What is the title of your latest release?
The books is HONEY DROP DEAD. It’s number 26 in my Tea Shop Mystery series.
What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book?
Theodosia’s elegant Honey Bee Tea is set in Charleston’s Petigru Park amidst native grasses and a bee keeping project. But when a phony bee keeper sprays toxic smoke at guests and shoots local politician Osgood Claxton III, the party erupts in chaos. Holly Burns, the gallery owner who commissioned the tea, is in shock – a man is dead, guests injured, her paintings in tatters. When police don’t have a clue, when old-line politicos don’t want questions asked, Holly begs Theodosia to run a shadow investigation and help restore her gallery’s good name.
How did you decide where your book was going to take place?
Lucky me, I’m writing Tea Shop Mysteries and there’s an actual tea plantation just outside Charleston, SC. Besides, how could I not set my series in this romantic city with its surging harbor, old mansions, hidden walkways, and haunted graveyards?
Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life?
I’d hang out with Theodosia in a heartbeat. This is a lady who rides horses, loves to shop, and drives a Jeep. I mean, let’s go!
What are three words that describe your protagonist?
Entrepreneurial, fierce, and daring.
What’s something you learned while writing this book?
I had to do a little research about beehives and bee keeping in order to write a rather nasty murder scene that takes place in my very first chapter.
Do you edit as you draft or wait until you are totally done?
Once I finish writing a chapter I go back and do a quick edit. Then, when the book is completely finished, I go over it six or seven times – to make sure I haven’t screwed something up.
What’s your favorite foodie indulgence?
I adore Japanese food, especially sushi. My husband was a professor of Japanese and Chinese art history, so we made lots of trips to Asia.
Describe your writing space/office
Small office in my lower level, no distractions (except for my dog Lotus), two computers, an ergonomic chair, and my grandfather’s lawyer bookcase to hold my manuscripts and collection of tea books.
Who is an author you admire?
I love Stephen King just because he can take something that’s seemingly normal (a small New England village) and twist it into something utterly terrifying (invading vampires). Then he can turn around and write a great American novel like Shawshank Redemption or The Green Mile. A simply stunning talent.
Is there a book that changed your life?
I was twelve years old when I read James A. Michener’s Hawaii. The scope of it blew me away. Up to then I’d only read stories, not actual novels.
Tell us about when you got “the call.”
My husband and I had just returned from Japan where I had the pleasure of visiting a tea garden outside of Kyoto. Imagine my surprise when my new editor called and congratulated me on a three-book deal for my Tea Shop Mystery series!
What’s your favorite genre to read?
Mysteries and thrillers – there are so many great ones out there. You should see my to-be-read stack – it’s five feet high.
What’s your favorite movie?
I love Blade Runner with Harrison Ford. Strangely enough it’s rather prescient about what’s happening to our world today.
What’s your favorite season?
Autumn – I love the changing leaves and the changing wardrobe. After eighty-five-degree days it’s fun to snuggle into sweaters and jeans again.
How do you like to celebrate your birthday?
A good birthday is when people never mention my age and leave me the hell alone.
What’s a recent TV show/movie/book you highly recommend?
I just watched the TV series The Last of Us and loved it. I mean how can you not love the apocalypse?
What’s your favorite type of cuisine?
New American and French cuisine. But really, I’m just there for the wine.
What do you do when you have free time?
I don’t have much, but I do love to read, shop, ride horseback, walk my dog Lotus, and hang out with my husband Bob.
What can readers expect from you next?
Oh gosh, I’ve got lots more Tea Shop Mysteries coming out. I’ve already written Murder in the Tea Leaves and Peach Tea Smash. Now I’m working on Tea at the Crack of Doom. I’m also chipping away at another thriller.
Hey, thanks for reading this!
All my very best,
Laura Childs
HONEY DROP DEAD by Laura Childs
The murder of a political bigwig at a Honey Bee Tea sends Theodosia Browning buzzing for answers in this latest installment of the New York Times bestselling series.
Theodosia’s Honey Bee Tea was an elegant affair set in Charleston’s new Petigru Park amid newly planted native grasses and a community beekeeping project. But when a phony beekeeper shows up and sprays toxic smoke at the guests, the party erupts in chaos. Worse yet, a shot rings out and Osgood Claxton III, candidate for state legislature, falls to the ground—dead.
Holly Burns, the gallery owner who asked Theodosia to cater the tea, is understandably heartbroken. A man is dead, her guests are angry and injured, and the paintings that were on display are left in tatters. When the police don’t seem to have a clue, when old-line politicos don’t want questions asked, Holly begs Theodosia to run a shadow investigation and help restore her gallery’s good name.
Between hosting a Wind in the Willows Tea and a Glam Girl Tea, Theodosia questions everyone that had a bone to pick with Claxton. This includes Booker, an angry outsider artist; Lamar Lucket, Claxton’s political opponent; and Mignon Merriweather, the dead man’s soon-to-be ex-wife. But the investigation becomes a political hot potato following a second murder, the revelation of a messy affair, a chase through a swamp, and a vandalized shop.
INCLUDES DELICIOUS RECIPES AND TEA TIME TIPS!
Mystery Cozy | Mystery Culinary [Berkley, On Sale: August 8, 2023, Hardcover / e-Book, ISBN: 9780593200957 / eISBN: 9780593200964]
Childs has really outdone herself with this one!
Buy HONEY DROP DEAD: Amazon.com | Kindle | BN.com | Apple Books | Kobo | Google Play | Powell’s Books | Books-A-Million | Indie BookShops | Ripped Bodice | Love’s Sweet Arrow | Walmart.com | Target.com | Amazon CA | Amazon UK | Amazon DE | Amazon FR
About Laura Childs
Halfway between a cozy
and a thriller – a thrillzy!
Laura Childs is the author of the Tea Shop Mysteries, Scrapbook Mysteries, and Cackleberry Club Mysteries. Most have been on the New York Times, USA Today, and Publisher’s Weekly bestseller lists. Recently, Book Riot named her mysteries to their list of “25 of the All Time Best Cozy Mystery Series.” In her previous life Laura was CEO of her own marketing firm, authored several screenplays, and produced a reality TV show. She is married to Dr. Bob, a professor of Chinese art history, and has a Chinese Shar-Pei named Lotus.
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