Hello Lovely Readers,
Today we are excited to chat with Barbara Witek to celebrate the release of the second book in her Julie Butler Mystery series, Sugar Snapped!
Welcome! Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and what got you into writing?
Thanks for having me today! I’m a mom of 3, now an empty nester dog-mom. My husband and I have traded motorcycle life for sports car life. He purchased his dream car, so we like to take lots of scenic local rides and plan to take long-distance road trips once the NY weather gets warmer.
For me, writing started with my love for English and Composition in high school and college. My best friend and I, in high school, used to pass a notebook between classes, each of us adding to a story. I guess we were “pantsing” before that was even a thing! And in college, I loved to write about anything. Give me a book report, essay, whatever— anything to have a reason to put words on the page. I didn’t tinker with my own creative writing until I was married and that became my downtime when the kids would nap. I haven’t stopped since!
What inspired you to write cozy mysteries?
My bestie, Kari Lee Townsend! We are critique partners and she started writing them. When I’d be reading and editing for her, I just loved how light and, well, “cozy” they were. The clues, red herrings, I loved trying to figure out whodunnit. After a while, I thought maybe I should give it a try!
What do you enjoy most about writing cozy mysteries and what do you enjoy the least?
Oh, the most would have to be writing in the small town and creating that kind of community. I grew up in a small town, so I get to pull from my own experiences, and from other small towns in the area I used to go to. Some of my characters have character traits of people I know. But I’ll never tell who!
What I enjoy the least….plotting. It’s easier to be a pantser with romance, not so easy with any kind of mystery. I mean, I have a general idea plot wise what’s going to happen, and maybe I have some suspects. Figuring out what/who the red herrings are is where I usually turn to my critique partners when I get stuck. Most times I’ve laid out the bones and they help me tweak it if necessary. But I have to be careful because I don’t want to give the killer away. I want to see if they will figure it out or if it’s too easy. They are good at calling me out when I mess up.
How do you find the right balance between the mystery and romance elements in this series?
Book 1 was fun because Chase and Juli were just being re-introduced to each other, and we see that they obviously have a history and still have feelings which they are fighting. Book 2 on the other hand was a bit tricky because there were times when I found myself getting a little too romancy and had to fix things. I was rushing them into something they just weren’t ready for because I love their characters so much! I just had to remember, “mystery first.” Sorry kids, your relationship has to go on the back burner for a while. I think readers will be happy to see their building romance as a solid thread throughout the series. I like writing romantic cozies just for that reason.
What inspired this series in particular?
Don’t laugh. When I decided to try my hand at a cozy mystery, I noticed the recurring theme of animals and how readers loved them. Well, I wanted something different and fun, so I thought of a parrot. I named him Scallywag because the original title for Cracker Jacked was going to be Pirate’s Booty (yes, like the snack food). Originally Scallywag was going to belong to the murder victim, who resembled a pirate. Obviously that all changed, and Scallywag belongs to sweet Mrs. Bailey, Juli’s next-door neighbor. And as readers find out, the name suits the bird very well!
What is your favorite aspect of the dynamic between Juli and the Sheriff, Chase Hargrave?
They are just average people trying to figure out what they want in their lives, how to handle their issues, and work through whatever happened between them in the past. Can a relationship ever work? It’s their push/pull that I think readers can easily relate to.
Who is your favorite pet-human duo to enter Juli’s pet café?
This early in the series, I’d have to say Tess McDermott and her kittens. She’s constantly hiding “Steve” in Juli’s café in hopes that she will keep him. But you’ve given me some ideas for future books!
What are some books you are enjoying reading right now? Do you have any recommendations?
Reading doesn’t happen as much as I would like these days but when I need to recharge my own creative batteries, reading helps 1000%. I’m going to pimp out some of my fellow OHB authors: Kari Lee Townsend – if you want total entertainment, read her Kalli Ballas Mystery Series. This Greek family is pure fun and Kari brings them to life in such a way they become like family. Next Up would be ANY historical by Gayle Callen. I have read her for years and she never disappoints. The Sisters of Willow Pond and Sons of Scandal series are my favorites hands down. New to me is Hildie McQueen. I just got An Enchanted Knight. Only a couple chapters in and I’m obsessed! I knew when I read the blurb. Paranormal, historical, fantasy…it checked all the boxes. I think I kind of threw in recommendations at the same time, but a non-OHB author I always enjoy is Holly Jacobs. And if you have to read one book by Holly, you MUST read Briar Hill Road. I laughed, I cried, and it was one of those books that stuck with me for a long time and just writing this now touches my heart all over again.
Again, thanks for having me and helping me celebrate release week for Sugar Snapped!
Want to learn more about Sugar Snapped?
It’s time for the Lewis County Fair and Juli’s organic human and pet café is the talk of New Hope. But amidst the excitement, her ex-boyfriend’s appearance and revelations about his murky past have thrown a wrench in her plans with the Sheriff.
When David announces he’s still married to Rita Davis, owner of Nailed It! Salon and Juli’s new friend, no one is happy about it, especially Rita’s fiancé Paul. When Paul winds up dead on the fair midway, David is the prime suspect. Juli knows he’s not a killer, but if she doesn’t help clear his name, he’ll be stuck in New Hope-along with all the chaos he brings.
When it appears David, Rita and Paul are caught in a tangled web of secrets, things take a dark turn. As Chase delves deeper into David’s shadowy past, he unearths more than he expected, bringing to light secrets Juli had hoped would stay buried. Can Juli navigate through this maze of deception and clear David’s name, or will the skeletons in their closets come back to haunt them all?
Want to know more about Barbara Witek?
Who doesn’t love a romantic fantasy or fun cozy mystery?
My books are on the sweeter side with a little humor attached, and even my cozy mysteries have romance in them. It’s just what I do! I’m a sucker for second chances too. Everyone deserves them, especially in the name of love. I want to make you laugh, cry, fall in love and find out whodunnit with every turn of the page.
I live in upstate New York with my very own alpha-male who puts up with my crazy author tendencies and even crazier imagination!
I’m a firm believer in love at first sight, second chances and creating your own destiny. Isn’t that what romance is all about?
When I’m not writing, I’m in love with life on 2 wheels! Every ride is an adventure and I see the open road and world around me so differently. And of course when I’m not cruising, I enjoy a glass of wine-or-whiskey-and getting lost in a book. I also love cross-country skiing and ice-skating (although I admit to not having done either in years!) hiking, anything crafty, and competitive family game nights (scrabble of course)!
And dogs. I love them and want to adopt them all!
You can find me on my website, Instagram, Facebook, and BookBub.
