Turning Hobbies into Murder... An interview with Malissa Chapin

 I’m excited to introduce you to a new writer friend, Malissa Chapin. Let’s dive right into the interview: 

Robin: What have you researched that makes you think the FBI might be interested in you?

 

Malissa: For my first cozy mystery, Murder Goes Solo, I needed to know if a body would fit inside a Steinway piano. I wasn’t sure how to find out until I remembered that our church had recently received a Steinway piano from a donor.

After church, I stopped our music pastor and asked if he could answer a weird question.

 “Were you at church for the piano delivery?”

He nodded. 

I asked, “Would a body fit in the crate?”

His eyes bugged out. “Yes. Those things are huge and that IS a weird question!” 

I told him I couldn’t just call the music store and ask!

 

Robin: That is hilarious! Would you tell us about your current book release, Murder Goes Glamping?

Malissa: This is the second book in my Piper Haydn Piano Mysteries series. Piper and Rosie go glamping in my favorite part of Wisconsin—the peninsula jutting out into Lake Michigan. They enjoy some fun adventures, and try to solve a murder and a historical mystery. 

 

Robin: I love cozies—they’re a nice change from the suspense I usually read, and your story sounds like fun. What would you like readers to know about your characters?

 

Malissa: Piper loves the piano and owns a music academy. She’s from a well-to-do family and loves the finer things in life. 

 

Roosevelt—a.k.a. Rosie—Piper’s childhood best friend, loves dressing in vintage clothing and is an artistic zany girl with a penchant for getting into scrapes. 

 

I love both of them!

 

Robin: They sound like fun people to spend a story with! Would you share with us what you are working on now?

 

Malissa: I’m writing the sequel to my first dual timeline novel and working on the beginning of my third book in the Piper Haydn series. 

 

Robin: I’m glad you’re writing a third. I bet your readers will love that. What is the most valuable piece of advice you’d like to give to unpublished authors?

Malissa: Learn to accept input on your writing without getting defensive. My group of early readers helps me write the best book possible. I’d rather listen to the input of friends than see terrible reviews online. I don’t change everything they suggest, but listening to their ideas and feedback forces me to write a better book. 

Robin: Such good advice! What do you do when you’re not writing? Any interesting hobbies? 

 

Malissa: I enjoy reading a wide variety of books. My hobbies are gardening, knitting, playing the piano, and watercolor painting. Multiple in-progress projects fill my shelves, my tables, my bags. My oldest son moved out last fall, and I turned his room into my craft space. It’s not quite all put together, but I enjoy storing everything in one spot and containing the creativity—well, as much as possible, that is. 

 

Robin: That’s a lot! I love that you use your hobbies in your stories. Thanks so much for joining us! 

 

Friends, if you like cozy mysteries, you need to check out Malissa’s book. And guess what? Comment below—tell us your favorite hobbies, since Malissa has so many—and be entered to win a copy of Murder Goes Solo, book one in the Piper Haydn Piano Mysteries! 

ABOUT MURDER GOES GLAMPING:

She’d rather play a sonata than huddle around a campfire. But when homicide takes the stage, can she bring down the curtain on a killer?

Piper Haydn enjoys the finer things in life. Coming from wealth, the music academy owner refuses to let her friend drag her out glamor camping until the handsome local police chief’s teasing strikes the wrong chord. And returning to the campground late after a piano conference, her panic hits a crescendo when she stumbles on a dead body.

Fleeing in horror and now suspected of committing the evil deed, the terrified thirty-something dives into the investigation to clear her name. Yet with her artsy hippie pal missing, an unpleasant sheriff eager to slap the cuffs on her, and a murderer still on the loose, she fears snooping around could lead to a deadly encore.

Can Piper piece together the cacophony of clues before her next concerto is played behind bars? 

Murder Goes Glamping is the charming second book in the Piper Haydn Piano Mysteries cozy series. If you like amateur sleuths, loyal friends, and surprising twists, then you’ll love Malissa Chapin’s cutthroat cadenza.

ABOUT MALISSA: 

Malissa Chapin has a heart for writing stories filled with humor, faith, and truth. She’s always adored reading excellent books and is tickled to see her childhood dream of becoming an author finally come true.

Malissa loves creating with words, watercolor, fabric, and yarn. You can find her in her garden, at the piano, homeschooling her bonus baby, or enjoying a coffee with friends.

She lives and sometimes freezes in Wisconsin with her family and a crazy cat.

CLICK HERE to sign up for her newsletter and be the first to hear about her works in progress, offers, and fun news.

Leave a comment for your chance to win a copy of either MURDER GOES GLAMPING, book two, or MURDER GOES SOLO, book one!