Lucy Lakestone joins us for my latest The Cozy 52 interview. Read on to find out more about her Bohemia Bartenders Mysteries, what inspires her, and DO NOT miss finding out more about her exciting hobby (her photos are amazing!)
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 Lucy Lakestone
NAME: Lucy Lakestone
LIST ALL YOUR COZY MYSTERY SERIES: Bohemia Bartenders Mysteries
HOW ARE YOUR COZY MYSTERIES PUBLISHED? Indie (self)
The Q&A
TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOURSELF
I live on the east coast of Florida with my husband and two crazy little dogs. I had a long career in newspapers as an editor, reporter and photographer, covering a variety of subjects, from features to space. I’m always hungry to learn about other people’s lives, and I think all those interviews fuel my imagination when I plot books and channel fictional characters.
LIST THREE FUN FACTS ABOUT YOURSELF THAT WE WOULDN’T READ IN YOUR ‘OFFICIAL’ BIO.
- One, I’m a storm chaser. I’ve only just started alluding to storm chasing in my bio because for a while I kept my pen name separate from my real name (Chris Kridler). I’ve been chasing storms for twenty-six years. I travel to Tornado Alley every spring and follow the weather, photographing it as I go. I’ve written three storm-chasing adventures as Chris Kridler and hope to write more.
- Two, I have a large and wacky wind-up toy collection. They aren’t valuable. They’re just fun.
- Three, I regularly go out and take photographs of rocket launches in the middle of the night (or whenever they go!).
WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO START WRITING? WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO WRITE COZY MYSTERIES?
I loved to read (and write) as a kid. I’m grateful to a fourth-grade teacher who got me started on Nancy Drew. I devoured the books—the classic versions where the cars had running boards. Even at that age, I wrote a series of silly, very short mysteries that my mom typed up for me. I moved on to reading Agatha Christie and any other mystery I could find, then pretty much every other genre. I double-majored in journalism and English in college, all along thinking I’d write the great American novel someday. I’m still working on it! After the storm-chasing books, I wrote a series of steamy romances, then pivoted to writing mysteries because they feel like the perfect combination of all of my interests as a writer—humor, quirky characters, suspense, intrigue, and puzzles set in a colorful world (in my current series, the world of craft cocktails). And they still have a dash of romance, which I enjoy.
WHAT SUBGENRE(S) OR THEMES OF COZY MYSTERIES DO YOU WRITE?
I consider the Bohemia Bartenders Mysteries culinary mysteries, given the focus on craft cocktails, though Pepper’s dog Astra and a few other critters appear in the books.
TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOUR COZY MYSTERY SERIES. WHAT INSPIRES YOUR SERIES?
My husband and I have an interest in craft cocktails and retro culture that’s led us to attend fun events like Tales of the Cocktail in New Orleans and The Hukilau, a tiki convention. My husband had a side business in craft cocktails for a while. I liked the idea of treating cocktails as a culinary art, not just a throwaway motif. The world of cocktails is rich in stories and fascinating people. So it seemed like a natural backdrop for a series of mysteries, hence the Bohemia Bartenders Mysteries.
Pepper Revelle, our heroine, grew up in New Orleans and now owns a bar in Bohemia, just across the bridge from my fictional Bohemia Beach, Florida. She and her mixologist friends, including her elusive crush Neil, travel to make cocktails at different events. The first book is set in New Orleans; others are set in Florida, London, and Kentucky. Naturally, the bartenders always run into trouble, though some of their adventures happen in their own backyard. There’s a little character crossover with my romance series, but the tone is quite different, and of course, there’s no sex on the page in the mysteries. But there’s still a little romance. Pepper is gregarious and impulsive; Neil is steady and thoughtful. Together, they’re always hilariously in conflict, even though it’s obvious there’s an attraction between them. They’re so much fun to write.
WHY DO YOU THINK PEOPLE LOVE TO READ COZY MYSTERIES?
While a great mystery is at the heart of the best cozies, I really think people love them for the characters and settings as much as for the puzzle. And what’s nice about them is you know everything is going to turn out OK—except for the poor victim! I see mine as pure escape. They’re filled with humor and tropes and situations I love, and I hope readers love them, too.
ASIDE FROM BEING AN AUTHOR, ARE YOU INVOLVED IN THE COZY COMMUNITY IN ANY OTHER WAY?
My day job is editing books and designing book covers for a variety of genres, including the occasional cozy mystery.
WHO ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVOURITE WRITERS?
There are too many to count. As far as mysteries are concerned, I love Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum series; its mix of comedy and appealing characters is what I strive to achieve in my own books. Maggie March’s Lucy McGuffin, Psychic Amateur Detective Series is really funny and adorably quirky. I’ve just gotten into the historical Sebastian St. Cyr mysteries by C.S. Harris; not cozies, but they’re rich, exciting and well told. As far as other genres, I never miss an Eloisa James romance. And I love Jasper Fforde’s brilliantly imaginative books.
IF YOU WERE MAROONED ON A DESERTED ISLAND, WHAT 3 BOOKS WOULD YOU WANT WITH YOU?
In lieu of a manual on How To Survive on a Desert Island, Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh for its lyricism, Watership Down by Richard Adams for its great storytelling and adventure, and Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen for its wit (and Mr. Darcy).
DO YOU HAVE ANY PROJECTS COMING UP THAT YOU’D LIKE TO SHARE WITH US?
The fifth Bohemia Bartenders Mystery, Beguiled by Bourbon, set in Kentucky bourbon country, is new this month. Shocked by Champagne is in the works for a summer release, set in my heroine Pepper’s Florida town (she and her fellow bartenders travel, but every few books, they come back home). I have a Bohemia Bartenders Cocktail Coloring Book poised to publish in February (it’s a total labor of love I’ve been working on for a while). And as the Other Me, I plan to get out a collection of short stories this year.
The Quickie 5
- FAVOURITE FOOD: Pizza
- BEVERAGE OF CHOICE: Pepsi (guilty pleasure) or Manhattan (favorite cocktail)
- MOST PRIZED POSSESSION: I think I prize things for what they do, not what they are. So I’ll say my favorite Nikon camera.
- SUMMER OR WINTER? Winter in Florida is the best!
- FAVOURITE VACATION SPOT? Anyplace new; I love to explore new places.
To keep up to date with Lucy Lakestone online, you can connect with her on:
WEBSITE | FACEBOOK PAGE | LUCY’S LOUNGE (FACEBOOK GROUP) | INSTAGRAM
GOODREADS | BOOKBUB | AMAZON | PINTEREST | YOUTUBE
If you’re interested or curious about storm chasing, you can check out Chris Kridler’s site here.
