Get a behind-the-scenes all-access pass to Katy Berritt's The Candy Capers!
SYNOPSIS:
Fred Jones, owner of world-famous Contessa Chocolates, has been murdered while relaxing in his Barca-lounger. Stepdaughter Candace McCready is devastated by the death of the stepfather she adored. She’s worked side-by-side as Fred’s right-hand woman for the last dozen years so she fully expects to inherit the business as he promised.
Big surprise! Fred changed his mind and left it to his son Gabe despite the fact he disinherited him ten years ago. Too bad Candace can’t do the same to the man who, once upon a time, stole her heart and then dumped her without a word.
The only good news is that Fred left Candace the Recipe, the secret to the company’s billion-dollar sales. The bad news is that the Recipe has mysteriously disappeared.
Will former sweethearts Candace and Gabe ever find the Recipe? Will they be able to rekindle their lost love while hunting for a killer before the killer finds them?
The race is on to find the answers as bumbling detectives Candace and Gabe investigate the suspects, who could be any one of Fred’s five ex-wives, his brother Mr. Toad, and his son, the Tadpole, a Mafioso boyfriend, or even, gasp, the butler.
Readers’ Favorite gave it a Five Star Review commenting, "When you find a romantic comedy that is hard to put down, you can be assured that you have found an author with a rare talent. The Candy Capers ticks all the right boxes."
Readers' Favorite NYT Best Selling Author Lisa Kleypas says: “Sexy, smart and charming—the Candy Capers is an absolute joy to read. Katy Berritt has a flair for creating vivid characters, rapid-fire dialogue and a quirky plot that propels you along at a breakneck pace. Treat yourself to this dazzling debut!”
What is the sub-genre and trope?
Romantic comedy
Did your characters lead you to this genre or was that decided before the story began?
The idea for this book is very, very, very loosely based on me. It started with the fact that I hate my name. (real name not my pen name)
Are you more character or plot driven?
Both. I LOVE creating really kookie characters who have quirks and odd tics but all my books have a plot, lots of times that involves a crime.
My debut book revolves around a murder (still a comedy).
The book I’m working on now involves drug smuggling (still a comedy)
With many main and secondary characters, how do you keep them separated in your mind? Do you have a story/vision board above your workspace?
No vision board…good idea though.
Once I retire from my real job and I can free up some space I’ll have to think about that. Now I create excel spreadsheets and word documents.
I know from previous interviews that characters take on a
life of their own. Were any of the
characters in this series determined to take their own direction instead of
where you initially wanted them to go?
Oh yes. They definitely decide who they want to be.
Are any of the male POVs based on anyone you know?
No.
Are any of the female POVs based on anyone you know?
Not really.
Was there any one character/scene that was harder to write about than the other?
I always have trouble writing the last two chapters.
I know that we aren’t supposed to have “favorites” as far as our children, but seriously, who’s your favorite character and why?
In my debut book it’s Mr. Toad (Murray Jones) he’s just weird. He writes erotic romance and dresses as a woman while womanizing his way through the female population of NYC.
If we are talking any of my books, it’s Lord Algernon Grey. He’s such a total bad boy, a rake, a gambler, a carouser, but hopelessly out of his element when he gets exiled to 1890 Texas. He has to make a massive change to survive.
Series question - Who is your favorite couple and why did you decide on their dynamics?
I have an unpublished book where the heroine is a matchmaker and the hero is her teenage crush from years ago.
When he shows up at her matchmaking service and doesn’t recognize her, she lies about who she is, then proceeds to send him out on the worst dates ever. Mayhem ensues.
How do you get inside these character’s heads to find
their perfect HEA?
That’s not easy. Since my books so often involve a crime, I have to figure out how solving the crime will help lead to their Happily Ever After.
What scene in this book/series sticks out the most for
you? Why?
I love the scene where the heroine and her mother break into the hero’s mother’s apartment and get attacked by her cat.
This question is if you write in MULTIPLE POVs not just the hero and heroine - I love the multiple POVs in a book. It’s not just the hero and heroine, but we get inside the heads of multiple characters throughout this series. I feel that it gives the story further depth. Do you think you will write another book or series following this multiple POV outline?
I will write the POV of the villain but usually try to stay in the hero/heroines POV.
I know when I read a book with too many POVs I get irritated after a while when they switch just at an exciting part. Suzanne Brockman’s Seal series is like that. I love her writing but I find reading her books exhausting after awhile as she often has three or four concurrent stories/POVs going on in the same book. I like to keep it simple.
How long did it take you to write this book/series?
About 6 months. I write fast…until I get to the last two chapters. I’ll write 250-300 pages in a couple months than it will take me months to do the last couple of chapters.
How did you come up with the title for your book?
It’s based on the Heroines name and what she does for a living/manages a candy company.
If you met these characters in real life would you get along?
Oh yes.
If your book was made into a movie, which actors do you see as playing your characters?
So funny you would say that because I was actually thinking about it.
Kristen Bell for my heroine. If he was younger, it would be George Clooney. Maybe Ryan Reynolds would work today.
Can you give us a hint as to what we can expect
next? Whether a new book and series or a
sequel to an existing series? Can you
share a small tease?
Just now working on the next step. Since this is my debut book, I’m just learning the ropes.
https://readingbydeb.blogspot.com/2022/05/author-at-glance-katy-berritt.html#more
Connect w/ Katy:
Email:katyberritt@gmail.com
BLURB:
Fred Jones, owner of world-famous Contessa Chocolates, has been murdered while relaxing in his Barca-lounger. Stepdaughter Candace McCready is devastated by the death of the stepfather she adored. As his righthand woman, she's worked side-by-side with him for the last dozen years so she fully expects to inherit the business as he promised.
Big Surprise! Fred changed his mind and left it to his son Gabe despite the fact he disinherited him years ago. Too bad Candace can't do the same to the man who, once upon a time, stole her heart then dumped her without a word.
The only good news is that Fred left Candace the Recipe, the secret to the company's billion-dollar sales. The bad news is the Recipe has mysteriously disappeared.
Will former sweethearts Candace and Gabe ever find the Recipe? Will they be able to rekindle their lost love while hunting for a killer before the killer finds them?
The race is on to find the answers as bumbling detectives Candace and Gabe investigate the suspects, who could be any one of Fred's five ex-wives, his brother Mr. Toad, and his son, the Tadpole, a Mafioso boyfriend, or even, gasp, the butler.
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