Today’s interviewee is Krysti Meyer, whom you may be familiar with as the host of the Get Cozy Podcast, which features cozy mystery authors and readers. As of today, Krysti is also officially a published author—her YA rom com Not If I Date You First is out now!
In the interview below, Krysti and I chat about cozy mysteries, podcasting, indie publishing, and more.
Connect with Krysti on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and her website. Subscribe to her newsletter here, and listen to the Get Cozy Podcast here. Grab a copy of Not If I Date You First here.
Hi Krysti, thanks so much for joining! Let’s start by talking about your podcast, the Get Cozy Podcast, which is filled with book recommendations and author interviews. Why are mystery authors and books so exciting to speak about? What do you love about hosting this podcast, and what have you learned while producing it?
Thank you for having me! Your Cluesletter is so much fun, and I’m honored to be a part of it. For me, mysteries—particularly cozy mysteries—are the perfect balance of light and dark, of puzzle solving and literary escapism. I love doing work for a genre that is largely dominated by women and really represents and celebrates the female experience in such a fun and unique way.
I learn something new from every single author who takes the time to participate in the podcast. They all have a unique take on the genre or the process of writing, and it’s always a joy to speak with them and learn from them.
Having covered so many cozy mystery authors and their books, I have to ask—what are your top mystery recommendations? What elements do you think make a strong cozy mystery?
My go-to cozy mystery recommendations are the Sloan Kraus Mysteries by Ellie Alexander, The Shady Hollow series by Juneau Black, and the Tita Rosie’s Kitchen Mysteries by Mia P. Manansala.
I like to immerse myself in a cozy that is well-written and includes modern social themes while still being a delightful, cozy escape from the world. Cozies feel like a safe way to experience the crime genre, and there is truly nothing better than getting hooked on a long-running series that you can enjoy for years to come.
Your debut novel, the YA romance Not If I Date You First, is out now. What have you learned during the writing and publishing process? Is there any strategy in particular that you recommend to first-time indie authors, and/or anything you would do differently?
Oooh, this is such a great question! I feel like I learn something new every day as an indie author. It’s such a steep learning curve. I think the most important thing for aspiring indie authors to know going into the process is that indie publishing truly is a pay-to-play world. It can get very expensive very quickly. It’s essential to create your budget going into it, talk to other indie authors who are willing to be open about how much different parts of the process cost, and then set your priorities accordingly.
Indie publishing is so cool in that you really can make your own dreams come true yourself! I find that so empowering. But unless you have an unlimited budget, you’re likely going to have to prioritize your dreams for each book, and choose the ones that are the most meaningful for you.
I’ve always admired your social media presence and how you engage with your audience. How do you plan your marketing and other outreach? What kind of content do you like to post, and how do you engage your online community?
Oh, thank you so much! I really enjoy participating in the online book community. I’ve met so many incredible people in that space, like yourself! I love posting about the kinds of books I love to read, so cozies, rom coms, thrillers, and books that are written by my friends and local authors.
I feel like Instagram is my wheelhouse. I love using apps like Lightroom and Canva to make fun photos and graphics. I think the most important thing about any social media platform is to figure out what you enjoy creating in that space and being your authentic self. If any specific platform isn’t fun for you, then it just isn’t worth doing. I like to look at social media as a way to create a different type of art. It’s all about creative expression and meeting friends who enjoy some of the same things you do.
Lastly, what are you currently working on? Are you planning future books, exciting podcast episodes, and/or do you have anything else in the works?
I do have another book coming out in December. It’s called Never Getting Back Together. It’s a small-town, second-chance romance that will release on 12/12. I’ve had to slow down on the podcast a little bit in the past month to focus on getting through my book launch, but I have some fun episodes scheduled for August, including Rektok Ross, who wrote the YA thriller Summer Rental, Bradeigh Godfrey, whose adult thriller The Followers releases on 08/29, and C.J. Connor, whose queer cozy mystery (quozy mystery) Board to Death releases on 08/22.
Thanks so much to Krysti 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.