Now it’s time to learn more about the authors we read. . .

 

Why do you write the genre that you write?

That’s a bit of a story!

In my day job, I’m a philosophy professor. About eight years ago, I had a sabbatical and I wanted to write a novel (don’t tell Vanderbilt). Trouble was, I’d only written nonfiction and scholarly stuff, never fiction. I decided to look for a writing workshop to learn something about creative writing. It so happens that very weekend the Killer Nashville Mystery Writers Convention was in town. I signed up and the first session I attended was a wonderful session sponsored by SinC with Hank Ryan and Catriona McPherson on beginnings. It truly was a new beginning for me. I went home and started my first novel.

I joke that if it had been a romance convention or sci-fi convention instead of a mystery convention, I’d be writing romance or sci-fi.

Then again, in some way all good stories are mysteries. Its wanting to know that makes you turn the page.

What’s the quirkiest quirk one of your characters has?
Fiona Figg likes to wear men’s clothes and fake mustaches. Even the smell of spirit glue gets her going. For the record, since the series is cozy that’s a quirk and not a kink.

Tell us how you got into writing?
I got my PhD in philosophy and had to write a lot already as a graduate student. Then I became a professor in “publish or perish” academia.

Once I started writing, I couldn’t quit. Soon I lived to write.

Writing filled a void and gave my life meaning. Writing is running, trying to outpace the end. Writing is a race against death. Writing is my salvation.

I still live to write. Only now I write mystery fiction instead of philosophy and it’s a lot more fun.

Readers beware: You can take the girl out of philosophy, but you can’t take the philosophy out of the girl!

What jobs have you held before, during and/or after you became a writer?
To avoid leaving school—EVER—I became a professor. I’ve taught for over thirty years. I love teaching. Especially when I can ask students to answer philosophical questions folks have been trying to answer for over two thousand years.

Sounds perverse, right? Just joking. Your children leaving home for the first time are safe taking Intro to Philosophy… Bwaahaaahaaa…

Where do you write?
You’ll find me installed in a recliner in the sunroom with my three cats… unless it’s too cold and then I’m installed in a recliner in the living room next to the fireplace with my three cats.

What is your favorite deadline snack?
Green tea or Macha Latte and weird gluten-free cookies I make from whatever I have on hand in whatever proportions seem most cookie-dough-like. Most of the time, they’re like eating crumbly, sweet paste. Reminds me of kindergarten.

Who is an author you admire?
Oh, so many. Donna Tartt, Sujata Massey, Mariah Fredericks, Min Jin Lee, Julia Alvarez, Amy Tan, Elizabeth Peters, and so many more.

And since I’ve started writing fiction, some of them have become friends, which makes it especially fun to read their work.

What’s your favorite genre to read?
I like mysteries, of course. And literary fiction.

My guilty pleasure is romance. I’m especially enamored with STEM-inist romance. The queen of STEM-inist romance is Ali Hazelwood.

What are you reading now?
Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by the truly amazing Gabrielle Zevin.

What is your favorite beverage to end the day?
I wish I could say whiskey. Every year at New Years, I make a resolution to take up drinking. I used to love a nice Canadian whiskey or gin gimlet with extra Rose’s lime juice. But, sadly, by the time I reached my late thirties, I had to stop because of MIGRAINE. Argh.

So now, my favorite beverage to end the day is the same as my favorite to the start the day. Hot Tea. Unfortunately, by the end of the day I have to quit caffeine 🙀CAFFEINE🙀 or I won’t sleep. Even an iced tea at lunch can keep me awake half the night. See, another reason why I need that whiskey nightcap.

What is next for you?
I’ve just finished writing an historical stand-alone. Think Oppenheimer meets Hidden Figures. I’m super excited about that book!! Fingers crossed for its journey.

Murder in Moscow, the next Fiona Figg Mystery, will be out in March. And another is in the works.

One of these days, I’d like to get back to my Jessica James contemporary suspense series, too. And then, who knows. Maybe a new cozy series 🙂

Where can we find you?
On my website at kellyoliverbooks.com, on Facebook, on Bookbub, on TikTok, and on Instagram.

 

Now to have some fun . . .

Chocolate or vanilla
Yes, please. Soft serve swirl. Yummy.

Cake or ice cream
Yes, please. One on top of the other.

Fruits or vegetables
Most of the time fruits. But sometimes I crave some kale sautéed with garlic. Or some Chinese broccoli. Or stir-fried veggies. Oooooo… Or Saag Paneer. I’m making myself hungry.

You know what I just realized!

What I love most about fruit is you don’t have to prepare or cook it.

So, new answer: Fruit, unless I could have a personal chef, then vegetables.

Breakfast, lunch, or dinner
Yes, please. Two of each.

Dining in or dining out
Take-out. Someone else cooks it but I can enjoy it in my own recliner surrounded by cats.

City life or country living
Some of each… the more extreme, the better. Give me Manhattan or the Canadian Rockies.

Beach or mountain
Mountains. Mountains with a view of the ocean, even better.

Spring, Summer, Fall, or Winter
Depends on the latitude. I love snow and hate being hot. Growing up in Montana and Washington (state), summer was my favorite. In Montana summers are blissfully dry and smell of pine. Living in Nashville, summer is soggy and stinky and gross. Winter isn’t much better. In Montana, winter was a wonderland of sleds and snowmen and sliding off the roof. Nashville winter is soggy and stinky and gross. In Nashville spring comes early (hooray) but only lasts for two days and fall comes late… I guess those two days of spring are my favorite.

Extrovert or introvert
Hermit level introvert

Early bird or night owl
Nope. I have a small window where I’m functional from mid-morning to early afternoon. Sometimes just long enough to eat lunch.

 

And even more fun . . .

What’s your favorite movie?
I love movies. I’ve written books and essays about film. I’ve studied film theory.

But there are very few movies I watch over and over and over. So, if that’s a test of my favorites, then they are: How to Steal a Million and Bladerunner.

You are stranded on a deserted island. What are your three must-haves?
Short of a helicopter, Dramamine, and a pilot—writing utensils, lots of cats, and hot green tea (unless it is a tropical island—no, please, no, too hot—and in that case double-strong iced matcha latte).

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My bio:
Kelly Oliver is the award-winning and bestselling author of three mystery series: the seven-book suspense series, The Jessica James Mysteries; the three-book middle grade series, Pet Detective Mysteries; and the seven-book historical cozy series, The Fiona Figg Mysteries.

Kelly’s books have won the Indie Publishers award for Best Mystery/Thriller, Silver Falchion award for Best Suspense, and the Mischief and Mayhem award for Best Mystery, among others. High Treason at the Grand Hotel was selected by Mystery Magazine as a “Most Anticipated Mystery.”

Kelly is currently President of Sisters in Crime.

When she’s not writing novels, Kelly is a Distinguished Professor of Philosophy at Vanderbilt University. To learn more about Kelly and her books, go to kellyoliverbooks.com.