1--What is the title of your latest release?
DEATH BY SPICED CHAI
2--What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book?
Krissy Hancock has a history getting involved in every bad thing that takes place in Pine Hills. She often tries to avoid it, but always seems to find herself dragged into it (though it doesn’t take much to get her involved!) This time, there’s no avoiding the case because everything is being blamed on her—including a murder. And not only that, but it appears that every crime, every insult attributed to Krissy, ties back to previously solved murders that’s she’s been involved in.
3--How did you decide where your book was going to take place?
Because (almost) all of the Bookstore Café novels take place in Pine Hills! The individual locations in town (the library, the church, and so on) varies depending on what characters appear.
4--Would you hang out with your sleuth in real life?
Probably not, but that’s because I don’t hang out with anyone, really. So, that’s on me more than Krissy, who’d likely only come knocking if someone I knew was found murdered.
5--What are three words that describe your sleuth?
Nosy. Inquisitive. Socially anxious. (Yes, yes, that’s 4, but let’s pretend the last is one big word!)
6--What’s something you learned while writing this book?
It’s not something new that I learned, or something informative, but because I was going back and looking at old novels, at the characters and situations Krissy has dealt with in the past, this novel was the first time I realized how big my little world had grown. There are far more characters than I realized, far more little interactions that I’d completely forgotten about that have changed the characters in ways I didn’t expect.
7--Do you edit as you draft or wait until you are totally done?
I used to wait until I was completely done but have adjusted my way of doing things over time. Now, I typically write eight to ten chapters before going back and editing them. Then I do the next eight to ten, and so on until I’m done. It’s helped me keep on track for the later chapters because with how I did it before, the last eight chapters were often a mess because of planned changes to earlier chapters that I’d yet to make. Doing it in stages allows me to fix early problems, which then won’t affect my thinking on later chapters.
8--What’s your favorite foodie indulgence?
If I had to choose something, I suppose those little squares of caramel filled dark chocolate. I’m not a foodie in any way.
9--Describe your writing space/office!
It’s just a comfy recliner in the living room! I hope to someday upgrade to an actual office, but for now, I just plop down in my favorite chair and get to work on my laptop or tablet.
10--Who is an author you admire?
Stephen King is always going to be tops for me. He’s the reason I write.
11--Is there a book that changed your life?
IT by Stephen King. I read it in just a few days when I was a teen. Something about it captivated me. And after that, I gobbled up everything I could by King, while adding Dean Koontz and John Saul to the mix. From that point on, I knew I wanted to write, and well, here I am.
12--Tell us about when you got “the call.” (when you found out your book was going to be published)
Well, this one wasn’t too exciting since it’s a much later book in the series. But the initial book in the Bookstore Café series, DEATH BY COFFEE, was far different. I didn’t expect it to go anywhere, to be honest. I was pretty sure my writing career had hit a wall and that this was going to be another lost cause novel. I was in the car when I got the call. And, like a dope, when I was told the publisher liked it and wanted it, I just sat there a moment and said something like, “Okay.” It had to sound like I wasn’t excited about it, but that’s kind of how I am. I could win the lottery and I might only crack a smile. No jumping up and down and shouting for me (especially in a car!)
13--What’s your favorite genre to read?
It depends on my mood, really. When I read, I do tend to drift toward darker materials. Horror. Thrillers. I also read a little sci-fi and quite a bit of fantasy.
14--What’s your favorite movie?
It’s not a traditional movie, but I’m going to put it here: Pink Floyd – The Wall. It’s the only movie I’ve ever bought in multiple formats and it’s the only movie I’ve ever wanted to watch more than one or two times.
15--What is your favorite season?
Spring and fall are tied. I don’t like the heat of summer or the cold of winter. Both spring and fall give me relief from each of the other two extremes and they both have their own benefits when it comes to how it looks and feels to be outside.
16--How do you like to celebrate your birthday?
By pretending it never happened! Not because I’m thinking I’m old. I just don’t like being the center of any sort of attention and birthdays tend to do that with friends and family calling and writing to say hi. I’d rather just pretend it’s a normal day.
17--What’s a recent tv show/movie/book/podcast you highly recommend?
I’m going to do a TV show/book combo here and recommend The Expanse series. I loved both the show and the books. It’s sci-fi, which I read very sparingly, but it sucked me right in. It might not be in line with what a cozy audience is looking for, but both the books and show are at the top of my recently read and watched list.
18--What’s your favorite type of cuisine?
Is it weird that I’m not big into any type of food? I eat because I have to, but don’t really have any real favorites.
19--What do you do when you have free time?
I read, of course. But when I’m not doing that, I tend to be playing board or video games to keep my mind active. I can’t just sit and watch TV for any real length of time without getting bored. And with most of my friends living an hour (or days) away, the video games give me a way to spend time with them, laugh, and have fun.
20--What can readers expect from you next?
DEATH BY ICED COFFEE is the next Bookstore Café novel, which has Krissy getting herself involved in yet another murder. It comes out in April of 2023. Before that, I have a Furever Pets story in an animal charity anthology called Instinct, which will release in March of that same year.
Bookstore Café Series #10
A charming, relatable small-town setting and a cast of complex characters sets Alex Erickson’s Bookstore Café Mystery series apart from the cozy pack—and this time the stakes are higher than ever, as bookstore owner Krissy Hancock becomes the target of escalating attacks. Smart and masterfully plotted, will appeal to fans of Leslie Meier, Cleo Coyle, and Carolyn Hart.
In a small town like Pine Hills, reputation counts for a lot. And for reasons that Krissy Hancock can’t figure out, someone is trashing hers. Cockroaches in the bookstore’s coffee, spiteful reviews, vandalism—Krissy is being framed for every bit of bad news around. Her boyfriend, local cop Paul Dalton, is on the case, but before they can source the saboteur, Krissy is in the frame for murder, too.
The murder weapon was a teapot full of Krissy’s favorite spiced chai, and all the local gossips are spilling the tea about her supposed involvement. But the real culprit has a grudge that’s been simmering for years. And unless Krissy can uncover the truth before the killer’s rage boils over again, it won’t just be her business in hot water—her life will be on the line too . . .
Mystery Amateur Sleuth | Mystery Cozy [Kensington Cozies, On Sale: October 25, 2022, Mass Market Paperback / e-Book, ISBN: 9781496736659 / eISBN: 9781496736666]
Alex Erickson has always wanted to write, even at a young, impressionable age. He’s always had an interest in the motive behind murder, which has led him down his current path. He’s always ready with a witty—at least in his opinion—quip, and tries to keep every conversation light and friendly. Alex lives in Ohio with his family and resident felines, who provide endless amounts of inspiration.
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