Author Deb Graham Takes Readers on Adventures Aboard Cruise Ships and Beyond

Join author Deb Graham on captivating journeys through the high seas and beyond as she navigates the world of cozy mysteries. With seven published books to her name, Graham's expertise shines, particularly in her cruise ship-themed novels, but also ones . Meet her beloved character Jerria Danson and embark on adventures across Hawaii, Alaska, and beyond.

Could you share a little about yourself and the cozy mysteries you write?

I’m the author of 31 books and I’m working on three more, plus there’s the To Be Written file on my computer with ideas for future books. My husband is also an author and we spend a lot of time at in-person events—49 last year!— selling our books and meeting readers.

I have seven published cozy mysteries so far. The first two, the ones I want to focus on here, are set on cruise ships. My first book series is nonfiction, The Cruise Addict’s Wife series, and when I turned to fiction, it made sense to base them on cruise ships. “Write what you know” is common advice and I know cruises. Peril in Paradise and Murder on Deck take place on cruises in Hawaii and Alaska, respectively. I liked Jerria Danson, the main character, so well, she’s in two other novels, including my new release, S’More Murder, and a historical fiction that takes place in current times (Jerria’s aunt is relating the family legacy, based on cookie cutters) called The Cookie Cutter Legacy. 

I’d Give Anything To Be In Your Shoes is set in beautiful North Idaho, where I live. Thymes and Seasons and The Ghost in the Bakery are small-town novels about women who come into their own…while dealing with a few crimes along the way. Who’s After Josie Malone sets Josie on a quest to find out who she really is after she learns her entire history was a lie.

How do you develop your characters, particularly your amateur sleuth?

I get really attached to my characters! In the first two novels, the ones on cruise ships, Peril in Paradise and Murder on Deck, Jerria Danson came alive as I cruised. I’m a people-watcher and she’s a combination of folks I met. Okay, and a lot of myself, if honesty prevails. When I turned from writing nonfiction to fiction, I was initially disturbed by the fact that I…hear voices in my head. I consulted author-friends and they assured me it’s normal, that the characters often speak to them as well. I can’t say I developed Jerria; she came pretty well fully-formed. I enjoy the banter between Jerria and her husband, Will, and the strong friendship she has with Nan. Another favorite character is Dimmie, the main character in The Dim-Witted Hitman. While not a cozy, it’s a fun crime novel about a mob assassin who’s not really a bad Bad Buy, just a little misunderstood. How often do you find yourself cheering on the Bad Guy?

Cozy mysteries often feature unique settings or themes. Can you tell us about the setting/theme of your latest book and what drew you to it?

As I said, my first two were set on cruise ships—and readers have told me they used both to plan their own trips in real life! My most recent releases are S’More Murder and MisFortune Cookies. S’More Murder reprises Jerria and Nan, this time on land at a writing retreat in North Idaho, where things take an unexpected turn. MisFortune Cookies introduces a new character, Jane, whose dull life is shattered by an explosion. Following messages in fortune cookies, she goes on a quest, only to learn much later that the Bad Guy has been manipulating her through the tiny paper strips.  I believe in travel, so my characters are often pulled out of their comfort zones on the road to new places.

What do you find most challenging about writing cozy mysteries, and how do you overcome it?

I wrecked my wrist some years ago (while careening down a 300-foot-long slip-n-slide to rescue my unconscious husband at the bottom. Halfway down, I realized I was going to hit him and if he wasn’t already dead, that might do it. Body-blocked by my son who leaped from the sidelines, I tore my wrist, crushed a finger, and caved in several ribs. Husband? He’s fine, just got the wind knocked out him…before I got there) and typing is consequently slower than I’d like it to be. Often ideas flood my mind faster than I can get them down and that’s annoying. I have tried dictation, but it uses the other part of my brain and feels more clunky than creative. I time-block when I can; write as much as I’m able, rest until the pain subsides, repeat.

Cozy mysteries often incorporate humor and wit. How do you balance the lighter elements with the seriousness of the mystery?

I have a background in stand-up comedy, so adding humor is nearly effortless for me. In my day-to-day life, I find funny phrases and events all the time. I jot notes to myself (so many notes!) and incorporate them into my writing. I feel visually, in that every thought has an image attached to it in my mind. I see my plot lines like a roller coaster. No one likes nothing but free falls or that horrible creeping -up-to-the top feeling exclusively. The roller coaster, and my stories, need ups and downs to flow better.

Too much tension doesn’t give the reader a chance to breathe but I don’t want them falling asleep, either. All of my books, even the crime novels, are uplifting with an ending that makes readers sigh in satisfaction. The world is a challenging place; if they’re willing to spend a few hours reading my books, I want them to feel better. If they need to feel dragged down, they can go watch the news.

Can you share any interesting research experiences or fun facts you discovered while researching for your books?

So many! The Cookie Cutter Legacy, while not strictly a cozy, led me into massive research so Great-Aunt Henrietta could relate factual stories to Jerria, her bounden duty to pass down the legacy of family stories encapsulated in the legacy of cookies cutters. I was disturbed to realize sometimes my characters, the made up ones from my own imagination, know something I don’t. For example, Henrietta said moths don’t eat silk and I had to look that up. How did she, who is not real, know that, when I, who created her character from nothing, did not? I love research and often slip facts into all of my books, maybe an offhand comment by a character. If you’re going to read, you may as well learn something along the way, right?

Is there anything else you’d like to share that I haven’t covered in the interview?

Cozy mysteries appeal to me for several reasons. I’m drawn to the characters, who are usual ordinary people, not superheroes or over-the-top types; they’re people you could meet in your own life, who just happen to come upon situations that require them to figure things out.  Because they’re mild enough to not keep me up at night I am prone to nightmares so I have to be very careful about what I watch or read; my imagination is active enough without feeding it.

Finally, what advice do you have for aspiring cozy mystery writers?

Read. Read good cozies and terrible ones and read more of them. The basic structure is easy, once you recognize it. Cozy mysteries tend to be clean and wholesome and the world needs more of that influence. It’s our job as writers to push back the darkness in the world, to give readers a place to rest their minds from the stresses of life.

To learn more about Deb Graham, visit her website: www.debgrahamauthor.com