“Off the Page” with Juniper Blume by The Wren (Sarah E. Burr)

 

A Note from Sarah Burr: I’m handing the blogging reins to Winnie Lark, the main character in my Book Blogger Mysteries. Winnie runs a popular bookish website called What Spine is Yours (think Metacritic for the literary world). However, she manages it anonymously, and the online community only knows her as “The Wren.” She often interviews guest authors through their characters, and that’s the focus of today’s feature. Enjoy!

Greetings, bookish friends! The Wren, here. Juniper Blume from Daphne Silver’s Agatha Award-winning Rare Books Cozy Mysteries joins me this month. Juniper, thanks so much for coming “Off the Page” with me. As a fellow book lover, we have a lot of ground to cover. I’ve never gotten to chat with a rare books librarian before; I have so many questions! Let’s dive in.

Where did your interest in books—specifically rare books—come from? How did you pursue this career path?

Thank you so much for having me today, Wren! While I have always loved books, it took me some time to find my path in life. I actually left college for a bit to travel the world, staying in cheap hostels, and working odd jobs to make ends meet so I could explore. When I came home, I realized I could keep those travels going through stories. Every book has its own journey, so becoming a rare books librarian allowed me to explore not only the world but throughout history, just through these special books.

Wow, I love that notion of every book being its own journey. I totally feel the same way. I get to live through all these fantastic adventures without ever leaving the comfort of my rocking chair. So, how did you go from working at the Library of Congress to living and working in Rose Mallow, Maryland? What brought you back, and more importantly, what made you stay?

That was unexpected! I had held off returning to Rose Mallow after my beloved Nana Z passed away, but when I heard there was some sort of ancient Celtic manuscript there, I couldn’t resist exploring. I’m a librarian, so curiosity is my superpower! What I never expected to find was rediscovering how special that place is to me and reconnecting with my family, especially my sister Azalea. Once I returned, I realized there were some things even more important than being at the Library of Congress.

Family is so important, whether it be related by blood or found family. And I bet your sister is very glad to have you around! In The Tell-Tale Homicide, you find yourself involved in another mystery. What made you want to investigate this case yourself?

I didn’t! But the mystery happened in my library with the people and books I was in charge of, so I felt a strong obligation to uncover the truth.

Ah, I’ve read a book or two about the reluctant sleuth. It’s always that dogged determination that wins out in the end. How has your background in rare manuscripts helped you solve crimes?

As I mentioned, curiosity is my superpower - although it also gets me into trouble! I have learned a lot from reading these books, so I have found that strange bits of knowledge can be helpful. I’m also trained in research, whether that’s using digital databases or old manual resources, so that’s proved helpful.

When you’re on a case, are you a solo investigator, or do you have a team to help you?

I’m fortunate to be growing a network of friends to assist me. If I can’t find the answer, I know people who can help. First, my sister Azalea is always my go-to resource. Right after her is my boss, Leo Calverton, even if everyone thinks he’s my boyfriend! But it doesn’t hurt that he’s part of the very rich and well-connected Calverton family. There are also friends like Hal from the historical society, who worked for some government agency back in the day doing things he’s not allowed to detail. And there’s reconnecting with my old friend Nuri, who I went to library school with. She’s now working locally at a used bookstore. These are just some of my friends that I’m fortunate to have helped me. Detective Lakshmi Gupta probably doesn’t want to be included on this list, but I think she’s coming to realize how we can help each other.

Ooo, I am a big fan of amateur sleuths who have a good working relationship with their local law enforcement rather than a contentious one. I’m glad Detective Gupta is coming around to appreciate your skills! Without giving away too many spoilers in The Tell-Tale Homicide, could you share one heart-stopping moment that eventually ended in a fit of laughter?

Oh my goodness. My first day working my new job, I ended up in the middle of a protest. Since we’re along the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland, the protestors tossed everyone with Rose Bay, a local version of Old Bay seasoning! I was scraping that off for a long time. It’s worse than glitter!

Holy bookmarks. The visual alone has me shuddering but also in stitches. I need to look up Rose Bay and see if I can get my hands on some—for flavoring, not protesting. What advice would you give someone who wants to follow in your footsteps as a rare books librarian and/or amateur detective?

For being a librarian, I’d recommend volunteering with your local library to learn more and make sure it’s a passion for you. You can even get some jobs at a library without a special degree, but for rare books, you will need special degrees, such as a MLS (master in library science) in the United States of America.

As for being an amateur detective, honestly, I’d prefer reading about it than living it! I know that Detective Laskhmi Gupta would agree, too.

Are there more mysteries in store for you and your author, Daphne Silver?

I can’t seem to escape them! The next adventure comes out in November 2025, so stay tuned. The best way to ensure you know about it and hear from my author is by joining her newsletter at www.daphnesilver.com. Plus, you’ll get a free story about yours most truly.

As a big fan of you both, I’m thrilled we have more to look forward to. Thanks again for coming off the page with me! Check out Juniper Blume, The Tell-Tale Homicide, and the Rare Books Cozy Mystery series at your favorite bookish retailer today.

Purchase link: https://buy.bookfunnel.com/va28q2e847

To stay connected with Juniper’s author, Daphne, head to her website: www.daphnesilver.com.

Learn more about The Wren, Winnie, and the Book Blogger Mysteries at www.saraheburr.com.