If you’ve been following the story behind this series, you may remember that I wrote Old Habits Die Hard on behalf of my dear friend Mariana Damon, who I met at the University of Iowa Summer Writing Festival in 2004. After she moved to memory care, another member of our writing group and I visited her in 2022 and during our time with her in Portland, she shared her idea for a murder mystery. Marni and I helped Mariana flesh out the setting, a short cast of characters, and the dramatic opening scene. Before flying home, I told Marni it was a shame she’d never be able to develop the story since her condition prohibited it. “But we should write it for her!” Marni and I jotted down what we could recall and went our separate ways.

A year later between projects, I came across the little notebook where I’d written those notes and decided to take a crack at “Murder in the Abbey.” Old Habits Die Hard was born. By the time I finished the manuscript, I’d grown very fond of the characters in Old Habits Die Hard and thought if someone wanted me to write another mystery with Bernie and AJ, maybe I could come up with something. (It’s every writer’s fantasy for a publisher to ask for a sequel.) As it happens, writing a mystery’s easy compared to thinking of another situation that would pull Bernie and AJ together again. It’s tricky to bring a retired nun into an investigation with my Gen-Z detective, but what if I came at the story from AJ’s perspective? Where might he go and run into Bernie?

AJ’s a nerd, I could place him at a comic con! But why would Bernie show up at a comic con? She could be in the same city on vacation with a friend…and while away from home, her friend goes missing and she asks AJ to help find them! AHA! I could call this book A Regular Habit because they keep working together…

Once the idea hit me, I was itching to start writing a sequel but not wanting to put the cart before the horse, I sent query letters to agents and publishers pitching Old Habits Die Hard. The replies taught me two valuable pieces of information: a person cannot simply write a book and add someone’s name as the co-author without a copyright agreement AND publishers aren’t buying stand-alone murder mysteries. I heard it again and again: “This has to be a series. You need at least three books.”

Talk about biting off more than I can chew! But I had a good idea for a second book, and I could always come up with that third idea later, right? I outlined my pitch for book 2 and Dawn Dowdle, the agent who signed me, told me to start writing book two IMMEDIATELY. With barely a gasp of air, I launched myself at this story about a retired nun going to Seattle to meet her bestie for a fun weekend and discovering her friend has gone missing. I was so proud of the scene when AJ runs into her in the hotel lobby and agrees to help search for Sister Eleanor. I was nearly 2/3 finished with a first draft when Dawn informed me characters cannot travel in book 2. “Can you rewrite it so they’re back at The Abbey?”

I understood (sort of). The Abbey’s awesome, and fans want to see them again, but the comic con and hotel were too critical to my plot, the story was impossible to write in Eugene. “Can I swap the order and write a new book two?”

Yes, but book two had to take place in The Abbey, in Eugene.

I put A Regular Habit on the back burner and began writing Dropped Like a Bad Habit (where I admittedly got carried away murdering victims). By the time Bernie and AJ meet up out of town in book 3, so much more has happened and their relationship needed to reflect it. I included scenes so fans can see what’s going on with the gang back in Eugene, but I hope readers are amenable to this new adventure set in Seattle.

Oh, and as you probably guessed by now, the wise people at Tule Publishing retitled A Regular Habit to sound more sinister, hence A Fatal Habit. A nun and a bounty hunter walk into a bar…then another nun and a detective start looking for them. Plus, the setting’s crowded with vampires and monsters, a mysterious notebook, a former classmate of AJ’s, and a foot chase through a huge convention center as AJ helps Bernie figure out what happened to Sister Eleanor. Why did she meet someone dressed like Boba Fett just before her disappearance? Who would want to kill a sweet, retired nun from the UP? Is her death connected to the comic con? To the bounty hunter from Kamino? Can Bernie and AJ solve her murder before time runs out?

The links below will guide your way to answering those questions!

And I’m glad to report I wrote book 4 IN ORDER!

About the Author

Melissa Westemeier grew up around the edge of nerd culture, but marriage and motherhood with three sons immersed her in it. She’s fluent in Marvel, DC, Dr. Who, Star Wars, Godzilla, and more thanks to their influence. Her fiction work includes rom-com and a trilogy loosely based on her experience tending bar on the Wolf River in Wisconsin. She’s thrilled to realize her childhood dream of writing murder mysteries. Her books blend her humor and appreciation for nerd culture while tackling serious themes and unpacking the puzzle of whodunnit (and how and why!). In her spare time, Melissa needs to be outside or near a window. Her passions include hiking, swimming, biking, reading, and fantasizing about her next vacation destination.

Eleanor was born and raised in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula on her family’s farm and orchard and from day one, Eleanor loved nature and being outdoors. Teaching fourth grade science was her destiny. The petite scrappy nun with bobbed hair brought the outdoors into Room 203 for her students and with Bernie’s help led students outdoors on many field trips. Wearing a pocketed vest to carry every bit of gear from a compass to first aid kit, Eleanor tromped through the forests around Eugene, pointing out songbirds and insects, scat and tracks to Bernie and her students. Because of her expertise in camping, canoeing and fishing, she’s one of the few people Bernie ever willingly took directions from, mainly because Bernie didn’t want to get lost in the woods or stumble into a patch of poison oak! 

Beloved by her students because of her boundless enthusiasm, many graduates of St. Al’s credit Sister Eleanor for sparking their interest in biology and outdoor activities. Teddy Rudie says she’s the reason he loves to go camping with his family every summer. Liz Kelly became a wildlife manager for the state’s Department of Fish and Wildlife thanks to those field trips. 

The transition for an outdoorswoman from Michigan to Oregon was easy, especially with a kindred spirit like Bernie on staff. The women share a strong sense of social justice and curiosity as well as a stubborn streak. Bernie and Eleanor started traveling together during their summer vacations and since retiring they continue meeting up once a year for a trip. They head to all kinds of exotic locations, including Brazil and Laos. Wherever they go, they always cap off their evenings the same way: a hearty meal and some red wine topped off with a glass of bourbon. Bernie’s got hundreds of photos, but her favorites are of her and Eleanor with pink cheeks and glasses raised to toast another fine day exploring a new corner of the world. Over the years the two have grown more wrinkled, they’ve added eyeglasses and silver hair, and of course the backdrop changes with each new destination, but their sisterhood remains tight. 

Their history of heading to exciting places makes Bernie wonder why Eleanor insists on meeting in Seattle, Washington this year. It’s true Eleanor had a little health scare a year ago, but is her oldest friend slowing down? Or did she choose this destination for a more nefarious reason?  These questions turn out to be central in A Fatal Habit when Bernie arrives in Seattle to find Eleanor has gone missing…

About the Author

Melissa Westemeier grew up around the edge of nerd culture, but marriage and motherhood with three sons immersed her in it. She’s fluent in Marvel, DC, Dr. Who, Star Wars, Godzilla, and more thanks to their influence. Her fiction work includes rom-com and a trilogy loosely based on her experience tending bar on the Wolf River in Wisconsin. She’s thrilled to realize her childhood dream of writing murder mysteries. Her books blend her humor and appreciation for nerd culture while tackling serious themes and unpacking the puzzle of whodunnit (and how and why!). In her spare time, Melissa needs to be outside or near a window. Her passions include hiking, swimming, biking, reading, and fantasizing about her next vacation destination.

GIVEAWAY: Because who doesn’t love FREE books?

We will pick ONE winner to receive a digital book of their choice from the February mystery releases.

Comment down below saying which book you’re looking most forward to reading! Giveaway is open INTERNATIONALLY. The winner will be randomly selected and announced at the end of the month.

Good luck and happy reading!

The Extraction

By: Kimberley Troutte

An undercover agent with fractured memories and a kill device. Her foreign spy partner on a separate mission, determined to return and protect her. Two missions. Two countdown clocks. Thousands of lives at risk.  

Heather Slade’s cover may be blown, but still she’s determined to sneak into a secret, heavily-guarded prisoner of war camp, knowing her only option to save the innocent inmates is to become one. She has no weapons, no backup and a slim chance of success, but her young daughter may be held in the camp.

Miguel Robles’s new assignment turns lethal when he’s injected with a deadly toxin that will kill him in three days. He’s evacuated to Mexico City and his family gathers, certain it’s the end. But will the fight for his life reveal the answers he and Heather have been searching for?

Heather and Miguel will fight together to stay alive and be reunited with their loved ones. But Someone at HQ has been pulling the strings from the beginning, and the mission and enemies and allies may not be what they seem.

Buttercream and Bullets

By: Lisa Siefert

She just wants to sell cupcakes and avoid drama. When a killer strikes close to home, will she whisk up the perfect trap or get burned trying?

Ava Decker is starved for commitment. Unsure what to do about the three men tearing her in different directions, the sarcastic baker is kicking off January with a massive hangover and the urge to eat her feelings. But when she drags herself to the museum to clean up after the town’s New Year’s Eve bash, she discovers not only stale treats but also the editor of the local newspaper … shot to death.

Leaning on forensic skills she’s earned by being an unfortunate corpse magnet, the big-hearted shop owner resumes her role as neighborhood amateur sleuth and starts exploring clues. Yet as she digs up info on feuding co-workers, missing money, and crooked politicians, she realizes the sharp-tongued wordsmith had a whole pantry’s worth of enemies.

Can she celebrate the sweet reward of catching a murderer before this becomes a recipe for disaster?

Buttercream and Bullets is the warmly satirical seventh book in the Frosted Misfortunes Mysteries culinary cozy series. If you like quirky characters with millennial snark, laugh-out-loud humor, and feline sidekicks who steal scenes, then you’ll love Lisa Siefert’s relatable shenanigans.

A Fatal Habit

By: Melissa Westemeier

When everyone’s in costume, even a killer can hide in plain sight…

Sister Bernadette Ohlson planned a quiet weekend in Seattle catching up with her old friend Sister Eleanor—not tracking down her murderer. But when Eleanor improbably turns up dead after having a cocktail with a cosplaying character during Comic Con, Sister Bernie refuses to return safely home and pray for answers. With the clock ticking before the convention ends and thousands of possible suspects scatter, Bernie teams up with her former student, Detective AJ Lewis, to uncover the truth behind a killer hiding behind a mask.

From movie characters to anime icons, every cosplayer could be a suspect—and every clue seems to lead to a dead end. AJ worries his favorite nun is in over her head, but Bernie’s faith in human nature and her unholy habit of ignoring good advice may be the only things standing between justice and a perfect crime.

Fans of witty amateur sleuth mysteries, fun-loving characters, and page-turning whodunits will love this lighthearted mystery set amid the chaos and cosplay of Comic Con. Perfect for readers of Richard Osman, Jeanne M. Dams, and Jana DeLeon.

Ties that Kill

By: Fran Thomas Jr.

Only one FBI agent stands between justice and a Black man with a violent past dying in a hail of gunfire. 

A brutal crime has shattered quiet Lennington, Massachusetts, a blue-collar town haunted by privilege and secrets. FBI hostage negotiator Frank McAlister is pulled from vacation into a volatile standoff: three dead, two officers wounded, and the accused, local football hero Noah Winston – a skilled marksman with a troubled past – barricaded inside his house. When a naked body is later found at the lakefront home of a wealthy industrialist, a past thought successfully buried by rich and powerful people threatens to surface.

With the clock ticking, tensions high, and his own job on the line, McAlister joins forces with investigative reporter Shannon Winters, and together they discover more suspicious deaths. How are they connected? They soon realize their true task is not to determine who killed these men, but why. With the help of Noah’s friends, they begin to unravel a decades-old coverup, while navigating the politics of race and power warring in real time on their watch.

In this gripping procedural mystery, the line between justice and vengeance blurs, and every revelation sheds light on a wrong Noah Winston would not let stand.

Murder on Site

By: TG Wolff

In the corridors of Indiana’s justice system, power is both a weapon and a curse.

Jakob Rizk never expected to become Indiana’s acting attorney general—especially not after his mentor’s sudden death. Two weeks in, he’s losing sleep, battling a ruthless rival, and facing off with a powerful senator focused on his downfall. The last thing he needs is for his twin, Seth—a Miami cop hiding secrets of his own—to arrive unexpectedly.

Jakob is under pressure to prosecute a young engineer for the murder of a hard-nosed inspector famous for rooting out corruption. But with scant evidence and clear signs of political interference, the case is a minefield. Jakob has always lived by the law, but now one misstep could cost him a career.

Together, the brothers must unravel a web of greed and deception, each dead set on appearing strong in the other’s eyes. As they race the clock, which matters more: the truth, their careers, or fragile bonds that could be shattered forever?

Fans of Scott Turow will find themselves right at home in this gripping legal mystery.

GIVEAWAY: Because who doesn’t love FREE books?

We will pick ONE winner to receive a digital book of their choice from the August mystery releases.

Comment down below saying which book you’re looking most forward to reading! Giveaway is open INTERNATIONALLY. The winner will be randomly selected and announced at the end of the month.

Good luck and happy reading!

Dark Mountian Ambush

By Nicole Helm

More secrets lurk in the Montana mountains…and the past

PI Samantha Price savors a slow summer at her firm Honor’s Edge Investigations, along with Nate Bennet, who recently received his license to join her as an investigator. They make a strong, though still uneasy team. When a new, but familiar client requests help, the case seems like a slam dunk, but of course there are complications. Aly Cartwright works on the Bennet ranch and is engaged to Nate’s brother. One clue leads to another, and what starts as a vandalism investigation widens to connect to a recent murder and another nearly two decades old.

Nate, who left home at fifteen, isn’t sure he’s back for good or ready to make peace with his brothers. Samantha too has made enemies with the Bennets. But when Aly’s estranged mother reappears on the heels of increased vandalism, threats and danger, can Samatha and Nate negotiate a truce with the Bennetts long enough to untangle the mysteries and save Aly and each other from a grisly end?

Dropped Like a Bad Habit

By Melissa Westemeier

The bodies keep piling up along Chestnut Street…

When Sister Bernadette hears from the local pharmacist about plans to redevelop and gentrify their small community on Chestnut Street, she rallies her neighbors at The Abbey: Senior Living to help stop it. Chestnut Street is home to local mom-and-pop businesses that The Abbey’s residents frequently access. But when the healthy pharmacist mysteriously drops dead with no discernable reason, Detective AJ Lewis is stumped. Then another, younger, business owner dies with no explanation, and AJ is suspicious and starts to dig.

Sister Bernie, trying to solve  small, seemingly nonsensical thefts, is intrigued and positions herself to collaborate with the police for what she hopes will be her second murder investigation. Why did two seemingly healthy men conveniently die? Who’s behind the shadowy Vision Corporation? Each question leads to a dead end or another question. And then there’s an unexpected death at The Abbey. Coincidence or connection?

Murder’s becoming a bad habit Sister Bernie and AJ are determined to break.

Ride a Dark Trail

By Winter Austin

Will her life philosophy, “Do right, fear no man,” get her killed?

A string of bad luck has left former Army helicopter pilot Dot Ybarra with a serious case of wrecked nerves and a need for peace and solace at her family’s Idaho ranch. Instead, she encounters a desperate mother who stumbles onto their land, begging Dot to rescue her kidnapped daughter.

There’s a bounty on the kidnapper’s head, and fugitive recovery agent T.J. Roman is not about to let that paycheck slip through his fingers. Together, he and Dot rescue the child.

But their actions set off an explosion of secrets in Euskadi. The sheriff is slinking around with a new shady sidekick, Dot’s friends are stabbed, and armed mercenaries attack her ranch, forcing her to use her hunting and archery skills to defend her family. Cornered by the unknown enemy’s three-pronged attack, Dot and her charges retreat deep into the Payette National Forest. Isolated in the mountainous forest, separated from T.J. and any help, Dot must make a hard choice: fight or walk away?

Will her first recovery job be her last?

A Brush with Murder

By Tracy Gardner

Can Savanna Shepherd and her sisters unravel a deadly web of art and betrayal before the final brushstroke paints their doom?

When Savanna Shepherd’s father, Harlan, and artist friend Sebastian Alexander vanish during a sailing regatta along Michigan’s west coast, the Shepherd family is plunged into turmoil. As the Coast Guard scours the Great Lake, Savanna sets aside her work on Sebastian’s art show to join her sisters in comforting their mother and aiding in the search.

When Sebastian’s assistant is found dead—Savanna’s keen eye as an art authenticator turns to a darker canvas: decoding the secrets of Sebastian’s bitter family. Days later, the missing yacht drifts ashore, with Harlan gravely injured, Sebastian missing, and a sinister bloodstain on the bow.

In this compelling mystery brimming with small-town charm, loyal pets, and family ties, Savanna must piece together the clues to uncover who cut the lines, spilled the blood, and nearly tore her world apart.

Player Elimination

By Shelly Jones

She loves to play games, but not when it comes to murder.

Wren Winters is a businesswoman on a mission, juggling an alumni event for a rising game designer while keeping her late husband’s retail store alive. With RSVPs pouring in and her cranky landlord threatening to bulldoze her shop for high-rise apartments, Wren’s plate is full—but she’s no stranger to overcoming challenges. From economic slumps to vandalism and vicious online rumors, Wren has always found a way to persevere.

But nothing could prepare her for what she finds one fateful morning: her landlord murdered, her store turned into a crime scene, her only employee under suspicion (and hiding something), and a missing piece from an unreleased game.

Now, with her store’s future hanging by a thread and the stakes higher than ever, Wren must channel her puzzle-solving skills like never before. Can she and her friends follow the clues, clear her employee’s name, and crack the case before it’s game over?

Bonus Release!

Bitter Root Mysteries Set

By C.J. Carmichael

Spring is here, and so are some exciting new book releases!  Whether you’re in the mood for a page-turning suspense or a cozy read to enjoy in the sunshine, April’s books are ready to captivate your imagination. To kick off the season of fresh starts, we’re also hosting a giveaway! Keep reading to discover your next favorite read and enter for a chance to win an ebook copy of one of our new releases!

Giveaway Question: What’s your favorite cozy mystery or thriller setting — a small town, a quirky café, or maybe an old mansion? Let us know for a chance to win!

Old Habits Die Hard

By Melissa Westemeier

Meddling and murder can both be deadly sins

When retired nun and teacher Sister Bernadette returns with her fellow residents to The Abbey: Senior Living, she is the first to discover the body sprawled in the hallway of the converted school where she once taught English and now lives.  Instead of freezing with horror, Sister Bernie has questions. Lots of them. Why does Toni Travi, the bedazzled and bejeweled resident from apartment 218, have so much chest hair? Did anyone at The Abbey know Toni was a man? Was Toni’s death related to allegations that she cheated at cards? Where’s the murder weapon? Who had motive? And did someone kill Toni, or the man hiding beneath the Revlon foundation and blonde wig?

Detective AJ Lewis is in charge of the investigation though Sister Bernie acts as if he is still her student. With unholy stubbornness, she dogs his every step, eavesdrops, sneaks beyond the police tape and offers unsolicited conjecture and clues. He wants to keep her safe, but she’s determined to lend a helping hand—it’s her habit, after all!

Karma Never Sleeps

By R. John Dingle

In a small town, the truth can’t always set you free…

When a second woman from a group of friends known as “the posse” is murdered in the woods near the New England enclave of Kendalton, FBI agent and profiler Gus Wheeler and his partner are called in to determine if this is a serial killing. He’s intrigued by a clue hidden on the body: a memorial picture of a teen who died 25 years ago.

Instead of helping with the investigation, the long-term friends stonewall the agents. But Gus can smell fear beneath their calm masks, fake smiles, and politely vague answers. Digging deeper, he discovers they are being terrorized by cyberstalking, spying, threats and mysterious break-ins. When a third member is hospitalized after a brutal attack, Gus suspects someone in the posse is the hunter instead of the hunted.

Is it the alpha leader Jules, her best friend Maria—married to the chief of police—outsider Mel, or weak link Lizzy? Or someone else bent on revenge? Time’s running out, and Gus’s life depends on his skill at determining who’s the best liar in town.

Murder On Display

By Tracy Gardner

Art in the park leads to murder in the dark, creating another crime for the Shepherd sisters to solve.

Savanna Shepherd, an art expert turned elementary art teacher, is planning the Art in the Park festival for her hometown of Carson, Michigan. But apparently, someone isn’t happy that Carson got to host the tourism boosting event and destroys the beloved statue in the park. Then Savanna discovers a local politician’s dead body following a planning committee meeting, and the festival is at risk of being canceled.

Savanna and her sisters are convinced that the arrested murder suspect, a longtime family friend, didn’t do it, despite strong evidence to the contrary. With the help of Dr. Aidan Gallager, Savanna’s new romantic interest, they uncover plenty of hidden resentments, intrigue, and suspects who had a motive for the murder. Can they find out which one of them is behind the framing of an innocent person before the murderer paints them into a corner?

An artful cozy mystery perfect for fans of Krista Davis and Joanne Fluke.

A Stone Cold Murder

By Kris Bock

She hates her gift – but it just might save her…

Geologist Petra Cloch can touch an object and sense the emotions of the people who’ve held it. It’s a miserable way to live. She studied rocks because they rarely ‘talk’ to her and she’s dodged friendships so she won’t need to explain her gift or feel like a voyeur. But when she takes a job as the rock and mineral curator at an unusual western history museum and picks up a jagged crystal in her new office, flashes of rage, fear and death hit hard.

Everyone says her predecessor died in a car crash, but what if he was murdered? Under normal circumstances, Petra would never become involved, but what if the previous curator died because of something he did on the job? She could be next. Petra knows she’ll need evidence, not her psychic sense she hides. Can she trust her chatty colleagues who invite her to lunch and to join a book club? And what about the far too watchful Sheriff who keeps showing up unexpectedly…

Rolling Up Revenge

By Emmie Lyn

Revenge is red.
Berries are blue.
When murder darkens the festival—
Will there be one victim or two?

Misty Harbor’s annual Blueberry Festival kicks off with stacks of syrupy pancakes, crumbly scones, and the rich aroma of blueberry balsamic vinegar. But the celebration curdles when Dani Mackenzie stumbles over a body behind the berry bushes.

The victim is no stranger—and a suspicious splash of vinegar leads Dani and her feisty Jack Russell terrier, Pip, straight to Christy Golden, a vendor and Dani’s own employee. Christy confesses that the dead man had been harassing her at the Little Dog Diner, and now the police are hungry for justice—with Christy as their prime suspect.

Determined to prove her friend isn’t the missing ingredient in a revenge plot, Dani starts mixing up theories and sifting through festival goers for clues. With Pip sniffing out details the police overlooked, it’s clear the real killer is still stirring up trouble.

Can Dani unravel the mystery before another victim is buried beneath the blueberries?

Your immersion in nerd culture through your sons has clearly influenced your writing. How do elements of Marvel, DC, Dr. Who, and other franchises find their way into your books? In book 3 of my series, Detective AJ Lewis heads to Emerald City Comic Con. He and his buddies dress as Star Wars characters and geek out over their photo op with Ewan McGregror. AJ also keeps Star Wars action figures on his desk, as well as a Boba Fett bobblehead, frequently tapped for luck as he works. In every book he and his pals discuss comic books and new Marvel releases, Spiderman features in book one with commentary about the Multiverse. References to Dr. Who come up in all the books, too. I’ve included all of my boys’ faves, even Naruto gets included!

You’ve written rom-coms and a trilogy based on your experience tending bar on the Wolf River. How do these different genres and personal experiences shape your storytelling? I never set out to write in a genre, but my writing has definitely landed within them. A subconscious decision? With my rom-coms, once I realized my writing fit those genres, I tweaked the stories to better effect.

While every fiction writer is literally making it up as they go, I find it’s easier if I can include elements of what I know. My personal experiences season what I invent in my imagination, they inform characters and situations and help me include better details in my writing.

As I wrote Old Habits Die Hard, I didn’t actually know a murderer, but I take notes every time I visit my 95-year-old friend who lives in assisted living. I use her gripes and my observations of people’s behavior in the lobby and elevator to shape what life might look like in the Abbey.

Writing murder mysteries was a childhood dream of yours. What sparked this interest, and how did you transition into this genre? I loved READING murder mysteries, which made me want to write them. I did make a few attempts early on, but without success. During COVID a dear friend and former writing partner was diagnosed with vascular dementia and moved to a memory care facility. Mariana wrote murder mysteries. Another writing partner and I went to visit Mariana and she wanted to work on the groundwork for this story. We helped organize her ideas for characters, setting, and plot, and left thinking how great the concept was but Mariana wasn’t able to develop it beyond the pitch. A year later I found myself between projects and I picked up those old notes. My plan was to noodle around with it, see if I could pull the notes together and make a short story, maybe a book out of it, for Mariana. Next thing I knew, I’d written 30,000 words and was going strong. Turns out writing a murder mystery is MUCH easier if you work out a few details in advance, ha ha!

After writing Old Habits Die Hard, I learned it needed to be a series, so I got cracking on the next two cases. Now I find myself constantly wondering what could kill a person, how and why and who and where. I’m always thinking of what troubles could plague people living in senior apartments.  It’s quite addicting once you start! You start looking for material everywhere!

Your books blend humor and nerd culture while tackling serious themes. How do you balance these elements to create engaging and thought-provoking stories? I believe levity helps readers digest the heavy stuff. I feel compelled to include the serious themes because I want readers to think about bigger issues that transcend a single story. Domestic abuse, urban sprawl, violence against women, human impact on the environment are real and people need to pay attention and take action to improve the world we share. “Know better, do better,” right? And we all experience these problems, so readers can relate to them when they’re included in fiction. Once I tried to write a straight-up tragic story. On the River involves domestic abuse and violence and I took that challenge very seriously. However hard I tried, though, the book wasn’t coming together, something was missing. It took a while for me to realize in my commitment to telling the tragic storyline, I’d left Maw Cooper, my crazy bait shop owner, out of the story. His storylines always brought a lot of humor to the table. I added him in and to my surprise everything came together better after I did that—the pacing, the tone, even the opportunities for other characters to engage with one another as they bore witness to Joanne’s situation and reacted to it. The humorous sections didn’t diminish the storyline about domestic violence, but Maw’s storyline gave the book balance so the reader could catch their breath and process what Joanne’s character endured. It boils down to what you want to achieve with your readers and what you want them to walk away knowing after they’ve read your book, and part of what they know stems from how they feel while they read your book. I try to consider these questions with each story I write.

In my murder mysteries I’ve included issues like aging, accessible housing, gentrification, and addiction.

How has your experience of marriage and motherhood, especially with three sons, influenced the characters and plots in your novels? My characters get into some zany situations and they have NOTHING on some of the crazy things I’ve experienced with my family. Team Testosterone has taught me patience and acceptance. Knowing these guys helps me add dimension to my male characters and make them more authentic. The boys will take any dare, accept any challenge, and I appreciate their creativity and their humor. I’ve written characters with those qualities and included some of Team Testosterone’s experiences in my books because I find them so entertaining. They’re also huge in developing AJ’s backstory in Old Habits Die Hard. AJ is really based on my oldest son in so many ways.

As someone who loves the outdoors, do you find that nature and your outdoor activities inspire your writing? If so, how? Every book I’ve written includes a natural setting. We all need a little fresh air and time outside near trees and birds to get our heads and hearts straight. I’m glad to put Bernie in the courtyard of the Abbey so she can tip her head back and stargaze, or place AJ in Alton Baker Park watching the squirrels. I’d like to bring these characters deeper into the wilderness sometime. Maybe in a future book? The woods can conceal all kinds of secrets…

Your passions include hiking, swimming, biking, and reading. Do any of these hobbies feature prominently in your characters’ lives or plotlines? Not really in this new series, and I’m wondering why not now!

Can you share a bit about your process for developing a murder mystery? How do you come up with the “whodunnit” and the intricacies of the plot? For me the trick is to first identify WHO dies, WHO kills them, and WHY. The HOW comes next. The other challenge in my series is involving both a detective and an amateur sleuth in solving the crime. Sister Bernie needs a plausible reason to get involved and she needs to access some clues to help solve the murder, so positioning her in the story is a huge consideration. She’s an 80-year-old nun, so the options get limited after a point. After I’ve written a chunk of the book (80-ish pages), my writing partners read it and speculate. I take notes on their questions and ideas because that gives me suggestions on red herrings to include, suspects I could elevate in the story, and how their deductions shape up against what I’ve planned for the book. My writing partners, Lauren Small and MK Graff are invaluable in the process.

What has been the most rewarding piece of feedback you’ve received from a reader, and how did it impact your writing? When my first book, Whipped, Not Beaten, came out, my husband’s co-worker gave the book to her mother as a gift. Her mother called her from vacation and she asked how she liked my book. “I haven’t had a chance to read it yet, your dad won’t put it down.” Turned out HE really enjoyed my rom-com novel, too! Learning that my writing had appeal to a range of readers gave me validation and built up my confidence that I can write for a wider audience. The idea of a man in his seventies reading my book on the beach told me I can hold ANYONE’S attention!

What advice would you give to aspiring authors who want to blend humor, nerd culture, and serious themes in their writing? Do it. Nerd culture is underrepresented in adult fiction and genre fiction. If there’s a following for Spiderman fans or Star Wars fans, they’ll love seeing themselves and their passion portrayed in your story. Of course, it helps a lot if you’re a nerd or have nerds in your life who will educate you on the finer details about those worlds. Don’t be afraid to be funny, but don’t force it either. Humor stems from incongruities, so if you can mine for those, you’ll have success injecting humor in your writing. And as far as serious themes go, if an event or issue is playing out in your neighborhood, chances are other people are experiencing a similar situation where they live. They’ll appreciate seeing their lives represented in your story. If your characters are actively involved in solving their community’s problems, even better, because you’ve given readers a blueprint of how to respond and a model for change. Complaining about problems is cheap, and everyone can gripe about what’s wrong in the world. Getting involved in solving problems has great value, and if I can write characters who encourage people to behave productively in their communities, that’s a sweet victory.

BONUS: What is one book that you would consider to be your comfort read that you will always reach for? Little Women by Louisa May Alcott is like going home. Wherever I open to, it’s familiar, like looking at the family photo album.