An Interview with Sarah E. Burr

by Grace Topping

Some authors are happy to produce a new mystery once or twice a year. But then you have authors like Sarah E. Burr who not only produces multiple books a year but also juggles four different mystery series, produces her own podcasts, and runs her own graphic design business. Sarah is a member of our Writers Who Kill crew and writes for WWK. Her latest book, DM Me for Murder, was just released. Sarah joins me today to tell us more about her career. 

 

 

DM Me for Murder

Cordelia “Coco” Cline is over the moon when she learns mega-influencer LaTàge wants Center of Attention Consulting to handle her rebranding campaign. But things come crashing down when Coco arrives for a brainstorming meeting only to find LaTàge dead on the floor of her rented mansion. 

While the Central Shores police don't suspect Coco of the disturbing crime, the Internet has other ideas. Coco is horrified to see the hashtag #CocoClineistheProblem trending everywhere on socials, with anonymous accounts accusing her of having a hand in LaTàge's tragic death.

Armed with her phone and her fabulous friends (dubbed the Sleuth Squad), Coco dives into LaTàge's glamorous, over-the-top world of influencer-turned-celebrity. Who in Central Shores would want the LA native dead? What skeletons had LaTàge been hiding?
                                                                                                       www.saraheburr.com

 

Welcome, Sarah.

 

The latest book in your Trending Topic Mysteries, DM Me for Murder, features Coco Cline, a social media consultant and an influencer, and a well-known one in her field. What is an influencer, and how did Coco Cline become one?

 

One of Coco’s teasing comments about herself is that as an influencer, she “has a duty to influence.” Basically, she serves as a guide or role model that people on social media can look to for product recommendations, lifestyle choices, and trends. There are many types of influencers in the world (travel, fitness, and books, just to name a few), and Coco has carved out a space for herself by sharing décor tips, beauty guides, and entertainment recommendations. As for how she became one, Coco evolved into an influencer as her blog, Trending Topic, became more and more popular. The blog was originally part of an app Coco and her college gal pals created, and when it sold for big money, Coco continued her blogging journey.

 

Another character, LaTàge, is a major influencer. She became a celebrity, lived quite a glamorous life, and made a comfortable living from it. Can influencers do that, and how?

 

Most certainly! With the oversaturated market of people trying to become influencers, it takes hard work to make appealing content and a LOT of luck. You need to research trends and what captures a viewer’s attention, but you also have to be different enough to stand out. Kind of like how there are so many cozy mysteries out in the world; you need to find your hook and run with it.

 

In referring to your character Katz, you use the pronouns they rather than he or she. Was this because the character would be one who would prefer the neutral pronoun, or was it to avoid identifying the gender of the character throughout the book?

 

Katz is a non-binary person who uses the preferred pronouns they/them. Representation is really important to me in my work. I want all my readers to feel seen and celebrated when visiting with my characters.

 

You have a number of twists in DM Me for Murder, which leads me to the question: Do you plot your mysteries or just figure them out as you go?

 

I usually plot my mysteries; it’s the only thing I feel one hundred percent certain about when I begin writing a book. However (and this has been happening to me a lot lately), the killer in DM Me for Murder is actually not who I originally intended them to be. I began liking the person who I’d plotted to be the initial villain, and as the story continued to develop, I realized I didn’t want them to be on the hook for the crime. Somehow, the real killer presented themselves to me in the concluding pages, and so I went back and worked them into the story.

 

Your Trending Topic Mysteries have introduced me to a world I’m only slightly familiar with. I learned a lot about social media, influencers, and the young people involved with them. Was it a challenge using a younger “voice” than you’ve used in your other series? 

 

Definitely, but perhaps not in the way most people would think. Out of all the series I write, Coco and her friends most closely emulate how I speak with my besties in the real world. I abbreviate words all the time within an inch of their life, and so, when I’m writing my other books, I really have to work at sounding more formal and putting together coherent sentences. Coco gives me a little more freedom to be myself with her speech, and even then, I have to dial it back. I always have to laugh at book reviews that say, “No one talks like this,” and I’m over here, raising my hand, saying, “Um, I do.”

 

In addition to your Trending Topic Mysteries, you write the Glenmyre Whim Mysteries, the Book Blogger Mysteries, and the Court of Mystery series. This might be like asking a parent to identify their favorite child, but do you have a favorite series among them? Or do you feel drawn to work on one more than the others? 

Oh, please, don’t ask me to choose, Grace! I definitely feel drawn to my characters when I’ve been away from them for too long. Right now, I’m in my “Court of Mystery era,” working on the final Duchess Jacqueline adventure. I haven’t visited her world in a long time, and I’ve really missed her. It feels so good to be back with her. But I’m already itching to write the next Book Blogger Mystery, too.

Do you write books in more than one series at a time?

 

I’ve attempted to, but it doesn’t go well. I’ve—thankfully—realized that I need to focus all my energy on one manuscript at a time. Otherwise, things get messy.

 

Is writing a full-time job for you?

 

Is there something more than a full-time job? Because that would honestly be it. My life is consumed by writing and everything that goes with it. But somehow, I also manage to run my BookstaBundles service, which creates tailor-made digital book promotion graphics for authors.

 

When you started writing fiction, you wrote fantasy with your Court of Mystery series. What prompted you to turn to cozy mysteries?

 

Denise Swanson’s Dime Store Mysteries. I fell head over heels for that series, and I wanted to create something for readers that made them feel the way Denise’s books made me feel. Cozies also allow me to live out my deep-seated dreams of being Nancy Drew.

 

You’ve said that you are writing the last book in your Court of Mystery series. What is prompting that move?

 

Currently, the Court of Mystery series consists of thirteen books, and over the course of those stories, there’s been a major arc guiding Duchess Jacqueline forward. I finally feel as though I’ve reached a point where this arc can successfully conclude and that Jax can have a bit of a reprieve from finding dead bodies all over her realm. I’m definitely leaving the door open for more adventures to take place in the Realm of Virtues, but Jax has earned herself a happily ever after…for now.

You, along with J.C. Kenney, have been promoting other authors by interviewing them on The Bookish Hour and A Bookish Moment. Recently you have been chatting with fans live on Facebook in Lunchtime LIVE with Me, Sarah E. Burr. Do you find it a fine balancing act writing, promoting your own books, and helping other authors?

 

I won’t lie, it’s a lot. There are few days when I truly do the balancing act well. We are expected to be everywhere, doing everything all at once, and when others reach out for help, it’s impossible for me to say no. But chatting with J.C. and with my readers helps keep my spirits up when things begin to feel overwhelming, and I treasure those interactions.

 

What is next for Coco Cline or for your other series?

 

Gosh, let me think. Coco will be back with at least one more mystery in 2025. Flying Off the Candle, Glenmyre Whim Mystery Book Three, will release in May/June of this year. I’m working on edits from my beta reader right now, and once those are done, the manuscript will be off to my editor. The final book in the Court of Mystery series will be out by the end of 2024, and, if all goes accordingly, I will have the next Book Blogger Mystery out by late 2024 or early 2025. Doesn’t sound like a daunting to-do list at all, right? LOL!

What is the most valuable thing you’ve learned since you began writing fiction?

 

The importance of outlining my plot. I’ve written so many chapter ones and twos over the years, but I didn’t start getting beyond that until I began outlining. Having a dedicated roadmap laying out where I need to go has been the best thing to happen to my writing. I’ve been able to finish every book I've ever outlined, so it’s been a winning tool for me.

 

Thank you, Sarah.

 

Look for Sarah’s blogs here at Writers Who Kill on the third Sunday of each month. You can also learn more about Sarah and her books at www.saraheburr.com.

 

Grace Topping is the Agatha Award finalist and USA bestselling author of the Laura Bishop Mystery Series.