A Candle-ful of Characters by Sarah E. Burr

With less than a month until the launch of Too Much to Candle, I am in full-blown panic mode.

Too Much to Candle is the sixteenth book I’ve published. Still, numbers mean nothing to the nerves that inevitably come when sharing an intimate part of your soul with the world. I’ve held Too Much to Candle very close to my heart for the last year and a half. It’s just been me, Hazel, and Poppy, working through the wild and whacky happenings in Crucible. It’s a special time for a writer, being with their characters before anyone else knows what they’re up to.

For today’s post, I thought I’d pull the curtain back on the cast of my Glenmyre Whim Mystery series. But probably not in a way that you’d expect. My heroine, Hazel Wickbury, is a candlemaker and owns a candle shop called A Wick in Time, so I’m letting her take creative control. She’s here to whip up some signature candles that represent the people in her life. Hazel, take it away!

Hazel Wickbury, candlemaker and heroine of the Glenmyre Whim Mysteries

Hazel Wickbury: Thanks for letting me jump off the page, Sarah. Hi, Writers Who Kill! As my lovely author, Sarah, said, I’m Hazel Wickbury. I live in the small, lakeside town of Crucible, New York, where I run my own business. I launched A Wick in Time around four years ago after discovering my love of candle making. What began as a hobby eventually turned into a full-fledged business empire. Well, “empire” might be exaggerating things a little, but A Wick in Time certainly is growing. I recently installed a candle-making kitchen onsite at my shop so I can craft during store hours rather than at home when the store is closed.

Coming up with scents and aroma pairings for candles is so much fun, and often, I’m inspired by the world around me. That means the people in my life, as well. Below, I’m sharing a bit about my friends and loved ones by putting together a unique candle made just for them.

Poppy Glenmyre, my aunt and best friend: The Poppy Glenmyre candle is made from gardenia, vanilla, and honey.

Holden Whitfield, the new detective in town: The Holden Whitfield candle is composed of cedar, caramel, and fog.

Ignatius “Iggy” Alewell, aspiring fiction author and my store assistant: The Iggy candle combines new book smell, coffee, and apple.

Constance Crane, world-renowned mystery author and new Crucible resident: The Constance Crane mixes green tea, jasmine, and cinnamon.

Ezra Walters, the cute local bookstore owner: The Ezra blends citrus, fresh water, and cotton.

Mayhan Montgomery, Crucible’s newest resident and overall unpleasant individual: The Mayhan is a new scent this fall and might be too intense for most people to stomach. It’s a mixture of moss, ink, and tree bark.

Intrigued by the combinations I brewed in my double boiler? You can read You Can’t Candle the Truth or Too Much to Candle and see if you agree!

What would your signature candle scent be? Let Sarah and me know in the comments.