Mystery Manon

cozy mystery

Author Interview: Kathleen Marple Kalb

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Spring isn’t typically seen as a season of mystery—I’d have to credit autumn for that—but that’s no excuse to slow down your mystery consumption. There are so many great books slated for release within the next few months, so I hope your shelves are ready!

One such upcoming release is A Fatal Overture by Kathleen Marple Kalb, the Cluesletter featured author for March 22, 2022. This is book three in the ​​Ella Shane historical mystery series, and follows the titular character, an opera singer, as she hunts down another murderer in Gilded Age Manhattan.

As an opera lover myself, I’m thrilled to interview Kathleen about this release. Some of you sleuths might also know her as Nikki Knight, author of Live, Local, and Dead (2022, Crooked Lane Books).

Connect with Kathleen on her website, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram; and with “Nikki” on Facebook and Twitter.

Preorder A Fatal Overture ahead of its 3/29 release, and grab Live, Local, and Dead today.

Hi, Kathleen! Thanks so much for joining me. Your Ella Shane mystery series stars spunky opera singer Ella in New York City during the Gilded Age. Where did you get the inspiration for this “unconventional diva?”

Thank you for asking me—I’m thrilled to be here! Ella, an opera singer famous for playing male roles, draws a bit from my own career as a radio news anchor. In the early days of the business, the men who ran things didn’t think a woman sounded credible enough to open an hour. An older colleague once joked about me doing the “boy shift,” and I remembered that when I read about a mezzo soprano who sings trouser roles. I loved the idea of a woman who plays men onstage while remaining a perfect lady in real life. 

Ella, an Irish-Jewish orphan made good, is a little bit like singer/actress Lillian Russell, who owned her own theatre company. But Lillian Russell’s personal life was much different: four marriages and a high-profile affair with Diamond Jim Brady. Ella would not approve!

The historical setting of the series—Manhattan in 1899—and the opera theme makes for a fascinating backdrop to a mystery. Do you do research while writing, either for the historical time period or the opera setting? (Also, just to satisfy my own curiosity, do you have a favorite opera, or even a favorite aria?)

I do a lot of research, actually. My background is in history; I was a history major and I’ve always been a major history buff. But there’s always something to nail down: what kind of charm bracelet Ella would wear, what was the big story that week in 1899, were the streetlights at Washington Square gas or electric? Plus a good bit of opera research—I’m not an opera expert.

Favorite opera? Because it has Ella’s favorite role, Romeo, Vincenzo Bellini’s I Capuleti e I Montecchi. Aria? Anything by Beverly Sills. I’ve been a fan since I read her memoir when I was a kid, and Ella’s combination of brilliant talent and down-to-earth personality comes straight from Sills.

I’d also like to ask about Live, Local, and Dead: released under your pen name, Nikki Knight, this first installment the new Vermont Radio Mystery series came out last month (congrats!). How did writing this mystery differ from the Ella Shane series? 

Thanks! This one’s a lot more personal. I worked in Vermont early in my radio career, and I loved the place and the people, if not the snow! I’d been working on some version of a Vermont radio mystery for at least seven years, but it was only after moving on to Ella, helping my husband through a health crisis, and getting signed for the Ella series that I returned to Vermont. This time, I brought everything I’d learned as a person and a writer to my “happy place,” and it worked. Not to mention the fun of writing a maple-candy eating, flatulent moose!

I love that you’re active with your blog, mailing list, and social media. Where do you spend the most marketing energy? Do you have marketing tips for other authors?

Thanks!  I was a lockdown debut, so social media was the only thing I had. Maintaining a daily presence for both “author brands” probably takes about an hour a day, and it’s the biggest single thing. But it’s also one of the most effective—I’m always out there. I do two weekly blog posts: historical “fun facts” on Goodreads and writers’ life advice on my website, and they’re both good ways to bring in readers with content.

I’m also an admin on the Cozy Mystery Village Facebook page, and I really recommend getting involved with a genre page if you can. You learn a lot about readers and their expectations and make a lot of good reader and writer connections—and friends!

What can your readers expect in the future? Do you have plans for future Ella Shane books, or perhaps another Vermont Radio mystery in the works? 

Both the next Ella and the next Vermont Radio story are on my computer, ready to go. I’ve taken to writing short stories during the pandemic, so I’m always looking for new ideas. And, I’m working on several other ideas…so I have plenty to keep me busy!

Thanks so much to Kathleen 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.

Author Interview: Lydia Lane

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Love, or rather the complications that may arise from it, is one theme in the books from today’s featured author, Lydia Lane. Lydia’s debut cozy, Mai Tais & Murder, stars recently jilted Tessa Tidwell who, despite a failed wedding, decides to embark on her honeymoon anyways. The solo trip brings her to the Golden Hibiscus Resort, where she finds herself ensnared in murder. In the below interview, Lydia chats her books, social media, the publishing process, and more.

Connect with Lydia on Instagram and Facebook, and her website (don’t forget to sign up for her newsletter, The Tip-Off!). Buy Mai Tais & Murder today, and preorder Dying for Daiquiris, which comes June 2022.

Lydia Lane author

Hi, Lydia, thanks for joining! Huge congratulations on last month’s launch of Mai Tais & Murder, the first installment in your Beach Cocktail Cozy Mystery series. This series opener follows recently brokenhearted sleuth Tessa Tidwell and wealthy, four-times-married Sibyl Vine as they solve a murder at a beach resort. Where did you find inspiration for these strong female characters? What do you think makes a great, strong protagonist?

Sibyl actually came to me first—she kind of appeared, fully formed, in my imagination as a combination of Lucille Bluth from Arrested Development and Mrs. White from the 1970s  movie Clue. I was also inspired by something Cher said once. Her mom told her she should find a rich man, and Cher replied, “Mom, I am a rich man.” I wanted the character of Sibyl to embody that energy.

And Tessa has been kicking around in my mind for a while. I’ve always loved the word “jilted,” and it’s fallen out of use! It calls up Charles Dickens’ Miss Havisham, who is such a fascinating character. I kind of thought, “What would Miss Havisham do in 2021 if she wasn’t, in fact, anything at all like Miss Havisham?” So instead of sitting around in her wedding gown for the rest of her life, Tessa went on her honeymoon. 

As far as great protagonists, I love a protagonist who thinks. My favorite characters are always very smart, very sharp people (usually women), and I hope my characters read that way, too. 

Also, it should go without saying, but a strong protagonist actually, well, does things. I am very conscious of making sure that my protagonist is the one driving the action forward; she’s assisted (sometimes very significantly) by other characters, but ultimately, she is making the choices and dealing with the consequences that drive the narrative forward.

I love how you infuse humor into your writing, whether it be in your book(s) or on your website/social media. (I especially love Sibyl’s advice essays, what a fun read!) Do you have tips for writers looking to inject humor into their work? Do you think it’s important to have humor in a cozy mystery?

Oh, gosh, humor is a tough one! Here’s how I see it—I am the funniest person I know, and that is a gift I give myself. Does anyone else think I’m funny? Possibly not. (Probably not?) 

But I make myself laugh all the time, and it’s such a joy to be able to do so. It’s fun to be with myself, and I highly recommend everyone experiment with being their own personal comedian.

Now, to the writing, because the above is general life advice—I didn’t set out to write a humorous mystery, honestly, because we’ve all heard how difficult it is to be funny. For me, it started with Sibyl, and I just wrote the things she said. And when I’d go back and read what I’d written, I’d laugh out loud because it wasn’t me who said it, it was Sibyl, and I just thought some of the things she said were hilarious.

And then I relaxed a little bit. Because, frankly, I had been afraid to try to write funny stuff. But I found Sibyl funny, and I thought, “What if I just write what comes to mind, and if it falls flat, no big deal, it’ll be cut. At the very least, I can try to amuse myself.” 

So that’s what I do—I try to amuse myself. I try to make myself laugh. Sometimes it translates for other people, sometimes it doesn’t, but I think I’m hilarious. And in the first draft, that’s all that matters.

The topic of humor in cozies is interesting because humor doesn’t seem to be a core element of the genre as most people understand it. It’s important in what I want to read because I like to laugh, but I don’t know that most readers would agree that humor is key to a cozy. It’s just down to preference, right? There isn’t a right or wrong answer about what people enjoy. One of my dear friends likes to say, “Just let people enjoy things,” and that’s the view I take. If I pick up a cozy that is sweet and straightforward without much humor, it just isn’t for me. Doesn’t mean it’s wrong or bad; it just isn’t for me.

And to take it even further, people like different kinds of humor! I really enjoy smart, snappy dialogue, while other people might like more physical, slapstick comedy. There’s room for all of it.

Mai Tais and Murder-Lydia Lane

Between your social media, book covers, and writing style, you’ve cultivated a strong personal brand. How do you plan your social media? Do you have any tips for marketing, finding a personal voice/style, et cetera?

The way we spend our time is the way we spend our lives, so I’m very, very intentional about how I spend my time and how many things get my focus.

My approach to social media (and to life in general), is to pick something and focus. Cut out all the rest of the noise. Be relentless in reducing the demands on your attention. 

I am a big believer in scheduling my time—that includes my social media planning and execution, as well as my writing schedule and any other goals I’m pursuing at the time. In practice, I plan my social media about a month in advance, and I block approximately 2-3 hours over the course of a few days to draft, design, and schedule the posts. (And when something goes onto my calendar, it is a commitment to showing up. I don’t take this lightly!)

I am typically not on social media very often (I go through waves of activity), so if I relied on off-the-cuff posting, my readers would only hear from me once or twice a month for months at a time, and then three times a day for a week. So, scheduling is key.

I’m only active on Instagram. I have a TikTok with two videos, and then I just decided against putting my time there. Could I grow faster if I was on BookTok and Twitter and Facebook and all the things? Yeah, probably. But that’s not the way I want to live my life. I don’t want to be constantly thinking of content production and posting schedules. That’s mental energy I want to be putting into my books.

Focus is the key to momentum. It’s the key to getting the energy of your life going in a particular direction. So for my social media, that means one platform and a once-monthly commitment to showing up and doing the work.

Since this is your debut mystery, is there anything you have learned about the writing and/or publishing process?

I’ve learned so much about writing and publishing over the course of this book, but I think what’s more important is what we learn about ourselves through the process of creation. That’s probably a question for another time though!

What I learned in the process:

  1. Get help. Hiring a developmental editor took the book from mediocre to something I am very, very proud of. I highly recommend this, especially for newbies like I was.
  2. Feeling the emotional pain of humiliation and embarrassment will not kill you. Getting difficult feedback from my editor and negative reviews haven’t killed me yet. One-star reviews are something you’ll have to make peace with experiencing if you want to be an author. Just be willing to experience those negative emotions, and you’ll become unstoppable.
  3. Put your writing schedule on your calendar and commit to it. The key to this is not to put anything on your calendar that you aren’t 100% committed to showing up for. Commit to producing a specific result – for me, it’s 1000 words a day – instead of vaguely saying “work on book.” You’ll be amazed at what you produce.
  4. Just trust the process. I know everyone says that, but it really is magical when you let go and move on to something else while asking your brain to work on the problem. That’s what I do when I encounter a plot issue. Instead of freaking out (which used to be my default setting), I instruct my brain to figure it out. I literally say, “OK, I want you to figure out Plot Hole A, and we’ll reconvene tomorrow morning.” Magically, I have an answer the next day. I now have faith in my subconscious to work out the things my conscious brain is struggling with.

And better than any advice I can offer, just follow Andy Warhol’s: “Don’t think about making art. Just get it done. Let other people decide whether it’s good or bad, whether they love it or hate it. While they are deciding, make more art.”

Just for fun—if you were to put together a playlist for your Beach Cocktail series, what songs would you pair with the book to set the mood?

Oh, this is such a fun question! I drafted this book almost entirely to a Spotify playlist called Tropical House Instrumental. Happy, beachy vibes! 

Lastly, let’s talk book two, Dying for Daiquiris. What can we expect from Tessa and Sibyl in this next installment? Can you give us any sneak peaks (plot, drama, murder)?

The Beach Cocktail series will have at least three books; the second two will both be out in 2022.

Dying for Daiquiris sees all the main characters back at the Golden Hibiscus Resort, with things kicking off with a non-murder crime. But don’t worry, a dead body does materialize in Act 1. We also dig more into some of Sibyl’s backstory, with an appearance by a new character who was briefly mentioned near the end of Mai Tais & Murder.

I also have an idea for a new series that I’m itching to write but am sitting on until the Beach Cocktail books are out. There are tarot cards and a runaway wife in this new series. . . . More to come on that!

Thanks so much to Lydia 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.

Author Interview: Brook Peterson

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Brook Peterson is the author of the Jericho Falls Cozy Mystery series. A History of Murder, the first in the series, follows amateur sleuth Chloe Martin as she solves a local murder in the small, touristy mining town of Jericho Falls, Nevada. The series also has a holiday novella, The Present Predicament, and the second book in the series, A Collection of Secrets, comes January 2022.

A History of Murder is available to purchase in print and Kindle edition on Amazon, and the eBook is also available from these retailers. You can connect with Brook on Instagram, Facebook, and her website. Also be sure to subscribe to her newsletter to stay up-to-date on her next release!

This interview is from the November 30, 2021 edition of the Cluesletter. For more author interviews and other mystery news and tidbits, be sure to become a subscriber.

Brook Peterson author books

Hi, Brook! It’s great to have you. Your Jericho Falls Cozy Mystery series is set in a fictional Nevada town once known as a booming gold mining hub, and now a quaint tourist spot. In your opinion, what makes a good cozy mystery town? Where did you get the inspiration for Jericho Falls? 

Thank you for having me, Manon, it is such a pleasure. We all love cozies set in places where you’d least expect something menacing going on. Jericho Falls fits nicely into this category today. However, it was a very different, rough and tumble mining town in the late 1800s. In its heyday, it definitely had its share of fights, disagreements, and even murders. This background gives me a lot of material to work with in upcoming stories. In fact, I have a novella in the works where the mystery hinges upon a hidden prospector’s map that’s found when a Main Street business does a remodel.

The seed of this series started after a trip my sister and I took to Virginia City, Nevada. We stayed in the Silver Queen Hotel, drank at the Bucket of Blood Saloon, and toured as many historic buildings as we could, including Piper’s Opera House. We were brought up doing this kind of exploring of old places with our parents, but something about that particular trip really stuck with me. I started a draft of the story right away, although it took me years to finish and publish it.

There are currently two published books in the Jericho Falls series: A History of Murder, book one, and The Present Predicament, a holiday novella. Since you are relatively early on in this series, do you have ideas of where the story will go? 

Originally, I planned to write just three novels in the series, a perfect set-up for Chloe’s overall character growth—and love story (wink).  But last holiday season, the idea for the novella came to me, and now another novella-length story is emerging. So, it’s safe to say the series will be longer than I first thought. Honestly, I love these characters and their historic town and I feel there are a lot more adventures left in store for them.

With the holidays coming up, do you have any gift recommendations for book lovers?

 One thing that’s on my Christmas list this year is a pair of writing gloves. I have been drooling over the handmade options on Etsy as well as these available at Storiarts.

As a writer with a very active online presence, how do you manage your time? Do you have any tips for writers looking to amp up their organization skills in 2022?

This is a big question. Balancing this business along with home and family is not easy. In my previous job in public relations, I managed projects by making a series of lists; what I needed to accomplish within a month, a week, and then, each day. Now, since I’m only accountable to myself, my schedule has a lot more wiggle room. But I still plan in the same manner. Sarra Cannon and Helen Redfern are both amazing teachers of this style of planning specifically for creatives. I highly recommend their YouTube channels.

My overall advice is to always prioritize writing. Since books and stories are our “merchandise” as authors, we have to be creating in order to stay in business. I try to spend time on my current work in progress first thing each day. This doesn’t always happen (I’m a weirdo who really enjoys doing the admin stuff and can get sucked in too easily), but when I maintain this focus I feel successful even if I don’t hit all of my self-imposed deadlines.

Lastly, let’s talk about your upcoming release, A Collection of Secrets, which is book two in your Jericho Falls Cozy Mystery series. What can you tell us about this one? 

I’m very excited about this story that picks up where Book 1 left off. Similar to A History of Murder, there are aspects of the past that continue to trouble our sleuth, Chloe Martin. But that’s not the only thing complicating her life; she also hits a snag in her burgeoning relationship with police chief, Lance Garner. Without giving too much away, I will say that readers of book one who wanted more information about Christy’s mysterious diary will be pleased. 😉

My favorite part of writing this story was incorporating the RV park scenes. In the past, my husband’s job required extensive travel and staying in RV parks was a way of life for us. It was fun for me to bring this part of our real life into the world of Jericho Falls.

Pre-orders will begin in December 2021 at all major eBook retailers at a reduced price of $1.99. The book will release by Jan 2022. After the launch period, the eBook price will go up to $2.99, so get it early!

A huge thanks to Brook for joining. Sleuths, I hope you enjoyed the interview! If you aren’t already subscribed, I would like to invite you to sign up for the Cluesletter and get author features alongside other mystery goodies.