1--What is the title of your latest release?
AN ENCHANTING CASE OF SPIRITS
2--What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book?
When a fortieth birthday celebration leads to ghostly visitors, three friends find themselves navigating surprising mysteries and spiritual hijinks.
3--How did you decide where your book was going to take place?
I’m obsessed with the east coast. I wanted to create a fictional town, close to where Salem is located, playing up the whole witchy town vibes.
4--Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life?
Of course! She's basically my spirit animal. A woman who’s battled with insecurities throughout her life, hitting the big 4-0 and realizing that age comes with its own set of superpowers. We’ve got the wisdom and know-how that we didn’t have in our younger years, capable of tackling any challenge thrown our way. Alyssa discovers this about herself and undergoes some serious growth. It’s a journey—one that I can wholeheartedly relate to.
5--What are three words that describe your protagonist?
Over-thinker, loyal, determined
6--What’s something you learned while writing this book?
I dove deep into tarot, getting a better understanding of its origins and how to read the cards. I’ve found that I have a knack for intuitive readings.
7--Do you edit as you draft or wait until you are totally done?
I edit while writing. I have a hard time moving on until everything feels solid. There have been exceptions to this, but typically, I edit as I go.
8--What’s your favorite foodie indulgence?
Pizza. I know that isn’t exactly exciting, but I could eat pizza every day. Pineapple on pizza? Completely acceptable in my book!
9--Describe your writing space/office!
My office is a chaotic disaster. It’s like my family had a conference and unanimously decided that my office should be the designated catch-all space. I’m currently looking around, pondering how to tackle this mounting issue.
10--Who is an author you admire?
Oh man, that’s a tough one, but if I have to pick, I’ll say Sarah J. Maas. Romantasy has been a literary flavor for as long as I can remember. But Maas? She turned it into a full-blown phenomenon. I mean, when you crack open one of her books, you might as well kiss reality goodbye until you’ve devoured every last page. That’s the mark of a true storyteller. She weaves magic.
11--Is there a book that changed your life?
Twilight reignited my passion for reading and sparked the desire to write my own book. I took a slight detour, joining the publishing world as a publicist for years, but I eventually got around to finishing my own book.
12--Tell us about when you got “the call.” (when you found out your book was going to be published)/Or, for indie authors, when you decided to self-publish.
I was out on a walk when my agent called and I’m pretty sure my neighbors had no idea what to make of things. I was jumping around and eventually fell to my knees. It was a day that changed my life in so many ways.
13--What’s your favorite genre to read?
Fantasy. I love getting lost in elaborate worlds. I read to escape so the further away from reality a book gets, the better.
14--What’s your favorite movie?
I’ll always love The Greatest Showman. I sat there with my mouth hanging open and goosebumps all over through the entire movie. It was fantastic.
15--What is your favorite season?
Fall. Hands down. I love the colors, warm beverages, baggy sweaters, campfires, and of course Halloween. I grew up in a small town where football and bonfires were life. Fall holds so many special memories for me and will always be my favorite.
16--How do you like to celebrate your birthday?
My birthday is in August and my only request is that I don’t have to cook (I’m not a fan). If it’s a bigger birthday, I like to travel somewhere new and fun.
17--What’s a recent tv show/movie/book/podcast you highly recommend?
I just finished reading Throne of the Fallen by Kerri Maniscalo and I devoured it. She’s a master storyteller. It was spicier than what I’ve been reading lately, and I really enjoyed it. I just picked up the next one and fully intend to fly through her entire backlist.
18--What’s your favorite type of cuisine?
I love food. All food. But Italian cuisine and I are practically inseparable. If I’m not indulging in pizza, you can bet there’s some form of pasta or bread making an appearance on my plate.
19--What do you do when you have free time?
I’m a mom to three athletic kids. In my spare time you’ll find me shuttling them from one gym or field to the next. And when I manage to steal a moment for myself, I either dive into a good book or tune into a true crime podcast like 20/20. I also like to sit by the pool or head to the lake when I get a few days to relax.
20--What can readers expect from you next?
More witchy mysteries, some of which might be a little spicier.
When a fortieth birthday celebration leads to a ghostly visitor, four friends find themselves navigating surprising mysteries and spiritual hijinks, in this clever debut from Melissa Holtz.
Alyssa Mann isn’t adventurous, not since her husband died and she found herself the single mom of a teenage daughter. But there’s no way to avoid celebrating the big 4-0, so when her best friends drag her out for drinks and a tarot reading, she throws caution to the wind and decides to see what the spirits have to say. It’s all fun and games, until she wakes up the next morning with a wicked hangover—and a ghost perched on the edge of her bed.
Sheer panic sends her running to get help from Nick West, the (very attractive) detective who lives next door. When he finds no one inside, Alyssa has to accept that she really did see a ghost. As the dearly departed keep appearing, Alyssa and her friends do their best to learn how to control her newfound power. Trading insults with ghosts, tracking down family heirlooms, and getting closer to the skeptical but helpful Nick is more fun than Alyssa imagined. But when looking into one ghost’s past reveals unexpected—and unwelcome—facts about Alyssa’s late husband’s death, she discovers she just may be in over her head.
Mystery Cozy [Berkley, On Sale: April 9, 2024, Paperback / e-Book, ISBN: 9780593640043 / eISBN: 9780593640050]
Melissa Holtz is a former publicist and marketing expert in the romance genre. Now in an advisory role to several bestselling authors, she consults on industry marketing trends.
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