Today Magnolia “Maggie” Crozat is visiting Ascroft, eh? to tell us about Cajun Kiss of Death, the latest novel in the Cajun Country mystery series.

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

Tell us about the novel that you live inside. Is it part of a series? If so, please tell us about the series too. Yes, my name is Magnolia “Maggie” Crozat, and I live inside the Cajun Country Mystery series. Here’s how my author describes the series. Artist Magnolia Marie “Maggie” Crozat returns home to Pelican, Louisiana – town motto, “Yes, We Peli-CAN!” – to help her family run the family historic home as a bed and breakfast. She must juggle her commitment to her family with her commitment to her art and career, as well as a burgeoning relationship with divorced detective Bo Durand. All this is complicated by a surprising number of murders in the small village of Pelican and its environs. The discerning eye Maggie has developed as an artist coupled with her family’s locally respected genealogical lineage make her an investigative asset to the employee and cash-strapped local police department. The Cajun Country Mysteries are cozies with a spicy twist.

I’m flattered she said I have a “discerning eye,” lol! In Cajun Kiss of Death, the seventh book in the series, it’s almost Valentine’s Day. A celebrity chef is opening a restaurant in town, but he’s bringing a big pot of trouble with him. On top of that, I may have a stalker, gulp. So it’s shaping up to more a scary than sweet holiday.

Does the writer control what happens in the story or do you get a say too? I think my author channels me! We’re pretty much in tune with each other.

How did you evolve as the main character? My author wanted to create someone who feels like a fish out of water in their own hometown. I returned to Pelican feeling like I never really belonged there. I’ve evolved to be an essential part of a community I’ve come to love with all my heart. I can’t imagine living anywhere else now.

Do you have any other characters you like sharing the story with? If so, why are you partial to them? Of course, there’s my fiancé Bo Durand, a local detective. But I really, really love sharing stories with my grand-mere. She presents to the world as a bit of a grand dame, but she’s really a pistol – and a hilarious one at that!

What’s the place like where you find yourself in this story? I start off in a wonderful, wonderful place. (Can’t disclose too much or I’ll be spoiling the story.) But as the story continues and loved ones find themselves in jeopardy – and then my own life might be in danger – it’s all I can do to stay strong and keep my sense of humor.

Is there anything else you’d like to tell readers about you and the book? I love Pelican and this series so much. It’s an honor to be its protagonist and I’m grateful to every reader who seeks out my stories.

Thank you for answering my questions, Maggie, and good luck to you and your author, Ellen Byron, with Cajun Kiss of Death, the latest book in the Cajun Country mystery series.

Readers can learn more about Maggie and her author, Ellen Byron by visiting the author’s Facebook, Goodreads, Bookbub, and Instagram pages. You can also subscribe to her newsletter.

The novel is available at the following online retailers:

 PenguinRandomHouse – Amazon – B&N – Kobo – IndieBound

About Ellen Byron: Ellen’s Cajun Country Mysteries have won the Agatha award for Best Contemporary Novel and multiple Lefty awards for Best Humorous Mystery. She writes the Catering Hall Mystery series, which are inspired by her real-life, under the name Maria DiRico. Ellen is an award-winning playwright, and non-award-winning TV writer of comedies like WINGS, JUST SHOOT ME, and FAIRLY ODD PARENTS. She has written over two hundred articles for national magazines but considers her most impressive credit working as a cater-waiter for Martha Stewart.