A Little League's game is what inspired Leigh Dunlap to write "Bless Your Heart."

What was your inspiration behind your most recent book?

The spark was, of all things, Little League. I’m sorry to say that somehow murder came to mind while attending a few too many games when my son played baseball.

What does Reading Rainbow mean to you?

I grew up in Los Angeles with a very liberal mother who had a diverse group of friends. Respect for all views was something that was just inherent in my upbringing. To me, the ultimate goal in media should be that all people can find works that reflect their lives. Not every book is for every person but there should be choices. Reading Rainbow is the freedom to read through your own lens.

Why do you feel representation of a variety of people is so important when it comes to writing books?

When you start reading a book, you enter someone else’s world and you meet characters that you may find familiar or who may be alien to you, but hopefully it’s something new. I don’t want to read about me. (Trust me, no one would buy that book!) I want to learn about other people. A variety of voices expands your world.

Tell us a little more about the book and why you decided to write it.

The book takes place in Atlanta, where I used to live, and I wanted to comment on the most prosperous area of Atlanta, Buckhead, and disguise it as a murder-mystery. It’s a unique place that’s very forward thinking and dynamic but also kind of dragging its feet through the “old South.”

What can fans expect from your book?

They can expect to meet provocative and unique characters - some good and some bad - solve a crime, and hopefully laugh a lot along the way. They can expect to be entertained!

What's up next for you in the bookish world?

Romance and apocalypse…