What do Ouija boards, a smash-and-grab robbery, and a children’s ghost story have to do with each other? They’re all elements in the life of New York Times Bestselling author Laura Childs—elements that have led her to where she is today. Childs’ latest release, Devonshire Scream, directly includes only one of those elements, but the other two helped make her who she is today.
Devonshire Scream is a novel about who we should trust. Childs said, “When a crime takes place, when someone is killed, I always want my protagonist to take a cool, careful look at all the people she’s rubbing shoulders with and wonder, ‘Could someone I know have been responsible for this horrible crime? Could someone who comes into my tea shop, who smiles so disarmingly, be a stone cold killer?’ That’s the real fun of writing. Who among my entire raft of suspects is the innocent little rabbit and whose jaws are dripping with blood?”
A dyed-in-the-wool mystery/thriller fan, Childs said that when growing up, she was the kid who snuck into the cemetery at night on a dare and told ghost stories around the campfire. “I devoured Nancy Drew books under the covers at night, loved all the old Charlie Chan movies on TV, and read every Agatha Christie Mystery before I was fifteen. In college I brought a Ouija board into the dorm, pretended to commune with the spirits, and scared the crap out of everybody. I mean, they ran from the room screaming!
I probably read four or five mysteries or thrillers a week.
“I also lived in a genuine haunted house for a while. Today, as a writer of mysteries and thrillers, I’m also a student of the craft. I probably read four or five mysteries or thrillers a week. The first read-through is for pure pleasure, the second read-through is to rip the story apart and analyze it. I want to fully understand how the author constructed his or her novel, see how they created major plot points and plot reversals, built suspense, and how they drove the story to a pulse-pounding climax. Yeah, you can learn a lot from other authors by dissecting their work.”
Childs said she always wanted to be a writer and began at an early age. “When I was six years old, I wrote and illustrated George the Ghost. I worked on school newspapers, wrote little plays, and poetry. After college, I tried writing a novel, but it seemed so overwhelming and I just didn’t have the know-how.” As a result, Childs turned to advertising. (Read about her career in advertising and her Afton Tangler Thriller series in this companion post.)
Despite her successful advertising career, Childs couldn’t give up on her dream of being a writer. She tried one last book, Death by Darjeeling. That book led to thirty-five others, including Devonshire Scream and the robbery mentioned in the beginning. Childs said, “I was thumbing through a copy of Town & Country magazine and noticed this wacky little sidebar about a ‘smash and grab’ robbery that took place in the south of France.
“A daring gang of thieves crashed a stolen SUV through the window of a luxury boutique and made off with millions of dollars worth of diamonds, emeralds, and crocodile handbags. Then, I did some research and found that boutiques in Paris and London had also been hit in similar fashion. It was a regular bling ring! I decided that Charleston, with its upscale residents and fine shops brimming with antiques and estate jewelry, would also be ripe for the picking.”
In typical mystery-writer fashion, Childs decided to raise the stakes even more in Devonshire Scream. “I upped the ante and had the Heritage Society bring in a priceless Faberge Egg for their Rare Antiquities Show. I figured a jewel-encrusted egg would be a delicious incentive for the thieves to stick around and a major hot potato for my protagonist to fret over.”
Learn about the Scrapbooking Mysteries, Tea Shop Mysteries, Cackleberry Club Mysteries, and the Afton Tangler Thriller series at laurachilds.com.
I love it when you can read something of your own interests as being part of an author’s interests in articles like this one. I enjoyed learning about Ms Child’s journey to becoming a successful author. The advertising world’s loss is our gain as her readers!
I love your reviews & snippets of info… Looking forward to checking Laura Child’s newest out! #DrinkTea
Cheers,
Kelly Braun
Thanks so much, Kelly! I love hearing good things! 🙂
Love a good mystery and the “haunted” aspect makes it even more appealing!
Thanks for the chance!
new author to me
I am a fan of Laura Childs Tea Shop Mystery series and look forward to reading her new book. Thanks for the great giveaway!
Laura Childs is one of my favorite writers. I have been counting the days until this book is available!
My Sister had the Nancy Drew books, and I used to sneak them and read them. I remember Charlie Chan very well!! He was quite the character!! lol I enjoyed reading the background material regarding how you think when you’re writing – re: the smash and grab in France. It will make reading your latest book a little more special when I get my copy to read it. Thank you for the interesting and informative column!!
I enjoyed reading about Ms. Childs’s influences growing up. I too read Nancy Drew growing up but didn’t have the talent to do anything more than read. I commend her for her talent and look forward to more books from her.
The book and series sounds interesting. I’ve never lived in a haunted house,
I’ve read all of the books in this series and it’s as good as it was in the beginning.
Look forward to each new installment.
thanks for the chance to win this one.
Some of my favorite reads have been mysteries, always enjoy finding a new to me author.
Titles that are a play on words always capture my attention. I remember getting freaked out by a ouija board when I was a teen, that was over 50 “gasp” years ago. Think I need a nap now.
Looks like a fun cozy. Nancy Drew books started me on this road of enjoyment over 50 years ago. I still enjoy a good mystery. Thanks for this opportunity.
This sounds like a nice mystery, and I’m looking forward to expanding my mystery authors. I’m a bit low on ones I like at the moment.
I enjoy reading Laura Child’s books, and also enjoy (very much) your newsletter, especially the recipe section! There are a couple that I’m just waiting for the right group of people to share them with!! Oops. Talk about dangling participles!
Oh my, we should never let our participles dangle! 🙂
Terry, I can’y wait to read your books.
Thank you Deborah. I look forward to hearing what you think of them. I hope you’ve grabbed a copy of Mystery of the Lei Palaoa, which is currently free everywhere. It’s just a novella, but it gives you a nice introduction to McKenna.
Terry, Thank you for highlighting authors each week awakening me to new genres and I value your scam tips.
And thank you, Beth, for being one of my readers! I’m happy to bring all of this to you.
Haven’t read anything of yours as yet, but I do like cozy mysteries.
Always looking to enjoy new authors. This book sounds like something I would enjoy.
Which of the series does this story take place in or is it a new one?
Memories! I remember when Nancy Drew mysteries were considered bad literature. I also remember getting my first Ouija board for my 13th Christmas! If only I knew then that I could use them both to solve mysteries!!
I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s a surge in Ouija board sales, Renee! Think of the possibilities for crime fighting!
Sounds like a good read from Laura Childs!
I remember the Ouija board from my teenage years. It told me I would marry Mickey – didn’t quite work out that way but I was in love with Mickey Mouse for years so maybe that was it.
Sounds like a fun read. Thanks for the giveaway.
How many years did you spend looking for Mickey? 🙂
Looks like a good book. And thank you for the contest and chance to win.
Thanks for informing me about this book
Nice book will enjoy reading it
You are a new to me author and I can’t wait to check out your books ! This sounds great
Mahalo for stopping by, Tami. I hope you enjoy the books.
Devonshire Scream sounds like a great entry in this wonderful series. Thank you for sharing this post with Laura.
“Devonshire Scream” sounds delightful! Would love to read and review it.
Laura Childs is one of my favorite authors. I love the Tea Shop Mysteries set in Charleston and the Scrapbooking Mysteries set in New Orleans. I also enjoy the Cacklebury Club mysteries. Childs does a great job of providing a sense of place. Readers feel like they are in Charleston or New Orleans. I love the settings, the tea and scrapbooking tidbits, and the wonderful characters! I can’t wait to read Devonshire Scream and her new series coming out.
I’m sure you’ll love it, Sandra. Another good one from her.
A good series.
The contest says it ends last month and The Snitch clue comes from Jan?!
Thanks for calling the dates to my attention, Libby. Big oops on my part! I guess I’m still recovering from Left Coast Crime!
This is a really great series. Would really enjoy reading “Devonshire Scream”.
I have read a few of her mysteries so good!
I am a big fan of Laura Childs’ Tea Shop Mystery. It has been the catalyst to renew my passion with tea, tea blends, tea cups and pots, and tea parties. I also find the series realistic, and I love Theo!
Thanks Terry for sharing the insight into this new book by Laura Childs. I find her books inviting and leaving me waiting for the next book to be published.