Laura Childs is the New York Times bestselling author of the Cackleberry Club Mysteries, Tea Shop Mysteries, and Scrapbook Mysteries, and a recent recipient of the Romantic Times Book Review’s Award for Best Amateur Sleuth. Her latest release in the Cackleberry Club Mysteries is “Scorched Eggs.” The title may seem a bit odd, but as Childs explains in this interview, she knew exactly what she was doing when she titled the book.
“I would have liked to see the look on my editor’s face when I sent him my proposal and three sample chapters,” said Childs. “His first reaction was, ‘Eggs? She’s going to write about eggs?’ But it all worked out just great—in fact, four of the Cackleberry Club Mysteries have made it onto the New York Times bestseller list.”
The Cackleberry Club Mystery series is called a hybrid novel. The books have the setting and characters of a cozy, but maintain the pace of a thriller. The result is a book Childs likes to call the “thrillzy.” She said, “It’s a term I coined six years ago and marketed aggressively—and that a lot of other authors have started using themselves.”
The main character in “Scorched Eggs” is Suzanne, who is ably assisted by her friends Petra and Toni. Childs said, “Suzanne is an intelligent, focused amateur sleuth who doesn’t rely on coincidence or sloppy police work to solve crimes. In fact, Suzanne is buckthorn in the side of Sheriff Doogie, who does his best to solve big city crimes that take place in the small town of Kindred.”
One of the choices Childs faced when she began writing the series was whether to situate her stories in a real town or one of her own design. She said, “I grew up in a small Midwestern town and I wanted to recreate that same convivial atmosphere and sense of place that I was familiar with. Thus, the town of Kindred was born. A lovely little city nestled next to Catawba Creek with giant cliffs and part of the original ‘Big Woods’ nearby. That’s the marvelous thing about writing fiction—you can create your own Brigadoon.”
Childs also said, “The other thing I love about Scorched Eggs is that all my characters are independent women who are just a hair past the age of forty. They’re smart, caring, not easily intimidated, and have beaucoup life experiences that can be brought into play.”
“Scorched Eggs” begins when a fire engulfs the downtown area in Kindred and a friend is killed in the fire. When the fire appears to have been deliberately set, Suzanne and her friends wonder if it could have been a vengeful husband, an ex-fireman, or an expert in explosives. As the ladies track down the killer, they also balance their lives, their business, and provide recipes for goodies like Sour Cream Coffee Cake, Cheese Popovers, and Scorched Eggs.
Childs has been writing for thirty-five years. In addition to novels, her writing background includes television, radio, and screenplays. “I take this job very seriously,” she said. “It’s not a calling from on high or a wild creative romp. I don’t write only when the muse whispers in my ear. Rather, I sit down every morning at nine o’clock and work until six, trying to figure out what will entertain my readers—what will touch their hearts and transport them to an exciting new place they haven’t been before.”
One of the things Childs loves about her job is the ability to research bizarre subjects. When asked what the craziest thing she ever discovered while researching, she said, “Oh, my gosh, there are a million different things. I researched Blackbeard’s skull and discovered that it was actually melded with silver and made into a drinking tankard. I found out a lot about the lost treasure of the pirate Jean Lafitte. And then there’s the usual research into tasers, poisons, bang sticks, daggers, and crossbows. There are just so many delicious ways to kill a person!”
With extremely high levels of competition in the mystery genre, Childs realizes she must stand out to remain standing in the battle to sell books. She said, “Everyone has only so much free time, so I want my books to give them a whopping good ride.”
For more information
Learn more about Laura Childs on her website at www.laurachilds.com.
Congratulations to all of the January winners in the Book & a Latte contest:
Donna D. and Anita Y. both won a copy of Laura Childs’ “Scorched Eggs.”
Linda B. and Kai W. both won a $5.00 Starbucks gift card.
Love ALL of your books. I would love to win.
Thank you for the opportunity to win. Hope I win. 🙂
trying to enter the giveaway. I hope this is the right place. I love the sound of a thrillzy, and I enjoy folks who create words, especially for blended genres. I haven’t gotten very far with blending cozies and romance. Comance and rocozy don’t do it for me…
You are definitely in the right place, Maggie. As for a cozy romance, well that might take a little thinking for a good description.
This book sounds terrific; I would love to read it!
This book sounds intriguing 🙂 Are mysteries the only genre that you write, Laura..and if not, are they your favorite type of book to write?
Thank you.
I pretty much read any mystery or thriller that I can get my hands on. Just love em all!
Sounds like a book I would like.
Sounds like a great read. Thanks.
I’ve read some of the Tea Shop and scrapbooking mysteries (still working on those!) but I haven’t had a chance to try Cackleberry yet. Thanks for a chance to win!
I love this series, and would love to win
Terry Again thank you for introducing some of us to a new author that we have not read. This sounds like a great book to read and wish that rafflecopter would of let all of us use their way of entering but I guess my browser is not compatible but still would love to read this one!
Hi Peggy, I’m glad to see you were able to enter. You comment shows, so you’re in!
This sounds great. I will definitely add this to my to be read list
New author for me. Sounds like an interesting book, thanks!
I like that the women in the books are over 40, independent and smart. I enjoyed this interview. A “thrillzy” is a cozy hybrid I’d like to try. I also love Laura Childs” tea shop mysteries.
Lauigl [at] carolina [dot] rr [dot] com
I read all three series by Laura and they all focus on a female main character surrounded by primarily other women, any romance is very definitely in the background (could really be ignored). Was that a conscious decision by the author? If yes, why?
There’s a little romance here and there, but I really want the characters and the mysteries to shine through. So romance (and all possibilities of marriage) are downplayed. I think it’s hard to have an independent-thinking entrepreneurial female character who is married. I think it’s going to inevitably come to her talking solutions over with her husband. And I want my characters to solve the murder cases on their own!
Thanks, your answer is very true.
I have not read any of your books. This will change. Thanks or the introduction Terry.
You’re welcome! And thanks for following!
Thanks for the explanation of the title for your latest book.
new author to me.the book sounds good. thanks for the chance.
I love the title of your book!
I’ve read several of your Tea Shop Mysteries, Laura, and enjoyed them all. In fact, our church ladies book club has read a couple of the tea shop books and we plan to read more.
Now I’m wanting to get into your Cackleberry Club Mysteries. I hadn’t heard the term ‘thrillzy’ before, but think that might just be what I will especially like.
What’s the most difficult part of writing screenplays?
Screenplays aren’t that difficult to write because they’re generally very high concept, have a single arc, and are only 120 pages long. The hard part is getting an agent or production company to look at them!
GOOD LUCK WITH THE BOOK AND THANKS FOR THE GIVEAWAY!
Two good things at once: books nd recipes! Would love to wn this.
I love the research aspect of writing.Your Blackbeard’s skull info find was a hoot . You can learn so much through research for stories
enjoy your books, thanks for giving me the opportunity to try to win one of your books
Thanks for the opportunity to win
This sounds like a really good book.
I would enjoy reading Miss Child’s book.
I’ve enjoyed all the series I’ve read.
I like the sound of a “thrillzy”. I would love to win a copy of this book.
wow! 35 years of writing.
Oh, but I started so young!
Liking the idea of a hybrid novel. Sounds fantastic.
This really sounds like a series I would enjoy!
Sounds like a fun series. Can’t wait to start reading.
Love all the series by Ms. Childs.
Tantalizing!
Sounds so good, I am 46 and really enjoy the cozy mysteries featuring 40-60 year old protagonists.
Where do you get the ideas for your books?
Ideas really just come from the imagination. I was in advertising for twenty-five years and every day I had to come us with creativity on demand. I guess now it’s just force of habit!
I like that term thrillzy and that your main characters are omen over 40. We can’t be young forever. And recipes to boot. I want to find out what scorched eggs are. I’ve never heard that term before. Can’t wait to read your book.
Love mysteries & this one sounds pretty good!
I’m still trying to wrap my head around scorched eggs. Can eggs be scorched?
Scorched Eggs is the old Scottish term for Scotch Eggs. Kind of fun, huh?
Love the book title. This is one book I will definitely read.
I love the title. Makes me remember when I had chickens like Rhode Island reds and one Polish hen. One of them laid brown, double yolk eggs. I never did discover which one it was. Sounds like another mystery to me. Thanks for the invite to comment. Lots of luck with your books.
Thrillzy! I love made-up words that work. Wow…you work a long day. I have read your books in the past but not lately. I did enjoy the ones I read immensely. I go in spurts and don’t read mysteries for awhile because I read all kinds of books in all genres (maybe not all!) so change about. Thanks for the giveaway and insight into how you work. It makes you more real.
I like the thrillzy! Laura, how many days a week do you work? Take an hour lunch? I read that you must stand and stretch, move about every 90 minutes if you have a job that keeps you in a chair all day. Do you take care of yourself with nutrition and movement? I hope so! That way you will be able to write more books for a long, long time! 🙂
I work 5 or 6 days a week. Start abut 9:30 with emails and business, then at 10:30 start writing. I take a 15 minute break for lunch around 1:30 and then write until 6. I do get up and stretch because my two Shar-Peis are always bugging me to give them treats or let them out.
I read some of the earlier books in this series, but I need to catch up. Thanks for the giveaway opportunity.
her research was interesting,I didn’t know about Blackbeard’s skull
This sounds like a great read!
sounds like the kind of book I would like to read – hope I win one!
Sounds awesome! Thanks for the chance!
Hope I am the lucky one this time! 😀
interesting sounding series
these books sound interesting. wish I had more time to read. my resolution in 2015 is to make more time to do this
Sounds great!
“The ability to research bizarre subjects” – that would be something I would love about writing novels ,too! Thanks for sharing one of the things what keeps you at the top of your game after 35 years. Here’s to 35 more!
can’t wait to read and share this latest book. thanks
I have not read any of her books, but I will be getting one to try
Great giveaway. I read the Tea Shoppe mysteries, and wonder how you chose Eggs as a topic for this other series.
Sounds like a fantastic series. Thank you for the chance!
The book sounds really good. Actually I love the name of the book, and would love to read it.
This is a great way to become familiar with another (new to me) author. I always leave feedback on Goodreads, Amazon and Barnes. Blessings, Janet
Is it difficult to remain motivated? I love that you state writing isn’t a divine calling, and explain that it’s a job – a very HARD job. Have you had to explain to friends, family members, or others that you DON’T have time to run errands, do the housework, get the oil changed, and so on, during your set writing hours because you are WORKING? After 35 years of writing, do you love it as much as you did when you first began? (Sorry about all the questions. I love your work and I respect your motivation.)
It’s sometimes difficult to get started, but I find that fear is a great motivator (fear of missing a deadline, not doing a good job, not paying the mortgage.) But once I tumble down the rabbit hole, as I call it, I usually get rolling and can often write 10 to 15 pages a day. I don’t do housework, errands, oil changes, etc. because this is my job and I have to work it all day, every day. My cleaning lady takes care of most household things, my husband does the grocery shopping and take my car in, and I do the cooking at night. Not really all that complicated. Anyway, thank you so much for what you said about the books. They are a delight to write and I’m thrilled that you enjoy them!
This sounds like a great series! Thanks for the giveaway!
I have read the Tea Shop mystery series. I will begin the Cackleberry club mystery series now. You have always educated me in some way in each of your stories. thanks for all the research that you do for your novels.
I enjoy all of your books
This sounds like a great series. I’ve been staying away from thrillers and mysteries lately, or at least those that are series, because the protagonists all seem the same and then I wonder how they can be so successful when they are too stupid to live at times. Or maybe that is just one particular series I’m thinking of. at any rate, I love the idea of female protagonists who are actually friends. Also, am looking forward to seeing what recipes they exchange because cooking is awesome.
I like that the characters are independent women over the age of forty.
Thanks for the giveaway.
Laura,
Your novels have a great sense of place and atmosphere. Do you spend time in places like New Orleans and Charleston for research? I love all your series.
Yes, I do. I try to visit each city every couple of years just to sip the atmosphere. Hey, it’s a tough job but somebody’s got to do it.
Laura Child’s writes some very good books. Thank you
Thrillzy…I even liked the auto correct term provided…thrills you. Sounds good to me.
Autocorrect can be so annoying at times, but also very funny!
Thanks for the opportunity!
I like that term thrillzy—it combines my 2 favorite genres. Thanks for the contest.
You’re quite welcome and best of luck!
Love this series!
Cute cover. Sounds like a good series.
i like that the women are just past 40! i also like that recipes are included!
Love the sound of the book. I do like a good mystery, can’t wait to read it.
I was happy to read that you enjoy researching odd information–one of the fun things about learning is the amount of trivia you can pick up along the way!
Thanks Laura and thanks Terry!
You’re quite welcome, Sandra! Good luck!
When writing, what is the hardest obstacle you encounter? What are some of your favorite reads?
Thrillzy – I love it. I think those are my favorite kind, like the action. And the fact that there are independent women who have matured a bit is refreshing to read.
Hey Sally, you’re the earliest of the early birds! Thanks for following!