1--What is the title of your latest release?
TILL DEATH DO US PORT
2--What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book?
Till Death Do Us Port is the fourth book in my Colorado Wine Mystery series, which follows vintner Parker Valentine who expertly pairs wine with solving murder. In this installment, she’s in charge of the libations for her cousin’s wedding, although the happy occasion quickly sours when the fussy wedding planner is found dead midway through the ceremony and Parker takes it upon herself to get the weekend back on track.
3--How did you decide where your book was going to take place?
Boulder, Colorado will always have a special place in my heart—it’s where I attended college, had my first apartment, fell in love, and eventually got married. The mountainous backdrop, quirky vibes, and sense of community lend itself well to a cozy setting.
4--Would you hang out with your sleuth in real life?
Absolutely! I would love to go rock climbing with Parker and then enjoy a glass of wine with her afterward while her chef boyfriend whips up a delectable meal for us at his hit restaurant.
5--What are three words that describe your sleuth?
Dreamer, persistent, and curious.
6--What’s something you learned while writing this book?
That I enjoy port! Along with dozens of interesting factoids about that particular dessert wine, such as it can only be called “port” if it hails from Portugal.
7--Do you edit as you draft or wait until you are totally done?
I tend to edit as I draft and have a hard time moving onto the next scene until I feel confident in where the story is going. That being said, it’s a fine balance not to get consumed with making every word perfect, because that comes later!
8--What’s your favorite foodie indulgence?
Sushi.
9--Describe your writing space/office!
My desk is full of notepads and knickknacks from my travels around the world, including a postcard of Mr. Darcy (the Colin Firth version, naturally) from a visit to the Jane Austen Museum in Bath.
10--Who is an author you admire?
Stephen King.
11--Is there a book that changed your life?
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho.
12--Tell us about when you got “the call.” (when you found out your book was going to be published)
It was a Wednesday, and I was at my day job where I worked as a statistical analyst. I received the call from my agent right before going into a meeting. No doubt my coworkers were puzzled over why I was so excited about data structure!
13--What’s your favorite genre to read?
Anything and everything I can get my hands on, although I sway more toward mystery, YA, literary fiction, and romance.
14--What’s your favorite movie?
The Departed.
15--What is your favorite season?
Fall.
16--How do you like to celebrate your birthday?
By planting a garden since it just so happens to be in the middle of May.
17--What’s a recent tv show/movie/book/podcast you highly recommend?
Only Murders in the Building (it really is worth all the hype!).
18--What’s your favorite type of cuisine?
Italian.
19--What do you do when you have free time?
Running, reading, trying new recipes, and playing with my daughter.
20--What can readers expect from you next?
I’m not sure yet! My publisher is currently considering my proposal for the fifth book in the series so possibly that, or perhaps one of the shiny new projects I have in the works!
A Colorado Wine Mystery # 4
It’s June in Boulder, Colorado, and wedding season is in full swing. Parker Valentine is excited to attend the wedding of her favorite cousin, Emma, where in addition to celebrating the happy couple, she’ll also be providing the refreshments for the reception from her winery. But when the fussy wedding planner is found dead midway through the ceremony, Parker knows that to get the weekend back on track, she’ll need to unveil a murderer.
Unfortunately, there’s no shortage of high tension and hot tempers during a wedding, so Parker has a long list of potential suspects. Even worse, her entire family has fixated on the state of Parker’s relationship with her boyfriend, Reid. If Parker can manage to impress her relatives with her wine skills and dodge unwanted pointed personal questions, solving a murder will be the icing on the cake.
Mystery Culinary | Mystery Cozy | Mystery Amateur Sleuth [Berkley, On Sale: March 7, 2023, Mass Market Paperback / e-Book, ISBN: 9780593546277 / eISBN: 9780593546284]
Kate Lansing is an award-winning short story author, her work has appeared in the Brave New Girls Anthology and the Crossing Colfax Anthology. She lives in Denver, Colorado with her husband, daughter, and a chair-napping tabby cat named Maple.
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