Down the Hatch follows the new owner of the Witch’s Retreat B&B who must balance her magical abilities with solving a murder mystery before it’s too late. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?

Murder mysteries, especially cozies, have been my staple reading fare for quite a while, and the same applies to urban fantasies. However, in UF, the setting is a world quite different from ours. I was increasingly intrigued by magical realism, i.e. the notion that magic exists, and it’s a part of the world we know, or something reasonably close to it. A lot of the witch cozies feature that motif, but most of these literary witches are pretty good at what they do. I like throwing spanners into the works, so my witches are wonky. Having to juggle their abilities while the death count is rising amps up the tension, and it also gives plenty of opportunity to inject some (British) humour into the story. 

Myrtle is an intriguing and well-developed character. What were some driving ideals behind your character’s development?

Myrtle is born from the conflict between reason and imagination, something I explored during my studies a (long) while ago. She’s a no-nonsense grammar school teacher, and magic is the last thing she believes in. It doesn’t exist, or so she thinks. Then life throws a monster curveball at her, and she has to come to terms with some pretty scary abilities. While most of us are unlikely to be confronted with that particular problem, her problems are indeed a reflection of the human struggle to cope with the unexpected. Myrtle’s journey is also about responsibilities – we might not like certain things, but for the greater good, we’ll have to accept certain tasks, even if it’s the last thing we want. However, by doing so, we give ourselves a chance to grow, and I find that important. 

What themes were important for you to explore in this book?

I think “Down the Hatch” can be read on two levels. First of all, it’s a light and (hopefully) entertaining, humorous murder mystery with a romantic subplot. There’s a British female sleuth, we have a wonderful countryside, a historical mystery, and some quirky and entertaining characters. At the same time, there are some deeper themes woven into the plot, such as humanity/inhumanity, how to deal with life’s challenges, and how to achieve personal growth. Readers looking for “a bit more” than just a fluffy read will hopefully resonate with my protagonist.

What is the next book you are working on and when will it be available?

The third installment in the Magical Misfits series is undergoing editing. However, my plan is to self-publish a second series, the Da Vinci Mysteries, in the second half of this year. Two of the novels are ready, the third one ready for proofing, and I’m writing the fourth. The first Da Vinci Mystery “Spelled in Ink”, features a dark witch, an art thief, and an invisible killer. The new series is even faster paced than the Magical Misfits, and the witches are a bit more competent, but once again my characters will face some challenges most readers might find very familiar.

Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Website