Ellen Byron is with us to talk about the launch of new cozy mystery series, and that's not her only upcoming release!
I am thrilled to be joined by Colleen from @ILikeOldBooks1213 to interview award-winning author Ellen Byron! We will be discussing Byron's new Golden Motel Mysteries cozy mystery series. A Very Woodsy Murder is out today!
What motivates you to start a new series?
I get lots of kernels of ideas. Some fade away, others grow, sprouting storylines and characters that I’m excited about developing further. Those are the ideas that motivate a new series.
What inspired the premise of this series? Did you take anything from your personal experiences or interests?
All of my series stem from some personal connection. The Vintage Cookbook Mystery series was inspired by the love of New Orleans I developed as a Tulane University student, coupled with my own hobby of collecting vintage cookbooks. For the Golden Motel Mysteries, the impetus was my past as a sitcom writer. People often ask why I don’t write a series set in the world of a sitcom production. I tried once, and it did not go well. I couldn’t create a single likeable character, lol! But giving Dee Stern, the protagonist of my new series, a version of my personal backstory allowed me to tap into my past career. I was also inspired by a location my great-aunt took me to on my very first visit to California, Columbia State Historic Park. I’m fascinated by California history, so creating a contemporary series set in Gold Rush Country gave me a chance to incorporate some of that into the series – often in a tongue-in-cheek way. 😊
Since you are a pro with other series under your belt, are there any “must-dos” that you make sure to incorporate in the first book of a new series?
I always make sure to create likable characters. I want readers to feel like they could friends with the people who populate my books if they weren’t fictional. I also work hard to create an evocative setting. My goal is for readers to feel as if they’re actually in the places I describe. I jokingly describe my series as a vacation with murder! And of course, every book, first or otherwise, must contain a solid mystery. I generally create two of them; a big one and a little one. That way, if readers figure out the solution to one mystery, hopefully I’ll surprise them with the solution to the second.
How do you juggle writing multiple series?
I’m writing two right now, which is all I can juggle. I just created the outline for Vintage Cookbook #4; next, I’ll come up with the outline for Golden Motel Mystery #3. Once I have the outlines, I move on to drafts. I’ll finish Vintage Cookbook 4 before tackling the Golden Motel draft. When I’m in draft mode, my goal is 1.5-2K words a day, five days a week. Where juggling gets tricky is when you have to factor in marketing. It’s a big part of our jobs as authors these days. I enjoy it but it does eat into your day. Once I’m in draft mode, marketing has to take a back seat so I can meet my daily word goal. I miss a lot of my friends’ post because I don’t have time to relax and scroll through Facebook or Instagram.
What are the biggest lessons you learned thus far in your writing career?
It’s way more fun to write something you’re excited about writing. This may sound supercilious but I’ve been earning my living as a writer since I was twenty-seven, either as a playwright, journalist, TV writer, or author. I’ve written many things for money and not love. I don’t regret a single one of them but I’m more happy as a writer now than I’ve ever been because I’m propelled by enthusiasm and a passion for what I’m writing: light mysteries.
If you could discuss the writing process with any author, living or dead, who would you choose and why?
Oh, Agatha Christie, a hundred percent. I’d love to take a deep dive into what inspired her ideas and plots, and her writing process. Plus, it would give me an excuse to visit England!
Visit Ellen's website: https://www.ellenbyron.com/
Visit Kensington Publishing: https://www.kensingtonbooks.com/
A Very Woodsy Murder synopsis:
From Agatha Award-winning author Ellen Byron, a hilarious new series featuring a sitcom writer who has checked out of the familiar comforts in Studio City and checked in to the quaint village of Foundgold to run a motel. Running a rustic getaway in the woods sure beats LA traffic—until murder ruins the peace and quiet . . .
Down-on-her-luck sitcom writer Dee Stern is flipping the script. Twice divorced and wasting her talents on an obnoxious kids’ show, the lifelong Angeleno embraces the urge to jump in her car and keep driving. It's a road trip with no destination—until she pulls into a mid-century motel filled with cobwebs and retro charm. Nestled in the shadow of a national park, it’s a time capsule of a place that, like her, could use some work. So, in the most impulsive move of her life, Dee teams up with best friend, Jeff Cornetta—who happens to be her first ex-husband—to transform the aging ranch into the Golden Motel-of-the-Mountains, a hiker’s oasis on the edge of the wilderness . . .
But Dee and Jeff soon realize there couldn’t be two people more unprepared for the hospitality business. There’s also the panic-inducing reality of prowling bears and a general store as the only shopping spot for miles. Living and working in the middle of nowhere takes some getting used to—especially when a disrespectful guest ends up murdered! Now, with the motel duo topping the suspect list, Dee must steer clear of a meddling park ranger, face her past in show biz, and determine if the killer is a local or tourist. Because as she quickly finds out, there are many things worse than a one-star review.
And Byron has another book coming out very soon! French Quarter Fright Night, the third book in her popular Vintage Cookbook Mysteries is out September 3, 2024!
Check out yesterday's blog post for reviews of A Very Woodsy Murder from both Colleen and I!
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