Cozy Mystery Friends: Korina Moss

Korina and Daphne at Malice Domestic 2025

lf you love cozies, then you'll love meeting my cozy mystery author friends! This month I'm excited to introduce you to Korina Moss, my dear friend who writes great cozies. I can't wait to tell you all about her and her latest book! Check out this cover of her latest BAIT & SWISS!

Doesn't Elvis look awesome?

In Korina Moss's Bait and Swiss, Yarrow Glen’s newest business gives one unlucky resident the swiss of death.

It’s been almost two years since Willa Bauer opened Curds & Whey in Yarrow Glen, and both cheesemonger and cheese shop are thriving in the Sonoma Valley. While Willa doesn’t eat chocolate, it’s true that life is like a box of chocolates. Unfortunately, life’s latest curveball is that Willa’s ex fiancé and ex-best friend—the reason for her chocolate aversion—are opening a chocolate pop-up shop across the street. By the end of the shop’s first day, the town’s newest reporter is the victim of death by chocolate. Now Willa’s ex wants her to be Swiss Congeniality, solve the case, and save the day. As much as Willa wants to hit him with the nearest cheese wheel, she can't stop herself from saying yes. And it’s not long before tourists decide to stay clear of town until the killer is caught. To save Yarrow Glen, Willa and Team Cheese have some work to do.

Order today at https://amzn.to/4iNK3Zd

About Korina:

Korina Moss is the author of the Cheese Shop cozy mystery series set in Sonoma Valley, including the Agatha Award winner of the Best First Novel, Cheddar Off Dead and the finalist for Best Contemporary Novel, Case of the Bleus. Her books have been featured in USA Today, PARADE Magazine, Woman’s World, AARP Magazine, and Writer’s Digest.

Korina is also a freelance developmental editor specializing in cozy and traditional mysteries. Using her experience writing her award-winning series for a Big 5 publisher, she has the inside track on what editors, agents, and readers are looking for in a cozy mystery. Whether you're a new writer hoping to be traditionally or independently published, or you're an established writer wanting some guidance with a manuscript, she can help you strengthen your book. You can find more information on her website and contact her at korinamossauthor@gmail.com.

Tell us the name of your main characters. If you had to describe them in only three words, what would they be?

Willa Bauer: Cheese-obsessed, loyal, relatable

Is there something your protagonist can't live without? What and why?

Cheese, of course! It's gotten her through lots of rough times. But perhaps she'd change her answer to her friends, because they've been her rock since moving to Yarrow Glen.

Who would play your character in the tv/movie version of your book?

Ginnifer Goodwin when she was in her 30s.

Does your sleuth have a pet? If so, what's their name and animal type? If not, what kind of pet would they love to have?

Willa has a betta fish named Loretta. She's flamboyant and judgy, and has a major crush on Ted Allen, the host of Food Network's Chopped.

If your sleuth was giving a tour of your town/setting, where would they take the reader to first? Why did they choose that spot?

She'd take them to her cheese shop, Curds & Whey. She loves introducing people to cheese, not to mention her terrific friends and employees, Archie and Mrs. Schultz. Her neighbor and best friend, Baz, would hopefully be there too.

Any other fun things we should know?

This sixth book brings Willa's past to her present, threatening to ruin everything she's worked for. To get an idea of my series, imagine the Scooby Doo gang plopped into a Hallmark movie with lots of cheese!

Now let's find out a little bit about you! Who or what first inspired you to write mysteries?

The Nancy Drew series developed my love of mysteries, but it was Agatha Christie's books that made me want to try my hand at writing them.

Where do you do most of your writing? Do you have any rituals or must-haves?

I write in every room of my home -- at my desk, my dining table, on the couch, on my bed... In good weather, I also like to write in my car. My one must-have was Coke Zero, but I sadly had to give it up last year.

Rapid fire questions!

Tea, coffee, or something else? Water

Cats, dogs, or another animal? Cats

Dream vacation spot? Anywhere with my son

Favorite book? (besides your own, of course!) Rebecca by Daphne DuMaurier

Favorite time to write: morning, afternoon, nighttime? Evening

A random fact about you that might surprise readers?  I wrote a short ballet that was professionally performed on stage with The Nutcracker one year.

Lastly, where can readers connect with you?

I'm on Facebook, Instagram, Threads, Bluesky, and Pinterest as KorinaMossAuthor. My website is https://www.korinamossauthor.com/ where you can subscribe to my free monthly newsletter. You can peruse back issues of my newsletter on my Pinterest page.

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