Mia sits down for a question-and-answer session with dru’s book musings so that we can learn more about what makes her tick. Let’s see what she has to say.
What is your full name?
Mia Alice Malone
How old are you?
32
What is your profession?
Currently, my title is Director in Charge of Catering. And owner of Mia’s Morsels, but my friend, Abigail Majors has taken over the management of my company.
Do you have a significant other?
Boyfriend – Trent Majors. Yes, he’s Abigail’s son.
What is their name and profession?
Trent’s the current manager of Majors Grocery in Magic Springs. His parents are the actual owners of the business.
Do you have any children?
No
Do you have any siblings?
I have Christina Adams who was almost my sister in law. She’s my best friend and works for me, or for Abigail, at Mia’s Morsels. She’s also my roommate.
Are your parents nearby?
They live about three hours away in Boise. They’re both lawyers. Mom was supposed to take on the kitchen witch duties from Grans, but that didn’t happen.
Who is your best friend?
Besides Christina? My Grans. She is teaching me how to be a kitchen witch after my mom abdicated her responsibilities. Although I’m beginning to think that there’s more to that story.
Do you have cats, dogs, or other pets?
I have Mr. Darcy, a cat, who is currently sharing his body with Dorian – my grandmother’s ex-boyfriend. It’s a long story. Muffy, my grandmother’s dog comes over a lot.
What town do you live in?
Magic Springs, Idaho. We’re on the other side of the mountain from Sun Valley.
What type of dwelling do you own or rent?
In a fit of absolute craziness, I bought the old magic academy building when I moved to Magic Springs. The other bidder was planning on tearing it down for a strip mall. The three-story building holds my apartment (and a library) on the top floor, and Mia’s Morsels business offices, kitchen, and classrooms on the first floor. Along with a gym. Not a personal fitness workout gym, but the gyms you had in high school. One with a large basketball floor and bleachers. The second floor has turned into storage rooms but I need to get them sorted before the junk takes over.
What is your favorite spot in your home?
My kitchen. Actually both of them. I love cooking for people so being in the smaller, apartment kitchen is warm and cozy and everyone seems to gather there. My familiar, Gloria who’s a kitchen witch doll, hangs out there. But there’s something about cooking for a crowd in the Mia’s Morsel’s kitchen that makes me smile. The smells that fill the area while we get delivery orders ready is just heaven.
What is your favorite meal and dessert?
One I don’t cook. But sometimes, that’s not true either. I love trying new restaurants, especially when the food is tasty and quality. A poorly cooked or badly sourced meal makes me sad. Especially if I actually paid for it. There are so many good places to eat in Idaho now, it’s hard to pick one. But I love eating at the Lodge where I work because my friend James is an amazing chef. He has a trout dish that’s almost heaven. As for dessert – you can’t go wrong with chocolate.
Do you have any hobbies?
I live in the mountains in Idaho. My hobbies are mostly outside. Like skiing, snowshoeing, hiking, biking. Trent likes to fish, but he has his dad to go with him there. I like cooking what he brings home. I’ve been really busy with the business, the kitchen witch training (oh, so much reading), and now, my day job, but I need to carve out some Mia time and actually get a hobby.
What music do you listen to?
Country. Especially 90’s country? It’s all about broken hearts and women who know what they want.
What is your favorite color?
Yellow. Bright, sunny – just like me. Okay, maybe sometimes.
What is your favorite vacation spot?
I love the beach. I guess because I live in the mountains full time, I get my fill of trees, rivers, lakes, and breathtakingly beautiful views. So give me a California beach anytime for a week. Especially in February. I’m hoping to go a little further south someday, when I have the money.
Are you a morning or night person?
I’m a morning person. Especially if I’m anxious. You’ll find me in the kitchen, baking something yummy.
What is your idea of a really fun time?
I love board games. I probably bore all my friends, but give me a good board game and a bottle of wine and I’m happy. Just not the role playing ones that Levi (Christina’s boyfriend and Trent’s brother) likes. Who wants to be a troll?
If you were to write a memoir, what would you call it?
The Magic of Cooking. Or The Magic of Feeding Others. No, definitely, The Magic of Cooking. Because sometimes it’s not about who’s going to eat the food. It would be about the process of cooking and the delightful results.
Amateur or professional sleuth and whom do you work with?
I’m an amateur sleuth. And I tend to bring a lot of people into my investigations. Like Trent, his mom, Levi, Christina and of course, Grans. Mark Baldwin is the Magic Springs police chief. He’s a normal human being and leaves the magic side of the investigation to me. That way he can pretend it’s not real.
What is a typical day in your life like?
Since I’m working a day job, I get up and have coffee and sometimes breakfast at home. Usually Abigail drops in to chat about what’s going on with Mia’s Morsel’s and then Christina finally drags herself out of bed. I go to work at the Lodge, spending time with James gripping about our boss, the evil troll. Then I work on scheduling catering for the Lodge. I’m home by five, unless I have an event. If it’s Monday, Trent and I typically have a date night and eat somewhere besides the Lodge. Then I go home and read one of the books my grandmother assigns me for my magical training. Since I wasn’t raised in the craft, I’m years behind. Who knew so many fairy tales were based on true events? Pretty normal stuff for a kitchen witch. Unless I’m involved in tracking down any coven involvement in a murder, that is.
Five Furry Familiars, A Kitchen Witch Mystery Book #5
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Release: February 2024
Format: Print, Digital
Purchase Link
In the latest enchanting mystery from New York Times bestselling author Lynn Cahoon, kitchen witch Mia Malone is working as a catering director at a ski lodge, but when her roommate’s ex checks in, everything starts going downhill . . .
To keep her cooking school and catering business, Mia’s Morsels, afloat, Mia’s handed off oversight to her boyfriend Trent’s mother while she focuses on earning a steady paycheck. Too bad her mean-spirited boss at the lodge keeps the misery flowing as steadily as the money. At least her roommate, Christina, is still dedicated to Mia’s Morsels—though she’s also distracted, thanks to her clingy mother’s constant demands. And the distraction only grows when Christina’s old flame shows up in Magic Springs, Idaho, in his Escalade, claiming out of the blue to be her fiancé.
The arrival of some homeless kittens, as well as Trent’s new familiar, a cute little Maltese, brings more chaos—as well as a strange spiritual energy that seems to emanate from the animals. But before Mia can figure out what kind of paranormal pets she has on her hands, she finds herself with a murder to solve—when a dead woman is found in the lodge rental of Christina’s suddenly attentive ex . . .
About the author
After ‘wanting to write’ for most of her life, Lynn Cahoon got a scare from the universe that pushed her into trying her hand at writing in 2007. She sold her first romance a short five years later and then three cozy mysteries in 2013 – one of which hit the New York Times list. Since that time, she’s written books in six different cozy mystery series highlighting relatable amateur sleuths who get to have the careers Lynn always wanted to have including – bookseller, chef, and author/writing retreat owner. You can find out more about her cozy mysteries at lynncahoon.com.