Episode 30: Vicki Delany

I ran up the steps and opened the door. The delicious scents of freshly baked bread, warm pastry, ginger, and cinnamon washed over me. I took a deep breath. Heaven, I sometimes thought, must smell like Vicky's bakery...

-- Vicki Delany, We Wish You a Murderous Christmas

Vicki Delany blogs as the One Woman Crime Wave -- and boy, is she ever. She writes historicals, stand alones, a police procedural series, and several cozy series. Her latest book, We Wish You a Murderous Christmas, launches today, November 1st, as this interview goes live.

Can't get enough of Vicki? Me either. Check out her website, her blog, her Facebook page, and, on Twitter, @vickidelany. 

In the interview, we talk about her Constable Molly Smith series, her cozy series, and her upcoming -- March '17 -- Elementary, She Read, the start of a new Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery series. One of Vicki's great talents is the ability to shift genres; her cozies perfectly capture the form, while her stand-alones are the top of suspense and her procedurals envelope you in the investigation. 

Vicki also writes mysteries for reluctant adult readers, called Rapid Reads. I think this is a brilliant concept -- short, easy-to-read and compelling stories for adults who, for whatever reason, struggle with reading. You can check out the latest, Haitian Graves, and find out more about the Rapid Reads series from the publisher.

Enjoy!

Transcript of Interview with Vicki Delany

Laura Brennan: My guest today has been called “one of Canada’s most prolific and varied crime writers.” Canada nothing, Vicki Delany is one of the world’s most prolific and varied writers, with multiple series and stand-alones in a variety of genres, from cozies to historicals to police procedurals and thrillers.

Vicki, thank you for joining me.

Vicki Delany: Thank you very much, Laura, for talking to me.

LB: There is so much to talk about, but let me start by saying how impressive your output is, not just because you can write across genres, but also because you started writing while a single parent holding a full-time job.

VD: That's right.

LB: Tell me a little bit about those Sunday writing sessions.

VD: Well, the Sunday writing sessions is a long way to go about producing a book. I mean, my first book took me four years. But my children were still living at home and they were still kids and, as you said, I had a full-time job. So I started out, a couple of hours on a Sunday afternoon was about the only time I could go to my writing.