It’s a pleasure to welcome Michele Pariza Wacek from Reedsburg, Wisconsin, to Ruff Drafts.
How long have you been published, Michele? 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 fiction book in 2015 (I had published some nonfiction business books prior to my fiction.) Since then, I’ve published 24 full length books and 7 novellas, all self published. My main series are Secrets of Redemption (a 9 book completed psychological thriller series), The Charlie Kingsley Mysteries (an ongoing cozy mystery series that takes place in the 1990s and is also a spin off from Secrets of Redemption), The Redemption Detective Agency (an ongoing cozy mystery series that also takes place in the 1990s and is a spin off from The Charlie Kingsley Mysteries) and The Riverview Mysteries (which is a series of psychological thriller standalones).
Very nice. Tell us a little 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 both psychological thrillers and cozy mysteries, but right now I’ve been focusing on the cozies. The Mysterious Case of the Missing House, which is Book 4 of the Redemption Detective Agency and is my lightest, funniest cozy mystery series, is released on July 15.
We have a lot in common in regard to that. I also enjoy writing other mysteries besides cozies.
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 have a couple of new cozy mystery series brewing, plus a few other projects that I’m excited about, along with continuing to write in my current cozy mystery series.
Sounds good.
What type of reader are you hoping to attract? Who do you believe would be most interested in reading your books?
Readers who love twisty mysteries, as that’s what I write (even in the cozy genre). If they also love digging into a psych thriller every now and then, that’s even better as all my books are interconnected.
I think you just described my ideal readers, too 🙂
What advice would you give other authors or those still trying to get published?
Don’t give up. If it’s your dream, then keep going. This is a difficult business and the only way to make it is to keep going.
Excellent advice.
What particular challenges and struggles did you face before first becoming published?
Oh man, I had so many. Mostly I was terrified to hit publish. I had completed two novels well over a decade before I finally published them on Amazon. Looking back, that’s one of my biggest regrets in this business that I didn’t hit publish sooner.
I’ve been working on old material, too. I’d like to see all my writing published. Like you, it took me time to get up the nerve.
Do you belong to any writing groups? Which ones?
I’m in a number of Facebook groups that cater to authors, but they aren’t necessarily writing groups. Years ago I was in a local critique group, but I haven’t done that for a long time.
It’s hard to belong to too many groups.
What are your hobbies and interests besides writing?
Reading (of course!), hiking, playing with my dog and watching the Food Network.
Good hobbies.
What do you like most and least about being an author? What is your toughest challenge?
There’s a lot of challenges in this business. I would say my biggest challenge is getting started writing. Once I’ve started and am in the flow, it’s wonderful, but getting started has always been an issue.
Most writers find marketing tough, too.
What do you like about writing cozy mysteries?
The quirky characters. I love the relationships, and I always have a ton of found family tropes in my cozy mysteries.
I agree that characters are the main draw in cozy mysteries.
Can you share a short excerpt from your latest title or upcoming release?
The phone ringing jarred me out of my brooding. I flipped over the file folder that I was using to hide my job application and picked up the phone. “The Redemption Detective Agency, Emily speaking.”
“Well, well, well, she finally did it.”
While I was pretty sure the speaker was a woman, it was a little difficult to tell. Not only because her voice was low gravely contralto (I would put money on her being a smoker), but there was also a lot of static. “I’m sorry, I’m not sure who you’re referring to.”
“I said she finally did it.”
I raised my voice. “Who did what?”
“What? You’re going to have to speak up. It’s kind of loud here.”
“Who did what?” I felt like I was shouting.
“Tilde, of course. This is a detective agency, right?”
“Yes.”
“She always said she wanted to own a detective agency. Fancied herself a modern-day Nancy Drew. Not that I doubted her or anything. Once Tilde sets her mind to something, she tends to get it.”
“That does sound like my aunt.”
“Oh!” The voice brightened. “You’re Emily. Of course you are. That’s what you said when you answered the phone. I should have figured it out sooner. I’m Amelia, but my friends call me Meli. Tilde has said such wonderful things about you.”
“Um … thank you.” I wished I could say the same about her, but Aunt Tilde had never mentioned an Amelia or a Meli. “How can I help you? Do you need a detective?”
“I should say so,” Meli said with a chuckle. “I wouldn’t be spending five dollars a minute if I didn’t.”
My eyes widened. Five dollars a minute? Where was she calling from? Oh geez, I hoped this didn’t mean we were going to have to try and investigate in a foreign country, likely without any pay. “Did you want to talk to Tilde?”
“She’s there? Oh yes, please put her on.”
I put Meli on hold and tried to get Aunt Tilde’s attention. It took me a minute, as the gargoyle argument was really heating up.
“I don’t know, Mildred,” Aunt Tilde was saying as she stirred her coffee. Her outfit was a little more sedate than normal, as her orange cardigan almost matched her bright-orange hair and oversized glasses. Of course, she had paired it with a green turtleneck that didn’t match at all. “I really don’t think gargoyles like chocolate.”
“Everyone likes chocolate,” Mildred said firmly. In contrast to Aunt Tilde, she wore a pressed gray pantsuit with a single string of pearls, and her gray, permed hair looked freshly styled, like she had just come from her twice-weekly hairdresser appointment. “Why do you think they come to life around Halloween?”
“You think they want to trick or treat?” Aunt Tilde asked.
“Wouldn’t you?” Mildred said. “It has to be tough not being able to move for most of the year.”
“Aunt Tilde,” I nearly shouted. “Phone for you.”
Aunt Tilde’s eyes lit up. “Really? Is it a client?”
“It might be. It’s someone named Amelia or Meli.”
Aunt Tilde’s mouth turned into a round O. “Meli? Oh my. I haven’t talked to her in ages.”
“I didn’t realize she had come back,” Mildred said.
“I don’t think she has,” I said as Aunt Tilde went to her desk. “Wherever she’s calling from, it’s like five dollars a minute.”
Aunt Tilde’s jaw dropped. “Five dollars a minute? Oh my. I better see what she wants.”
Great excerpt. Thanks for sharing.
Is there anything else you’d like our readers to know about you or your books?
The biggest thing that motivates me is being read. I don’t take it lightly that readers choose to spend time with my books, and if you do, know that’s what makes it all worthwhile for me.
I feel the same way.
Thanks so much for the interview, Michele. I’m sharing the blog tour for your new release below.
The Mysterious Case of the Missing House
(The Redemption Detective Agency)
by Michele Pariza Wacek
About The Mysterious Case of the Missing House
The Mysterious Case of the Missing House (The Redemption Detective Agency)
Cozy Mystery
4th in Series
Setting – Redemption, Wisconsin, in the 1990s
Publisher : Love-Based Publishing
Publication date : July 15, 2026
Number of Pages 177
ASIN : B0FMT7ST5F
Emily has a big decision in front of her. But before she can make it, Amelia Clark, one of Aunt Tilde’s friends call The Redemption Detective Agency with an emergency.
Apparently Amelia can’t get a hold of her niece, who’s been house sitting, and she’s worried that her niece forgot to water her rose bushes.
Should be fairly straight forward, right? Drive to the house, see if the niece is there, and make sure the roses aren’t dead as well.
Except…the house is no longer there. It’s now a fancy health club.
Nor is the niece.
Needless to say, Emily has no choice but to figure out what happened to Amelia’s house and her niece before she makes any decisions about her career. Or her love life.
A spin-off from the Charlie Kingsley Mystery series! The Redemption Detective Agency is a funny, twisty, romcom cozy mystery series set in the 1990s featuring silver sleuths solving cold cases, cats, dogs and an opposites attract love triangle. Great for fans of the Thursday Murder Club.
About Michele Pariza Wacek
A USA Today Bestselling, award-winning author, Michele taught herself to read at 3 years old because she wanted to write stories so badly. It took some time (and some detours) but she does spend much of her time writing stories now. Mystery stories, to be exact. They’re clean and twisty, and range from psychological thrillers to cozies, with a dash of romance and supernatural thrown into the mix. If that wasn’t enough, she posts lots of fun things on her blog, including short stories, puzzles, recipes, and more, at MPWNovels.com.
Michele grew up in Wisconsin (hence why all her books take place there), and still visits regularly, but she herself escaped the cold and now lives in the mountains of Prescott, Arizona, with her husband and southern squirrel hunter Cassie.
When she’s not writing, she’s usually reading, hanging out with her dog, or watching the Food Network and imagining she’s an awesome cook. (Spoiler alert, she’s not. Luckily for the whole family, Mr. PW is in charge of the cooking.)
Author Links
Website Facebook Instagram
Purchase Link – Amazon
TOUR PARTICIPANTS
July 21 – Reading Is My SuperPower – REVIEW
July 21 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
July 22 – Read Your Writes Book Reviews – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
July 23 – Jody’s Bookish Haven – SPOTLIGHT
July 23 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – REVIEW
July 24 – Romance Novel Giveaways – AUTHOR GUEST POST
July 25 – deal sharing aunt – SPOTLIGHT
July 26 – Sarandipity’s – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
July 27 – Books, Ramblings, and Tea – SPOTLIGHT
July 28 – Ruff Draft – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
July 28 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT
July 29 – Books1987 – SPOTLIGHT
July 30 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW
July 31 – Salty Inspirations.com – CHARACTER GUEST POST
August 1 – Guatemala Paula Loves to Read – SPOTLIGHT
August 2 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW
August 2 – Sarah Can’t Stop Reading Books – REVIEW
August 3 – Ascroft, eh? – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
August 3 – Boys’ Mom Reads! – REVIEW
Giveaway Link: https://kingsumo.com/g/36qy0o1/the-mysterious-case-of-the-missing-house-the-redemption-detective-agency-by-michele-pariza-wacek”
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A Mysterious Christmas Collection:
A Room for Murder (Charlie Kingsley Mysteries)
Ruff Drafts 