Christine DeSmet joins us for this week’s The Cozy 52 interview. Read on to learn more about what inspires Christine’s books, her favourite detective, and news about her next book.
Who or What is The Cozy 52? Each week I will be sharing an interview with someone involved with Cozy Mysteries – an author, blogger, Facebook Group host, podcaster, cover designer – so that we can showcase this amazing community! I hope you’ll discover some new authors, plus learn more about what goes on behind the scenes with the people who write, publish and promote cozy mysteries!
Introducing Christine DeSmet
NAME: Christine DeSmet
LIST ALL YOUR COZY MYSTERY SERIES:
- Fudge Shop Mystery Series
- Mischief in Moonstone Series
HOW ARE YOUR COZY MYSTERIES PUBLISHED? Traditionally published by Penguin Random House and Writers Exchange E-Publishing.
The Q&A
TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOURSELF
I’m a novel author, screenwriter, writing coach and developmental editor for writers. For many years I taught writing and put on conferences and retreats through University of Wisconsin-Madison Continuing Studies.
LIST THREE FUN FACTS ABOUT YOURSELF THAT WE WOULDN’T READ IN YOUR ‘OFFICIAL’ BIO.
- I grew up on a small farm in southern Wisconsin where I did chores like feeding calves or getting hay down from the haymow, rode ponies and even rode a pet cow.
- I’ve travelled to many beaches in my life including all the coasts of the United States and beyond.
- Of course I collect shells and unique rocks wherever I go.
WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO START WRITING? WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO WRITE COZY MYSTERIES?
I chose cozy mysteries because I like to write with humor and love small communities and the unique camaraderie found in them. I’ve always loved writing because words are magical. Reading books like Little Women when I was a child made me want to write, too. I was in awe of Jo’s determination.
WHAT SUBGENRE(S) OR THEMES OF COZY MYSTERIES DO YOU WRITE?
The Fudge Shop Mystery Series has a culinary candy theme. The Mischief in Moonstone Series focuses on sweet romances and often includes animals at the core of stories, including a reindeer in Book 1, chickens in a couple of other books, and in one book the hunt for the skeleton of a prehistoric giant beaver is central.
TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOUR COZY MYSTERY SERIES. WHAT INSPIRES YOUR SERIES?
The Door County area of Wisconsin is very inspiring for the Fudge Shop Mystery Series because it’s considered the Cape Cod of the Midwest. It’s a peninsular county on Lake Michigan and features 11 lighthouses—the most for any county in the USA. It’s a magical place with fudge shops and a lot of fishing and boating and spectacular sunsets and a significant Belgian settlement and history. It definitely inspired me to create a shop called Oosterlings’ Live Bait, Bobbers, Belgian Fudge & Beer. The Mischief in Moonstone Series is set on Lake Superior in northern Wisconsin, and the rugged landscape and small communities that line the lake inspired me to create those novellas.
WHY DO YOU THINK PEOPLE LOVE TO READ COZY MYSTERIES?
They read cozies to get the feeling of belonging to something comfortable with friends they can count on. A traditional mystery set in a small town brings us warmth and the feeling of a safe place where a hug is common enough. There is no “rat race” in a cozy mystery. It allows us to take a vacation from our lives by sitting in our armchair or on the couch.
ASIDE FROM BEING AN AUTHOR, ARE YOU INVOLVED IN THE COZY COMMUNITY IN ANY OTHER WAY?
I’m part of the Blackbird Writers, and we have the Blackbird Writers Discussion Group on Facebook, which anybody can access or join. We share a lot of news there. I belong to several cozy mystery groups on Facebook, too. I also work with authors as a developmental editor and critique cozy manuscript pages quite a bit.
WHO ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVOURITE WRITERS?
I can’t choose because I love so many. However, I was inspired by Agatha Christie’s Hercule Poirot because he’s Belgian and Ava Oosterling is probably the first Belgian sleuth in a traditional mystery or cozy since Poirot debuted in 1920. I like to remind people that he debuted during the first season of the Green Bay Packers—founded by another Belgian.
IF YOU WERE MAROONED ON A DESERTED ISLAND, WHAT 3 BOOKS WOULD YOU WANT WITH YOU?
The dictionary, a synonym finder, and a book of blank pages so I could write whatever I wanted from poetry to mysteries.
DO YOU HAVE ANY PROJECTS COMING UP THAT YOU’D LIKE TO SHARE WITH US?
My new book coming soon or in early 2023 is HOLLY JOLLY FUDGE FOLLY, book 6 in the Fudge Shop Mystery Series. In it, Grandpa steals a snow plow (for good reason, he contends) and careens with it down Main Street—an act that leads to a series of events including a murder that mars the weekend holiday celebrations in Fishers’ Harbor and the upcoming wedding of Ava Oosterling’s best friend.
The Quickie 5
- FAVOURITE FOOD: Fudge! There are endless recipes.
- BEVERAGE OF CHOICE: Coffee
- MOST PRIZED POSSESSION: The glacial rock I collected on the family farm as a kid and still have.
- SUMMER OR WINTER? Summer because I love walking every day in nature and sometimes winter days can get too harsh.
- FAVOURITE VACATION SPOT? Door County, Wisconsin
To keep up to date with Christine DeSmet online, you can connect with her on:
WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | BLACKBIRD WRITERS WEBSITE
Christine — I love the characters in your books! What is it that draws you to your protagonists and antagonists?
Thank you, Laurie. The risk-taking side of Ava and Grandpa appeal to me. They always do things for the good of people and their community, but go far beyond what most of us might do. They take some risks I’d never do, such as Grandpa stealing that snowplow in the first chapter of my upcoming Christmas book!
Your books are delightful!
I never would have guessed you collect rocks and shells. Now about that fudge…yumm!
Love your Fudge Shop Mysteries! Fudge, female sleuth, mischief, Door County . . . did I mention fudge? Congratulations on the upcoming book.