Coffee, Murder, and a Scone follows a sarcastic, introverted mystic who starts having vivid visions of a dangerously handsome man, murdered women, and her own death. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
My inspiration came from a dream. It was vivid enough that I kept thinking about it while I went through the day. I decided it would make a great start to a novel. I tossed out the first few chapters the next day and then left it for a while. It wasn’t until last year that I came back and finished it. I have to admit the scene where Violet physically encounters the malevolent spirit of Steven’s ancestor was close to an experience I had with the supernatural. It wasn’t pleasant. I can only hope that I was able to encompass that feeling in the scene enough that others can understand what it was like.
I found Violet Blueblade to be an intriguing character. What was your inspiration for this character?
I fashioned Violet after myself. Admittedly, all my female main characters exhibit some part of my traits or personality. With Violet, I used my self-doubt, sarcasm, and introverted personality in the hopes that it would bring levity to the scenes and characters. I hoped the character Violet could show that even in the darkest moments, you can find the light and hold on until the storm passes.
Violet is happy with her routine and life of avoiding people, but her visions and her niece’s emerging powers change things. Do you think there’s a single moment in everyone’s life, maybe not as traumatic, that is life-changing?
No, I feel there are always more than one. Life is filled with ups and downs and things that require us to make decisions. We may not notice our decision in the moment, but those moments are what change our lives. Some events will be joyous or fun, and others will be traumatic or depressing, but it is how we face those moments and the decisions we make that change our lives. Sometimes the changes are for the better and sometimes for the worse, but in the end, we are not who we are without them.
Will this novel be the start of a series, or are you working on a different story?
Originally, I wrote this book as a standalone. I had this idea that kept itching, and I needed to get it out of my mind by putting it on paper. As I was writing, I found I had more fun than I did with any other story or novel I have written. I don’t tend to write like most other authors. I don’t map out the story ahead of time, create outlines, or any of that. I create a character in my head and let that character show me where the story goes. I felt that this story bombed, but after having a few of my close friends and relatives read it, they begged me to write it so that it could become a series. I have a feeling that Violet and Steven will be investigating another mystery in the near future.
Violet is no ordinary woman; in her small town, she’s known as a witch. Haunted by unsettling visions, she must navigate her nieces’ emerging powers, a shocking murder, and Steven’s relentless quest for true love. Can she uncover the truth behind the crime before it’s too late?
Steven has lost three wives under mysterious circumstances, and now he seems intent on making Violet his next. But is he seeking a partner—or a victim? As Violet delves into his past, will her visions reveal the innocence he claims, or will the specter of his past prove more dangerous than she ever imagined?
Coffee, Murder, and a Scone is a paranormal romance mystery wrapped in the everyday life of Violet Blueblade, a sarcastic, introverted mystic who would rather hide behind a cup of coffee than deal with people. The story follows her quiet routines being shattered when vivid visions begin showing her a dangerously handsome man, murdered women, and her own death. As Violet tries to avoid the stranger who seems woven into her fate, she instead becomes tangled in a real haunting, a string of killings, and the sudden awakening of her nieces’ mystical abilities. What starts small in her cozy café grows into a full-on supernatural murder investigation that tests her gifts, her boundaries, and her heart.
The writing has this unfiltered, candid energy that makes Violet’s voice stand out right from the start. She’s funny without trying to be. She’s blunt in ways that feel real. And she never falls into the stereotypical “mystic woman” trope, which I appreciated. Even when the story plays with paranormal romance expectations, Violet keeps everything grounded through her tired sighs, her love of coffee, and her constant attempts to stay out of the spotlight despite literally seeing the future. The genre mix of paranormal romance and cozy mystery works better than I expected, especially because the author lets Violet’s anxiety, humor, and reluctant hopefulness steer the tone.
The story moves from slow daily life to emotional intensity quickly. The visions are vivid, the stakes high, and Steven walks the line between romantic interest and potential danger in a way that keeps the tension humming. There’s a nice thread about intuition, trust, and the cost of being someone who “sees too much.” The way Violet’s nieces slowly discover their own abilities added warmth and levity. Even the side characters, like chaotic Daisy and ever-present Reggie, bring texture to this small town where magic hides in plain sight. When the murder mystery deepens, the shift toward darker images surprised me, but it felt earned because Violet never stops narrating with that same blend of honesty and exhaustion.
By the end, what stuck with me wasn’t just the plot but Violet herself. She doubts, she jokes, she panics, she cares deeply, even when pretending she doesn’t. The paranormal elements give the book spark, but her relationships give it weight. If you like stories that fuse supernatural suspense with character-driven romance and a dash of cozy small-town charm, this book will land well. Fans of paranormal romance, witchy mysteries, and quirky-voiced narrators will probably enjoy it most. If you’re looking for a reflective, funny, slightly chaotic journey with heart, then pick up Coffee, Murder, and a Scone.
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