Die to Your Own Tune (Octavia Fields Mysteries) by Rebecca McKinnon

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Welcome to my stop on the Great Escapes Virtual Book Tour for Die to Your Own Tune (Octavia Fields Mysteries) by Rebecca McKinnon. Stop by each blog on the tour for interviews, guest posts, spotlights, reviews and more!

Die to Your Own Tune (Octavia Fields Mysteries)
Cozy Mystery
3rd in Series
Setting – Rocky Mountains
Independently Published
Publication date ‏ : ‎ April 23, 2026

After months of giving into her wanderlust, free-spirited violist Octavia Fields is ready to get back to her Aerie Pines music shop. But she hasn’t even had a chance to unpack before running into her teenage nemesis, who’s there to solo with the Aerie Peaks Symphony. Things get even more interesting when Octavia learns the conductor is none other than her ex-boyfriend, who seems to think they’re engaged.

After finding her nemesis dead, Octavia jumps barefoot-first into another investigation. But Detective Dreamy isn’t about to let her investigate alone — he knows her knack for attracting trouble. And he wants to keep an eye on the ex who’s twisted being separated for a year into an engagement.

When Octavia’s asked to step in as the new soloist, she has to balance investigating with rehearsals. And what should be an honor puts Octavia directly in the spotlight — and possibly the killer’s crosshairs. With tension mounting both on stage and off, Octavia realizes someone might be tuning up for an encore performance.

She needs to unmask the killer before the final curtain falls and Octavia takes the deadliest bow of all!

Interview with Author Rebecca McKinnon

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

Hi Christy, thanks for letting me stop by today!

Tell us a little about yourself.

I’m just an average person with a wild imagination who’s more comfortable with her imaginary friends than real, live people. I live in Utah, in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, with my family and our three cats. I’m the author of the Clear Creek Mysteries and Octavia Fields Mysteries (with more cozies on the way), as well as books in a smattering of other genres.

How long have you been writing?

I don’t even remember when I wrote my first story, it was so long ago. I was really young. In fact, I recently came across a (very) short story I wrote as a child. Based on the handwriting, I was probably only six or seven.

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

While I’ve always loved writing stories, I’ve always been introverted. The idea of putting my stories out there for people to read — and critique — wasn’t something I thought I’d ever do. But after my sister found and read part of a book I’d written (without permission), then begged to find out what happened next, I started to think it might be fun to share my imaginary friends. I’ve written in a lot of genres, but over the past several years I’ve stayed with cozy mysteries. I adore the settings, and the characters, and the feel-good aspect of them.

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

Like my writing, my reading tastes are eclectic. I enjoy mysteries, and fantasy, and a lot of those stories that don’t quite fit into a given category. As long as it has something that feels new and exciting to me, I’m in!

Do you have a favorite place to write?

I do a lot of writing in my office (I decorated it like a hobbit hole, so it’s a wonderfully cozy space). But I also write in the car while I’m waiting for my kids, or in parks, or, another favorite when the weather is nice, on my porch.

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

My desk is a mess right now! It usually holds my laptop, a large monitor, some plants, a mug full of pens, a lamp, and a couple of nicknacks. At the moment it also has my headphones, a stack of notebooks, a tin with some art pens inside, a highland cow heatable stuffed animal, plot notecards, and a cup of water.

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

I don’t remember a lot of early readers, but there was one book I absolutely loved. It was a book and cassette tape combo where you could listen to the story while following along in the book. Rumpelstiltskin. I even bartered with my sister for her firstborn child when I had something she wanted something I had. (As an adult, she didn’t follow through on that promise….)

As I got older, I had a few favorites. I know you’re just asking for when, but since when has anyone been able to choose just one of their favorite books? I loved Bridge to Terabithia. And another series I couldn’t get enough of is The Dark Is Rising Sequence.

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

Honestly, I love them all. Audiobooks? So convenient and great to listen to while I’m driving. Physical books? They smell like books, and there’s nothing quite like that. And I love the weight of them. E-books? Super convenient, and you can carry enough at once that you’ll never run out.

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?

Ireland. Or Scotland. My book Beyond the Swearing Stone takes place in Ireland and I would have loved being there while writing it. But Ireland and Scotland both call to me.

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

I think I have to say my parents here. They encouraged my imagination from the time I was tiny. When you have people in your corner insisting that you can do anything, it’s hard not to believe them.

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

I do have a group of writing friends. We do occasional writing retreats, and send each other questions. And one of them is always the very first person to get eyes on my manuscripts.

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

I’m working on the seventh book in my Clear Creek Mysteries. I can’t tell you too much about it, except that I think everyone will find at least a couple things that will surprise them in it.

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

Thank you so much for having me!

About Rebecca McKinnon

Rebecca McKinnon enjoys playing with her imaginary friends and introducing them to others through her writing. She dreams of living in the middle of nowhere, but has been unable to find an acceptable location that wouldn’t require crossing an ocean.

Author Links

Website https://rebeccamckinnon.com/

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/rebeccamckinnon_author/?hl=en

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/Rebecca-McKinnon/956145304405426?ref=hl

GoodReads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4993788.Rebecca_McKinnon

BookBub https://www.bookbub.com/authors/rebecca-mckinnon

Purchase Link – Amazon