Behind the story of Wedding Bear Blues by Meg Macy

Meg Macy is an award-winning mystery author with a passion for cozy mysteries, gardening, and crafts. She’s written the Shamelessly Adorable Teddy Bear cozy mysteries for Kensington and is one-half of the writing team of D.E. Ireland for the Eliza Doolittle & Henry Higgins mysteries. Two of her books, Wouldn’t It Be Deadly and Get Me to the Grave On Time, were Agatha Award finalists for Best Historical. Wedding Bear Blues is the fourth Teddy Bear Mystery.

Teddy bears and family first

Meg said she’d known about the Chelsea Teddy Bear Factory in Southeastern Michigan for years, and even turned down a chance to tour the factory because she was busy with other things at the time.

“I figured it would always be there. Unfortunately, by the time I came up with a ‘teddy bear’ theme for a cozy mystery series, I was too late – the factory had closed up and the business moved to Missouri. Rats! But I did find some photos of the factor and the bears, so I decided to make my own version of a teddy bear shop and factory, plus the family that runs it.”

One of the themes Meg stresses in her books is ‘family first.’ Family, as well as her close friends, are important to Meg. “My protagonist, Sasha Silverman, believes in family first with her heart. After a terrible first marriage, she returned home to her family and appreciates their support throughout along with close friends in the small town of Silver Hollow. Although I’ve never lived in a small town, I’ve visited several. I know it’s true that ‘everyone knows everybody’ — and that gossip is ripe. I also stress that teddy bears are ‘childhood innocence’ at its best. My books include the terrible ways in which adults use these toys for drug smuggling and worse crimes, but justice always comes for them in the end.”

On the personal side

Meg describes herself as a voracious mystery and historical fiction reader. Her reading interests also influence her writing, which include contemporary cozies, westerns, and romance. “Everything I write has either a hint of mystery or a full-blown mystery involved. I’m also an artist – watercolors, pen/ink, and acrylic. I haven’t had much time to devote lately, but after this past year, I may try to pick up my brushes once more.”

The past year has been a challenging time for Meg’s writing. “It’s hard to drum up the creativity to write. To do anything, in fact, with all the bad news every day. I’m sure we all remember experiencing the same problem after 9–11. When New York City shut down, my brief ‘career’ writing puzzles, games, etc. for children’s magazines dried up completely. I had to refocus my creativity, which wasn’t easy. Sometimes these life-shaking events are just another door opening. I may be stepping through another next year. Time will tell.”

Inspiration in the stacks—real or virtual

“I absolutely love research. I remember going to the university library stacks in college and browsing through old books — there’s nothing like that smell of musty pages, and wondering who last looked up information inside that book, if ever. With the internet, we can now find things from so many other libraries and sources. The world opened up at our fingertips! While considering a sequel to my first published novel, Double Crossing, I happened to come across a printed menu on a website for a lavish dinner that took place in Sacramento in late 1869 for railroad magnates and politicians. That was the perfect starting point for Double or Nothing. Those gems an author stumbles over don’t come often, but they can be inspirational.”

Learn more about Meg Macy and Wedding Bear Blues on her website at megmacy.com. Did you like this interview? If so, click here to read more Behind the Story interviews from your favorite authors.