Oma 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?
Liesel Pflueger Miller but my children and grandchildren all call me Oma, German for grandma.

How old are you?
I have a major birthday coming up and everyone is asking me this question. There comes a time when a lady doesn’t wish to share her age. That changes however, when the age is a remarkable number. I am not there yet.

What is your profession?
Innkeeper. I own the Sugar Maple Inn in Wagtail, Virginia with my granddaughter, Holly Miller. And I am proud to admit that I am the mayor of Wagtail.

Do you have a significant other?
(Amused laughter.) I have been a widow for a very long time.

Do you have any children?
Yes! I have a son, Samuel Miller, and a daughter, Margaret Miller Paxton.

Do you have any siblings?
One brother.

Are your relatives nearby?
Holly is the only one who lives in Wagtail. My other grandchildren are spread out from California to Europe. My son resides in Florida and my daughter is in Massachusetts.

Who is your best friend?
Rose Richardson. Have you met her? She is delightful!

Do you have cats, dogs, or other pets?
My golden retriever, Gingersnap, is the canine ambassador of The Sugar Maple Inn. She is very friendly and so well-mannered.

What town do you live in?
Wagtail. It was once a popular summer destination because it is in the Blue Ridge Mountains where it is cooler. People also came for the natural spring waters. But now it is the premier vacation destination for people who want to travel with their pets. Dogs and cats are welcome everywhere. The restaurants all offer special menus for their feline and canine guests.

What type of dwelling do you own or rent?
Holly and I own the inn. Each of us has a private apartment there.

What is your favorite spot in your home?
Undoubtedly the private kitchen. When my children were young, I thought we needed a private room for our family. Being with guests and on their best behavior at all times can be stressful for children. So I designed a kitchen with a cozy fireplace and enough space for family dinners, homework, and school projects. I don’t cook as much anymore, but I don’t need too. My grandchildren named the refrigerator in the private kitchen the “magic refrigerator.” Isn’t that cute? Inn leftovers go to local families in need, but there is always enough food for our cook to stash some of it in the magic refrigerator. It is never empty.

What is your favorite meal and dessert?
Oh my! So many choices! On a cold winter night when it is snowing, nothing is better than a bowl of warm goulash. But perhaps my favorite is duck confit. And my favorite cake is the Dobos Torte. It is heavenly!

Do you have any hobbies?
Hobbies? I run an inn and I’m the mayor of Wagtail. Who has time for hobbies? I used to enjoy embroidery. Hmm.

What music do you listen to?
I do love opera, but I was around in the Beatles era and like their music as well as the Beach Boys and others from that period.

What is your favorite color?
Blue.

What is your favorite vacation spot?
(Hearty laughter.) I live in a vacation spot!

Are you a morning or night person?
Definitely morning. One of the best things about bringing Holly on board at the inn is that she takes care of problems in the night, and I get to sleep!

What is your idea of a really fun time?
Anything with my children and grandchildren. We are all so busy that I don’t see them as often as I would like. It doesn’t have to be anything special as long as I am in their company. I’m hoping a few of them may surprise me with a visit on my birthday. And in case you’re thinking about giving me a gift, I have told everyone-no gifts! The pleasure of your company is a gift to me.

If you were to write a memoir, what would you call it?
Perhaps it should be Life At The Inn. There is more to my story as an immigrant from Germany, but the inn and what I have seen and learned about people would be the most interesting part of my life.

Amateur or professional sleuth and whom do you work with?
Well! I don’t consider myself a sleuth at all. Maybe a little. The big sleuth around here is Holly’s Jack Russell terrier, Trixie. She and Holly’s calico cat, Twinkletoes, have noses for trouble. More specifically for murder. I do not know how they sniff it out, but they have an uncanny knack for finding victims of murder. Holly and Sergeant Quinlan do most of the sleuthing, but I will admit that I have picked up on a few clues myself. Our staff, like Zelda, Shelley, and Mr. Huckle have also been very helpful. Solving a murder is a group effort here. But it always begins with Trixie and Twinkletoes.

What is a typical day in your life like?
Mr. Huckle brings coffee and a croissant to my apartment. Such a luxury but he insists on it. I dress and go downstairs to eat breakfast in the inn dining room. I could have a private breakfast in my quarters, but I like to see the guests and know what is going on. Sergeant Quinlan often joins me to bring me up to date on what happened in Wagtail during the night. Then I attend to business in the office. Holly is taking over more of those details, like ordering supplies, paying bills, and booking events. I am spending more of my time on my mayoral duties. I often have lunch meetings and such. We do not serve dinner at the inn because I want our guests to get out and visit the wonderful restaurants in Wagtail. That gives us some down time to discuss inn and town matters in the private kitchen. Or I might go out to dinner with friends.

In spite of the few murders we have had here, Wagtail is a very safe and lovely community.

The Dog Across The Lake, A Paws & Claws Mystery Book #9
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Release: January 2024
Format: Print, Digital, Audio
Purchase Link

Holly and Trixie meet a strange new dog in Wagtail that leads them right into murder. . . 

Holly Miller is looking forward to finally taking a few days to relax. Enjoying an early morning on her terrace, she spots an unfamiliar reddish-gold pooch across the lake. She’s intrigued, but never expects to find the very same dog smiling at her in bed when she wakes up the next morning! Trixie and Twinkletoes appear to accept this cute stranger, but Holly doesn’t know to whom he belongs.

Oma thinks the dog looks familiar, and it turns out the wayward pooch belongs to Holly’s cousin Josh. Holly knew her cousin well as a child, but she hasn’t seen him in over a decade. He’s camping with his girlfriend across the lake. Holly returns the cute dog to Josh’s campsite twice, but the second time, Josh and his girlfriend are nowhere to be found. Instead, a guest of the Sugar Maple Inn is dead in their tent. Now it’s up to Holly and Trixie to suss out a sneaky killer.

About the author
New York Times bestselling mystery author Krista Davis writes three mystery series: the Domestic Diva Mysteries; the Paws & Claws Mysteries; and the Pen & Ink Mysteries. Krista resided in Northern Virginia for many years and lived for a time in Old Town, Alexandria. Today she lives with an assortment of dogs and cats in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. Like her Domestic Diva protagonist, Sophie Winston, Krista loves to entertain friends and family, but would just as soon leave cleaning to someone else. In the unlikely event that Krista ever wins the lottery, you will find her in the middle of a giant pile of rescued dogs and cats. Connect with Krista at kristadavis.com.