Tag Archives: DeAnna Drake

Tule Author Q&A: DeAnna Drake talks cozy mysteries, strong feisty heroines, and writing what you love

August 16, 2024 · Posted by Tule Publishing

Your work spans cozy mysteries, young-adult fantasy fiction, contemporary romances, and historical novels. How do you manage to switch between such diverse genres, and do you have a favorite? My favorite genre always tends to be the one I’m working in at the moment! As you mentioned, I’ve written across several genres, and I love them all for different reasons, but the cozy mystery genre has really captured my heart and imagination in an amazing way. It allows me to combine all my favorite elements—smart heroines, intriguing sidekicks, mystery, whimsy, a touch of romance, and even history. It has everything!

Your cozy mysteries often feature magical animals. What inspired you to incorporate these elements? I suppose I’ve been drawn to magical animals because I enjoy imagining the world the way I wish it could be. Who wouldn’t want to be friends with an immortal talking cat who once lived with Queen Cleopatra? Or a socially anxious little mouse who is determined to hide his power of speech from the world but realizes he’ll need to use his voice to save his best friend? I love slipping into story worlds where whimsical things like that can happen and then sharing those adventures with readers.

Your heroines are known for their strong, feisty personalities. How do you go about crafting these characters, and what qualities do you believe are essential for a memorable heroine? I love my strong, feisty heroines! I like to think of them as being the kind of women we all wish we could be, while also having some of the same insecurities and baggage we all tend to have, which is what makes them relatable. I can see parts of myself in these women, and I hope readers see a bit of themselves as well. Sometimes my heroines make mistakes, but they always learn from them, and they never give up. That’s what I hope makes them memorable to readers.

The theme of balancing justice is prevalent in your mysteries. What draws you to this theme? I want to live in a world where the bad guy—or gal—is always caught and must face the consequences of their crimes. That doesn’t always happen in the real world, but I can ensure it happens in my stories. I suppose that’s what draws me back to this theme again and again.

What fascinates you about the Victorian and Edwardian eras, and how do you ensure historical accuracy while keeping the stories engaging for modern readers? My love for those eras originated with research for a novel I wrote that is set against the backdrop of the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair and then grew with another novel set in the vaudeville world of Old New York. I fell in love with the fashions of the time and the aesthetics, but I also was fascinated by the strict social conventions people endured—especially women. As an author, I found it deeply satisfying to write about female characters who rebelled against those conventions to find freedom and happiness. For each of those novels, I spent about a year researching the time, place, and historical figures I wove into the stories and then another year writing and doing additional research. All that research might drive some writers nuts, but as a history buff, I loved every second of it!

The bits of ancient Egyptian history that appear in my cozy mysteries comes from my lifelong love of that era, and I’m thrilled to be able to put some of what I’ve learned over the years into the pages of my stories.

You mention being a craft addict. What are some of your favorite crafts, and do they influence or inspire your writing in any way? My favorite crafts are usually the ones that incorporate elements of whatever novel I’m working on at the moment. Lately I’ve been making ribbon bookmarks adorned with teapot charms, mouse charms, or cat charms. Since writing books can take weeks or even months, it’s so rewarding to be able to make something from beginning to end in one sitting. While I’m crafting, I usually think I’m giving my brain a break, but inevitably I end up working out a story issue that has been hounding me or thinking up something entirely new for a future story. My story brain never seems to turn off.

How does binge-watching crime dramas influence your writing, particularly your cozy mysteries? Do you have any favorite shows that have inspired your work? I’m inspired by so many crime shows. I love the humor of Psych and Monk. I admire the clever deduction of Elementary and Endeavor. I learn so much about forensic evidence from CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and Bones. But I’d say the ones I’m most drawn to are the British mysteries, such as Midsomer Murders and especially Agatha Christie’s Marple. It’s always fascinating to see how the bad guy or gal tries to hide their crime, how clues might be discovered, and what ultimately gives them away.

You escape to Disneyland whenever you can (love this!). What is it about Disneyland that you find so inspiring, and does it play a role in your creative process? Disneyland is an idealized version of real-life, sort of like the world of my cozy mysteries. It’s filled with fun things to do, interesting things to see, happy people, and of course the Dole Whips, which are my personal favorite Disney treat! I’ve been going to Disneyland since I was a child, so there’s also many wonderful childhood memories I’m able to revisit each time I’m there. I also love that I’m now adding to those memories with new ones that include my hubby, daughter, and friends.

How does living in Southern California with your family (and pampered border collie!) influence your writing routine and the themes you explore in your books? Living in Southern California has had a tremendous effect on my cozy mysteries. Each story is set within Orange County in towns I’ve either lived in or worked in, or both. There are so many interesting and quirky aspects to this area that often go unnoticed by outsiders, and I love pulling some of that into the stories.

What advice would you have for aspiring writers who wish to write in different genres like yourself? I would advise any writer to write stories they love, and if that means dabbling in different genres, go ahead and do it, even if more business-minded folks caution against it. I’ve been in this business a long time, and I know so much about the world of publishing lies outside the author’s control. The only thing truly in your control is deciding what to write, so you might as well write what makes you happy. Also, I believe something wonderful happens when a writer is writing a story they truly love. The enthusiasm fuels the story, and that energy or spark or whatever it is, makes the story extra special for the reader.

BONUS: What is one book you consider to be a comfort read that you reach for all the time? Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll

BONUS 2: What is your FAVORITE ride at Disneyland? Haunted Mansion

A month packed full of mysteries and cozies for our August release line up!

August 3, 2024 · Posted by Tule Publishing

Check out our August releases for Tule Mystery! If you haven’t already done so, be sure you’re subscribed to our Tule Mystery newsletter AND, if you’re interested in cozy mysteries, check out Tule’s Cozy Mystery Cafe and read up on our new cozy authors!

Release Date: August 5, 2024

Turning thirty can be murder! 

When a body is discovered next to the Little Dog Diner on her milestone birthday, Dani Mackenzie finds herself scooping up a scandal instead of cutting cake.

The prime suspect is the new owner of the Blueberry Bay Grapevine, but the victim’s stepbrother and ex-girlfriend also have means, motive, and opportunity.

With this trio of suspects, it will take a good nose to uncover whodunnit. At least Dani has her best friend—her Jack Russell, Pip—at her side to help sniff out the killer! But in the meantime, her kick-off to her thirties is turning into more of an upside-down cake than a celebration as she uncovers money, a business scandal, and thwarted love at the core of this crime.

It will take the victim’s black Labrador and finding a winning lottery ticket to solve this mystery, but Dani never throws in the towel. Will she and Pip once again use their experience at solving mysteries to bring justice to Misty Harbor, Maine, or will they be caught in the crosshairs of the killer?

Release Date: August 12, 2024

What’s worse than a murder victim on your doorstep? 

For Rebecca Cuthbert, it’s finding a cursed Egyptian charm tucked into the dead woman’s pocket. The ominous discovery propels the fearless shopkeeper and her immortal, chatty cat on a perilous hunt for the killer and another piece of the missing magical collection.

Unfortunately, Citrus Grove’s annual summer festival is tying up police department resources—including Rebecca’s new beau, Detective Nick Devon—which leaves Rebecca, her grandfather’s wisdom, and Aneksi’s mystical powers to crack the case.

As her investigation delves into the amulet’s eerie peculiarities and the deceased’s shocking connections with a menacing foe, as well as an unwelcome old flame from Rebecca’s past, Rebecca doesn’t know who to trust. Can she rely on her newfound friends in her adopted hometown, or will deadly revelations turn her into the killer’s next target?

Prepare to journey through unexpected twists, ancient mysteries, and a dash of romance in this cozy mystery that will keep you guessing till the very end!

Release Date: August 13, 2024

Inspired by the remarkable life of Dorothy Peto, the Metropolitan Police’s first female superintendent.

Even in war, your enemies can linger too close to home… 

While war and revolution continue to ravage Europe, Dorothy Peto embraces her new role at Scotland Yard as she and several detectives investigate a series of jewel thefts. Then Dorothy is tasked with assisting the inscrutable Inspector Derwent and the charming Colonel Lamarchant to find a missing French aristocrat. Their enquiries take them to a country house in Yorkshire, that’s been converted to a hospital for wounded soldiers and was the last place the Frenchman visited. However, the more questions they ask, the more questions they have.

When the body of a man suspected of being the marquis is discovered, the investigative team returns to London, but the dead man is a stranger. Dorothy speculates that the death, the jewel thefts and the missing Frenchman may be connected. She finds herself tangled in a web of conscientious objectors, Irish republicans and communist agitators, and not everyone is who they appear to be.

Release Date: August 22, 2024

Some secrets are safer lost at sea…

London based lawyer Kyra Gibson returns to Martha’s Vineyard and the beach house she inherited for an extended summer holiday. Still reeling from her father’s brutal murder and the role she and the handsome detective, Tarek Collins played in uncovering it, Kyra is hopeful for some peace and quiet. But when a summer squall reveals the wreckage of the pirate ship, Keres, rich with rumored treasure, all hopes of peace are dashed. Conservationists and treasure hunters descend on the exclusive island to lay claim to the ship. When two of the salvagers are killed, Kyra and Tarek’s friend, pub owner and amateur historian, Gully Gould is arrested for murder.

Determined to prove Gully’s innocence, Kyra, Tarek, and reformed playboy Chase Hawthorn team up to clear their friend’s name. But someone wants the treasure for themselves. And with someone willing to kill for it, there is more than just danger lurking along the island’s caves and coves. There is death.

Release Date: August 28, 2024

Murder has twisted them together…

It’s bad enough that Kyrie Dawn had an affair and a son with Charlotte McLaughlin’s husband, then, following his death, sued Charlotte for the two-bedroom love nest he’d purchased on a private residence cruise ship. That cabin was Charlotte’s consolation prize, and she’s chosen to travel the world in luxury, with her sister Jane along for the ride.

But now Kyrie Dawn has taken a job onboard teaching yoga—and she’s brought her little boy, who looks just like his father, with her.

Charlotte considers jumping ship as they sail toward Yokohama, Japan. Then the head chef is found in the downward dead position in Kyrie Dawn’s yoga studio, and all evidence points to her as the killer. She begs Charlotte and Jane to look after this friendly toddler—permanently if she’s found guilty.

With a second chance at motherhood snuggled in her lap, Charlotte must decide which life path to follow. Can she even set aside her hurt and anger to help exonerate the woman who ruined her life?

Two Cozies + One Thriller = Tule’s July Mystery Releases!

June 27, 2024 · Posted by Tule Publishing

Need a new mystery? Why don’t you check out our two newest cozy releases coming out this month and maybe add our latest thriller to your TBR list!

Join Rebecca and Aneksi in this engaging and humorous cozy mystery as they unravel a tale of murder, mystery, and mayhem while discovering more secrets in Citrus Grove.

Rebecca Cuthbert, no stranger to false accusations, rushes to defend her baker best friend when she’s accused of murdering Citrus Grove’s Elvis-loving mayor with a deadly petit four.

But Rebecca recognizes the real clue: this death is the work of the Emerald Scarab, one of the cursed artifacts she vowed to track down after it was stolen from her grandfather’s quirky antique shop.

Now she must navigate a peculiar maze of clues and enchantments, aided by her grandfather’s wise counsel and the scattered recollections of an immortal talking cat, Aneksi, who once encountered the scandalous scarab in Cleopatra’s court. With each revelation, her search becomes a frantic race to find the killer and the amulet before they can hurt anyone else.

But her meddling puts her in the killer’s path, and Rebecca must rely on her fledgling investigative skills to save her friend from jail and herself from becoming the sleepy Southern California town’s latest murder victim.

Instead of walking down the aisle, the bride is suspected of murder…. 

Maddie Bell’s life and career have hit peak stride. She’s sold her cozy mystery series and is contracted for two more books; she’s engaged to Hemlock’s chief of police; and her mother has purchased and restored the beautiful historic mansion, Gracewood Hall, in their hometown of Hemlock, North Carolina. Three generations—Gigi, Maddie, and Jenna–are now happily engaged in the wedding and special event business.

But their highly scrutinized inaugural event—the wedding of an A-List social media influencer—becomes a murder scene before the rehearsal dinner. Kate Archer, the professional bridesmaid Jenna hired, is found bludgeoned by a bottle of Veuve Clicquot, not only threatening their new business, but also sending Jenna into a tailspin of guilt. She knew Kate from college and had begged her to fill in as the maid of honor.

Even as the police warn Maddie not to interfere with the investigation, mother and daughter set out to discover who killed Kate and dispel the growing rumors that Gracewood Hall is cursed.

In the deadly future after the second civil war, the United States is divided and dangerous…

Agent Heather Slade is a beautiful well-crafted fake. A perfect lie. A highly-trained asset with no country, no memory, and no home. She spies for a secretive group of Revo agents from the democratic Free States and fights against the crushing power of the charismatic authoritarian leader who controls the militant Patriot regions. Risking her life, she infiltrates top levels of the brutal government and lives deeply under cover with her enemies.

Heather’s current mission is to smuggle a package from under the President’s nose onto a highly guarded golden train and bring it to safety in the Free States. Her partner on the perilous journey is a handsome but inexperienced foreign agent with secrets of his own. Why is Miguel Robles so hauntingly familiar? He might hold the key to finding the family she no longer remembers—if they survive the mission.