A Brew for Chaos - An Interview & Review

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.

 

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. 

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Review

A BREW FOR CHAOS by Esme Addison
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.

A Hex for Danger - A Review

 Review

A HEX FOR DANGER by Esme Addison
The Second Enchanted Bay Mystery

It's summer in North Carolina and that means it's time for Bellamy Bay's annual Mermaid Festival. This year will be the first for Aleksandra Daniels and she's diving right into the festivities. This year the town has commissioned the painting of a mermaid mural and the beautiful artist has heads turning. The vivacious woman has Alex's friend Celeste seeing red, believing the woman has more than a professional relationship with her new boyfriend. Alex has never seen Celeste being so clingy and is concerned about her friend's behavior. When the artist winds up dead, all signs point to Celeste as the murderer and Celeste's certainly not helping her case. Determined to help her friend, Alex is looking for other suspects. Neve was more than just an artist. Was it her knowledge of Magicals that got her killed? Could that knowledge put Alex and her family at risk?   

Mermaids, dragons, and murder, oh my! The second Enchanted Bay mystery has less Polish tidbits, but more otherworldly information, including dragons. Like Alex and her family are descended from mermaids, some characters are descended from dragons. In this series dragons are the bad guys. Personally, I'm not too happy about that, perhaps because more of my family is closer to Krakow than Warsaw, but that's just me. The good news is that the dragons are fully developed characters, not just evil bad guys. There is also lots of information hinting at numerous exciting and dangerous things to come.

I like how not everything is black and white. Even in the best of people, there may be a hint of darkness, and, given the right circumstances, they may unleash it. I also like how Alex is able to take care of herself, and not wait for a man to rescue her. Indeed A HEX FOR DANGER is about choices, to do the right thing, or the wrong, as well as picking the right people as your associates, or your boyfriend. Not everything good is right, and not everything bad is wrong.

A HEX FOR DANGER is an enchanting mystery where paranormal meets normal and technology meets art with murderous results. Grab a kołaczki and perhaps some vodka and settle in for a magical time in Bellamy Bay.

Currently Reading...

I just finished reading A Hex for Danger by Esme Addison. This book is the second in the Enchanted Bay Mystery series and was released last month.

It's summer in North Carolina and that means it's time for Bellamy Bay's annual Mermaid Festival. This year will be the first for Aleksandra Daniels and she's diving right into the festivities. This year the town has commissioned the painting of a mermaid mural and the beautiful artist has heads turning. The vivacious woman has Alex's friend Celeste seeing red, believing the woman has more than a professional relationship with her new boyfriend. Alex has never seen Celeste being so clingy and is concerned about her friend's behavior. When the artist winds up dead, all signs point to Celeste as the murderer and Celeste's certainly not helping her case. Determined to help her friend, Alex is looking for other suspects. Neve was more than just an artist. Was it her knowledge of Magicals that got her killed? Could that knowledge put Alex and her family at risk? 

A Spell for Trouble Interview

I'm happy to welcome Esme Addison to Cozy Up With Kathy today. Esme writes the Enchanted Bay Mystery series. A SPELL FOR TROUBLE is the first book in the series.

Kathy: In A SPELL FOR TROUBLE Aleksandra Daniels returns to Bellamy Bay, North Carolina to stay with relatives she hasn't seen in 20 years. Last October I visited relatives I'd never met before in Poland. Have you ever reunited with family?

EA: What a coincidence! I'd love to hear how the experience was for you. Last year, I went to Poland for the first time and met my husband's grandmother and uncles and aunts and cousins. It was a wonderful experience full of good food, hospitality and fun conversations. I hoped to capture that type of warmth in my series. I am pretty close with all of my family, so I can't recall a reunion quite like one Alex Sobieski has in the story.


Kathy: How did you decide upon using the Mermaid of Warsaw to inspire your paranormal mystery?

EA: I wanted to find an aspect of Polish history or folklore to add depth to the mystery. When I found the mermaid myth, I was literally done! Look no further. Like many, I am fascinated by mermaids (also fairies and other mythical creatures) and knew I absolutely had to figure out a way to add mermaids to the story.


Kathy: Being of Polish descent I absolutely love all of the Polish culture you instilled in the book. My mouth was watering when your characters were munching on kolaczki and pączki. I also love so many savory dishes. What are some of your favorite Polish foods?

EA: I try to write in all of my favorite dishes, or at least ones I've eaten my self. When I was pregnant, the dill potato soup was a craving. I couldn't get enough. When we were in Warsaw, there were so many pączki shops to try - love those donuts. And my mother-in-law makes the best cakes from scratch. All kinds with fresh apples or blueberry. And there's a coffee-like cake with a stresuel topping. Borscht, cucumber salad... I don't eat meat anymore but when I did fresh kielbasa with onions!! There's so much to love about Polish food.


Kathy: Ciocia Lidia runs an herbal apothecary shop. I would love to visit this store and can see myself being a regular customer. What about you? Do you use herbal remedies?

EA: Yes, I love herbal remedies! I make absolutely everything I can for myself and my family. I started 12 years ago when my middle son was born with allergies and I wanted natural products in the home. I make my own face masks, toothpaste, bath salts, and oil blends. And for remedies: cold syrups, ear drops, salves for eczema, irritated skin, etc. I've been to a few herbal apothecaries, and I'm always in heaven like a kid in a candy store. )


Kathy: What first drew you to cozy mysteries?

EA: The settings and the themes! I first discovered cozies when i returned from a vacation in Napa and wanted to read books about wine and with vineyard settings. I found Ellen Crosby's Wine Country mystery series and was hooked. After that, I realized that I could travel to places I wanted to go in these books, and I could "eat delicious food" and learn about interesting hobbies and occupations while reading. I loved the concept. And the mystery-element recalled my childhood love for Nancy Drew and Encyclopedia Brown and my desire to go on adventures. :) When I read cozy mysteries, I can do that.


Kathy: Do you write in any other genres?

EA: Nothing published yet, but yes I have stories in various stages: synopses, partial manuscripts, and completed, spanning speculative women's fictions and several psychological thriller ideas. My interests are pretty eclectic.


Kathy: Tell us about your series.

EA: A SPELL FOR TROUBLE is based on the Polish Mermaid of Warsaw myth. After her father dies (her mother passed when she was little) and she quits her job, Alex Daniels travels to Bellamy Bay, NC, from NYC to reconnect with her aunt and two cousins. While there she discovers an interesting secret in her family about her heritage. And then there's a murder... her aunt is charged, and she of course has to figure out whodunnit.


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

EA: I love all of my characters, but I really like Kamila. Kamila is a police woman. She's pretty, tough and no-nonsense, a bit of a tomboy. She's not happy that she has magical abilities and refuses to practice on ethical grounds. But she also loves her family and is proud of them, so she has a lot of internal conflict. I look forward to digging deeper into her psyche as the series progresses.


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

EA: My husband's family - my mother and father-in-law who are Polish. I love to learn about new cultures, the history, the food, the folklore... when I met my husband I immediately began to learn everything I could about the people, the land, the history... and when I decided to write a cozy, I knew I wanted to capture the love, warmth and hospitality that I'd seen in the family I'd married into. For a long time, before this story was sold and it was just an idea the working title for the manuscript was Polish Family Cozy to give you an idea of my focus.


Kathy: What made you decide to publish your work?

EA: I've been a writer since I was a child. I wrote my first story in 6th grade and never stopped. My father told me I should set and achieve the goal of being a published author, so it's always been something I wanted for myself. I've written four unpublished novels as an adult. This one is just the first one to be published.


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

EA: I would invite Helen MacInnes, Agatha Christie, Octavia Butler and Percy Bysshe Shelley - four of my favorites.


Kathy: What are you currently reading?

EA: I am currently reading IT CANNOLI BE MURDER by Catherine Bruns and listening to THE YEAR OF THE WITCHING by Alexis Henderson.


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

EA: Reading, writing, traveling to the beach and mountains, visiting historical sites (ancient civilizations, Civil War, Revolutionary War-era), cooking/baking, making herbal remedies and visiting craft breweries, wineries, distilleries and meaderies.


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

EA: Organic half-and half (for coffee), coffee beans, avocados and good cheese


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

EA: Yes! Book 2 in the Enchanted Bay mystery series publishes next summer, and I'm working on a new mystery series (no mermaids this time!).


Kathy: What's your favorite thing about being an author? Besides getting paid to do what I love?

EA: Creating a well-written story for readers to enjoy. Hearing that someone loved your story is the best ever.

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 If you missed it, you can check out my review here.

A Spell for Trouble - A Review

Review

A SPELL FOR TROUBLE by Esme Addison

The First Enchanted Bay Mystery

When Aleksandra Daniels quits her job in Manhattan, she knows she needs time with family, even if she hasn't seen her aunt and cousins in over twenty years. Ciocia Lydia and cousins Minka and Kamila welcome Alex with open arms and lots of Polish baked goods. Helping out in the family's apothecary shop, Alex can't help but enjoy the exotic teas and body care products, but is stunned when her aunt loses her temper on a customer. When the man is found dead the next day, it's thought to be a terrible accident. However, when it's discovered he was poisoned, Ciocia Lydia is arrested. Now it's up to Alex to prove her aunt's innocence, as that good looking detective thinks the case is closed. Can she trust her childhood friend? Or that nosy reporter? As Alex looks into the murder she also uncovers the truth about her family. Will she embrace her heritage or turn away from it as her parents did?

The first Enchanted Bay Mystery is a triumph! I love everything about it, from the Polish culture, to the family dynamics, from the paranormal to the police dog drop out. I love how food was weaved into the story. It's such an important, yet common and everyday part of traditional Polish life and really adds verisimilitude.  But there's more. There is a lot of moral ambiguity to be found here. Difficult decisions must be made, sometimes with no clear positive option. I especially love that the characters are not all "good". They all are shades of grey, some with darker secrets and leanings. I find a great affinity for Ciocia Lidia...and I could well imagine doing exactly what she did all those years ago. She's a strong, powerful, good woman, but there is a very realistic edge. I find myself at odds with the "good" detective, and rooting for the childhood friend. But neither of these two are all good...or all bad.

My favorite aspect of A SPELL FOR TROUBLE is the Polish connection. I fondly remember my Ciocia Brunia, and calling her that as well as Aunt Bert! My mouth was watering when everyone was munching on kolaczki and pączki. But even more than that, I thought it was brilliant how the Sobieski family's magick was entwined with the very real Mermaid of Warsaw.

A SPELL FOR TROUBLE introduces readers to a wonderful magickal world. Family and tradition are its foundation while a finely crafted mystery lies at its core. I can't wait to see Alex rediscover more about her family, herself, and her magick. Now if only I had a slice of sernik and a cup of Calm Down tea!