What is the title of your latest release?
A MURDEROUS BUSINESS
What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book?
Two queer women in early 20th century NY push against the heteropatriarchy as they investigate nefarious deeds that have occurred at one’s company.
How did you decide where your book was going to take place?
New York City in the early 20th century would give my characters the career and lifestyle opportunities I wanted for them, plus I’m somewhat familiar with NYC. What I didn’t know, I found with digging into some great historical sites. There’s a lot of information for larger cities in that time period.
Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life?
I would love to hang out with either Margot or Rett, though I’d probably feel more comfortable social status-wise with Rett. Margot is down to earth, but a wee too fancy for me.
What are three words that describe your protagonist?
Both Margot and Rett can be described similarly: Determined. Stubborn. Passionate. They constantly have to prove themselves and don’t take no for an answer. Their careers are very important to them, but so is their sense of what’s right.
What’s something you learned while writing this book?
How to start a 1912 Cadillac. It was one of the first electric start vehicles, not requiring a crank on the front. You could set the choke and battery from the driver’s seat! I’m not really an automobile enthusiast, but that was a fun thing to learn.
Do you edit as you draft or wait until you are totally done?
I edit as I draft, going back and tweaking if I’ve decided to change something that comes further along in the story, or there’s something in the plot that needs weaving in. I try to get at least the bones of a scene down and take notes, marking where something needs fleshing out later.
What’s your favorite foodie indulgence?
Warm fresh peach pie and vanilla bean ice cream with a drizzle of tawny port. I’m not particularly picky or knowledgeable about food. I just know what I like, which is most things.
Describe your writing space/office!
A modern rolltop desk in the living space of our house. There are a number of knickknacks and things on it, including a stuffed dragon, a Xena Warrior Princess figure, a Lara Croft figure, and a pirate rubber ducky. Now that my husband is retired, I’ll be moving into the home office he’s been using (formerly one of our grown kids’ rooms) where my Pop! vinyl figures reside.
Who is an author you admire?
There are so many, but Sarah Waters really made me sit up and pay attention to what I was reading. Fingersmith was one of the first Sapphic historicals I read. Sarah Waters is a master at giving a sense of time and place, weaving details into the plot and characters with an amazing touch.
Is there a book that changed your life?
Probably Ammonite by Nicola Griffith. That book made me aware that there was a place in the world for the stories in my head. It’s also pretty dang amazing.
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.
My Lovely Agent® Natalie Lakosil emailed to let me know Vanessa Aguirre at Minotaur Books was interested in chatting. We had a three-way Zoom call and I was terrified. I’ve spoken to editors before, of course, but this was a little different. Vanessa was/is super enthusiastic and easy to talk to. I love working with her and the team at Minotaur!
What’s your favorite genre to read?
I read all sorts of things, speculative fiction, historical novels, suspense, thrillers, the occasional horror, and various nonfiction, but whatever fiction I read I enjoy a touch of romance somewhere along the line. It doesn’t have to be the main plot, but I like seeing people falling for each other.
What’s your favorite movie?
It may be because I saw it 15 times the summer it came out, but Aliens is the one that might fit that bill. Thrills, suspense, action, found family, Mama Bear energy, a kick-ass female lead…I mean, how can you not love it?
What is your favorite season?
Autumn. I’m not a fan of warm weather (which isn’t a problem for the most part, being in Alaska) and I enjoy the slight nip in the air that requires a sweater or jacket but not a heavy coat.
How do you like to celebrate your birthday?
A MURDEROUS BUSINESS comes out 9 days before my birthday, so this should be a fun one. I’ll be on an author panel earlier in the day, then probably go out to dinner that night. Dinner out is my typical birthday celebration. I’m happy not to have to cook or clean up!
What’s a recent tv show/movie/book/podcast you highly recommend?
One of my favorite podcasts is Queerly Recommended, with Tara Scott and Kris Bryant. They consume and suggest all kinds of queer media like books, movies, TV shows, and games. The two of them are tons of fun.
What’s your favorite type of cuisine?
Oh, tough one, because as I said earlier, I’m a fan of food in pretty much any format. I may have to go with sushi/sashimi, since we don’t get it where we are and it’s one of the first things I like to have when we visit the Big City (Anchorage) or another coastal location.
What do you do when you have free time?
Faff about online, think about writing the next story, read for fun, watch murder shows.
What can readers expect from you next?
The sequel to A MURDEROUS BUSINESS is in the works. More Margot, Rett, CeeCee, and Shiloh! There’s always something percolating in one stage or another. I took a break for about a week, though I mulled things that would need attention in book two, and the plot for a potential third book for Margot and Rett. While doing that, I came up with an idea for a historical rom-com heist story. The writer brain doesn’t rest for long.
A sharp, captivating historical mystery about two queer women in turn-of-the-century New York, for fans of Lavender House and A Most Agreeable Murder
There can be a blurry line between what is ethical and what is legal.
Margot Baxter Harriman took the reins of B&H Foods after her father passed. It’s not easy being a business woman in 1912, but she is determined to continue what her grandparents started decades ago, no matter what it takes.
So when Margot finds Mrs. Gilroy, her father’s former assistant, dead in the office with a half-finished note confessing to nebulous misdeeds at B&H, she seeks out help from a very discreet, private investigator to figure out what's going on. Her company, and her good name, are at stake if scandal breaks...and she could lose everything, including her freedom.
Loretta “Rett” Mancini has run her father’s investigation operation since he started becoming increasingly forgetful. When Margot offers her the chance to look into the potential scandal with B&H, she jumps at the chance.
But the more the two dig in, the more it becomes clear that Margot's company may be too far lost...and someone is willing to kill them both to keep things quiet.
Charming and witty, Cathy Pegau's A Murderous Business is perfect for fans of Lev Ac Rosen, Enola Holmes by Nancy Springer, and the Mr. Darcy and Miss Tilney mysteries by Claudia Gray.
LGBTQ Mystery | Mystery Historical [Minotaur Books, On Sale: September 16, 2025, Hardcover / e-Book, ISBN: 9781250356482 / eISBN: 9781250356499]
Cathy Pegau cut her writing "teeth" on sword and sorcery fantasy and science fiction romance, but also loves the challenge of trying new things. While researching local history for an Alaska-based post-apocalyptic pirate tale, she learned of some real life events that spurred the creation of a historical mystery. No speculative fiction, no aliens, no magic. It's funny where research will lead. She writes what catches her fancy: Science fiction, fantasy, romances, historical, paranormal...Anything is possible, as long as there's a good story and interesting characters. Cathy lives in a small fishing town in Alaska with her family, pets, and the occasional black bear wandering through the yard.
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