Hawthorne Cove Mysteries

It’s my pleasure to interview author Amber Carlins (pen name Grace Caldwell) from Clermont, Florida.

How long have you been published and what titles and/or series have you published and with which publisher? Have you self-published any titles? Please give details.

I published my first book with a traditional publisher in 2011 (My Year of Living Fearlessly, Gollehon Books). After that, I started working more in theatre, film, and television (I’ve written several produced short plays, a produced television pilot, and an award-winning documentary, among other things). I’ve decided to return to novels and have opted to go the indie author route. My debut novel under the pen name Grace Caldwell is One of Our Darcies is Dead, which was released on 9/1/2026. It is the first in a series of seven bookish cozy mystery novels that will be released every two months. It’s being published by Paper Lantern Press.

Very nice. Congratulations!

Tell us a little bit about your books — if you write a series, any upcoming releases or your current work-in-progress. If you have an upcoming release, please specify the release date.

I write the Hawthorne Cove cozy mystery series, which debuted with One of Our Darcies is Dead on 9/1. It’s a bookish/literary cozy series that also has a strong culinary component and includes recipes in the back matter. The second book in the series, A Tale of Two Killers, will be released on 11/1 and is available for pre-order now. I’m including the series description here, just in case it’s helpful: Welcome to Hawthorne Cove, where the tea is always hot and the bodies keep dropping. Professor Chloe Sinclair came to this literary-themed seaside town looking for a fresh start. What she found instead was a knack for stumbling over corpses. Luckily, she’s read enough mysteries to know exactly how this is supposed to go. Each book in the Hawthorne Cove Mystery series wraps a fresh whodunit around the charm of a beloved literary classic and is perfect for readers who love their murder with a side of scones. Recipes are always included.

Sounds interesting and yummy.

Describe your goals as a writer. What do you hope to achieve in the next few years? What are you planning to do to reach these goals?

I plan to release a minimum of three seven-book cozy mystery series. In order to reach that goal, I plan to write five chapters a week and release a book every two months. I already have rough outlines for each series and am excited to dive into all of the different worlds they will represent.

Great plan.

What type of reader are you hoping to attract? Who do you believe would be most interested in reading your books?

I like to describe the Hawthorne Cove series as Gilmore Girls but with a murder. Fans of bookish cozies will absolutely find a home here, and I think culinary cozy readers will really respond to the rich food descriptions, the chef love interest, and the included recipes. It will especially appeal to readers who like their cozies with strong female friendships, slow burn romance, and lots of humor and wit.

That’s a varied audience.

What advice would you give other authors or those still trying to get published?

Obviously, it’s important to know and incorporate the specifics of your genre, but I think it’s equally important to write the sort of book you want to read. The more you try to appeal to absolutely everyone, the less I think you’ll ultimately truly appeal to anyone. There is beauty in specificity, not only as it pertains to your style and your voice but also as it pertains to your story. Don’t feel pressured to dilute that in order to appeal to the masses.

Good advice.

What particular challenges and struggles did you face before first becoming published?

I got very lucky with my first book in that I got published quite young, but there have been enough rejection letters to wallpaper my house between then and now. It’s taken an enormous amount of persistence and experimentation to refine my voice and find my audience.

I agree that it’s tough.

Do you belong to any writing groups? Which ones?

I don’t, but I’m a creative writing professor, so I spend an enormous amount of time reading and commenting on various writing projects.

I’m sure that helps you with your writing.

What are your hobbies and interests besides writing?

I have two giant cats and a daughter who is part tornado, which keep me very busy and very happy. I’m a voracious reader and also enjoy baking and gardening.

lol. I have cats and a daughter, too.

What do you like most and least about being an author? What is your toughest challenge?

I love telling stories. I love getting to build a world and live in it for a while. The act of writing is probably the closest I ever get to being in a true flow or meditative state, and there are few things in life that bring me more joy. In terms of what I like least, social media and marketing come considerably less naturally to me, so that’s a growth opportunity for me for sure. The toughest challenge is just trying to fit it all in. It can be hard to figure out where to fold in writing time around my full-time job and raising a child, but I’m infinitely happier and more fulfilled in a world where I get to do all three.

Time is always difficult to master.

What do you like about writing cozy mysteries?

There’s so much to love about writing cozy mysteries! I get to design a world I want to live in and then stay there for a while, which is joyful. I have entirely too much fun dreaming up and describing food for my characters to enjoy. I love the dynamics between the characters and the wit and the gentle humor. I love the intrigue, but I also love the fact that the characters and the world are every bit as important as the mystery. I’ve worked in a wide variety of genres over the years, but cozies are where I feel most at home.

I feel the same way with my cozy series.

Can you share a short excerpt from your latest title or upcoming release?

Rather than an excerpt, here’s the entire Baskerville Bakery Recipe Collection, a free PDF of recipes inspired by the food in the series, with a letter from one of the characters, available to newsletter subscribers at http://www.gracecaldwell.com/recipes.

Wonderful!

Is there anything else you’d like our readers to know about you or your books?

Book people are my very favorite people, and every time you read a page of my work, you are quite literally making my dreams come true.

I can relate.

Please list your social media links, website, blog, etc. and include some book cover graphics and author photos if possible.

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61590292063669

https://www.instagram.com/gracecaldwellbooks/

https://www.tiktok.com/@gracecaldwellbooks

https://www.gracecaldwell.com

Thanks so much, Amber. It’s been a pleasure chatting with you. I’m sharing your blog tour below. Best wishes on your new and upcoming releases.

One of Our Darcies is Dead: A Hawthorne Cove Mystery
by Grace Caldwell

About One of Our Darcies is Dead

One of Our Darcies is Dead: A Hawthorne Cove Mystery
Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Hawthorne Cove, a seaside town in New England
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Paper Lantern Press
Publication date ‏ : ‎ September 1, 2026
Print length ‏ : ‎ 193 pages
Paperback
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-8951927019
ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0HG6CNYH1
Digital
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-8951927002
ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0HFYYY4F4

The residents of Hawthorne Cove are determined to prove their seaside town deserves a place on every literary lover’s travel list. With a brand-new Jane Austen Festival, charming boutiques, and enough Regency flair to satisfy even the most devoted Austen fan, they’re ready for their grand debut. But when opening night ends with a dead Mr. Darcy, literature professor Chloe Sinclair, in town to escape a life that hasn’t gone to plan, learns that the most captivating stories aren’t always the ones written in books.

About Grace Caldwell

Grace Caldwell writes cozy mysteries for people who’d bring a book to a murder. An award-winning screenwriter and a professor of creative writing and literature, she’s published across more genres than she can reasonably list at a dinner party, but cozy mysteries are where she feels most at home. She lives in Central Florida with two fluffy feline assistants, Elsa and Anna, who supervise every page and approve of none of her deadlines.

Author Links

Website https://www.gracecaldwell.com/

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61590292063669

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/gracecaldwellbooks/

TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@gracecaldwellbooks

Purchase Links: https://www.gracecaldwell.com/shop AMAZON

TOUR PARTICIPANTS

September 17 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – AUTHOR GUEST POST

September 17 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – REVIEW

September 18 – Elizabeth McKenna – Author – SPOTLIGHT

September 18 – View from the Birdhouse – SPOTLIGHT

September 19 – Jody’s Bookish Haven – SPOTLIGHT