Wren Johnson sits down for a Q&A with dru’s book musings responding to twenty or more questions so that we can learn more about her. Are you ready? Let’s get to know Wren.

What is your full name?
Wren Lynn Johnson

How old are you?
I’m 25.

What is your profession?
I own a bee product store and bee keep.

Do you have a significant other?
No, I don’t have time right now with my store taking off.

Do you have any children?
No.

Do you have any siblings?
I’m an only child.

Are your parents nearby?
My parents are dead, but my Aunt Eloise lives nearby and keeps me busy.

Who is your best friend?
My best friend is Porsche Allen. She helps me at the store.

Do you have any pets?
Yes, my Havana Brown kitty, Everett, who loves to talk and go for walks with me on his leash.

What town do you live in?
I live in Oceanview, Oregon right on the coast.

Do you live in a small town or a big city?
Oceanview is a small town filled with colorful characters like my aunt.

Type of dwelling and do you own or rent?
I live in a two-bedroom apartment above the store.

What is your favorite spot in your home?
My favorite spot is my kitchen where I cook up honey candy, lip balm, candles, lotions and more.

Favorite meal and dessert?
I love honey baked ham and au gratin potatoes with honey, and Marionberry pie.

Do you have any hobbies?
I love beekeeping. My bees are on display for my customers and I enjoy how much people are fascinated by the hive.

What is your favorite vacation spot?
I live in one of the best vacation spots on the Oregon coast, but I do like Cancun in February when I’m tired of the cold and rain.

What music do you listen to?
I like folk music and pop music.

Do you have a favorite book?
I’m an Agatha Christie fan.

What is your idea of a really fun time?
Hanging out with Porsche and Everett on the beach is my idea of a really fun time.

If you were to write a memoir, what would you call it?
The Beekeeper’s Song

Amateur or professional sleuth and whom do you work with?
I’m an amateur sleuth, and I work with Officer Jim Hampton.

In a few sentences, what is a typical day in your life like?
Everett and I like to walk down by the beach in the mornings before the store opens. Then it’s back to work from about ten a.m. to six or seven p.m. depending on the foot traffic and the time of year. Work can be busy, if we have a sale or there is a festival in the area, and believe me, there are a lot of festivals. I get away when I can and handmake beeswax candles, lip balms, lotions, soaps and candies to keep my inventory up in my shop. I love being creative, and also volunteering in the town. So, I may spend my evenings helping run a festival or meeting with the food pantry group. I end my days sitting with Everett and reading in my little book nook with the sound of the ocean outside my window.

A Matter of Hive and Death, A Honeycomb Mystery #2
Genre: Cozy
Release: March 2021
Purchase Link – This title is available only at Barnes & Noble through 3/29/2022

It’s early May on the Oregon coast. Wren Johnson, owner of the Let It Bee honey shop, is preparing for the annual UFO festival. Her Aunt Eloise has even designed costumes for their Havana Brown cats to celebrate the occasion.

It’s also fruit tree blossom season, so Wren goes to check in with her bee wrangler friend, Elias Brentwood. What she finds at his house are three destroyed hives, a mad swarm of bees, and Elias on the ground. She calls 911, but when the EMS arrive, Elias is dead — not from bee stings, but from blunt force trauma to the head.

After another bee wrangler is found dead with his hives destroyed, Wren dives into the local beekeeper community to help figure out who is destroying the hives and murdering the bee wranglers. Is it a secret government cover up? A sinister plot to invade North American swarms with genetically modified bees? Or all a scam put in place by the killer as a way to corner the local market? As Wren gets closer to solving the murders, the killer smashes the beehive inside Let It Bee, causing chaos for Wren and her kitties.

Wren and Aunt Eloise must figure out who the killer is, but can they prove it before another person dies? There’s just one way to solve the mystery – they’ll have to set up a sting!

About the author
USA Today Bestselling Author, Nancy J Parra AKA Nancy Coco AKA Nell Hampton is the author of over 30 published novels which include five mystery series: The Oregon Honey-comb Mystery Series (Kensington), The Candy-Coated Mysteries (Kensington), The Kensington Palace Mystery Series (Crooked Lane), The Wine Country Tours Mystery Series (Crooked Lane) The Gluten-free Baker’s Treat Mysteries (Berkley Prime Crime), and The Perfect Proposal Mysteries (Berkley Prime Crime). Her writing has been called witty and her protagonists plucky by reviewers around the world. Nancy is a member of Sisters in Crime, and loves to hear from readers.

All comments are welcomed.