Libby Castle is...On the Writing Block!

Have you met Libby yet?

Libby Castle is the author of the Madame Pompette mysteries. When she's not trying to find puzzles to solve, she'll be found drinking too much tea and playing the piano. Though born in the UK, Libby currently lives in

Germany with her partner and far too many cats.

Do you always know who the killer is, or do your characters surprise you in the end?

So, the very first time I wrote a mystery, I didn’t know who the killer was. Which was very

exciting for me as a writer. I mean, everyone loves reading a mystery, right? And this was like I was reading AND writing it at the same time. Let me tell you, the whole process nearly gave me a heart attack. I continually had to go back and add clues and red herrings, and it was all far too confusing. I’m just not meant for that much excitement in life. To be honest, my idea of excitement is a new book and a Cherry Coke Zero…

I didn’t end up publishing that first book because everything got way out of hand. Ever since, I have been an ardent planner. I plan things to a tee before beginning, so I always know who thekiller is. That’s not to say that my characters don’t occasionally surprise me. Madame Pompette number 3 is currently being edited, and Charlie did surprise me a little in that one.

The killer, though? No, that’s no longer a surprise. My heart can’t take it.

Who is your favourite mystery sleuth?

I can’t choose. It would be like choosing a favourite child. Miss Marple, obviously, because she was probably the first real sleuth that I remember reading as a child. I’m a HUGE fan of the early Kay Scarpetta novels as well, which aren’t cozy but are very addictive. I adore the Thursday Murder Club gang. If I really, really, truly had to choose someone to give my heart to, I think it would have to be Nancy Drew, who I firmly blame for my addiction to mysteries of all genres. Is there really any female mystery author who didn’t want to be Nancy Drew when she was a child?

Do you prefer pen and paper or computer for writing?

I’m an internet kid, I was brought up with it, and I use my computer for everything. I couldn’t imagine writing an entire novel using only a pen and paper. Although, I do know of at least one writer that wrote an entire book using her mobile phone and I don’t think I could do that either. Nothing old-fashioned for me (other than the cocktail, which I’m quite partial to). Computers for the win!

4. What is your ultimate goal as an author?

This is an easy one: to give other people fun. I write because I like writing, I write because I like mysteries and I enjoy the mental challenge of figuring them out and setting them as well. But at the end of the day, I want people to read my books and I want them to enjoy them, it’s as simple as that. If you read one of my books and it makes you think, that’s great. But all I really want you to do is finish the book with a happy sigh.

Fun Fact: If you visit my website, https://libbycastle.com/, there is a free Madame Pompette story called Madame Pompette and the Christmas Castaways when you sign up for my newsletter!

What is Madame Pompette Sets Up Shop about?

Life in a small town isn’t always tea and scones… sometimes, it’s murder.

When former circus fortune teller Charlotte Pompette hangs up her crystal ball to open a quaint tea shop in the picturesque English village of Saint-Luke’s-Upon-the-Water, she hopes for nothing more than peace, quiet, and a dash of Earl Grey.

With her spirited pink-haired assistant Rosie, a cast of quirky neighbours, and her enigmatic black cat Tarot by her side, Charlie is ready to embrace a simpler life. The stars, she predicts, are aligned for success.

Until a customer drops dead on opening day, that is.

Now framed for murder, Charlie must turn her skills of observation and cold reading to the ultimate test—tracking down a killer before she becomes the next victim. But as secrets unravel and bodies begin to pile up, even her sharp instincts falter. And why is Tarot behaving so strangely?

Brimming with charm, witty banter, and eccentric characters, Madame Pompette’s Tea Shop is a delightful new cozy mystery series perfect for fans of Agatha Raisin and The Thursday Murder Club.