Why do you write the genre that you write?
I write what I read. I have always loved mysteries that can make you laugh one second and make your jaw drop the next. For me, those tend to be lighter mysteries like cozies or domestic suspense. And as a black woman, I didn’t see people who looked like me solving the crimes nearly enough so I want to do everything in my power to make sure little girls like my niece don’t grow up feeling the same.
Tell us how you got into writing?
I’m one of those annoying people who knew I wanted to be a writer since I was five years old. My mom still has a notebook of stories I started and never finished! Over thirty years later and I still struggle to actually finish writing a book.
What’s next for you?
In a dream world, what’s next would be winning the lotto and moving to my own private island. Until then though, I’m working on a standalone. Like A Sister is a Megan Miranda-esque #ownvoices domestic suspense novel about a woman looking into the overdose death of a one-time reality star found within blocks of her house—her own estranged younger sister. (Isn’t that a cool description? I can say that because Lori Rader-Day wrote the description for me after I kept going on and on and on about my work-in-progress.)
What are you reading now?
I just finished Her Three Lives by Cate Holahan an #ownvoices domestic suspense about a black woman appropriately described as “Gaslight goes hi-tech.” It’s out April 2021. Up next is Murder My Past by Delia C. Pitts, the fifth book in her Harlem-set Ross Agency P.I. series, which is out in February. (If this sounds like I’m bragging about getting to read books early, I am.)
Where can we find you?
Stuck in my house stalking Twitter and Instagram when I should be writing! If you’d like to stalk me when you should be writing, I’m at:
Website: kellyegarrett.com
Twitter: twitter.com/kellyekell
Facebook: facebook.com/kellyegarrettauthor
Goodreads: goodreads.com/kellyekell
Amazon: amazon.com/author/kellyegarrett
Just don’t show up at my house (or my island when I win the lotto).
Now to have some fun . . .
Vanilla or chocolate
Vanilla.
Pizza or burgers
Pizza. (This was the hardest question I ever had to answer in my life.)
Broccoli or Squash
Broccoli. (This was the easiest.)
Breakfast, lunch, or dinner
Breakfast for dinner.
Mountain or beach
Beach! Who wants to do all that work climbing when you can just sit?
Introvert or Extrovert
Extroverted introvert. I’m an ISFJ for those into Myers Briggs personality typing. (So is Beyonce! #Humblebrag)
My bio:
Kellye Garrett’s Hollywood Homicide, about a semi-famous, mega-broke black actress, won the Anthony, Agatha, Lefty, and IPPY for best first novel. It’s also one of BookBub’s “Top 100 Crime Novels of All Time.” The second, Hollywood Ending, was featured on the TODAY show’s Best Summer Reads of 2019 and was nominated for both Anthony and Lefty awards. She serves on Sisters in Crime’s national board and is a co-founder of Crime Writers of Color.
Thank you Kellye for being the first participant on my new feature.
Great to learn more about Kellye.
I love this! Hi, Kellye!
What a great way to bring all the people we miss seeing at conferences back into our lives. Thanks for the chat, Kellye! And what a great new feature, Dru Ann!
Great new feature, Dru Ann! Thanks Kellye ~
This is a fabulous new feature with the perfect first guest. Well done.
What a great new feature. It’s nice to get to know you better, Kellye.
Nice to meet you Kelley! This was a fun interview, and w definitely a beach person too!
This is a great new feature, Dru Ann. Thanks for sharing, Kellye. A perfect start!
You are so funny, Kellye and I adore your detective by day series. I can’t wait to read Like a Sister. Great new feature, Dru Ann!!!
I love this, Dru! Also, I do cyberstalk Kellye regularly. I love her works!
Fun and informative!
Great new feature, Dru Ann! And what a dynamite way to kick off the New Year with Mystery Maven Kellye Garrett! Thanks so much for the shout-out, Kellye!
Dru, thank you again for asking me to help kick things off. And thank you everyone for the kind words!
Fun insights! Thanks Kellye and Dru Ann!
Great interview, Kellye. Looking forward to your next book!
Love the new feature and love the first writer featured! 2021 off to a great start! (whispered with fingers crossed)
I enjoyed your new segment as it’s fun finding out little tidbits about our favorite authors and nice to know that Kellye and I would both prefer the beach to mountain climbing! 😄
Great job Dru Ann
What a fab new feature, Dru–and way to score Kellye for your first fab guest! (If I bring broccoli pizza and vanilla crème brûlée to your island, can I come visit, Kellye?)
Great new feature, Dru! Thanks Kellye for your fun answers.
Nice interview, great new feature.
I love the new feature, Dru! Loved the interview, Kellye.
This is a great interview with Kellye. Thanks for posting it. As always, Kellye puts the spirit into inspiring!
Yay, Kellye—great interview. Love this series and can’t wait to read your forthcoming book. And this is such a cool new feature, Dru!
Yay, Kellye—what a great interview! Love this series and can’t wait to read your forthcoming book. Wonderful new feature, Dru!
Great interview, Kellye! What a neat new feature, Dru, I love it!
What a fun new feature! I’m with Kellye – pizza or burgers? That’s a tough one!