“Off the Page” with Delia Dickens by The Wren (Sarah E. Burr)

 

A Note from Sarah Burr: I'm handing over the blogging reins to none other than Winnie Lark, the savvy sleuth and bookish brain behind my Book Blogger Mysteries series. Winnie runs What Spine is Yours—a literary hub often dubbed “Metacritic for Books,” but with a delightfully cozy twist. Under her secret blogging identity as The Wren, Winnie dishes out captivating content while keeping her true self under wraps. Her favorite way to spotlight authors? Interviewing them through the voices of their very own characters. And that’s precisely what’s in store for today’s feature. Settle in and enjoy the bookish fun!

Greetings, Writers Who Kill! It’s your friendly neighborhood book blogger, The Wren, here to crack open the pages of a brand-new cozy mystery series from Allison Brook. Today, I’ll be chatting with her protagonist, Delia Dickens, from Death on Dickens Island.

Thanks so much for coming “Off the Page” with me, Delia. Your family name is practically synonymous with storytelling! How does being a Dickens shape the way you see mystery and the way you uncover it?

Thank you so much for having me as your guest. Alas, as far as I know, my family is not related to Charles Dickens, though my family name is well known because one of my great-greats bought and settled on the island that bears our name. Being a Dickens, I have a sense of responsibility to maintain peace and tranquility among the island residents.

I can imagine that being attached to the founding family comes with its own expectations. What about Dickens Island drew you there in the first place? Why did you decide to leave your life in Manhattan behind?

I grew up on Dickens Island, but never thought I'd end up living there, as my grandmother believed I would. I moved back to live with my fifteen-year-old son, who had been living with my parents for the past twelve years. You will have to read DEATH ON DICKENS ISLAND if you want to know why I agreed to have them care for Connor while I continued to live and work in Manhattan.

Sounds like there might be some family drama for readers to discover! Turning to your amateur sleuthing exploits, what made you want to or feel that you had to get involved in solving a young woman’s murder?

I am very close to my aunt and uncle. Uncle Brad was the last person known to have seen Missy Faraday before she was murdered. Soon, he and Aunt Reenie were considered suspects in the case. I knew neither of them was capable of killing anyone.  Naturally, I did my utmost to clear their names.

Your uncle and aunt are lucky you were willing to go to bat for them! Not everyone would have the courage to do so.

Every great sleuth needs a grounding presence, be it a loyal friend, a furry companion, or a cup of strong tea. Who or what keeps you steady when things turn perilous?

I do like tea, and I'm fortunate to have people I'm close to who help steady me--the ghost of Helena, my grandmother; my boyfriend Jack; my mother. And Riley, the bearded collie, who followed Connor home one day and ended up living with us.

Um, okay, there’s a ghost?! That’s something you don’t come across every day!

Cozy mysteries often reveal as much about a community as they do a crime. What makes the residents of Dickens Island so deliciously suspicious or irresistibly endearing?

We are a small community. Every islander is rather unique and has his or her own strong opinions that he/she is eager to share anywhere and anytime.

Oh boy. “Strong opinions” makes it sound like there are quite a few testy relationships at play. Without giving too much away, can you share a moment from your first case that changed you the most?

So much of what I read in my grandmother's journals and learned from Helena in ghostly form showed me how much island history impacted the two murders. It made me realize that living on Dickens Island was the right place for me.

What a fantastic way to connect with your heritage. Are there more adventures in store for you and your author, Allison Brook?

Yes, indeed.

If more mystery is afoot, it must mean you’re settling in quite nicely on Dickens Island. Perhaps you really can go home again. Delia, thanks so much for coming off the page with me. Readers, if you’d like to enjoy Delia’s first mystery, you can find purchase links and more down below!

 

Death on Dickens Island:  https://bit.ly/PRHDickensIsland

Death on Dickens Island on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3QeMB6Q

Author Website: http://www.marilynlevinson.com 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marilyn.levinson.10?ref=ts&fref=ts

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/161602.Marilyn_Levinson

X: https://twitter.com/MarilynLevinson 

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/marilyn-levinson

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marilynlevinsonauthor/