Willa sits down for a question-and-answer session with dru’s book musings so that we, the readers, can get to know her better.

What is your full name?
Willa Eleanor Bauer

How old are you?
Thirty-three

What is your profession?
I’m a certified cheesemonger – basically, a person who knows a whole lot about cheese. I just opened my own cheese shop last spring called Curds & Whey.

Do you have a significant other?
Other than cheese? No.

Do you have any children?
No. I don’t think I’m cut out for children. Even taking care of a dog is a lot of work. I think I’ll stick with my betta fish, Loretta.

Do you have any siblings?
My younger brother, Grayson, who was my best friend. He died eight years ago.

Are your parents nearby?
They live on a dairy farm in Oregon where I grew up, about an 8-hour drive from here.

Who is your best friend?
My next-door neighbor, Baz. He sometimes reminds me of my brother Grayson.

Do you have any pets?
My flamboyant blue and red betta fish, Loretta. She loves to watch Food Network’s Chopped and has a crush on the host, Ted Allen.

What town do you live in?
A beautiful off-the-beaten-path town in the Sonoma Valley called Yarrow Glen, so named for the flowers that grow along the border of our town park. We’re surrounded by the fancier vineyard towns but we’re starting to make a name for ourselves with the tourists.

Do you live in a small town or a big city?
Yarrow Glen is a small blue-collar town with dairy farming roots. Our downtown area is an eight-block radius mostly made up of small businesses. We also have a park behind the historic town hall where the weekly farmers market and our town festivals are held.

What type of dwelling do you own or rent?
I live in the apartment above my cheese shop in a renovated flat-roof building. It’s cozy and it’s got a lot of “character,” like slightly slanted wood floors, and tall arched windows that take some finesse to open. But you can’t beat the easy commute to work.

What is your favorite spot in your home?
My tiny deck. Every morning, I take my espresso or latte out there to watch the sun rise over the valley’s rolling hills and vineyards.

What is your favorite meal and dessert?
My favorite meal is anything with cheese. Dessert is no surprise—cheesecake!

Do you have any hobbies?
I like watching old, moody, black and white movies. Alfred Hitchcock’s Rebecca is my favorite. When I want to think about things or not think about things, I turn it on.

What is your favorite vacation spot?
Vacation? What’s that? I grew up on dairy farm, so my family rarely took a vacation and I’ve kept up with that tradition, especially now that I’m a shop owner. My favorite place I’ve traveled is Lyon, France where I spent a semester in college. It’s where I realized my passion for cheese.

What is your idea of a really fun time?
I like going to the seasonal festivals we have here in town with my friends. We’ve been prepping for the Harvest Festival, and I know it’s going to be a great time.

If you were to write a memoir, what would you call it?
Cheddar Days Ahead

Amateur or professional sleuth and whom do you work with?
I’m an amateur sleuth who bumbled my way through my first investigation. I think I learned some important things, though, and I’m doing a little bit better on my second case. I work with my two employees– Mrs. Schultz, a former drama teacher who’s smack dab in her sixties, and Archie, an energetic nineteen-year-old. And my best friend, Baz, the local handyman. We always get together over a cheesy dish to sort out the suspects and motives before getting involved in a case.

What is a typical day in your life like in general and when you are on a case?
On a typical day, you’ll find me working in my cheese shop. When I’m on a case, a lot of times I have to do my sleuthing during work hours. Luckily, Mrs. Schultz and Archie can run the shop while I’m gone and when I return, I can talk with them about the case.

Gone for Gouda, A Cheese Shop Mystery #2
Genre: Cozy
Release: September 2022
Purchase Link

Things are going from gouda to bad to ugly for cheesemonger Willa Bauer in Gone for Gouda.

Yarrow Glen’s newest cheese shop, Curds & Whey, has a lot on its plate, but cheesemonger Willa Bauer relishes a challenge. There’s a float to build for the fall festival, plus the French-inspired cheese shop is playing host to celebrity vegan chef Phoebe Winston. But when photos surface that prove this vegan influencer is, in fact, a carnivore, things crumble faster than any cheese on the market: Phoebe is murdered. Willa’s employee, the affable Archie, was the last one to see Phoebe alive and the first person the police suspect. To clear his name Willa must uncover who’s been up to no gouda. . .

About the author
Korina Moss is the author of the Cheese Shop Mystery series set in the Sonoma Valley. The first three books available in this cozy mystery series from St. Martin’s Press include Cheddar Off Dead (March 2022), Gone For Gouda (Sept 2022), and Curds of Prey (March 2023). Her short stories can be found in the anthologies Crime Travel and Death By Cupcake. She’s a member of Mystery Writers of America and Sisters in Crime, and blogs on Writers Who Kill. She lives in Connecticut. More about her can be found at korinamossauthor.com.

All comments are welcomed.