Q&A with Meredith Potts, The Daley Buzz Cozy Mysteries

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Tell us about the process of turning your book into an audiobook.  

It’s an incredible experience hearing your words read aloud.  Writing is such a solitary activity that it feels particularly special listening to a narrator make your characters come alive.  

Do you believe certain types of writing translate better into audiobook format?  

I certainly believe that it doesn’t hurt to have a playful, humorous writing style with snappy dialogue.  Then again, whodunits probably translate well to any format.  After all, who doesn’t love a good mystery? 

How did you select your narrator?

I held an open audition.  That’s how I’ve found both of my wonderful narrators.  

Were there any real life inspirations behind your writing?  

I used to work at a coffee shop for a number of years, so I used some of my real-life experiences slinging lattes as the inspiration for Daley Buzz, the cafe in my series.  People are very particular about how they want their coffee and that is reflected in a number of scenes throughout the series.

How do you manage to avoid burn-out? What do you do to maintain your enthusiasm for writing?  

There’s a new murder case in each book of the series, which brings a unique set of new wacky characters and motives into play.  As for the writing, I try to take the weekends off. Everyone needs a break now and then.

Is there a particular part of this story that you feel is more resonating in the audiobook performance than in the book format?  

The dialogue really stands out more when read aloud, I find.  So much depends on the performance of the narrator, which is why I’m so glad that I found two fantastic narrators.  

What bits of advice would you give to aspiring authors?  

Write to market.  And invest in the marketing of your writing.    

What’s next for you?  

There’s a Daley Buzz spinoff on the way.  I can’t wait to share the new series with my readers and listeners.