I’m thrilled to welcome bestselling mystery author Ellery Adams as today’s featured author. With no less than seven (!) mystery series to her name, Ellery knows a thing or two about murder, and her cozies often combine crime with books and cooking.
Paper Cuts, book six in the Secret, Book, and Scone Society series, is out now. In the interview below, Ellery and I cover bibliotherapy, book marketing, and what’s on her horizon.
Connect with Ellery on Instagram, Facebook, and her website. Grab Paper Cuts from your favorite retailer here.
Hi Ellery, thanks so much for joining! Your Secret, Book, and Scone Society series follows a cast of strong women who, as their name implies, share secrets, read books, enjoy pastries and, of course, solve the occasional murder. Each member of the Society has her own unique background, personality, and skills. Where did you get the inspiration for this series?
It all started with a discussion I had with a friend about the healing power of books. That led to research on bibliotherapy and the idea of having a bookstore owner who was also a bibliotherapist. I knew my main character couldn’t advise other people unless she’d been through her fair share of difficulties, so I gave Nora Pennington a shameful secret and outward scars to show others that she had literally been through a trial by fire.
Your books often explore the theme of healing and finding solace through literature. How do you approach incorporating this theme into your mysteries? What do you love about mixing healing and personal growth with books?
Every reader has performed some kind of bibliotherapy at one point in their lives. We have a friend or loved one in need of a book distraction, and we find them the perfect thing to read. The ability to escape inside fiction grants us a rest from our reality. But stories do so much more than that. If we encounter a character going through a similar situation to ours, that connection makes us feel less alone.
That’s the power of books. They connect us to others, relieve our loneliness, and teach us that we are capable of surviving tough times and even growing from those experiences.
You have several mystery series under your belt, including the Book Retreat Mysteries, Supper Club Mysteries, and the Books by the Bay mysteries. Do you have a favorite series to write? Does your writing process change depending on the series?
They’re all so different. The Book Retreat Mysteries are like a writing vacation for me. I get to live in Jane Steward’s world of luxury, beauty, and literary events. I get to have afternoon tea, a falconry lesson, and wander through a mansion stuffed with books.
The Secret, Book, and Scone Society books are challenging to write, but they’re also very rewarding. The characters in this series are so real to me that I actually miss them when I’m not working on their stories. I’ve always fantasized about owning a bookstore. Through Nora, I get to live this fantasy. And this series has given me a chance to blend genres. It’s really a mix of mystery and women’s fiction, which has allowed me to explore some grittier, darker topics.
I’d love to get some insight into your marketing strategy. How do you plan your social media, mailing list, events, and other outreach? You’ve published both traditionally and independently—does your marketing strategy vary depending on whether the book is indie versus traditionally published?
I don’t do mailing lists. I gave that up ages ago. I don’t like getting emails from authors (sorry!) as my email is already too cluttered. I like to focus on Instagram and Facebook posts and interactions as well as in-person events at bookstores. BookBub is a tremendous resource for finding new readers, but librarians and booksellers—and readers sharing my books with friends and family—are the reason I made it to where I am today.
My advice to my fellow writers is not to get too overwhelmed by marketing. Put your creativity into your writing and save your remaining energy by making meaningful connections online.
Lastly, what are you currently looking forward to? Can you share any works in progress, book releases coming up, and other exciting projects?
I’m beyond excited about the release of Paper Cuts because it might be the best book I’ve ever written. I’ve been wanting to add a neurodivergent character as a way of honoring my son for a long time, and I’m eager to see how readers response to Tucker, the young boy in the novel.Murder in the Book Lover’s Loft comes out July 25, and fans of my Books By the Bay series will be delighted to learn that Jane and Edwin are vacationing in Oyster Bay. They’ll see Olivia, Captain Haviland, Michel, Dixie, and more favorite characters. The collision of my two book worlds was a joy to write.
Thanks so much to Ellery for the interview. Sleuths, I hope you enjoyed it! If you aren’t already subscribed, please be sure to sign up for the Cluesletter and get author features like this alongside other mystery goodies, delivered to your inbox every other Tuesday.