Would you like to hear about some fabulous mystery books that are set in wine country? What is it about books that encourage deep connections with readers? Are you curious about Wisconsin wines? Why are the state's wine region a beautiful place to visit?

In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with Joy Ann Ribar, author of the Deep Lakes Cozy Mystery series.

You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks

Giveaway

Three listeners are going to win a personally signed copy of Joy Ann Ribar's fabulous mystery books set in wine country.

How to Win

To qualify, all you have to do is email me at natalie@nataliemaclean.com and tell me that you’d like to win a copy.. I’ll select the winner randomly from those who participate.

Good luck!

Highlights

Why did Joy decide to start writing mystery novels after retiring from teaching?

What have been the best and worst moments of Joy’s writing career so far?

What is it about books that encourage deep connections with readers?

How did community theatre lead to Joy’s love for the wine world?

What is a cozy mystery?

Why are small towns the perfect setting for a cozy mystery?

How did Agatha Christie pave the way for the next generation of women writers?

How does Joy navigate the dark world of mystery writing research?

What wine-themed murders might Joy include in her upcoming books?

What is Joy’s Deep Lakes cozy mystery series about?

How does the lead character, Frankie Champagne’s, winery evolve over the series?

What’s the climate like in Wisconsin?

What are the key hallmarks of Wisconsin winemaking?

Which innovative ways have winemakers found for dealing with troublesome starlings?

Key Takeaways

I loved learning about what differentiates a cozy mystery from other types of mysteries. Who knew there were so many sub-genres? I love that Joy’s novels are set in wine country.

I didn’t know much about Wisconsin wines until I spoke to Joy. Now I’m curious to try them, and more so to visit such a beautiful state.

Join me on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube Live

Join the live-stream video of this conversation on Wed at 7 pm ET on Instagram Live Video, Facebook Live Video or YouTube Live Video.

I want to hear from you! What’s your opinion of what we’re discussing? What takeaways or tips do you love most from this chat? What questions do you have that we didn’t answer?

Want to know when we go live? Add this to your calendar: https://www.addevent.com/calendar/CB262621

About Joy Ann Ribar

Joy Ann Ribar pens the Deep Lakes Cozy Mystery series at home in central Wisconsin. Joy’s life history is a cocktail of careers, including news reporter, paralegal, English educator, and college writing instructor. Her hobbies include baking, exploring the outdoors, and wine research. Joy infuses this mixture into her main character, Frankie Champagne, adding a special blend of sass and humour. Her writing is inspired by Wisconsin’s four distinct seasons, natural beauty, and kind-hearted, but sometimes quirky, people.

Joy holds a BA in Journalism from UW-Madison and an MS in Education from UW-Oshkosh. She is a member of Sisters in Crime, Blackbird Writers, and Wisconsin Writers Association. Joy and her husband, John, someday plan to sell their house, buy an RV, and travel around the U.S. spreading good cheer and hygge!

Joy is currently working on the next mystery in the Deep Lakes Cozy series: Deep Dire Harvest, coming in 2022.

To learn more about the resources mentioned in this episode, visit https://www.nataliemaclean.com/192.