Today D.E. Haggerty is visiting Ascroft, eh? to tell us about Fireworks, a Firecracker and Foul Play, the latest novel in the Death By Cupcake mystery series.

Welcome, Dena. Let’s get started, shall we?

Tell us about your novel. Is it part of a series? If so, please tell us about the series too.

Fireworks, A Firecracker & Foul Play is a cozy mystery that starts off with a bang. Anna’s fiancé gets arrested for murder just two weeks before their wedding. No way is Anna letting a false accusation ruin her July 4^th wedding. Instead, she’s off to uncover the actual murderer.

Fireworks, A Firecracker & Foul Play is the fifth book in the Death by Cupcake series. The cozy mystery series revolves around the women of Callie’s Cakes, a cupcake bakery. The bakers should probably keep their noses out of murder investigations, but nothing can stop the ladies of Callie’s Cakes. They’re having too much fun!

Where did the idea for the mystery that is central to the story come from?

A long time ago (in a previous life) I was a military police investigator. To my shock, I was accused of mishandling a suspect. When I was thinking about this novel and how to get it started, I remembered the incident and off I went.

Is there a theme or subject that underlies the story? If so, what prompted you to write about it?

I often find a theme emerges after I’ve finished a novel without any effort on my part. In this story, not judging a person by their appearance is an essential element. I think we can all use a reminder now and again to dig deeper than appearances.

How do you create your characters? Do you have favourite ones? If so, why are you partial to them?

Characters are an amalgamation of people I know or read about. I’d be lying if I said I don’t have favorites. Of course, I do! One of my all-time favorites is actually Anna, the protagonist in Fireworks, A Firecracker & Foul Play. I love how Anna says exactly what she’s thinking. She is who she is and doesn’t kowtow to societal norms. I’m a bit jealous of her actually.

How do you bring to life the place you are writing about?

I always set my stories in places I know well. Luckily, I’ve lived in four different countries and have travelled extensively!

What research do you do to provide background information to help you write the novel?

Research is essential for any writer, but especially for mystery writers. I’m always searching different ways for someone to die that may not be the most obvious.

Thanks for answering my questions Dena and good luck with Fireworks, A Firecracker and Foul Play, the latest book in the Death By Cupcake Mystery series.

Readers can learn more about D.E. Haggerty and her writing by visiting her website and her Facebook, Goodreads, Instagram, BookBub and Pinterestpages. You can also follow her on Twitter.

The novel is available online at Amazon

About D.E. Haggerty: She is actually just plain old Dena, but she thinks using initials makes her sound sophisticated and maybe even grown up. She was born and raised in the U.S. but considers herself a Dutchie and not only because it sounds way cooler. After a stint in the U.S. Army, she escaped the US to join her husband in Holland. She fled Holland over ten years ago when she couldn’t stand the idea of being a lawyer for one single second more. Turns out Bed & Breakfast owner in Germany didn’t do it for her either. When the hubby got a job in Istanbul, she jumped ship and decided to give this whole writer thing a go. She’s now back in Holland, which she considers home.