Love Indie | Episode 9 | Murder Mysteries & Teachers Turned Sleuths with Kristen Bahls

What happens when teachers become amateur detectives? In this episode of Love, Indie, indie author Kristen Bahls joins the show to talk about her cozy mystery A Flair for Trouble, writing teacher-turned-sleuths, crafting clever mysteries, and her experience in the indie author community.

Find Kristen Here

Listen to Where I Left Off Pod Here

Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:09

Welcome to Love Indie, your backstage pass to indie romance. I'm Stacy, your host, bringing you honest chats, behind-the-scenes stories, and all the passion that makes indie romance so special. Whether you're writing your next swoon-worthy novel or curling up with a great read, this is our chance to celebrate love and all things indie, where indie authors and readers come together. Let's dive in and turn up the heat. In this episode of Love Indie, I'm joined by Indie author Kristen Balls, the writer behind The Cozy Mystery, A Flair for Trouble. The first book in the Teachable Cozy Mystery series. Set in the world of high school teachers, the series follows Cohen Sinclair and L. Dannan as they unexpectedly become amateur sleuths after a murder occurs at an afterschool event. Kristen is also the host of the podcast Where I Left Off, where she talks with authors about their writing journeys and creative lives. Kristen, I'm so excited to have you here. Yay! I haven't seen you in a while, Stacey. So this is awesome to get to catch up.

unknown 1:16

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 1:17

Before we dive into the world of murder mystery, let's help listeners get to know a little bit about you. So for listeners that are just discovering you, who are you outside of writing?

SPEAKER_00 1:29

Yeah. Well, I uh work in finance during the day, which is just a little bit different. And then uh in the morning and at night before and after work, um, I'm either writing or, like you said, editing my podcast where I left off. Um and I love personally uh contemporary romance, cozy mysteries, mysteries, thrillers. So I am always constantly reading and talking about books and trying to go to all the author events in my area, which I'm very fortunate and we have a lot around here. So I'm a very avid reader.

SPEAKER_01 2:05

I am always seeing all the events in your area, and I'm like, man, I'm so jealous.

SPEAKER_00 2:10

I know. I probably shouldn't tell you that I just got tickets for um Alicia Thompson. So not only do I get to see her, but I have Chelsea Kirto this summer and Ashley Poston are both coming. So gosh, yeah, several of my favorites. I know they never do stuff around here. I don't know how we got so lucky that they all just came in like one summer.

SPEAKER_01 2:31

Yeah. I met Chelsea in 2024 and like right as she was starting to really take off, and that was super fun. And then I have not met Ashley Poston yet. I was supposed to meet her at a book festival this um winter, but it didn't pan out. One day.

SPEAKER_00 2:53

Yes, one day she'll have to have a tour coming around. Um, what Chelsea book is your favorite? Face Off, for sure.

SPEAKER_01 3:01

Mine too. Although I like camera chemistry, I think that that's a super cute one too. Um, but yeah, face off, I think is definitely, definitely my favorite.

SPEAKER_00 3:10

Yeah, same. I think you wrecked camera chemistry. I actually bought it, I'm pretty sure, because of your wreck. So I do have it. I just need to read it.

SPEAKER_01 3:17

It's good, it's like a quick um spice, like really spicy, quick. It's an interesting concept. Like it's like a unique idea. So she's so good. But yeah, she is really good. I'm excited for um all of the books that she has mapped out for the next two years. Me too.

SPEAKER_00 3:35

I'm glad she told us so we know what to expect.

SPEAKER_01 3:38

Exactly, exactly. Well, so writing mystery, I'm sure, is much different than reading it. Um, so were you always a mystery reader, or did you come to Cozy Mysteries like recently?

SPEAKER_00 3:56

As far as mystery mysteries, I have kind of always read them. Uh there was so my mom was a librarian, and so I grew up around books, and there was a very small time where I didn't like reading, but my mom was determined to get me back into it and find me a series. Exactly. And uh Nancy Drew was that series. So I started off with those kind of mysteries, and then um, I mean, I love thrillers and mysteries, but really cozy mysteries. I think I found them. I really got into them uh when I found Hallmark movies and mysteries, and I watched the Hannah Swenson series, and it's based off of Joanne Fluke's books, which are like my favorite cozy mystery series ever. There's like 30-something books, and it is fantastic. I think I've read like maybe probably about three-fourths of the series. I'm like three-fourths of the way through. But it's funny because the way the show ends up is actually different than the way the book ends up, and she chooses a different person in each, so you actually kind of get to like live through both. So yeah, I really got into Cozy Mysteries uh with her series because it is so good.

SPEAKER_01 5:01

I feel like that's super common too with adaptations, which is fun because I understand flooded that out. Yeah. Sorry. Oh jeez.

SPEAKER_00 5:13

Um that's why you don't wear your Apple Watch when you're recording.

SPEAKER_01 5:16

I've not had that happen before. That's funny. Um, but yeah, I feel like you that's very common with adaptations. I feel like, um, but it's nice though, because you know, you you want to like enjoy it again. Um, and it it keeps that mystery element of like, hey, how are they gonna change this in the future? So that's cool. Have you read um uh El Alexander?

SPEAKER_00 5:40

No, but I actually have her up on my shelf.

SPEAKER_01 5:42

Okay. She's really good. She's one of my favorites. I love her.

SPEAKER_00 5:45

I love how you could just read them before you go to sleep. Like you get the mystery aspect, but you don't have to be freaked out or scared. It's just nice to be able to, you know, relax and read them.

SPEAKER_01 5:55

Yeah, exactly. I was talking to somebody the other day, and we were talking about how crazy it is that like in high school you watch all the horror stuff and everything, and it doesn't phase you. And then as you're an adult, you're like, yeah, no. I can't go to the world. The world's scary enough. I don't want more of it. I can't go to sleep reading that or watching it or anything. I want none of it. So, what kind of books or stories shaped you as a reader growing up with your mom being a librarian?

SPEAKER_00 6:23

Um, well, in addition to Nancy Drew, I would definitely say that I loved the series of unfortunate events. Uh I got really into that for a second. And then I'm trying to think of what else. Um, Maze Runner. Yes. Um, a little bit more, I was a little bit more fantasy, which is kind of funny because I really don't tend towards romanticy or fantasy that much now. But I don't know, there's just something about Y fantasy that um is really special and it caught my attention. And I I did read like every Nicholas Sparks book. Really, I would read whatever. Like my mom would just grab me a book and I would just read it. And this was way before Bookstagram, so I didn't really have any friends that were readers. I think like Twilight was the first time that I had friends that had also, you know, like read the same book as me. Um, and so it really was just whatever book I could get my hands on, the click series. I forgot about that. I love the click series. Anything like that didn't matter what genre, if it was a book, I would just pick it up and read it. And that was pretty much that. And then now that there's bookstogram, it's like, wow, you can pick anything that you want. And there's a book for every preference or mood that you're in. Everything. Yeah, but back then it was kind of like, well, you you can read Sarah Desson, you can read Nicholas Sparks, and you can read The Hunger Games and Twilight, and here you go. So that was just what I did.

SPEAKER_01 7:44

Yeah. It's crazy. I don't really remember too much of what I read when I was younger. I feel like this generation now though, the younger kids are reading so much more. Oh, yeah. It's so much more common to see them reading than it was like I feel like when I was younger. I don't know. Or maybe I was just oblivious to it. I'm not sure.

SPEAKER_00 8:08

I just feel like there are more options now.

SPEAKER_01 8:10

Yes. Oh my gosh, yes. So many. Maybe too many options. I don't know. Yeah. No, it's overwhelming. Like even trying to figure out what to stock in this in the shop. I'm like, I don't know. They all look so good. You just never know. I'm sure that's a challenge. Yeah. It's crazy. And then I want to buy them all.

SPEAKER_00 8:30

I could I couldn't do it. I couldn't do it. I mean, having been in your store, seeing all of the authors that I never get to see in one place is just magical. Yeah, it's my favorite.

SPEAKER_01 8:43

It's my favorite. Um, I always love hearing how writers first fall in love with stories. So thank you for sharing that. Um, when did you, when did writing first become something that you wanted to pursue seriously?

SPEAKER_00 8:58

Well, um, in in middle school, I was on the paper and I really enjoyed that. And I thought, ooh, I want to write for like a magazine one day. And so that's kind of when I realized that I knew that journalism was gonna be my thing. And then in high school, I found broadcast, which is video journalism. So everything that I wrote from that point was pretty much just a script with more of a visual medium. But of course, you know, there's a lot of like art to that, and that was my favorite part was the story and the art. Um, and then as I went to college again, it was broadcast journalism. So we did focus a little bit more on kind of the print and newspaper side, but it was very heavily like news. And with news, you don't really get to be creative because you can't add your own bias in it. So it was still fun to be able to tell the story visually, but it wasn't the same, like it just wasn't a creative outlet in the same way. Um, and then honestly, I don't know, it was maybe probably about like five or six years after I graduated college and had been teaching for a second, that I saw Sarah Adams post on her Instagram. I love Sarah. Yeah, she's just my favorite. And so I I bought Practice Makes Perfect. I read that first, and then I immediately bought like her entire backlist. So I was following her on Instagram and she said something like, if you have a story in your brain, you just need to write it. And you know, she's like, My story started out as just like a story in my brain, and she gave me um different book recommendations on that post of like what books to read to know how to write a book. And so I literally ordered them from Amazon, got them in, read them, and said, Okay, I'm just gonna start and just give it a shot and see if I can do it. And I wasn't even sure if I was really gonna finish it, but it was kind of just fun at that point. So that's when I kind of decided to start taking it seriously. So thank you to Sarah Adams.

SPEAKER_01 10:49

I love Sarah. That's so cool. I love that. Um, I remember because we're in a like a group chat together, and I remember when you first started writing A Flair for Trouble, and that was very exciting to watch that whole journey unfold, and you are like really organized, and that is my personality for sure. I don't know how you do. You were like, and here's this color for this, and I'm like, oh my gosh, you were definitely a plotter. Yeah, that's definitely the way that my brain works. Good for you. I wish I was that way, but I just was not not built that way. Uh what so okay, so growing up with librarian as a mother and you know, being really into fantasy essentially as a young adult, um, what drew you specifically to the cozy mystery genre?

SPEAKER_00 11:38

Um, well, at the point that I started writing, I was really into mysteries. Um, and I was kind of looking at mysteries and thrillers, and I thought, I don't know that I can do that intense of a plot twist right off the bat. And of course, with romance, it's really hard because you're solely focusing on that relationship between two characters. So I thought with a cozy mystery, I could have a little bit of everything. I could have like the intrigue of a thriller, it wouldn't have to be super creepy, so I wouldn't have to focus on like the blood and the gore and all that kind of stuff. And then I could still have a relationship between the characters. And, you know, what I really love about Joanne Fluke's books is she has a lot of scenes where they're eating a meal together and she can really focus on the relationships between the characters and how they grow with each other. And just in cozy mysteries, you can kind of do like mundane things, but make them really interesting and fun and just joy to read. And so I I thought that that might be my best way to start. And of course, cozy mystery is really difficult too. There's no easy genre that you're gonna get by any means. Because with cozy mystery, you have to balance um, you know, the mystery aspects, keeping the plot moving, uh, especially most of the time, they tend to be amateurs or they might be alongside a detective. Like, why did they need to solve this case and not the police? And then you also have the interpersonal relationships that always kind of run throughout the series. So even though there are a lot of things with Cozy Mystery, it just called to me and the genre conventions seemed the most up my alley.

SPEAKER_01 13:15

Yeah. There's a lot of moving parts. Yes. It's crazy. Yeah, I don't know how you keep it straight. I guess because you are so organized. Yeah. You are so organized. You have to be because otherwise there will be too many holes and it'll be exactly so when you decided to write, what inspired you to create this mystery series, especially set in like uh high school with teachers? They always say write what you know.

SPEAKER_00 13:43

And so I um I was a former high school teacher, and I just noticed that A, a lot of books uh tend to have teachers that are on summer break or they're on winter break, and it's not necessarily taking place over the school year. Uh, so I knew that I wanted mine to take place like at the school, and I thought that that would be kind of a fun twist. And then also, um, there aren't there just aren't as many like high school teachers. And since I was a high school teacher, I wanted to also kind of put that lens on it. Um, and really, I just realized that I I got really burnt out. Um, and it felt like everyone at that point was telling it was like right, it wasn't right after COVID, but it was a couple years after COVID. So it kind of felt like everyone was saying, either, you know, suck it up and keep teaching and do it for the kids, or, you know, quit and go find another job. So no one was really kind of meeting you on your level of like this job is really, really hard, but it's also rewarding and it's kind of a double-edged sword. And you just kind of want someone to commiserate with you, but not necessarily in like a negative way, just like I appreciate you kind of thing. Um, and so I I really wrote the book that I feel like I needed when I was a teacher, and this was before like Abbott Elementary came out. So there just weren't a lot of shows that had humor and were still light, but had an undercurrent of this is what this job is actually like, and there are a lot of things that you don't realize that kind of weigh on you um in this career. So I wanted that to be an underlying message of my series. That's awesome.

SPEAKER_01 15:18

I feel like uh it's like you were saying, it's very therapeutic. Um, and I think that that's really awesome, especially for teachers that are reading it. You know, they can see themselves in it, which is always nice when you're reading and you can see yourself in a book.

SPEAKER_00 15:30

So and I've had a lot of my teacher friends say that they really liked it and they felt that it was accurate. So that is the biggest win.

SPEAKER_01 15:38

Good. That's awesome. You always love positive feedback like that. Exactly. And then we got negative feedback. Yeah. And then you got your debut novel. I mean, like, holy crap, girl. Like it went, it it's just crazy how I feel like time flew when you were writing, which I'm sure to you, you were like, no, this is taking forever. I shouldn't be done. I did cry through edits a lot. Yeah, I've not heard a single good thing about edits. I'm like, get ready. No. Um, well, let's talk about this debut novel of yours, Miss Nam, uh, A Flair for Trouble. Can you tell our listeners a little bit about the story and how Cohen and Elle became amateur sleuths? Yes.

SPEAKER_00 16:23

So uh the whole story really takes place whenever Cohen and Elle they become amateur sleuths whenever a parent is murdered at an after-school event, and their students end up shipping them together. Um, and they use an anonymous Instagram account that the killer is also paying attention to. So there's kind of that aspect to it. But the way that they became sleuths was Elle is Cohen's mentor teacher. She's been teaching um a few years, so she's kind of got it under her belt. And then Cohen is like a brand new baby teacher coming in for the first time. He's very optimistic, and so she has to kind of put him in his place. And they basically have a duty at an after-school event, and the murder takes place during that duty, and so Elle feels like it's her fault. Um, and so Cohen at this point they haven't known each other that long. Uh, he thinks that he wants to get on his mentor's good side, but of course, you know, he has an underlying feeling that he likes her and he doesn't want to see her sad, and she's really eaten up by this and feels like it's her fault. So, you know, out of his mouth, he just says, like, hey, we should solve this case. And she is not receptive at first, but he, you know, kind of gets her on his side and they decide to fumble their way through the case together. Yeah, and that they do. Yep. A lot of fumbling.

SPEAKER_01 17:47

It's cute though. I love it. Okay. So, what makes the teacher setting such a fun backdrop for a mystery?

SPEAKER_00 17:54

Well, um, it's really easy to find clues and have opportunities for them to interview suspects. Um, I mean, they're in addition to the classroom scenes, uh, there's like the stuff at the lunchroom and their whole lunch crew that eats together, and teachers do gossip over lunch. So, you know, they can find out some good information. And then, of course, there's like hallway duty and stuff where they get to interact with their students and kind of all the students in the hallway, um, and then things that are happening before and after school as well that just kind of make it a little bit easier for there to be clues and uh keep it entertaining and kind of keep the pacing up.

SPEAKER_01 18:33

Yeah. So cozy mysteries often balance that humor and the suspense and the community that you're talking about. So, how did you approach the balance in this book?

SPEAKER_00 18:43

Um, well, as far as the community goes, this, okay, so they are actually career and technical education teachers, which is what I was, it's like video production, automotive, forensic science, uh, anything that could basically be considered a trade. And that group of teachers is always really close. You tend to be closer with your subject matter, you know, teachers because they know exactly what you're going through. Uh, but with these kind of subjects, there are a lot of little nuances that people don't think about, um, like being loud in the hallways and all that other kind of stuff that just comes from having something that you have to like physically practice and get your kids to know this level. So it kind of naturally uh lets them just find a sense of community in each other because they understand what the other one's going through and all their classrooms are kind of near each other, and it it really helps build um that community and family aspect. You're like in the trenches together.

SPEAKER_01 19:42

It's always nice to have somebody with you when you're in the trenches. Yeah. Did any of the characters surprise you while you were writing?

SPEAKER_00 19:50

Yes. So I did not expect Cohen's family to play such a big part. Um, they do play somewhat of a part in the first book, but it kind of got rolling as the story got going, um, and as I started kind of thinking about what the rest of the series would look like. And there is actually a plot twist that will unveil itself in book three that I'm kind of laying the groundwork for in book one and book two that has to do with something with Cohen, one of Cohen's brothers. Um, and his family is going to be very much highlighted in book two because they go on a Christmas vacation trip with his family, so you'll get to know them a little bit more, which kind of propels us into that plot just coming into book three. So there are some things that are definitely happening. So their whole role in it, I really did not plan that from the start. It wasn't in my plotting documents or anything, it just kind of came about. Um, and then the beta readers kind of helped me shape that a little bit and it got going from there.

SPEAKER_01 20:55

Look at you with all your heavy plotting. Trying. I'm trying. Yeah. I mean, you have to, like you said, because otherwise there will be like holes and stuff and it won't make sense. So but I always love listening when authors are like, Yeah, well, this character is speaking to me. And I'm like, what do you mean? Like, do you hear a voice in your head?

SPEAKER_00 21:15

Or like what do you mean they're speaking to you? They just kind of pop in there when you least expect it, and you think you're writing one thing, and then you're like, wait a minute, they they need their time in the sun.

SPEAKER_01 21:27

So Yeah, they're like, um, actually, you're gonna include my whole family in this story. And I'm like, so didn't even think of that, but okay, sure, we're going that way. Oh my gosh, that's so funny. So, was there a particular scene that was especially fun or difficult for you to write? I'm trying to think.

SPEAKER_00 21:48

Um oh, the kiss scene. It was very difficult for me at first. If you think about it. So it's not whenever the characters have any kind of Physical intimacy in this book, it's only kissing, and this is a closed door series because you know that's just cozy mysteries. They don't tend to really have spice in them, um, unless they're classified more as romance. But even even a kiss than hand holding, any any kind of physical intimacy or anything like that, um, it's harder than you think it is to write because you want to make it realistic and you're not playing off of your experiences, you're playing off of your characters' experiences and where they're at and what's happening to them when it happens. So it I second guessed that a lot. And I definitely had like several beta readers reread that chapter, and I made changes to it a lot. Um, and now I feel a little bit better equipped, but anything like that is really hard to write at first because you can't tell, is this corny or is it not, or is it good, or is it swoony? I don't know. And so yeah, that I really had to have a lot of feedback on.

SPEAKER_01 22:51

Do you feel like the whole series is gonna be that closed door or yes, yeah, yeah.

unknown 22:59

Okay.

SPEAKER_00 23:00

It is for this one. Um that's fine. But yeah, uh actually, my um my beta readers said that they wanted more kissing in it. And then they're like, no, that's not my cozy mystery is. You might have like one kiss in the first book, but like maybe not. And then my editor came in and said, I also want more kissing. And so I did, I did add a little bit more, but it was more there's not even a lot, but it's more than I initially planned on.

SPEAKER_01 23:29

Um, I feel like I think when I read El Alexander's brewery series, I don't even think that they kissed in that. I feel like it was just like insinuated that there were feelings being had there. Um, but I liked it. Yeah, it's you know what I mean? And just like it would just take away from it. Um it just added that other element of wonder, you know. And then you can fill in the blank. You can say, oh, well, in my mind, this is what happened, right?

SPEAKER_00 24:04

Exactly. And it's kind of funny because really the old school cozy mysteries, they bare like you said, they barely have any spice. And then kind of more of the more contemporary cozy mysteries that have come out in the last couple of years, I feel like they're starting to add in kisses a little bit sooner. And then anything um that reads like a cozy mystery that has spice is actually typically like mystery romance, or it's technically classified in uh romance. So it's kind of funny, those like little tiny distinctions that you can make to be able to do whatever you want.

SPEAKER_01 24:36

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 24:36

Have you read Katherine Cows? No, but I need to. I know my friend loves her. Yes, yes.

SPEAKER_01 24:42

She's romantic suspense, right? Yes. So I was gonna say, now they're different, obviously, cozy mystery is different than that, but I am curious if you would ever consider diving into that subgenre.

SPEAKER_00 24:56

That's a good point. I did read uh paging Dr. Heart by Melissa Diamond, and I really did like that romantic suspense. So that's a good point. That's a good point. I'll add it to my idea list.

SPEAKER_01 25:07

You've got to check out Catherine Cow, she's so good. And I think that like a good book to start with would be All the Missing Pieces. Okay. Because that is very much suspense with a subplot of romance.

SPEAKER_00 25:22

Oh, that's a different take. Okay, cool. It's good, it's really good. I love, I love, love her. You know I love your book, Rex. Well, if you don't like it, they'll tell me.

SPEAKER_02 25:32

No, I'm just kidding.

SPEAKER_00 25:34

I feel like we've not liked the same books, so I feel like we're pretty on par. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 25:40

One of the things that uh readers love about the Cozy Mysteries is following characters across multiple books. I mean, I feel like that's the same with everything that goes with romance. Like you want to see the family, you want to see the friend group, you want to see them happy. So when you wrote your first book, A Flair for Trouble, did you already know this was going to become a series?

SPEAKER_00 26:07

Yes. Um, only because every cozy mystery series I've ever read has been really, really long. So the fact that mine is three books is actually kind of short. Um, but yeah, I knew that I definitely wanted it to be a series. And I think the cool thing about cozy mysteries is that you get to follow the same couple the whole time. Whereas, you know, with the standalone romance, you get a different couple, and then your favorite might kind of be in the background one, and then they're the main and another, but in this one, it will be Ellen Cohen. But of course, there will be some romance subplots and different things happening by book three.

SPEAKER_01 26:40

Yeah. Well, and they so you've laid the groundwork now. Now we know the characters, now we know, you know how they work together. Um, so now we get to really enjoy them as a couple, them, you know, sleeping. Yes. There will definitely be more sleeping. So without spoilers, what kinds of mysteries or situations might readers see in future books?

SPEAKER_00 27:09

Man, poor Ellen Cohen. They uh they just have murder following them everywhere. They don't they don't necessarily want that, but it's kind of just what happens. Um so if you think about it, the first book is during the spring semester, I mean the fall semester of their school year. Uh, the second book is their Christmas break, and then the third book is their spring semester, and there's a murder that they come across at all three. So, in like one calendar year, they are having to solve three murders, which of course is a lot for anyone. So, you know, even when they go on vacation in book two, they're unfortunately right in the middle of a murder scene at their lodge.

SPEAKER_01 27:49

That's funny. I love that you're like, um, in one calendar year, there's three murders. They're gonna be pros by the end of the maybe they should reconsider being teachers. Yeah. Oh my goodness. So cozy mysteries have such a dedicated fan base. I feel like most genres we can say that, but definitely cozy mysteries. Like you're in it for the long haul. Because, like you said, there are quite a few books in the series. Um, what do you think readers love most about Cozy Mysteries or what do you love most about them?

SPEAKER_00 28:24

I think the thing that I really love about Cozy Mysteries is there's just so much versatility as far as you can, you can read any book in the series. Like you were saying, you get attached to that specific couple and those characters, but you could pick up a cozy mystery series on book 10 and you would still have a mystery solved by the end. So whether you're reading them out of order or you're reading them in order and you get the kind of underlying relationship growth, there's just so much to love. You can really relax into it, enjoy it, but you always still have a lot of different plot lines going on and you can really pick up on the nuance, but then you get the satisfaction of a mystery being solved.

SPEAKER_01 29:05

We love the satisfaction. Yes. So, how do you build this mystery? Like when you sit down and you plot, how do you build it?

SPEAKER_00 29:15

Um, so I I kind of plot loosely. I'm not super, super specific because I do want to give myself time and room to be creative, but I I'm kind of half and half. So I will literally plot out to the percentage of the story uh where things happen. So I know where the big things happen. Like someone gets murdered here. I know what the murder weapon is, I know how they die and who killed them. And then I'll kind of start piecing together like a couple of the big clues, or I tend to always have a red herring, you know, something that kind of throws them off track, uh, that they really hold on to that is not necessarily right. Um and really makes them suspect someone one way. So I will take that, I'll put those big plot points, that red herring, and then all the little clues that kind of tie together how that would actually work. Um, I figure that out as I'm writing. So then it's a little bit more realistic and seems like they're figuring it out too. And I have to decide: is a clue gonna hit them in the face? Are they gonna get it from an interview of someone that they're trying to talk to? Or is it something that they're gonna research and uncover? And how would it make sense for that to happen? Um, and of course, there are a lot of references to crime shows. So sometimes, you know, whenever they get stuck, they just have to default to like what their favorite, you know, TV detectives would do. And it may or may not actually help it.

SPEAKER_01 30:45

What what would you say are like your top two detective shows that you like?

SPEAKER_00 30:51

Love psych so much. And then I feel like uh Veronica Mars or Castle would probably be right under that or monk. It's really hard to do.

SPEAKER_01 31:01

Oh my gosh, love that just took me back. We used to watch that. Oh my gosh, we would sit and watch that for hours. It was so good. I loved him so much. He was so fun.

SPEAKER_00 31:14

They're definitely not as good as him. He's a genius.

SPEAKER_01 31:19

Yeah, he is something, that is for sure. Uh so you're also part of this podcasting world. So let's talk a little bit about that. So you host your own podcast where I left off.

SPEAKER_00 31:35

What inspired you to start it? Uh well, it actually started out as a teaching podcast. Really? Yes. And me and my friend, uh, she was a biology teacher and I taught video production. So we thought that us doing a teaching podcast together was perfect because we could talk about like any kind of instructional thing or anything, and she would kind of have the like star-tested subject point of view, and then I would have um the, you know, kind of extracurricular trade, CTE point of view. So we would actually talk about different things and like what worked in our classrooms, and she had all freshmen and I had all grades. So that was how we started, and then we both left teaching, and it was kind of like, okay, so we can't really have a teaching podcast anymore. Um, so that kind of fizzled out a little bit, but I knew that I liked it and I wanted to transform it to something else, and I was trying to rack my brain of what I could do, and I was like, well, I like to read books, so let me try that and see how I like it. Um, and then really I started originally just talking about the books that I was reading. Um, it was just me, and then I got my first author interview, which was Allie Sandberts, and I absolutely loved her books, and so I asked her if she would be on, and I was just absolutely floored when she said yes. Um, and from there it kind of got into just people recommending other people and their friends and me finding some authors that way, and then a publisher started contacting me, and so now they kind of send me a lot of authors too. So it's either someone sends me a DM on Instagram um if they're an author, or a publisher sends me someone, and it helps because now I don't have to try to find uh talent, which is huge because you know how long that takes. Yeah. I sure do. That's cool. So I didn't realize that it started. It did. I've deleted all the episodes though, so you can't like go back and listen to the teaching episodes. I have them though, so I guess I could put them up eventually.

SPEAKER_01 33:37

Yeah. That's cool though. Yeah. That's cool. I love that you pivoted. It's fun. Who who would you say was one of your most favorite episodes? Like who you who you interviewed?

SPEAKER_00 33:51

Oh, well, I there are so, so many good authors, but I am absolutely obsessed with Jessica Joyce. And so getting to talk to her, I had to tell myself, like, stop it. You can't you know, like, stop fan curling over her tiger. And and same, same with Leah Bruner. And um I just actually had Leah Brunner and Katie Bailey on for um rival season. And oh, I love them so much. And it's really hard when obviously there's so many authors that I'm excited to talk to anyone, but when it's some that you've read all of their books and you're like a super fan, it's really hard to control your the way that you talk to them. And not like completely freaked them out. Yeah, I love you so much. Oh, yeah, ask you a question and listen to what you're saying. I can't just like stick with you by the other side. I just zoned out. I don't know what you said. So happy to be talking to you.

unknown 34:48

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 34:50

I totally get that.

SPEAKER_00 34:52

So has talking with other authors changed the way that you think about writing or creativity? Yes. I feel like I get a little something kind of from every interview, but they will make such good points. And I think, like, oh yeah, I've gotta use this. Like, there was um, his name is Desmond Hall, and he writes YA thrillers, and he was talking about how he uses um kind of like in film, I don't know why I didn't think about this because he has a film background, but he was like, Yeah, and you know how um in film, like the colors that make up the lighting and the set and everything, how they are related to the mood of the film and can kind of help tell your story. And he's like, that's what I do in my books. I have the weather and the colors around me kind of depict what's gonna happen next, especially if there's like a plot twist or something. And I was like, oh my gosh, that is absolutely genius. So there are little things like that, or you know, just dialogue things that they'll talk about, or little tips, or um, Leah Brunner said that you know, you want to make everything it doesn't have to be realistic, but it does have to be believable. And so I always kind of default to that whenever I'm thinking, like, am I going too far? And I'm like, well, is it believable? So I I really take everything that they say and they're all so smart, and getting to hear their tips has helped a ton. It's like free writing school, and then the audience gets to hear it too. So I always get to get better.

SPEAKER_01 36:18

It's true though, because I mean, I agree because when I talk to authors or anybody really in the book community, they're they have like such a wealth of knowledge of things, and I'm like, wow, I hadn't thought about that, or I didn't know that, or yeah.

SPEAKER_00 36:34

Yeah, and then they'll just put it in that perfect way and it just clicks and you go, oh, wow, like, yeah. You're a genius. And thanks for coming on the podcast. Um, okay.

SPEAKER_01 36:47

What do you what do you love most about being in this indie community?

SPEAKER_00 36:52

I love getting to talk to all the other indie authors and they're just so nice and supportive. And it it really seems like no matter how big or how small they are, everyone is so humble and so nice and just open to sharing. I don't know that I've ever found an industry where everyone, you can ask them a question and they will tell you, I did this, this, and this. There is just no gatekeeping at all. Yeah. And it makes it so much nicer knowing that you can depend and rely on other people. And especially for me, I would not have known what I was doing without asking other authors. And they were so quick to help me and show me what to do. And it has made the biggest difference and helped with my process. Because in the beginning, you don't, where do you find someone? You're just looking at reviews, you feel like you're kind of just fumbling through everything, but they really helped with recommendations and tips and advice and encouragement. And I just really appreciate hearing from them and getting to see their creativity since they get to, you know, have a piece of the entire puzzle of the book. It's nice to be able to appreciate what they do. And then if you like something, you can ask them how they did it and they'll just tell you. And it is so cool to be able to talk to people about their creative process and know that when you're looking at their book, you are literally looking at something that they created from start to finish.

SPEAKER_01 38:12

Yeah. I love talking to authors because I feel like it gives me such a feel for them as a person. And they're not just an author at that point. Like it gives me their personality. It helps me understand them as a whole, why they did what they did, why they wrote this, where they were, when they were writing it. You know, it gives you all of those things that you don't get when you're just sitting there reading. Um, and it it's like gives you a whole nother experience.

SPEAKER_00 38:44

Yeah. Everybody can really appreciate every book going forward because you know that they put all this time and effort into it and how they work. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 38:52

Yeah, for sure. Um, so the question that readers always want answered, as you know, what is next for the Teachable Cozy Mystery Series?

SPEAKER_00 39:05

I am currently working on book two. I am a little bit behind my deadlines. Um, I did have some health issues that kind of got in the way. So I'm getting over those. Um, and then of course, work is always crazy. So sometimes when it's crazy at work, my brain is not there by the end of the day to focus on writing, um, especially with finance stuff. It's a lot. It's a lot.

SPEAKER_01 39:29

And then to try and write a mystery on top of that, like no. Exactly.

SPEAKER_00 39:32

So I really try not to force my creative process. So I'm a little bit behind on my deadline, but I'm working on book two, and I am kind of slotting things in place for what I want book three to be. So I think that'll be way quicker. But my goal is to have this out by Christmas because it's a Christmas book. So that is what I'm working on right now. But I will be finishing the series before I move on to anything else.

SPEAKER_01 39:56

So, talking about anything else, are there any other genres or stories that you'd love to write someday?

SPEAKER_00 40:06

Because I'm new, I kind of just want to write in a couple different genres and see, you know, see what I like. And that's a cool thing about being a writer is you're still writing books, but you know, you have to keep it fun and fresh for yourself. And so I think after three books, I'm gonna need a little bit of a break from the cozy mystery sphere. And I am really interested in contemporary romance, um, of course, and YA thrillers. I do love a good YA thriller. So I have some ideas for both of those that are kind of on the docket. Um, but the contemporary romance is probably what will be next, and I have some plotting points for that. Very cool. I love it. You know it's our genre. Uh yeah, I do.

SPEAKER_01 40:50

Perfect. Well, let's do a little lightning round. I like to do these with the interviews, and I think they're fun to kind of get a better feel for you. So I'm gonna ask you a couple questions and then just give me the first thing that comes to mind. Don't think too hard. Okay.

unknown 41:08

Okay.

SPEAKER_01 41:10

Coffee or tea while writing? Tea. I actually don't drink coffee.

SPEAKER_00 41:14

Neither do I. Really? Yeah, I don't. It's hard to find someone else that doesn't drink coffee. So this is amazing. Disgusting. I also think it's disgusting.

SPEAKER_01 41:22

Like, I don't know how you guys drink that. That is hot bean water, and that's nasty. It's so gross. I agree with you. Do you like okay, so here I am telling you, just don't think too much about it.

SPEAKER_00 41:34

But um, do you like black tea, green tea? Chai tea is my favorite. Okay. Um, but I have to find decaf because I'm trying not to do caffeine right now at all, which is hard. Yeah. It's a struggle. Um chai tea is my favorite. And then I do like hibiscus tea a lot as well. And I'll drink like green tea or black tea too.

SPEAKER_01 41:55

Yeah, I love a good green tea. They're so good. They are. I've been inhaling this peach green tea by Bigelow. Ooh. And it is so good. And I have it and so bad. I have it on auto ship. And I keep forgetting to turn it off. My husband saw it the other day, and he's like, How many boxes of this tea do we seriously need? I'm like, it was an accident. Okay. I will drink it eventually.

SPEAKER_00 42:22

Or it could just not be an accident, and then you'd always have the tea, so you wouldn't have to run it out. Like, it's not gonna go bad, so we're good. It's fine, I'll drink it. I have an iced tea maker, and that's like my favorite, because then you can just throw some tea bags in there and then you have a whole picture.

SPEAKER_01 42:38

Yes, yes, so good, so good. You'll have to try the mango one too. I haven't tried that one yet. Ooh, that sounds good too.

SPEAKER_02 42:48

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 42:49

Okay. So you kind of told us this a little bit earlier, but what is your favorite cozy mystery author? It's gotta be Joanne Fluke. Okay. Yeah, cool. I need to check her out. Yes, they're so good. So good. Need to check her out. I I need a palette cleanser right now. Like something that's not heavy, heavy romance. So that's good. I'll check her out. What is a book that you wish you could read again for the first time? I think I know what you're gonna say.

SPEAKER_00 43:21

So Peyton Corinne. Oh, yeah, that's a good one. Okay, okay, okay. I was actually gonna say You with a View by Jessica Joyce, but you know, Unstudy by Peyton Corinne is also another good one. Oh, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 43:38

And I'm like so nervous because your reactions were like, oh, they killed me. And I was like, I need to read this immediately. And I did. I bought it immediately after you talked about it. Then I didn't read it because I was so nervous. I need to do that.

SPEAKER_00 43:53

That one, I think I've only had I've gotten a lot of people into it, obviously. And I think I've only had one person who didn't love it, but everyone else has been like, thank you for that emotional devastation.

SPEAKER_01 44:08

See, that's I don't know if I'm ready. I don't know if I'm ready for it. But yeah. Okay. Well, I have another question, but I already know the answer. Are you a plotter or a pantser?

SPEAKER_00 44:18

Definitely a plotter. I wish I could be a pantser, but like you said, with mysteries, it's really Yeah, you kind of have to be too hard. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 44:25

I feel like pantsing ha is hard too. Yeah. In a sense, is I feel like, I don't know, me personally. It's like, okay, now what? And then you kind of have to wait for that feeling or that vibe or like the aha moment. And you're like, oh, that's what we can do.

SPEAKER_00 44:43

I would just get so far off pace. I would either write way too much or way too little, and I would have to go back and fix. So that's why I like kind of knowing, knowing where I'm going. That's all I need to know. I just need a map. It's not telling me like, turn left here, turn right here. It's just a general map. So I kind of know what direction I'm going in.

SPEAKER_01 45:02

Oh, okay. Last one. What is your favorite comfort TV mystery?

SPEAKER_00 45:08

Like, I could re- I think I've rewatched the entire series like three times, maybe four times, but that's a good one. I don't know. You got me thinking about monk. I know. I love monk too. Monk is definitely my other comfort. It's either psych or monk. Yes. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 45:22

I'm trying to think there was another one that was kind of similar to monk. It'll come to me and I'll text you. Okay, good. Well, Kristen, thank you so much for joining me. I loved getting to talk to you about a flare for trouble, your cozy mystery, and podcasting in the world of your amateur sleuth. I'm really excited to see where this journey takes you. Um, and that's it for today's episode of Love Indie. If you enjoyed this conversation, be sure to follow or subscribe wherever you're listening so you never miss an episode. Love Indie celebrates indie romance, indie creators, and the stories and people that make this community unforgettable. You can find me on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok at Romance Landia Bookstore where the indie love continues between episodes. Until next time, Love Indie.