Introducing The Cozy Chat Column plus an interview with Author Daryl Wood Gerber
Hello and welcome to The Cozy Chat! My name is Tyneisha Lewis, the writer/journalist of this column.
The inspiration for The Cozy Chat is inspired by my interests in health/wellness (digestive, mental, holistic, stress relief/relaxation), herbal tea, coffee, the cozy mysteries book genre, cozy anime, food culture, etc.
The Cozy Chat Column's concept is inspired by health/wellness topics and holistic education such as how people can better their health and lives by taking the time to enjoy cozy, relaxing ways to fight against burnout, stress, and negative health. It's a column open to/for everyone.
You can look forward to a spotlight on local businesses, recommendations, interviews, tips, ideas, and more. I'll also cover CCBC news, programs/services, events, clubs/organizations. I hope you enjoy my column and it helps you better your health and wellness.
Thank you for reading this note, and welcome once again to The Cozy Chat Column!
Tyneisha Lewis, Author of The Cozy Chat
“In that sense, what a great way to live, if you could always do things that interest you, and do them with people who interest you.” -Anthony Bourdain
Cozy Chat #1
Inside the soothing world of the Aroma Wellness Mystery Series with Author Daryl Wood Gerber
Tyneisha Lewis
Hello Cozy Chatties, welcome to today's cozy chat!
One of my favorite book genres to read are cozy mysteries. Cozy mysteries are perfect for when you want to read a relaxing story, solving the mystery alongside the characters, and just enjoy the mystery with little-to-no violence and profanity.
One of my favorite authors is Daryl Wood Gerber.
Daryl Wood Gerber is an Agatha Award-winning, nationally bestselling author of several book series. One of these series is the Aroma Wellness Mystery Series. I'm a fan of her book series, so I reached out to her.
She replied back and was willing to do an interview with me.
Daryl Wood Gerber talks about her Aroma Wellness Mystery Series, what inspired the series, wellness tips, and more.
What inspired you to create the Aroma Wellness Mystery Series?
Daryl Wood Gerber: I wanted to create an environment that would include health and wellness as well as books and good for you food.
Your protagonist Emma Brennan, is the owner of Aroma Wellness Spa, Gift shop, and Cafe. What was the process like for you creating her character and personality?
Gerber: I start with age. I wanted her to have a relationship with her hip, librarian grandmother, but she is starting out so I made her pretty young—25. I gave her a background of going to Tibet to study meditation and more. She is very close to her spiritual in-tune aunt, but not very good with her professor mother who doesn’t believe in all this stuff.
How did you balance the elements of cozy mysteries, and whole person wellness for your books?
Gerber: It’s interesting when someone involved with wellness stumbles upon a body. But she does have balance when it comes to how she runs the business and how she learned to study, which helps her with reasoning. The fact that she cares—a lot—matters in the way she pursues the truth.
How did you go about researching the wellness themes in your series (ex. Therapeutic uses of essential oils, holistic health/treatments, and health conscious cafe treats)?
Gerber: have gotten massages and facials for years. I went to a local store in Los Angeles that had sound healing and meditation and tried their techniques. Then I also purchased their essential oils—I’ve used lavender oil for years, too—and I purchased a number of books that are for reference. Also I had a reader who gives crystal readings do a reading for me and advise me. It’s been fun research!
Can you share a recipe and/or wellness tips?
Gerber: Tip: Lavender is a delicious scent that can help a person experience a more tranquil and rejuvenating night’s sleep.
Recipe:
Blueberry Banana Acai Smoothie
(Yield: 1 smoothie)
8 ounces acai juice
1 banana, frozen and diced, *remove from peel before freezing
½ cup blueberries
¼ cup milk, your choice
2 tablespoons protein powder
1 cup crushed ice cubes
Place all ingredients in a powerful blender and process until smooth.
Any current and/or upcoming books in the series?
Gerber: The next in the series is Premeditation for Murder and it comes out April 2027.
Emma and her grandmother are so excited. This January, the library is offering a multi-day celebration titled Mindful Moments and Meaningful Words during which the library, in partnership with Aroma Wellness, will explore the synchronization between storytelling and self-care relaxation.
Where can people read and purchase the Aroma Wellness Mystery Series?
Gerber: It’s available on all sites and in libraries. The audiobook is available, too. And readers can learn more on my website, watch a trailer, and get questions for book clubs.
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Murder-Lavender-Aroma-Wellness-Mystery-ebook/dp/B0FKWZ7F23/
B&N https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/murder-in-a-lavender-daze-daryl-wood-gerber/1147924548
Kobo https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/murder-in-a-lavender-daze
Bookshop.org https://bookshop.org/p/books/murder-in-a-lavender-daze-daryl-wood-gerber/0ad5e78a35613cb1?ean=9781496751539&next=t
website: https://darylwoodgerber.com/aroma-wellness-mysteries/
My thanks to Daryl Wood Gerber for her time and for doing the interview with me. If you enjoy cozy mysteries, health and wellness, great story and characters, give the Aroma Wellness Mystery Series a try!
