Sleuthing in Stilettos (A Resale Boutique Mystery) by Debra Sennefelder | Author Interview

Thanks for taking the time to share a bit about yourself with my readers and me!

Tell us a little about yourself.

I’m so happy to be visiting with you and your readers today. I live and write in Connecticut. Always nearby is our Shih Tzu, Connie. Before writing full-time, I worked in customer service and in retail. In 2018, my first novel was published, THE UNINVITED CORPSE, a Food Blogger Mystery. SLEUTHING IN STILETTOS is my tenth novel. When I’m not writing, I love to bake and of course, read.

How long have you been writing?

I’ve been writing for most of my life. Short stories while I was in school and then after I got married, I started writing a book. We moved to another town and that’s where I connected with other authors and began my journey to publication.

Did you always want to be an author? What made you choose the cozy mystery genre?

Yes, I’ve always wanted to be an author. I can’t explain where that came from, but I knew from a young age I wanted to write stories. I discovered cozy mysteries by way of Miss Marple. We’d just moved to our town and there was a bookshop. I went there a lot. I discovered books by Jill Churchill, Claudia Bishop, Katherine Hall Page and Mary Daheim to name a few authors and fell in love with those mysteries. They were relatable. The main character lived in a small town, living a normal life with family and friends around and somehow managed to get caught up in murders. So much fun. I knew I found what I wanted to write.

Do you prefer to read cozy mystery books, or do you have another favorite genre? What are you reading now?

I love reading cozy mysteries. I also love writing suspense and romance. Right now I’m reading Debbie Mason’s A HOME ON MARIGOLD LANE.

Do you have a favorite place to write?

I typically write in my office.

What’s on your desk (if you write at one!)?

Right now there’s an empty coffee mug, a pumpkin candle, a stack of sticky notes with reminders scribbled on them, my Erin Condren planner, my sunglasses and my story binder. Plus, a bunch of other stuff.

What is the first book you remember reading as a child? What was one of your favorite books you read as a child?

Gosh, I don’t remember. Between the school library and buying books, I read so many. I don’t have a favorite childhood book. Though, I really loved my Nancy Drew books that I got from my cousin, Debbie.

Do you like audiobooks, physical books, or e-books better? Why?

I like to read print books or ebooks. I don’t listen to audiobooks. For some reason I have no problem listening to podcasts but listening to someone tell me a story leads my mind to wander off.

If you had the opportunity to live anywhere in the world for a year while writing a book that took place in that same setting, where would you choose?

Alaska.

What or who has influenced you the most as a writer?

There have been so many authors over the years who have inspired me and motivated me to write. Whether I met them in person, online or simply read their book. I don’t think I can pinpoint any one person. Or any one event. Looking back, whenever I felt like giving up there was always an author who popped into my life and motivated me somehow to keep going.

Do you have any author friends who support you while you’re writing? Do you belong to any writing groups?

I’m blessed that I do have friends who are authors, and they are an amazing cheerleaders. I belong to Sisters In Crime and the Connecticut chapter of Sisters In Crime, and Thriller Writers.

Finally, what are you working on now? Can you tell us a bit about it?

I am working on a first draft of a new project that I can’t share anything about at this time. But, I can share that I have a new series debuting in June 2023. It’s the Cookie Shop Mystery series and the first book is HOW THE MURDER CRUMBLES. Cookie artist Mallory Monroe finds herself caught up in the murder of a local food blogger who had accused Mallory of stealing her cookie recipe. I had so much fun writing that story.

Thank you again for taking the time to answer my questions!

It’s been my pleasure and I appreciate the opportunity to visit with your readers. And I hope that they will reach out and say “hi” to me on social media or through email.