What's the story behind the story? What inspired you to write this book?
My biggest challenge in writing Mystic Brews & Malice was blending the cozy charm of Winter Haven with something a little darker and more unsettling. This series is more atmospheric than my Crystal Beach series, and I wanted to fully engage readers in both the cozy town and the unforgettable characters while still moving the mystery forward in a meaningful way.
The world-building for Mystic Brews & Malice was inspired by a trip to Portland, Maine, where I found myself totally immersed in the magical vibes of the downtown area, with its cobblestone streets lined with cozy shops. The breathtaking coastal views, combined with the nearby woodlands surrounding Portland, felt like the perfect setting for my new magical mystery.
When I first started writing the Mystic Brews series, I wanted to create a story that blended cozy mystery comfort with a dash of witchy wonder. I envisioned an older, more mature witch who runs a magical teashop and a mystery that unfolds like curling up with your favorite tea and discovering a secret in every sip.
The secrets that unfold in Winter Haven deepen the plot and create friction between the characters, which makes this series hard to put down. I was inspired by the idea of a woman starting over in midlife—someone rediscovering her purpose, her courage, and her magic. That spark became Samara Snow, a witch determined to leave her wandering past behind and build a new life in the charming coastal town of Winter Haven, Maine.
This is the story of a midlife witch finally daring to believe she might have found a place where she belongs. A place where, for the first time in her life, she doesn’t want to run away.
Samara has spent so much of her life moving on before she could get too attached, but Winter Haven is different. She has Mystic Brews, a growing circle of friends, and the possibility of something real with Jack Andrews. For the first time in a long time, she’s beginning to imagine a future that feels steady, hopeful, and maybe even happy.
Which is exactly what makes this mystery so dangerous.
Because this time, the threat isn’t just a dead man, a strange legend, or eerie music drifting over the water. It’s the possibility that everything Samara is building could be torn away before she has the chance to hold onto it.
Of course, she isn’t facing any of these challenges in her new home alone. There’s Jack, who complicates her heart in all the best ways. Ruby, who is the kind of loyal friend every witch needs. A nosy knitting circle that never knows when to stay out of trouble. And her talking cat, Pumpkin, whose opinions are sharp, whose timing is impeccable, and who is never nearly as helpful as he thinks he is.
