Author Spotlight: Christina Romeril

Author of the Killer Chocolate Mystery Series

Christina Romeril, author of Deck the Halls with Homicide (Image credit: Christina Romeril)

Christina Romeril is the author of the Killer Chocolate Mysteries. This series features mysteries set during the Christmas season. The amateur sleuths are identical twin sisters Alex and Hannah, the owners of Murder and Mayhem, a mystery bookshop that sells their famous poison-themed Killer Chocolates.

Cozy Crime Reads Interview with Christina Romeril

What attracted you to the cozy mystery genre?

I have loved whodunits since I read my first one in third grade when my mother picked one up randomly and brought it home for me. I was hooked and read them voraciously. Part of my love of the genre is the small-town setting and the familiar cast of characters, but I love trying to piece together the pieces of the puzzle from among the red herrings. There’s also something special when you make a connection with the characters and you get to revisit them every year.

What are a few of the essential elements that make a cozy stand out to you as a reader?

As a reader, I’m drawn to the elements of friendships and community in the genre. The cozies that I end up being my favorites are filled with quirky characters and humor, especially if it has a snarky edge. But they also have to have good pacing, a decent number of twists and turns, and a strong voice from the protagonist.

Do you have a favorite amateur sleuth?

There are lots of cozies I enjoy, but there are a handful of favorites whose amateur sleuths stand out. I think the ones I enjoy most are because they’re strong women and they make me laugh. In no particular order, they are Agatha Raisin from MC Beaton’s series, Poppy McCallister from Libby Klein’s series, and Dawna Carpenter from Paula Charles’ series.

What inspired your first cozy mystery?

Agatha Christie was my inspiration for heading into the cozy mystery genre. I wanted to craft a mystery that resembled the ones I’d been reading for years. The village I live in is perfect for a cozy setting, so I decided to set my cozy mystery in a fictionalized version across the border into Montana in the heart of the Rocky Mountains.

My series is about twin sisters who own a mystery book and poison-themed chocolates shop. I’m a huge fan of bookstores and chocolate, so why not put them together. The poison-theme was a nod to Agatha Christie who used poison in a number of her books. My husband’s love of true crime helped inspire the first book in the series.

Killer Chocolate Mystery Books 1-3

How do you research and create the cozy elements in your books, such as the setting and community?

I live in a small village of about twelve hundred people. When I first moved here, I could envision a cozy mystery taking place among its streets and parks, but it’s open prairie. I wanted a more picturesque area and since I love travelling to the Flathead Valley in Montana, I decided to create a fictional village based on my home, but in the valley surrounded by mountains.

Much of my research is based on the internet, especially YouTube videos on how to make chocolates. Of course, when my publisher asked me to provide recipes for the back of the books, it meant taking all that knowledge and getting hands on. I’ve also talked to book-sellers, people who have been making chocolates for years, and used my friend Google a lot.

What is one key step in your writing process that helps you transform an idea into a finished book?

Getting the first draft written is the hardest part. With nothing but the core of an idea, I start writing and it’s like chipping a dinosaur skeleton out of bedrock. It develops slowly over the course of the first draft, but it’s not until the editing process that it really begins to shine. The key is getting those initial words on paper because you can’t revise a blank page. After that, it’s revising over and over again.

What advice would you give aspiring cozy mystery authors who want to start writing their first novel?

Read well-written cozies that you enjoy. But read them through the lens of a writer. Dissect the structure, the character development, and the plotting format so you understand what makes them successful. Then write, because you can dissect the elements of a novel, but you have to write to find your own unique “voice.”

How can readers connect with you online?

You’ll find links to everything at my website, https://christinaromeril.com, including my Instagram and Facebook pages, Christina Romeril Writer. I’m also part of the Murder, They Write Facebook Group, and you’ll find me taking over every first and third Sunday of the month. Join me on whatever channel you like best, I love connecting with readers.

Thanks so much for having me visit. It’s always so fun answering the interview questions.