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

Why do you write the genre that you write?
Well, I write in two different genres (in addition to cozy mysteries, I write Women’s Fiction as Lucy Gilmore), so my reasons vary depending on the day. Let’s just say I love cozy mysteries because of how laid-back they are. Murder and death are gruesome subjects, but cozies allow me to make jokes and gloss over the scary bits so I can have fun with the story instead.

What’s the quirkiest quirk one of your characters has?
Ha! This is a tough one because all my characters have quirky quirks. At present, my favorite is Edna St. Clair from the By the Book mystery series. She delights in being as ornery as possible to as many people as she can. When I’m old, I plan to be exactly like her.

How did you come up with your pseudonym?
My cozy mysteries are written under my real name, but my other name, Lucy Gilmore, was a collaboration between me and my publisher. The Lucy half was chosen at random, but the Gilmore part pays homage to the Gilmore Girls, from whom I get my love of quick-fire banter and complicated mother/daughter relationships.

Tell us how you got into writing?
I was an English Lit major in college, so books and writing have always had a big part in my life. It wasn’t until I started working as a freelance writer, however, that I got in the habit of writing in the professional sense. Once you spend six hours a day writing website copy and Facebook posts for businesses, writing a whole book becomes much less intimidating.

What jobs have you held before, during and/or after you became a writer?
Well, in addition to the aforementioned freelance work, I’ve also done my fair share of customer service (I’m looking at you, Blockbuster). Currently, I split my time between writing books and ghostwriting for a choose-your-own-adventure app.

Where do you write?
Anywhere and everywhere! I started writing when my kiddo was three years old, so I trained myself to work while on playgrounds, in the car, sitting in endless waiting rooms, and sometimes even on the floor of the bathroom during bath time. It’s now become my superpower. Nothing can distract me.

What is your favorite deadline snack?
I love candy. Especially green candy. I couldn’t tell you why, but green always tastes better.

Who is an author you admire?
I’m currently deep in the Thursday Murder Club series, so I’d have to say Richard Osman. I love when someone who’s famous for something unrelated to books turns out to be an amazing writer. (Steve Martin and Chris Colfer also come to mind.) Talk about being multi-talented!

What’s your favorite genre to read?
I’m very much a Reese-Oprah-Jenna book club reader. For as long as I can remember, I’ve always picked up what’s hot and new in the book world—and I’m so easy to please that I’m rarely disappointed. If you give me good characters and an entertaining storyline, I’m in.

What are you reading now?
Richard Osman’s Last Devil to Die. I’ve been listening to the whole series on audiobook, so I was a little annoyed when they switched narrators after book two, but I quickly got over it. Both of the narrators they’ve had for that series have been excellent in their own unique ways.

What is your favorite beverage to end the day?
Wine, beer, a seasonal cocktail or two…I’m not picky. The only thing I can’t have is coffee after four o’clock. I’m like a Gremlin that way. If I cross that line, I’ll be up until dawn!

What is next for you?
I’m currently writing an as-of-yet-untitled cozy mystery about a millennial woman who finds herself forced to stay in her grandmother’s retirement community following a series of unfortunate life choices. Her grandma runs a murder podcast with her friends, and when one of them winds up dead, she gets arrested for it. It’s up to the heroine and all the podcast busybodies to free her. The book won’t be out until March of 2025 (so far away!) but I’m having a lot of fun with it, as I’m sure you can imagine.

Where can we find you?
These days, I’m most active on my Instagram account, @tamaratamaralucy. I can also be found on Facebook at @TamaraBerryAuthor and (rarely) on Twitter at @Tamara_Morgan. You can also visit my website at tamaraberry.com for updates and news.

Now to have some fun . . .

Chocolate or vanilla
Vanilla

Cake or ice cream
Cake

Fruits or vegetables
Vegetables

Breakfast, lunch, or dinner
Dinner

Dining in or dining out
Dining in

City life or country living
Country living

Beach or mountain
Beach

Summer or winter
Summer

Short story or full-length novel
Full-length novel

Extrovert or introvert
Introvert

Early bird or night owl
Early bird

And even more fun . . .

What’s your favorite movie?
Music and Lyrics

You are stranded on a deserted island. What are your three must-haves?
The complete Amelia Peabody series, my cat Henry, and heavy-duty bug spray.

My bio:
Tamara Berry is the Edgar Award winning author of the By the Book mystery series and the Eleanor Wilde mystery series. Also a freelance writer and editor, she has a bachelor’s degree in English Literature and a serious penchant for Nancy Drew novels. She lives in Bigfoot country (a.k.a. Eastern Washington) with her family and their menagerie. Find her online at tamaraberry.com.