A Tangled Up in Brew Interview & Giveaway

I'm happy to welcome Joyce Tremel to Cozy Up With Kathy today. Joyce writes The Brewing Trouble Mystery series. TANGLED UP IN BREW, the second book in the series, was released October 4th.

Kathy: In TANGLED UP IN BREW, Maxine and Jake participate in Three Rivers Brews and Burgers Festival. Have you attended similar food and beer festivals?

JT: I haven’t been to any festivals that were solely based on food and beer. I’ve been to a few craft type festivals which usually have an entire row of food vendors. We do have a few festivals that feature beer tasting in the Pittsburgh area but I haven’t had the opportunity to check them out yet. Some of them are pretty expensive. I might need to find a way to volunteer.


Kathy: What's your favorite type of beer?

JT: Like my protagonist Max, I really like hefeweizens—a wheat beer that’s slightly sweet, with a little bit of a banana and sometimes clove aroma and flavor. I also enjoy brown ales, dunkels, and stouts.


Kathy: There are many types of burgers to enjoy. Do you have a favorite that you tend to gravitate toward?

JT: I prefer my own burgers to any restaurant ones. I usually buy very lean beef and fry them in a pan (we don’t have a grill) with some sliced onions. For seasoning I use either Worcestershire sauce and seasoned salt, or Weber’s Gourmet Burger seasoning.


Kathy: What first drew you to cozy mysteries?

JT: I read all kinds of mysteries, but I found myself reading more cozy mysteries than anything else. I like that cozies have happy endings and justice is served. It was a natural progression to write them, too.


Kathy: Do you write in any other genres?

JT: I’m all mystery, all the time! I’ve written a couple of manuscripts that bordered on police procedurals, and I wrote another book that someone once called a “cozy with an edge.” My agent has that one now and I hope it finds a home. I’m also working on a proposal for a historical cozy at the moment.


Kathy: Tell us about your series.

JT: The Brewing Trouble series is my only published series at the moment. My protagonist is a female brewmaster who opens a brewpub in a Pittsburgh neighborhood. The series my agent has right now features a smart aleck police secretary in a small town in West Virginia.


Kathy: Do you have a favorite character? If so, who and why?

JT: My favorite character in the Brewing Trouble series is Elmer Fairbanks. He’s a ninety-plus year old World War II veteran. He’s cranky, yet lovable. You never have to wonder what he’s thinking because he comes right out and tells you.


Kathy: Did you have a specific inspiration for your series?

JT: My inspiration was the editor at Berkley who read a previous manuscript and told me she liked my writing and would I consider writing a cozy proposal for them. I jumped at the chance. I did some research to see what hadn’t been done yet and came up with the brewing hook. They liked my proposal and offered a three book contract.


Kathy: What made you decide to publish your work?

JT: I’ve always liked to write and it was a natural progression to want to see my books on a bookstore shelf. I don’t think there was an active decision. It was more perseverance than anything. I figured sooner or later I’d write something that a publisher would want.


Kathy: If you could have a dinner party and invite 4 authors, living or dead, in any genre, who would you invite?

JT: That’s a tough question! I don’t think I could narrow it down to four. For living authors, I’d have to invite everyone I know—I wouldn’t want to leave anyone out! For dead authors, I might invite Victoria Holt and Phyllis Whitney. I loved their books when I was growing up.


Kathy: What are you currently reading?

JT: I’m embarrassed to say I’m not reading anything at the moment. I’ve been so busy that when I get a chance to pick up a book, I’m too tired to read! Recent reads were WITH A VENGEANCE by my good friend, Annette Dashofy, and DELIVERING THE TRUTH by Edith Maxwell.


Kathy: Will you share any of your hobbies or interests with us?

JT: I really don’t have any hobbies! My main interest these days is trying different craft beers. I’m also interested in the World War II era. I love the music, the clothes, and especially how everyone came together and worked for the common good.


Kathy: Name 4 items you always have in your fridge or pantry.

JT: Jif peanut butter, Eight O’Clock coffee beans, some kind of cheese, roasted almonds. Weird assortment!


Kathy: Do you have plans for future books either in your current series or a new series?

JT: Book 3 in the Brewing Trouble series, tentatively titled A ROOM WITH A BREW is in the hands of my editor. I’m working on a proposal for a fourth book in hopes that they’ll want to continue the series. I’m also working on a proposal for a historical mystery series. And my agent is reading another manuscript featuring a snarky police secretary.


Kathy: What's your favorite thing about being an author?

JT: There are so many things! One of the best is that people are actually reading (and liking!) what I’ve written. I was hesitant to read any reviews at first because I was afraid no one would like the book. I was pleasantly surprised when I finally got the nerve to look.

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