Catherine Bruns is…On the Writing Block!

Sherry Ickes
2 days ago
3 min read

April is already here?! 😮How can that be? But that just means that it is time for our next guest author to tell us about the latest installment in her “Cookies and Chance Mystery” series.

Catherine is the USA Today bestselling author of the “Cookies & Chance,” “Maple Syrup,” “Cindy York” and “Italian Chef” mysteries. Her book, For Sale by Killer, won the Daphne du Maurier award for Best Mainstream Mystery.

In her spare time, she loves to bake, read, and attend live theater performances. Catherine's written over 30 novels and has many more stories waiting to be told.

What is your ultimate goal as an author?

To entertain others and hopefully provide a nice diversion from the real world and its problems. If someone has enjoyed my book, I feel like I’ve done my job.

Who are two authors that have inspired your writing?

There are definitely more than two, but for now, I’ll say Agatha Christie and Sue Grafton. Agatha Christie inspired me to write cozy mysteries. I loved trying to figure out the who-dunit when I was growing up. I still re-read her books to this day.

I was fortunate to meet Sue Grafton at a book signing back in 2004. Many years ago, she had an online forum where she would randomly answer questions from fans. I wrote to her and told her I was having writer's block, and trouble coming up with a new idea for a story. She replied, “Everything’s been done before. It’s your spin on it that makes the story different.” Thanks to her, I was finally able to write my first novel.

Any advice for other authors?

Write the book that you want to write. The market changes so frequently that it’s impossible to keep up, and what was popular yesterday may not be popular tomorrow. Also, the more you write, the more you will improve over time.

Are there any animals in your book?

Yes! Animals are a must have in my books. Pets range from Spike, Sally Muccio’s Shih Tzu in the "Cookies & Chance" series to Toast, Leila’s adopted stray cat in the "Maple Syrup" mysteries. Spike is an older dog, and I can always picture him rolling his eyes at Sally and her family's antics. I feel that animals always enrich the story.

What is Death Whisk about?

Full time baker and part time sleuth, Sally Muccio, is looking forward to an impromptu getaway at Bella Vita, a charming local inn recently renovated by an old friend of her father’s. Sal’s been asked to provide treats for Bella Vita's open house and, in addition to the extra dough she’ll earn, her entire family is invited to spend the night at the bed and breakfast for free.

But after a winter storm knocks out the power and Sal stumbles across owner Guido Sorrentino’s lifeless body, the night becomes something directly out of a horror movie. Sal fully intends to leave the investigation to the police...that is, until her father’s life becomes endangered as well! Who wanted Guido dead and what does her father have to do with it? Was Guido a member of organized crime? And why was he acting like he had a death wish? With a crowd of angry and bitter relatives busy celebrating his death instead of mourning, it quickly becomes apparent that there are too many suspects to count. It's up to Sal to find a killer before she’s treated to a taste of death herself!