5 Questions with Colleen Gleason — Myth and Magic Book Club

Oct 11

Oct 11 5 Questions with Colleen Gleason

Colleen Gleason’s Gardella Vampire Hunter series’ were some of the first that got me into fantasy and fantasy romance books. I’ve been beyond thrilled with each new book and genre that she has tackled and so excited to get to ask her some questions about her new books!

1. You've written a bit of all of my favorite genres! From regency vampire romance, to roaring 20's vampire hunters and YA steampunk fantasy, not to mention, small town paranormal romance, Laura Croft-esq adventures and historical mysteries. To top it off, this month you're releasing the first in a paranormal women's fiction series (Tomes Scones & Crone s) and the first in a new historical cozy mystery series focused on the household of Agatha Christie (Murder at Mallowan Hall)! All that to ask, do you have a favorite genre to write? or how do you decide what type of story to tackle next?

I love being able to write in different genres, and being able to publish in all of them. I don’t have a particular favorite genre to write in, really—I enjoy them all (that’s why I write in so many genres). My “next” project is always determined by my contractual obligations first, and then whatever idea is nagging at me next. At this point, my schedule is booked for the next year or two with two historical mysteries, one paranormal women’s fiction, and one contemporary romantic suspense/paranormal each year.

2. Murder at Mallowan Hall focuses on the household of Agatha Christie, I'm sort of assuming you are a fan of her work, do you have a favorite Agatha Christie mystery?

I adore Agatha Christie. I snarfed all of her Poirot books when I was younger, and most of the Miss Marple books. I love being able to read the ones I didn’t read before (and re-read those I did) in the name of research for this series. It’s fantastic being able to read for “pleasure” while knowing it’s helpful to my series. It’s difficult to pick a favorite Christie, but I will say that The Murder of Roger Ackroyd blew my mind when I first read it many years ago, and so did And Then There Were None. Also, Peril at End House is another really good one as well.

3. Tomes Scones & Crones kick off a really fun series featuring a heroine in her late 40's taking over a magical bookstore in small town Michigan, this happens to feature a lot of my favorite things, books about books, magic, northern lower Michigan and a delightful cast of characters. What are you most excited for readers to experience in this series?

Honestly, I just dove into writing the first book in this series without much of a plan because I wanted to write a book about a very special bookshop and the woman who inherited it, and who comes into her “own” in her late forties. I let everything that wanted to happen, happen—everything from witches and crones to curses and dead bodies to literary characters coming off the page, to the most magical and perfect bookshop I could ever imagine…along with what it’s like having friends when you’re in your forties and life is different because you simply don’t care what other people think about you. I simply hope readers will just enjoy the ride. The book is really a love letter to books and life-time readers.

4. Tomes Scones & Crones makes mention of a Michigan gin that has more spruce essence than juniper, which just sounded so lovely! What is your favorite cocktail?

So that particular gin is called Lady of the House and it’s made by the Detroit Distillery. I love it in a gin and tonic for the summertime.

As for favorite cocktails in general, I have two favorites. One is more for summertime—a French 75 (made with gin, simple syrup, lemon juice, a sugared rim because that’s how I like it, and a big splash of sparkling wine). The other is called a Vieux-Carré and I discovered it while I was doing research for the second Phyllida Bright book (hint: that particular cocktail plays a very large role in the book). The Vieux-Carré is a heavier drink, so I tend to have that more in the winter/autumn. It’s made with rye, cognac, vermouth, Benedictine, Luxardo cherries (totally worth the expense) and some very special bitters.

5. The Three Tomes Bookshop series has some fun overlap with your Wicks Hollow paranormal romance series. Both take place in small towns on the westside of Michigan, where there is a bit of magic or ghost mischief to be found. Can we expect to see any character overlap?

I definitely plan for there to be some character overlap—or at least cameos by Wicks Hollow characters. I’m pretty certain the Tuesday Ladies are going to have to make a trip to Three Tomes Bookshop at least once or twice…and there are three older ladies in the bookshop series that would get along quite well with Maxine and her friends.

More about the author:

Colleen Gleason is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling and award-winning author who can’t seem to decide what type of book to write…so she writes a lot of different genres!

So far, Colleen has written everything from vampire hunters to dystopian romance, to steampunk, historical romance, and mysteries with a supernatural flair. One element, however, that appears in all of her stories, is that of partnership…whether it be professional, romantic, or both.

All of Colleen’s books feature strong heroines experiencing fast-paced adventures, danger, mystery, and of course, romance. But at the core of each story is the belief that every woman deserves a partner who accepts her for her strengths as well as her weaknesses—and vice versa.

Colleen lives in the midwest United States with her family and two dogs, and is always working on her next book.

Books we’ve reviewed by Colleen:

Draculia Vampire Trilogy

Stoker & Holmes