Welcome Daryl Wood Gerber: Writing a Mystery with Magical Elements is a Challenge – and a #giveaway
By Liz, happy to welcome our friend Daryl Wood Gerber back to the blog! She’s talking about magical mysteries today to celebrate her newest Fairy Garden Mystery, A Twinkle of Trouble, and I love this conversation. Take it away, Daryl!
Choosing to write a mystery with magical elements is a challenge, but a delightful one. Facing the reader’s suspension of disbelief is always daunting. Plus, let’s face it, an amateur sleuth is a pretty hard sell. I mean, come on, how many of you have tried to solve a crime and actually gone out to investigate? Not many, I’m assuming, so trying to get readers to believe an amateur sleuth is curious as well as courageous is not easy. You have to create a story (a series) that draws the reader to the characters, the location, and more. Now, when you add in a magical being, be it a fairy, a witch, or a ghost, wariness in the reader magnifies. Right?
So what will it take to convince a reader to go on this journey? Why should I even attempt to write it?
Here are my top three reasons why I chose to write the Fairy Garden Mysteries:
I love the characters. When Fiona, the righteous fairy, came to mind, I was enthralled by her. For such a small young being, she was savvy and curious and brave. When she and Courtney, the owner of Open Your imagination, a fairy garden shop, team up, they’re fearless. Well, almost. Exploring this relationship and encouraging each character to grow has been a rich, rewarding experience. It has also been a delight to create my fairy’s background, her limitations, and her eagerness to learn new things. It’s a whole new world for me to explore.
2. Choosing the right town to set my story in wasn’t too difficult. I have always loved visiting Carmel-by-the-Sea, a charming coastal town in California. It’s magical and bursting with creative energy. After the 1906 earthquake in San Francisco, Carmel became a haven for artists and authors. They wanted a town that would support the arts. The sidewalks are cobblestone. There are gingerbread-style houses and shops. The beach is within walking distance. And the courtyards and secret passageways, for which Carmel is known, are captivating. Creating the courtyard where Open Your Imagination sells its wares and the shop itself, with its patio fit with twinkling lights and burbling fountain, was vital to me in order to craft this magical environment.
3. To begin my journey, I really dug into the art of fairy gardening because I wanted Courtney to be a maven for those who wanted to make their own. What is fairy gardening? Think of it as doll-housing for gardens. In each of mine, I create conversations—one or two fairies interacting or communicating with other magical creatures. FYI, you don’t need a green thumb to make a fairy garden. You can make them using fake plants or you can construct them at the base of a tree or you can install one in a tea cup. Your imagination is what matters. It was this imagination that spurred me on whenever I was writing my story. Which garden technique would Courtney highlight? Which character would open his or heart to the magic and see a fairy?
It has been pure fun writing this series. My inner child has been set free.
Question, dear reader. What do you like to do that opens your heart or mind to wonder? Do you like to read about magical creatures? Fairies? Witches? Ghosts and goblins? Shape shifters? If so, which his your favorite? One commenter will receive a choice of the first 4 Fairy Garden Mysteries, paper or e-book plus some swag.
About Daryl:
Agatha Award-winning author Daryl Wood Gerber is best known for her nationally bestselling mysteries, including the Fairy Garden Mysteries and Cookbook Nook Mysteries. As Avery Aames, she penned the popular Cheese Shop Mysteries. In addition, Daryl writes suspense including the well received The Son’s Secret, Girl on the Run, andthe popular Aspen Adams suspense novels. Recently Daryl, who loves a challenge, published a Christmas romance, Hope for the Holidays. Fun Tidbit: as an actress, Daryl appeared in “Murder, She Wrote.” She loves to cook, garden, read, and walk her frisky Goldendoodle. Also she has been known to jump out of a perfectly good airplane. You can learn more on her website or find her on social: Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, TikTok or Goodreads, BookBub and Amazon!
