In March of 2009 I interviewed Susan Wittig Albert (Susan Wittig Albert interview) as well as Kate Collins (Kate Collins interview). They were both very gracious as well as extremely generous with their time. Then I started feeling a little guilty about asking these very busy best-selling authors to take time out of their days to help me on my project, so I abandoned the Cozy Mystery author interviews idea. I felt like I had been a little presumptuous >>> well, actually very presumptuous!
However, here I am again, in what seems like another rather presumptuous mood. I think I’m now willing to ask best-selling Cozy Mystery authors to take time out of their busy schedules to help me on my project. (Yow, when I put it like that, it almost embarrasses me! >>> But it apparently doesn’t embarrass me enough, ’cause I’m going to do it again!)
I just got a hold of Best Selling Cozy Mystery author Laura Childs, and she has very graciously accepted my invitation for an author interview. I mentioned to her that some of you probably have questions you would like answers to, and I know I do, too. Also, I thought that maybe she could ask herself a few questions that shehas always wanted to answer, but has never been asked.
So, here is where you all come in. Laura Childs is an author who has been recommended many times in our monthly Cozy Mystery recommendations. Do any of you have a question you would like me to include in our interview? I am currently getting my questions ready, and would love to include some of your questions. If you have a question you would like me to include, please post a comment.
Let’s make this a fantastic interview!
Thanks!
***I’m sorry, but I have closed the comments for this entry.Thank you for your comments, and also to those of you who sent me letters at my email address.***
Alfred says
Danna I have always wondered how they come up with the character names of people in the books. When I started reading mysteries again this was the first series that I came across that I really liked and got into. Have the entire run of the series in my library.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Alfred, thanks for the great question. Childs’ characters have such unique names, I’m 100% sure I’ve never met a “Theodosia” before!
Marilynn says
I want to know more about the relationships in her Tea Shop mysteries. I love series, and because I loved Earl Gray I named my dog after it and the Great Dane in the series.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Marilyn, I’ll be sure to have this on our list of questions. What a sweet way of naming your puppy!
Cherlyn says
Are they going to release the rest of “The Tea Shop Mystery Series” on kindle?
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Cherlyn, that’s a great question that a lot of us devoted Kindle and Nook Cozy Mystery readers would like to know. (Here’s hoping they are planning on their releases as e-books!)
susy says
I am curious about the passage of time in a series and how an author chooses to deal with or without it. Did Ms. Childs make a decision how to handle this when she first started the Tea Shop series, or after a few books? Did she make a different choice with her other series? Would she change her mind about Theodosia and Drayton and Hailey, if she could? It would make the series different, perhaps? Thank you!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Susy, great questions, I think. The timing of the story in a series is a question that has struck me as one that would be difficult to deal with for an author. If an author doesn’t start with a plan about the interval of time and how many books they will be writing, it might be difficult to handle later, especially if the series goes on for many books.
susy says
I have read a few interviews with Ms. Childs and think she has been very deliberate and thoughtful about the structure of her novels. As a reader, I really appreciate her effort! So, maybe a better question for me would be, how much of a game plan/agenda/outline did she have in mind when she first started the Tea Shop series? Has she deviated from that plan? Thanks!
dana says
Hi,
I think it’s a great idea to resume. May be it will help if you think of it as them not helping you, but you helping them, (advertising). After all, even Jim Parson likes this website.
Regards,
Dana
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Dana, your comment has me laughing! I’ll try to see it your way, but I still feel like I’m imposing…
Martine says
I’d like to ask if she has any plans to add another series?
Also, which character(s) does she enjoy writing the most?
Finally, which of her series would she suggest “new-to-her” readers start reading first?
thanks
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Martine, I think MJ (on the comment right below this one) has the scoop on this question about another series, but it would be nice to know when/if another series is coming our way soon.
MJ says
She co-authored Gilt Trip with Diana Orgain. Why did she decide to do that? Will she do it again? What was the experience like?
When will her new Hummingbird mystery series (I think it’s a B&B?) come out? (She mentioned this series on her facebook page about a year ago.)
Where does she find all that imagination/ingenuity (to say nothing of time!) to write three successful series with creativity?
It was either Lake Elmo or Hugo Lake she mentioned in one of her Cackleberry Club books (I think it was Lake Elmo). Tell her I enjoyed the reference since I know exactly where it is! Unlike her other two series, she doesn’t give a location in this series, but I believe the setting is either western or southwestern MN. Am I that right?
Danna - cozy mystery list says
MJ, I think it’s interesting that both the Tea Shop (Charleston) and the Scrapbooking (New Orleans) series have their cities highlighted so well that they are almost characters in her books.
Kate says
I’d also like to know why she co-authored Gilt Trip! And if she will be doing more of that moving forward.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Kate, thank you. I’m guessing a lot of people would like to know the answer to this question…
Patti S. says
Danna-
I would like to know if Drayton’s character is fashioned after someone she knows? I love that character! Also, will she be putting out any more anthologies (three books in one) of the Tea Shop Mysteries. Thanks, Danna!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Patti S, it would be interesting to hear if she uses people as the starting points to her characters. If I were an author, I am guessing I would have to do that…
Donna Mc says
I just finished reading the interviews you’ve posted under the Author Interviews link, and would love to hear the answers to some of the questions you’ve posed to other authors. For example, “What is a typical day in the life of Laura Childs?”. Would also like to know how long it takes Ms. Childs to develop and write a book, and how long it takes the publisher to publish it. Fascinating, behind-the-scenes details are always interesting!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Donna Mc, I like that question a lot! I have to admit that I’m a bit nosy about how authors spend their time.
Stephanie says
I would ask her:
Do you come up with a murder mystery first, and then decide which series to use that murder mystery in? Or do you determine which series you’re going to write next, and then come up with a murder mystery to fit that series?
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Stephanie, those are great questions for Cozy Mystery authors who have more than one series. How do they decide which series should have which mystery…
Wakar says
What I’ve always wondered about mystery writers is which comes to them first, the murder or the solution? Does she get an idea for how a murder is committed and then work it into a story and come up with a solution that way? Or does the solution and reason for the murder come first?
And I agree with Dana. I’ve bought lots of books I probably never would have even heard of if it were not for your site. They should be knocking your door down! I know that if I were a mystery writer you’d probably have to get a restraining order. LOL
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Wakar, the first thing that went through my mind when I read you comment:
“For goodness sake! Do NOT become a mystery writer, Wakar!!!”
(I’m still laughing!)
Kimmie says
I love this question, Wakar! I’m eager to know her thoughts on this. Only because when I have had to write papers for school, I have often written my summary/closing section first…..then everything else just flows. I know it sounds weird, but that’s how my mind works and I could see that possibility if I were a mystery writer.
Danna, thank you in advance for forwarding these questions on. I love your site!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Kimmie, what an interesting way of writing papers: starting at the summary and working backwards. Actually, the more I think of it, the more sense it makes… especially with a mystery. Knowing the how, then going for the who, would probably help in the why.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Thanks to all for the great questions. I have compiled the questions and submitted them to Ms. Childs. I asked her to pick and choose which questions she wants to answers.
Looking forward to what she says!
Rachel W. Robbins says
I love cozy mysteries & I have just come across your Tea Shop Mystery series. Do your books need to be read in order or are they stand alone? After reading a few bits & pieces from several of your books, I’m anxious to start reading them. I’ll be anxious to hear from you.
Thank you