I'm pleased to welcome Esme Addison back to Cozy Up With Kathy today. Esme writes the Enchanted Bay Mystery series. A BREW FOR CHAOS is the third book in the series and was released earlier this month.
.jpg)
Kathy: It's autumn in North Carolina and citizens of Bellamy Bay are getting ready for Oktoberfest and a craft beer competition. Do you enjoy craft beer? Do you have any favorites?
EA: There was a time when I would never drink beer - just didn't like the taste. And then I discovered weird, eccentric craft beers and became really interested trying different types, taking artistic photos of beer in glasses with books or food - sometimes both. lol. I like porters and stouts and sour beers. I got into craft beer after reading Ellie Alexander's Sloan Krause mystery series - set in a brewery. Seriously!
Kathy: While Aleksandra Daniels would prefer to simply soak up autumnal vibes, her best friend Pepper is more excited by the upcoming anniversary of a spooky cold case. Which would you prefer, drinking cider with your significant other or investigating a cold case?
EA: Definitely drinking a warm cider on a comfy sofa under a fuzzy blanket with my sweetheart.
Kathy: The Enchanted Bay Mystery contains aspects of Polish folklore, specifically the Mermaid of Warsaw and dragons of Krakow. There are also dwarves found in Wrocław. Would you consider adding these beings, although they arose from a more recent political movement than the others?
EA: I've never heard of them. I have thought about delving deeper into the the Krakow dragon mythology and the mystical nature of the ground surrounding Wavel castle. - the Wavel Chakra.
Kathy: Was there a specific inspiration for this story, A BREW FOR CHAOS?
EA: A HEX FOR DANGER ends with Montgomery threatening the family, so I knew A BREW FOR CHAOS had to deliver that threat. I'd always imagined it would be...what it ends up being. I guess I was inspired by government conspiracies and what I think might really happen if this was a real scenario.
Kathy: Are you able to share any future plans for Alex?
EA: Yes. The next book is set at Christmas, and the end of A BREW FOR CHAOS sets up the reader for the next milestone in Alex's life.
Kathy: When it comes to writing I understand there are 2 general camps-plotters, who diligently plot their stories, and pansters, who fly by the seat of their pants. Are you a plotter, a panster, or do you fall somewhere in between?
EA: I'm a plantser - a mix of both. I start with an outline - the beginning and end and wing the middle... until I get a bit lost. Then I'll outline again mid-book and find my way to the end.
Kathy: Authors are required to do a lot of their own marketing, especially for a new release. What's your favorite part of marketing your work? What do you dislike about marketing?
EA: I worked in marketing after college, it was my minor actually so I enjoy it, and find marketing to be fun and creative. I like creating posts for Instagram - photos and video. It allows me to be creative and tell stories in a different way than writing. I also like newsletters because they keep me connected to my readers - but I unfortunately don't have the time to really devote to marketing and write and be a mom and have a day job... lol So that's the downside, not having the time to do all the marketing stuff that needs to be done.
Kathy: Will you share any other upcoming books?
EA: I'm working on the second book in the Secret Society Mysteries, a follow up to AN INTRIGUE OF WITCHES. The working title is THE SCOTA HEIR - but that could change. And as soon as that is done, I'll work on the next Enchanted Bay Mystery, and then I'd really like to write a cozy fall romcom. I've been outlining an idea and have written a few pages.
************************************************************************
Review
The Third Enchanted Bay Mystery
Autumn is in the air in Bellamy Bay, North Carolina. Cooler temperatures, pumpkins, and Oktoberfest have Aleksandra Daniels looking forward to apple cider and cozying up with her detective boyfriend, Jack. Her friend, Pepper, however, is more interested in the cold case her boss and mentor is working on. Forty years ago was the Summer of Chaos when women were abducted never to be seen again. Even though she has a knack for solving crime, Alex would prefer to stay out of it...that is until Pepper's boss is found dead on the beach. With her cousin Minka on the outs with the family and actually working for dragon Montgomery Blue, Jack keeping something from her, and a mysterious houseguest, Alex will have to use all her powers and call on her intrinsic inner mermaid to keep her family safe and uncover the secrets of the Fisherman.
The third Enchanted Bay Mystery had me completely captivated. I was never a fan of Jack and he was certainly sending out more red flags. Fortunately, Alex seemed more aware that he was keeping something from her, and it was stunning when she discovered the truth...almost as stunning as meeting his mom. His mother, with her love of mermaids was an absolute delight and a unique addition to the story.
A BREW FOR CHAOS has a lot of threads, intricately woven with seemingly unrelated storylines ultimately connected. Being of Polish descent I especially love the ethnic touches found here. With most of my family coming from an area closer to Krakow and with an affinity for dragons, I still get somewhat offended that the dragons are cast in such a bad light. They are the villains of this series. And yet the wonderful thing about this series continues to be the shades of grey found in the characters...well, most dragons are painted fairly solidly black. Other characters show both good and bad aspects to their self. Jack being a prime example.
With adroit plotting, a magickal background, and a fascinating mystery A BREW FOR CHAOS had me devouring the pages, with many a-ha moments as things fell into place. Grab a craft brew and perhaps a slice of makowiec and settle in for a great read.
No comments:
Post a Comment