I first discovered Julie Haworth‘s extremely feel-good, small-town contemporary romance novels on Storytel as audiobooks. Thanks to Bea’s Book Wagon, I was not only hooked on audiobooks, but also practically addicted to the way Haworth’s books made me feel: warm, comfortable, and lifted. When I found out that she would be exploring new territory with cozy crime, which is one of my all-time favorite genres, I was beyond excited. Right after I placed my pre-order, I contacted Ms. Haworth for this spotlight interview, and I was over the moon when she so kindly accepted despite her very busy release schedule. I feel honored to have had the chance to discuss the sources of her inspiration, her love for cozy small towns and tight-knit communities, and her new book Murder at Honeysuckle Harbour.
About the author
the writer behind the stories
1. You have a degree in English and American Literature, worked as an English teacher specialising in literacy difficulties, built a career in copywriting, and eventually became a published novelist. Looking back at that journey, which part of your earlier career has had the biggest unexpected influence on the writer you are today?
I think all of them have had an impact in different ways. Perhaps the most unexpected influence was teaching. The main character in Always By Your Side is a teacher, so I have teaching to thank for my initial spark of an idea.
2. You have described becoming an author as a lifelong dream that once felt almost impossible. Now you have four published novels, an award, a shortlist nomination, and a brand-new cosy-crime series. Has your definition of “being an author” changed since Always By Your Side?
I genuinely thought when I wrote Always By Your Side that it might be my only book! It was such an exciting rollercoaster ride, but also a huge learning curve, and I wasn’t sure I’d ever be able to replicate that again. I’d been brewing up Rose’s story for ten years, so once it was out there, it was slightly terrifying to think about what came next. Now, I have more self-belief, I know that my ideas and creativity are within and there are more stories I want to tell.
3. Your books are consistently centred around warmth, community, animals, and second chances. When you begin a new story, do you usually start with the character, the setting, the central problem, or the emotional experience you want readers to have?
It varies from book to book. For Always By Your Side, it was the character of Rose and the central problem that were the starting point, whereas for New Beginnings at the Cosy Cat Café, it was a visit to a cat café in London that inspired the story, so I began with the setting and built the story out from there.
4. You have written protagonists ranging from a teacher and a café owner to a budding bookseller and now a vet-turned-sleuth. What makes you decide that you have found a character whose story you need to tell?
The thing all my characters have in common is that they feature strong women who are on a journey of self-discovery, figuring out what’s important to them and what they want out of life. They’re all on different paths, with different challenges to face and stories to tell, but they’re all connected by a determination to face whatever life (or I!) decides to throw at them.
The wonderful fictional town of Blossom Heath
5. Always By Your Side, New Beginnings at the Cosy Cat Café, and Bea’s Book Wagon are all connected through Blossom Heath. What was it about this fictional village that made you want to keep returning to it?
I love everything about Blossom Heath! It’s set in East Sussex on the outskirts of Rye, and if it were on Rightmove, I’d definitely want to move there! It has everything I want from a quintessential country village, right down to the thatched cottages complete with a duck pond on the village green. Once I’d written book 1, I knew there were more stories to tell in the village, so it made sense to continue with a series. I think readers are really invested in seeing how the different characters’ storylines pan out in a series too.
6. Each Blossom Heath story gives its protagonist a different kind of fresh start. Was that recurring theme of self-reinvention something you developed on purpose across the series?
Yes, absolutely. I love seeing the characters start off at rock bottom, which is pretty much where Rose, Tori, and Bea are at the start of all three books. I want to see that progress in each character’s story arc as they face the challenges that are coming their way. There’s something very enticing about the idea that we can all throw in the day job, open that café or bookshop we’ve always dreamt of, and make it our new reality, and that’s what these characters get to do.
7. New Beginnings at the Cosy Cat Café brought rescue cats and animal welfare into the story, while Bea’s Book Wagon puts books and reading at the heart of its community. What draws you to stories where a small local business becomes a way of bringing people together?
When I was running my own copywriting business, I did lots of networking (and made great friends) with lots of other female business owners who were photographers, website designers, yoga teachers, café owners, counsellors, to name just a few examples. I experienced first-hand the power of local businesses to bring people together and form connections, and that helped to inspire the businesses in the books.
8. Bea’s decision to turn a horsebox into a mobile bookshop is such a wonderfully bookish premise. What first sparked that idea?
This very much links to the question above, as the idea for Bea’s Book Wagon came from another female business owner I met (who is now a great friend) who had converted an old horsebox into a mobile cheese wagon for festivals and events. I loved the wagon idea and then came up with the concept of having a mobile bookshop for Bea.
9. For readers discovering you through Murder at Honeysuckle Harbour, what would you most like them to know about the three Blossom Heath novels?
If you love the romance arc and the cosy community dynamics you’ll find in Murder at Honeysuckle Harbour, then you’ll love my Blossom Heath books too!
Get your blossom heath copies below:
ALWAYS BY YOUR SIDE:
Kindle
Paperback
Audio
NEW BEGINNINGS AT THE COSY CAT CAFE:
Kindle
Paperback
Audio
BEA’S BOOK WAGON:
Kindle
Paperback
Audio
From romance to cozy crime
10. You have gone from three contemporary romance novels to cosy crime. What was it like emotionally to step away from the genre in which you had already established yourself?
Scary! It was a big leap of faith for me as it was the first time I’d tried to write in a different genre, but it’s something I very much wanted to do and, if I’ve learnt anything from my career as a writer so far, it’s that you sometimes have to take a leap of faith.
11. Was Murder at Honeysuckle Harbour something you had wanted to write for a long time, or did the idea of writing cosy crime emerge later in your career?
It was something that kept coming up, and readers would often ask me if I’d ever thought about writing cosy crime. In all honesty, it wasn’t something I’d considered at that point, but the seed was definitely sewn!
12. Pellerin Books has spoken about encouraging you to explore cosy crime. What did they see in your existing writing that made them think you would be a natural fit for the genre?
I do think there’s a definite overlap between the two genres. The cosy community dynamics are a theme of both genres, and the romance arc between Noah and Daisy fits perfectly into Murder at Honeysuckle Harbour. I’ve been surprised at how many reviewers have mentioned that they’ve enjoyed the romance subplot in the book, so there will definitely be more of that to come in book 2.
13. Your romantic fiction already had many of the ingredients associated with cosy mysteries: animals, villages, community, local businesses, and colourful characters. Did you find that you were bringing an established set of storytelling instincts into crime fiction rather than starting completely from scratch?
Absolutely. I feel as at home in Honeysuckle Harbour as I do in Blossom Heath, and I hope my readers will too!
14. What was the biggest technical difference between writing a romance and writing a murder mystery? Was constructing clues and red herrings more challenging than constructing a romantic arc?
I needed to spend more time planning out the plot for Murder at Honeysuckle Harbour to ensure I had all the red herrings and clues in the right places. I had to make sure that the puzzle fitted together before I could start writing, whereas previously I would have always said that I wasn’t a planner before, so it’s interesting to find that I can actually plan when I need to!
Meeting Daisy Turner
15. Let’s meet Daisy Turner. What can you tell us about Daisy that readers won’t necessarily discover from the book’s synopsis?
Daisy has always wanted to follow in her dad’s footsteps and become a vet. Hoping to step out of her father’s shadow and prove herself, she leaves the Devon village of Honeysuckle Harbour and makes a life for herself in London, but returns when her dad passes away unexpectedly to take over the family practice. Daisy’s struggling to come to terms with her grief and slot back into village life. She loves solving puzzles and is never happier than when she has her nose in a crossword, or she’s watching a true crime documentary. So, when a local dog breeder is found dead, Daisy’s inner sleuth takes over, and she starts to investigate.
16. Daisy approaches the murder almost like a veterinary diagnosis, gathering clues until a pattern emerges. What made the vet profession the perfect foundation for your amateur sleuth?
I actually think that vets and detectives have a surprising amount in common! Our pets can’t tell us what’s wrong, so it’s up to the vet to look for clues and piece the puzzle together to get to the right diagnosis.
17. Daisy returns to Honeysuckle Harbour after her father’s death, so she is dealing with grief while simultaneously taking over his practice and investigating a suspicious death. How important was it to you that the mystery be intertwined with Daisy’s personal life rather than simply being a puzzle for her to solve?
It’s absolutely essential to giving the story depth. We know Daisy’s grieving and having a tough time from the very first chapter, so a reader’s natural instinct will be to root for her from the outset. She’s passionate about her job and the animals in her care; she’s determined and never gives up, despite being told to. She can be feisty and fiery when it comes to fighting her corner, and she’s a good friend, kind and caring. We know she wants to open her heart, but she’s scared of taking a risk.
18. Animals have played such a prominent role throughout your fiction. Was there ever any question that your first cosy crime protagonist would work with animals, or did Daisy’s profession emerge naturally from the story?
I’d always wanted to write a vet as my lead character, and Daisy’s job allows her access to everyone in the village, as there are so many pet owners! Just like Daisy, I wanted to be a vet for most of my childhood (but it turns out I was better at writing than science). I’m obsessed with watching reality TV vet shows and anything that features animals really – obviously All Creatures Great and Small is my all-time favourite show.
19. Did writing about a veterinary practice require a different kind of research from your earlier books? What was the most unexpected thing you discovered while researching Daisy’s profession?
As I mentioned above, I watch a lot of vet TV shows, so I had a lot of pre-existing knowledge stored away. I’ve always owned rescue cats and dogs, so some of the stories were based on experience, and others required research. The most unexpected thing I discovered was that labradors actually have a gene that makes them want to eat more than other breeds of dog – who knew?
secrets, clues, and honeysuckle harbour
20. Margot Kinkade’s death initially looks like an accident, but Daisy notices something involving a pet passport that doesn’t add up. How do you decide which seemingly ordinary detail becomes the crucial clue in a mystery?
I usually start with the outcome and try to work the clues backwards from there. So, I know what’s going to happen, and then I need to decide which clues to plant and where.
21. Cosy mysteries invite readers to play detective alongside the protagonist. How much do you enjoy hiding clues in plain sight and trying to stay one step ahead of your readers?
It’s tricky and is probably the thing I was most nervous about when it came to writing a cosy mystery. Would I actually be able to stay one step ahead of the reader, as I didn’t want the clues to be too easily solved? I hope I’ve pulled it off!
22. Honeysuckle Harbour is a Devon seaside village where everyone knows everyone. What does a small community allow you to do in a mystery that wouldn’t work as well in a big-city setting?
Honeysuckle Harbour is an idyllic seaside village set on the Devon coast. It’s the kind of place where everyone knows everyone and secrets don’t stay secrets for long, which is harder to achieve in a city setting as people can live almost anonymously. Think endless stretches of golden sands, crystal-clear water, pastel-coloured fisherman’s cottages, blue skies, orange sunsets, and ice creams on the beach.
23. The book has a murdered pug breeder, veterinary medicine, suspicious villagers, a rival vet practice, secrets, puzzles, and romance. How did you balance all those different elements without allowing any one of them to overwhelm the central mystery?
It’s a real balancing act! All the different strands need to work in harmony alongside each other and not detract from the central mystery. Through the various edits, I’ll work with my editor to dial back (or dial up) various subplots and themes until we get the balance right.
24. Noah arrives as a locum vet and complicates Daisy’s professional and personal life. What can you tell us about their dynamic without giving away any secrets?
I think it’s fair to say Noah doesn’t make the best first impression, so there’s tension from day one! It’s clear there’s an initial spark of attraction, something pulling them together, even if Daisy’s determined to do her best to avoid it!
two worlds, one author
25. What do you think readers who have loved your Blossom Heath novels will recognise in Murder at Honeysuckle Harbour, despite the change in genre?
The same themes run throughout both series, so readers already familiar with my writing will see a common thread. Community, love in all its forms – friendship, romantic love, family, and the love people have for their pets. Grief and coming to terms with loss. Unexpected friendships and forgiveness. Following your heart and never giving up (even when things look hopeless).
26. Conversely, what do you think will surprise readers who know you primarily as a romance author?
The puzzle-solving element. That’s a completely new dynamic to my writing that readers won’t have seen before.
27. Without revealing any spoilers, what is one thing you would tell readers to pay particularly close attention to when they begin Murder at Honeysuckle Harbour?
Oooooh, tricky! The only thing I can say is: watch out for a very unexpected friendship…
what’s next?
28. You’ve already revealed that Murder at Honeysuckle Harbour is the beginning of a series and that you’re already well into book two. What can you tease about where Daisy’s journey is heading?
I can share the blurb for book 2, Murder at Sunrise Sands, which is already up for preorder:
A picture-perfect seaside village. A property developer with enemies to spare. And a vet whose best friend is the prime suspect…
Life in Honeysuckle Harbour has never looked better for village vet Daisy Turner. Her practice is thriving, the handsome Noah Fairfax is now a permanent fixture at the surgery, and the only thing disturbing the peace is Moriarty – her hissing, swiping foster cat who seems to have a grudge against the world.
But then her friend Katie’s beloved animal rescue centre comes under threat from a ruthless property developer. At first the village rallies round to save it – but three days later, the boss of the property company is found dead on the beach, a knife in his back and cat hairs on his clothes.
Katie’s in the frame for murder – but Daisy knows her friend is innocent. In a village full of cat lovers who wanted him gone, Daisy has no shortage of suspects – but who is the killer hiding in plain sight?
Can Daisy clear Katie’s name before the real culprit slips away?
29. Do you already know how Honeysuckle Harbour will evolve as the series continues, or do you discover new corners of the village and new characters as you write each book?
Definitely the second option! The story evolves with each and every book, but I don’t necessarily know where that’s going to take me until I start writing.
30. You’ve gone from writing a novel during lockdown because you finally decided to chase a lifelong dream, to winning an RNA award, building the Blossom Heath world, and now launching an entirely new cosy-crime series. If you could sit down with the Julie who opened her laptop in April 2020, what would you tell her?
This is going to work out better than you could ever have expected… keep going, you’re on the right path!
31. Blossom Heath or Honeysuckle Harbour?
Oooooh, a toughie. Obviously I love both, but I’m a seaside girl at heart, so Honeysuckle Harbour just takes it.
32. Coffee, tea, or something stronger when a deadline is looming?
Always coffee.
33. Which of your characters would you trust to look after your rescue cats for a weekend, and which one absolutely would not make the cut?
Daisy’s the obvious choice as, with all those vet skills, I’d know the cats are in safe hands. Bea probably wouldn’t make the cut. When she looks after her parents’ dog Wordsworth in Bea’s Book Wagon, it doesn’t go well!
34. If Daisy Turner walked into Bea’s Book Wagon, what kind of book do you think she would immediately pick up?
Easy. All Creatures Great and Small.
35. Bookshop, cosy café, seaside village, or country cottage: where would you choose to spend an entire writing day?
Obviously all of them! I’m really bad at writing when there are distractions around, so I’d probably have to hide myself away in a country cottage for the day.
Once again, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to Ms. Julie Haworth for taking the time to do this interview with me and for always being such an inspiration for me as an aspiring writer.
If you are into cozy mysteries like I am, and if they have a healing effect on you as they do for me, make sure to check out Murder at Honeysuckle Harbour. You will find more than a mystery!
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