes to write dual time novels because she likes to weave history, historical figures, and historical places together with contemporary characters in the same places. What is your favorite historical era and why?

The drawing will take place from all comments left by midnight on May 5th.