Last time I visited, I talked about homeschooling my boys and squeezing writing into the margins of my day. Good news: I still do that. Less good news: now I do it on deadline.
My day doesn’t start with a peaceful, early-morning writing session. My kids are up before me, and while I respect the early-riser life, I’m not about to write at 4:00 a.m. just to beat them. So instead, my day begins with coffee, chaos, and at least one argument over whose turn it is to pick the video game, despite the very official color-coded laminated chart that clearly shows whose turn it is.
And there is always a missing shoe.
I don’t know why. I can’t explain it. My youngest has, on more than one occasion, lost a shoe while actively wearing it. As a cozy mystery author, I feel like I should be able to solve this, but some mysteries are simply beyond me.
We live a hybrid school life, with some days at home and others in class. Homeschool days start at 8:30 a.m. and wrap around 1:30 p.m. Recently, we did a science experiment on density, and while my boys were carefully writing down their observations, I found myself doing the same, except my notes were about how I could use this in a future book. When you spend your days writing mysteries, everything looks like a potential plot point.
After lunch, we switch roles. My husband steps in for math lessons, and I step into writing mode. The words don’t always come easily—or neatly—but I remind myself that I can’t edit a blank page. And my agent can’t help me brainstorm if I have nothing to show her. So I write even when the words are messy.
On in-person school days, my schedule shifts. After drop-off, I head to a local café and write for a solid three-hour stretch before pickup. If I need more time, my husband and I trade off pickup duties so I can stay in the flow a little longer.
In the evenings, we regroup over dinner. I tell him about the scenes I’m working on, and he shares stories from his construction job site. More often than not, his stories spark ideas for future mysteries involving food trucks and construction zones. Because inspiration shows up everywhere. It’s in the grocery store when I’m eavesdropping (purely for research, of course). The way someone gestures, how they’re dressed, or the tone they use with the cashier. It’s during art class drop-offs, quick errands, and stolen moments of people-watching.
Later, when the boys are deep into their allotted video game time, I’ll sometimes sneak in one more short writing session, or at least try to wrap up the scene I started earlier. It’s not a quiet life or a predictable one. But it’s full, a little chaotic, and constantly inspiring. And somehow, in between the missing shoes and the murder plots, the stories get written.
HOT WINGS AND HOMICIDE
Series: A Food Truck Mystery, Book 2
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Release: May 2026
Format: Print, Digital, Audio
Purchase Link
Twins Beth and Seth Lloyd are on the chopping block in the follow-up to A Murder Most Fowl, where a perfect recipe for murder is stirred up.
Business at Kluckin’ Good is smoking hot. To keep momentum going, Beth and her twin brother, Seth, just scored a prime spot at the Flavors of the Bay Food Festival. For three and a half days, food lovers will flock to the Bay Area’s biggest culinary event to enjoy gourmet food trucks, cook-offs, and live music, but this recipe for success is also the perfect setup for murder.
When the infamous food critic Brad Dawson—also Beth’s ex—turns up dead, the only clue at the scene of the crime is a Kluckin’ Good tumbler mug. The timing couldn’t be worse. Beth and Brad were seen in a heated altercation, and days prior, witnesses saw Seth punch Brad. Suspicion naturally falls on the twins. With the cops hot on their trail, Beth will have to avoid the flames to clear their names and save her food truck’s reputation.
But the chickens are out of the coop, and as Beth digs into Brad’s final hours, she will uncover rivalries, grudges, and a different side of Brad she never knew. If she doesn’t crack the case soon, she might be the next one to get cooked. Best of cluck!
A mouthwatering mystery for fans of Joanne Fluke that will leave you peckish for more.
If you’re new to the series, this is actually the perfect time to start, A MURDER MOST FOWL (book one) is currently on a Kindle deal for just $1.99 for the month of May.
About the author
Carmela Dutra writes cozy mysteries steeped in food, family, and Bay Area flavor. Her Food Truck Mystery series debuted with A Murder Most Fowl, praised by Kirkus Reviews, Criminal Element, and New York Times bestselling author Ellery Adams. Her second book, Hot Wings and Homicide, was called “perfect for foodies” by Library Journal.
She lives in the Bay Area with her family and pets. Find her on Facebook and Instagram: @authorcarmela or visit her website at www.carmeladutra.com.