Lena Gregory is visiting Ascroft, eh? to tell us about Grounds for Murder, her latest novel in the Coffee & Cream Mystery series.

Welcome, Lena. 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.

Grounds for Murder is the second book in the Coffee & Cream Café Mystery series, which take place in the small town of Watchogue on Eastern Long Island’s south shore. In this story, Danika is ready to reopen Jimmie’s Ice Cream Parlor as the new Coffee & Cream Café, and she decides to do so with a mystery author signing. Unfortunately, the night doesn’t go well. And the next morning goes even more wrong when she finds the author has been killed.

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

I wanted a special event for Dani’s grand reopening, and a book signing seemed like a fun idea, especially when you add in deception, plagiarism, and of course, murder.

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

The biggest underlying theme in my stories has to do with friendship. I think close friends, the kind who would do anything for you, the kind you can share your deepest, darkest secrets with, are so important. And if those friends are a ton of fun and also willing to join right in to help you solve a murder or two, even better.

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

When I’m starting to create a new main character, I ask myself what would make this character fun and interesting? Then I create secondary characters to support them. In this book, I added a new character, Eli. He is definitely one of my favourites. He’s full of energy, kind of clumsy, and completely adorable. I also have a real soft spot for Uncle Jimmie.

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

First, I try to write about places I know. Then, I try to bring all the little quirks visitors might not know about into the stories. In my All-Day Breakfast Café books, one of the biggest things is the abundance of critters. When I moved to Florida, that was one of the things that took the most getting used to. In my books that take place on Long Island, I try to convey what it’s like to walk along the beaches, not only what you’d see, but how the sand feels, the scent of salt from the bay, the sound of seagulls.

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

I research everything. I like to make sure my books would feel authentic, even to someone familiar with the subject. My most recent searches today included how to make explosives with C4, the structure of a mob family, and how many FBI offices are in Central Florida. Hopefully, no one will ever check my browsing history. 😊

Is there anything else you’d like to tell readers about the book?

I hope they enjoy it! Thank you so much for having me.

You’re welcome, Lena, and good luck with Grounds for Murder, the latest book in the Coffee & Cream Mystery series.

Readers can learn more about Lena and her writing by visiting her website and her Facebook, Goodreads and Pinterest pages. You can also follow her on Twitter.

The novel is available at the following online retailers:

Amazon –   B&N  –  Kobo

About Lena Gregory: Lena grew up in a small town on the south shore of eastern Long Island, but she recently traded in cold, damp, gray winters for the warmth and sunshine of central Florida, where she now lives with her husband, three kids, son-in-law, and four dogs. Her hobbies include spending time with family, reading, and walking. Her love for writing developed when her youngest son was born and didn’t sleep through the night. She works full time as a writer and a freelance editor and is a member of Sisters in Crime.