Inside the navy-blue Victorian house two blocks off Main Street, four women sat around a sturdy kitchen table.

As you watched them chatting and sipping sweet tea, you might assume you were observing a church committee or a quilting circle.

You would be wrong.

-- Frankie Bow, The No-Tell Motel

I am thrilled to chat with author Frankie Bow, who has not only her own delightful series of campus mysteries -- the Professor Molly Mystery Series -- but also writes in Jana DeLeon's Miss Fortune Mystery Series. Her latest, The No-Tell Motel, is hot off the presses as this interview goes live.

I would love to offer you a list, in order, of her books, but they are too many and too varied. Instead, I will link you directly to her website, where you can find these goodies for yourself. Although I will point you to the first in the Professor Molly Series, The Musubi Murder. Musubi looks like a Spam sushi roll; if you've never seen one -- or simply don't believe me! -- you must check out the photo on a guest post Frankie did for Lori's Reading Corner. Other unexpected uses for Spam are also included.

I do want to mention yet another series that Frankie writes: the children's books about Alice Mongoose and Alistair Rat, illustrated by her father. Together, they work under the name of Mary Pfaff, an "author" who is also a plot point in one of her Professor Molly Mysteries, The Invasive Species. These books are absolutely charming in their own right, and if you have children in your life, you should definitely check them out.

Interested in campus mysteries? Here's the link to Frankie's guest post about why campus mysteries are so much fun, on the blog Christa Reads and Writes -- a blog well worth a look for mystery lovers, filled with reviews and interviews. Frankie gives a shout out to fellow writers of academic mysteries Cynthia Kuhn, Joanne Dobson, Amanda Cross, and Sarah Caudwell, as well as one of the first American detective novelists, Anna Katharine Green. Meanwhile, I give a shout out to Leslie Karst, whose cozies are also on the less-sweet side. 

Enjoy!

-- Laura

Transcript of Interview with Frankie Bow

Laura Brennan: Like the protagonist in her charming Professor Molly series, Frankie Bow teaches at a public university. Unlike Molly, Frankie is blessed with delightful students, sane colleagues and a perfectly nice office chair. And, I would hope, fewer dead bodies to stumble across.

Frankie, thank you for joining me.

Frankie Bow: Thank you, Laura.

LB: The first thing I want to talk about is your Professor Molly series.

“Papà.” I looked into my father’s eyes, deep blue and set off by leathery skin and rows of wrinkles—the result of age, but also a lifetime of long hours in fishing boats out in the sun. “Oh, Papà,” I said again and then started to cry.

I hadn’t meant to; I’d convinced myself I could do this, that I could hold it together and be strong for my dad. But now, standing there in front of him, it hit me: I was about to tell him that his sister had been viciously murdered.

-- Leslie Karst, Dying for a Taste

Cozy mystery lovers are in for a treat! Leslie Karst's Sally Solari series is set in not one, but two restaurants on the California coast. Sun, sand, recipes, and murder. What more could one ask for?

Leslie and I chat about her multiple careers -- waitress, passionate chef, attorney, writer -- and how they all come together in her wonderful cozy mysteries. You can check out her website here and her Facebook Author page over here. The first book in the series is Dying for a Taste, and gives an insider's view of running a restaurant. The second, A Measure of Murder, blends music with the mystery, as Sally joins a local chorus to be able to sing Mozart's Requiem. An appropriate piece of music, as it turns out...

Meanwhile, we also bond over a shared love of Dorothy Sayers, Sue Grafton, Sarah Caudwell, and Ellen Byron. Ellen and I had a chat a few months ago, and you can check her out, along with her hilarious Louisiana cozies, right here. And if you are a Dorothy Sayers fan (and who isn't?), I recently found a terrific group on Facebook, The Lord Peter Wimsey Appreciation Society, should you be looking for like-minded people with whom to chat about all things DLS. 

Finally, Leslie gives a big shout-out to her fellow Guppies at Sisters in Crime. Woot!

As always, if you'd rather read than listen, the transcript is below. Enjoy!

-- Laura

Transcript of Interview with Leslie Karst

Laura Brennan: Author Leslie Karst combines her background as an attorney with her English Lit degree and culinary passion to create a cozy series as delightful and unique as she is. In a starred review, Publishers Weekly calls her a "dab hand with the red herrings" while her fans call the Sally Solari Mysteries "smart, thoughtfully plotted, and laugh-out-loud."

Leslie, thank you for joining me.

Leslie Karst: Thank you so much, Laura, for inviting me. This is very exciting.

LB: So you came to writing after a career in the law.

LK: Yes, I did.

LB: But you started out as a Lit major. Was writing always in the back of your mind?

LK: Well, when you're a literature major, all you do -- you do a lot of reading,

Leine checked her watch as she waited for the target to emerge from the concrete block building. Practical as only Soviet-style architecture could be, nevertheless the crumbling façade gave the impression of faded power, like a once-famous tenor now down on his luck and sucking on throat lozenges in order to save his voice...

Ah, the glamorous life of a jet-setting assassin...

-- DV Berkom, A Killing Truth

Looking for breathless, non-stop action with a smart, powerful woman kicking down the doors? Are you in for a treat! DV Berkom's thrillers have it all.

DV and I chat about her two series, the Kate Jones Thrillers and the grittier Leine Basso Crime Thrillers. You can find out more about both series and DV herself on her website, right here. You can also find her on Twitter, Facebook, and Pinterest. 

DV and I talked about her adventures, her writing, and the development of both series. We also discussed some of the injustices that, in her novels at least, are righted by a powerful woman. Chief among those is Human Trafficking -- a horrific problem, but one we are not powerless to fight -- as was recently illustrated by the Alaska Airline attendant who recognized that a teenage girl was being transported against her will. 

If you need it, or ever encounter someone who does, the National Human Trafficking Hotline is (888) 373-7888. You can also text "BeFree" (233733) to reach the Polaris Project.

Also, the State Department has "15 Ways You Can Help Fight Human Trafficking" including a guide for parents and educators on how Human Traffickers Target Children. There are many organizations doing wonderful work; you can find local groups or check out some national groups like Polaris and GEMS. I also have to give a shout out to the wonderful Peg Brantley, whom I interview here, and whose latest book, Trafficked, also works to increase awareness of the problem.

Mysteries and thrillers are wonderful escapism and DV's books are wildly entertaining. How awesome, too, that the information they bring out may save some lives.

As always, if you'd rather read than listen, here is the transcript. Enjoy!

-- Laura

The faint breeze from the open window carried the sound of the Burgermeister's rich baritone singing the arpeggios Haydn had assigned him: "Do Mi So Mi Do." In the distance, he could hear the soft, melodious strains of the barber-surgeon's violin. Even the most unmusical of the townspeople was able to take simple directions without argument, but Barto...

A loud outburst reverberated through the hallway beyond the Music Room. Haydn was on his feet in an instant. God in Heaven! Whatever was the matter now? Could Barto get along with no one?

He rushed into the Rehearsal Room, aghast to see chairs lying overturned before him and violin cases strewn all over the blue and gold patterned marble floor...

-- Nupur Tustin, A Minor Deception

I'm so excited to be chatting with Nupur Tustin about her debut novel, the first in a series of cozy historical mysteries. A Minor Deception features none other than composer Joseph Haydn as her amateur sleuth. 

I had never really thought about the subgenre of biographical mysteries, and the idea of being part of the conversation surrounding real, historical people until our conversation. Nupur reminded me of Susan Wittig Albert's Beatrix Potter series, Stephanie Barron's Jane Austen mysteries, and Bruce Alexander's Sir John Fielding mystery series. She wanted to expand the conversation out of England, and into both the rest of Europe and the field of music. Haydn was the perfect choice.

Nupur's light touch with history has also been compared to Emily Brightwell's wonderful Mrs. Jeffries Victorian mystery series. In a review, Emily calls A Minor Deception "elegantly written and plotted," and Nupur returns the favor, citing Emily as a big influence and comparing her to Agatha Christie. On a related note, I had the pleasure of interviewing Emily here if you'd like to listen to our chat. 

Finally, Nupur writes a column called Agent Insight to help other writers on their road to publication. Writers out there, she also gives a shout out to the online Guppies chapter of Sisters in Crime. 

Writer or reader, you can keep up with Nupur on her website, Goodreads, and Facebook page, and subscribe to her newsletter -- which earns you a free Haydn short story! -- right here.

As always, if you'd rather read than listen, here is the transcript. Enjoy!

Laura

Honoria took the cloche off and shrugged off the coat with the white fox collar, laying them on one of the small tables flanking the door. She sniffed. Thanks to the croup, her sense of smell was still off. Yet something did not smell right. She turned toward her bedroom.

The young woman lay sprawled at the entrance to the back hall, her eyes open and staring.

-- Anne Louise Bannon, The Last Witnesses

If you haven't yet read Anne Louise Bannon's Freddie and Kathy Mysteries, what a treat you have in store for you! Set in the Roaring Twenties, filled with bootleg hooch and murders aplenty. Here are the books in order:

1 - Fascinating Rhythm

2 - Bring Into Bondage

3 - The Last Witnesses

In addition, Anne has written a very useful book for writers -- Howdunnit: Book of Poisons -- and has a blogged novel, White House Rhapsody, which she continues to update.

You really must go check out Anne's website -- she has so many projects going on and so many interesting publications to her name, it's best I send you to the source. Do not forget her wine blog! She also gave a shout out to several authors, including Avery Ames, Mary Higgins Clark, Phyllis A. Whitney and the incomparable Dorothy L. Sayers.

Enjoy!

-- Laura

Transcript of Interview with Anne Louise Bannon

Laura Brennan: Anne Louise Bannon has made not one, but two careers out of her passion for storytelling. Both a novelist and a journalist, she has an insatiable curiosity. In addition to her mystery novels, she has written a nonfiction book about poisons, freelanced for such diverse publications as the Los Angeles Times, Ladies’ Home Journal, and Backstage West, and edits a wine blog. On the fiction side, she writes a romantic serial, a spy series, and her wonderful Kathy and Freddie historical mystery series, set in the 1920s.

Anne, thank you for joining me.

Anne Louise Bannon: thank you for having me.

LB: On your website, I noticed that you introduce yourself through an avatar: Robin Goodfellow, who is better known as the impish Puck from A Midsummer Night's Dream.

ALB: Yes,that is only my favorite character from my favorite play in the whole wide world. I love A Midsummer Night's Dream.

LB: How do you see yourself as Puck?

ALB: It's not so much physically, I'm not the fastest moving human being on the planet. It's mostly mentally. My brain is constantly going and there's throwaway line from th...

Given the stuff on TV at the time, and especially conditioned by the dreck on which I'd been working for the past few years, I really didn't expect much. But, alone in that room, within a few minutes I was convinced that finally, here was a show I could be as enthusiastic about as I was for my own series concepts.

The new series, developed by Peter Fischer and the remarkably talented William Link and Richard Levinson, was Murder, She Wrote.

-- Tom Sawyer, The Adventures of the REAL Tom Sawyer

I couldn't be more excited to be talking to (the real) Tom Sawyer about his writing career, which spans not only two political thrillers and a lively PI series, but television stints on some of my favorite shows -- including both The Law and Harry McGraw and the iconic Murder, She Wrote. The stories he tells in the interview are only a taste of the insider stories he shares in his new memoir, The Adventures of the REAL Tom Sawyer. 

In addition to chatting about his Hollywood career working with Angela Lansbury, Jerry Orbach and Tony Curtis, among many others, Tom gives a shout out to The Maltese Falcon -- and a great story about the influence it had on Murder, She Wrote. We also discussed his books on writing (Fiction Writing Demystified), as well as his thrillers, The Sixteenth Man and No Place to Run. And I was happy to learn that he's writing a follow-up to Cross Purposes, which launched his Barney Moon, PI series.

But as Tom's memoir, The Adventures of the REAL Tom Sawyer, makes clear, he's done more than we could ever talk about in one twenty-minute interview, including a musical about JFK (Jack); a film which he wrote, directed, and produced (Alice Goodbody); and a book about what it takes to succeed (9 Badass Secrets for Putting Yourself in Luck's Way). To learn more about these and his many other projects, check out Tom's website, ThomasBSawyer.com.

Tom graciously sent me an autographed copy of a Murder, She Wrote which he'd written, and at the end of May, 2017, I will be giving it away to one lucky person on my mailing list. So if you're not on my mailing list yet, now is definitely the time to sign up. I send out one newsletter a month, and I never share your e-mail with anyone else. So sign up now, in the box on the top right. Good luck!

-- Laura

Transcript of Interview with Tom Sawyer

Laura Brennan: Tom Sawyer has written for the stage,

To begin, let me clear up a few things. J. Dyanne does not communicate with little moon aliens or Martians. She does not have a crystal ball, nor was she responsible for the outcome of the last presidential election. And she certainly does not command the dead. She may speak with them from time to time, but command them? Who can do that? What could you possible use to exert pressure to obey? I mean, they're already dead. Perhaps threaten them with life?

-- Valerie C. Woods, Katrin's Chronicles: The Canon of Jacquelene Dyanne Vol. 1

I am thrilled to welcome Valerie C. Woods and her charming middle-grade novel, Katrin's Chronicles: The Canon of Jacquelene Dyanne Vol. 1. Take a love of Sherlock Holmes, add in coming of age during the Civil Rights Era, and sprinkle it over with sisterly devotion and a touch of magic, and you have Valerie's warm and satisfying debut mystery.

We talk about her work in theater (including Something For Everyone, the book of monologues she wrote after being unable to find material for herself outside of Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin in the Sun) and how it led to her first screenplay, a Disney Fellowship, and a television career that included Any Day Now and Touched by an Angel. You can check out all her credits here on her website; she can also be found here on Twitter. And do not miss the books she publishes. 

In addition to Sherlock Holmes, Valerie was influenced by the Harry Potter series and my own favorite middle grade novel, A Wrinkle in Time. She also gave a shout-out to Harriet the Spy, Nancy Drew, and Mary Stewart's Arthurian saga that begins with The Crystal Cave. I want to mention the title of one of the books Valerie published and is editing the sequel to, Chet Baker: The Missing Years by Artt Frank.

Finally, do not miss Valerie's take on the trope of "the chosen one," about 17 minutes into our conversation. 

Enjoy!

-- Laura

Transcript of Interview with Valerie C. Woods

Laura Brennan: Valerie C. Woods is a writer/producer in television and film, and is also a publisher, editor and author. Among her TV writing credits, she has worked on Soul Food, Any Day Now, and Touched by an Angel. She founded the independent press, BooksEndependent, and her middle-grade novel, Katrin’s Chronicles: The Canon of Jacquelene Dyanne, Vol. 1 combines mystery with history, and just a touch of magic.

Valerie, thank you for joining me.

Valerie C. Woods: Thank you for having me. It's great to be here.

Alone, Pontchartrain inspected the black case. It was secured with not one but two sets of wax seals imprinted with La Reynie's official insignia. Pontchartrain cracked open the brittle seals with a small knife and inserted the key into the lock... Removing one large stack of pages, he placed the papers on the table and turned each gingerly. He saw names of France's highest nobility. Alongside them were scrawled the words "death," "poison," "murdered."

-- Holly Tucker, City of Light, City of Poison

I am so pleased to welcome my first true-crime writer -- all the more so because Holly Tucker brings her true crime tales to life from the pages of history. The central character of her latest book, City of Light, City of Poison is Nicolas de La Reynie, the first police chief of Paris, and the man who quite literally created the City of Light. 

City of Light, City of Poison gives us an insider's look into The Affair of the Poisons, the scandal which rocked the Sun King's court. Holly's book opens with King Louis XIV himself destroying what he thought were the only records of the investigation. Lucky for us, Louis was mistaken -- and Holly was tenacious. 

Holly is Editor-in-Chief of the marvelous website, Wonders & Marvels: A Community for Curious Minds Who Love History, Its Odd Stories, and Good Reads. My word, who doesn't? You can also keep tabs on her through her own author website, Holly-Tucker.com. 

In our interview, she gives a shout-out to authors Laura Hillenbrand and Erik Larson, and I would be failing in my duty to you not to recommend Holly's other foray into historical true crime, Blood Work, the research for which led her to Nicolas de La Reynie. As this goes live, it is Holly's launch day for City of Light, City of Poison. You can run over and like her on Facebook right here. 

While you're at it, go like Destination Mystery on Facebook as well. Meanwhile, though, you can enjoy this interview. If you'd rather read than listen, the transcript is below.

Au revoir!

-- Laura

Transcript of Interview with Holly Tucker

Laura Brennan: A professor of French History at Vanderbilt University, Holly Tucker writes extensively on true crime in early Europe. She has tackled murder and mayhem during the Scientific Revolution in her award-winning book, Blood Work, as well as childbirth and fairy tales in Pregnant Fictions. Her most recent book, City of Light, City of Poison, follows the first police chief of Paris as he works to root out organized crime and foil a cabal of poisoners, witches and unholy priests.

Holly, thank you for joining me.

Holly Tucker: Thanks for having me.

LB: So, normally, in my interviews, I start by chatting about you and how you got into this, but I cannot wait to delve into this book with you...

My husband wasn't in bed with me when I woke up that January morning. The mid-winter sky was bruised purple and yellow outside the window. I shut bleary eyes against light that glared and pounded. A second later I realized my toes weren't burrowing into the hollows behind Brendan's knees, that when I flung out my arm it didn't meet his wiry chest...

-- Jenny Milchman, Cover of Snow

Thriller author Jenny Milchman writes page-turning novels of women in jeopardy -- and the courage and resourcefulness they find inside of themselves in the face of danger.

Check out Jenny's website for information on all of her books and to check out her blog. In addition to writing thrillers (all of which were chosen as Indie Next picks) Jenny is on the board of International Thriller Writers and interviews writers for the radio show, Next Steps with Jenny Milchman and ITW on Authors on the Air. 

And if that weren't enough, you can find Jenny on Facebook, Twitter, and Patreon. Whew!

Jenny gives shout-outs to two books: The Freedom Broker, by K.J. Howe -- a debut novel and the first of a series of high-octane thrillers -- and We Need to Talk About Kevin, a tense and intimate look at a family destroyed by violence, by Lionel Shriver. 

Jenny's own books are all stand-alones:

Cover of Snow

Ruin Falls

As Night Falls

As always, if you'd rather read than listen, here is the transcript. Enjoy! -- Laura

Transcript of Interview with Jenny Milchman

Laura Brennan: Jenny Milchman is an award-winning, critically acclaimed novelist who writes un-put-downable thrillers. Her debut novel, Cover of Snow, won the Mary Higgins Clark Award for best suspense novel of 2013. All three of her novels published to date, including Rune Falls and As Night Falls, have been Indie Next picks. Jenny interviews thriller writers for the Next Steps radio show and I am delighted that she agreed to be on the other side of the microphone for this chat with me.

Jenny, thank you for joining me.

Jenny Milchman: Laura, thank you for having me on.

LB: Before we get into your books, let's talk a little bit about you. I understand that your folks were a little worried about this whole writing gig.

JM: Yes! More -- not even worried as much as, what would a writing gig even mean? I was always wanting to be a writer, that was kind of the goal from the beginning. And I loved reading, as most writers do. And it seemed a natural outgrowth of my childhood. But it wasn't even, "Should you do this? No." It was more, "What would this even mean?"

And then when I was a sophomore in college, my parents got to that point where they had to ask what the poin...

For ten years, my father's furniture and books lurked in the study he abandoned. I don't remember a time when we thought he might come back, but his belongings were like a bookmark, holding a place in our lives...

-- Virginia Zimmerman, The Rosemary Spell

I don't know about you, but I'm still enthralled by a wonderful children's book -- especially when there's a mystery or puzzle at the heart of the adventure. The Rosemary Spell is a perfect book for middle-grade readers who want a little magic, a little mystery, and a lot of friendship.

This is a book about the power of books, and Virginia Zimmerman is an expert on that. You can learn more about her on her website, including links to an article she wrote on the importance of letting -- or even encouraging -- children to re-read.

Teachers, do not miss out on the fantastic teacher's guide that was created for The Rosemary Spell by Pamela Brunskill. In particular, if you teach poetry or want to introduce your cherubs to Shakespeare, The Rosemary Spell is the book to check out.

We talked about some favorites for children: A Wrinkle in Time, A Ring of Endless Light (both by Madeleine L'Engle), the Harry Potter series, and one that is new to me, When You Reach Me, by Rebecca Stead. For adults, Virginia gave a shout-out to Middlemarch by George Eliot and Pride and Prejudice, my favorite Jane Austen novel (and I know I'm not alone!).

Keep tabs on Virginia and her upcoming books via her website, on Twitter, on Instagram, and on Facebook. As always, if you'd rather read than listen, the transcript is below.

Enjoy!

-- Laura

Transcript of Interview with Virginia Zimmerman

Laura Brennan: Virginia Zimmerman writes novels for young readers and teaches English at Bucknell University for somewhat older readers. Her beautiful middle-grade novel, The Rosemary Spell, has at its heart a book, and with it all the magic and mystery that books bring into our lives. Plus, in this case, there’s a smidge more magic and mystery than usual.

Virginia, thank you for joining me.

Virginia Zimmerman: Thank you for having me, it's great to be here.

LB: So, you're both an author and an English professor. Tell me a little bit about that career path. Was it always going to be books?

VZ: It was definitely always going to be books, from kindergarten when I would read to the rest of my class, it was always going to be books.