Why I Wrote a Contemporary Christmas Mystery
For those of you who have followed my writing journey over the years, you may have been a little surprised when I announced my newest novel, PICKLED FOR REVENGE. After all, I'm best known for writing historical fiction.
I have happily spent years immersed in archives, biographies, letters, and centuries-old mysteries while bringing remarkable people from history back to life. My books have taken me from medieval Europe to the Tudor court and beyond. So, writing a contemporary Christmas murder mystery may seem like quite the detour.
In reality, it wasn't.
It Started with One Question
Every book I write begins the same way—with a question. Sometimes that question is historical. What really happened? Sometimes it's personal.
What must it have felt like? And sometimes it's wonderfully ridiculous. What if a Christmas pickle became evidence in a murder investigation? That one question refused to leave me alone.
The more I thought about it, the more I laughed. Before long, I had an entire village taking its Christmas traditions far too seriously, a murdered pastor, a reluctant Saint Nicholas, and enough eccentric suspects to keep me entertained for months. I knew I had found my next story.
A Change of Time Period—Not a Change of Heart
Although this book takes place in the present day, I discovered that I approached writing it exactly as I do my historical fiction.
I researched Christmas traditions. I studied regional customs. I paid close attention to village life and the little details that make a place feel authentic. Even the humor is rooted in the characters and their world, just as it is in my historical novels. The setting may have changed, but my love of research certainly hasn't.
Sometimes a Writer Needs to Play
Historical fiction is incredibly rewarding to write, but it also carries a certain responsibility. When you're writing about real people and real events, accuracy matters. There are facts you simply cannot change.
Writing this story gave me the opportunity to play. I could invent an entire village full of colorful personalities. I could create traditions—or exaggerate real ones just enough to make readers smile. Most importantly, I could simply enjoy spending time with characters who constantly surprised me.
Nicko, in particular, has a habit of saying exactly what's on his mind. Whether that's a blessing or a curse depends entirely on who happens to be standing nearby.
Laughter Can Live Beside Mystery
One thing I wanted to capture was the warmth of Christmas.
Yes, there's a murder. Yes, there's an investigation. But there are also family dinners, holiday traditions, village gossip, quirky neighbors, and enough good food to make everyone hungry.
Life rarely fits neatly into one genre. Even during difficult times, people laugh. They celebrate. They argue. They make mistakes. They keep going. I wanted this novel to reflect that reality.
Will I Write Another One?
I've already been asked whether this is the beginning of a new series.
The honest answer is...
Never say never.
I've grown rather fond of Nicko, Rupert, Henry, and their delightfully chaotic village. They have a way of creating trouble all on their own. As any writer will tell you, once characters move into your imagination, they rarely ask permission to stay.
Thank You!
Whether you've been reading my historical fiction for years or PICKLED FOR REVENGE is your very first introduction to my work, thank you.
Writers spend months—or years—living with a story before anyone else ever reads it. Seeing that story finally make its way into readers' hands is always both exciting and humbling.
I hope PICKLED FOR REVENGE made you laugh, kept you guessing, and perhaps even encouraged you to look a little more closely at the next Christmas pickle ornament you see. After all, you never know what secrets it might be hiding.
Piper is the award-winning author of The Country Girl Empress series. When she isn't busy typing on her computer, she can be found chasing after her furry children or holding on tightly to a good cup of coffee. Follow her on LinkedIn, Facebook, Medium, and Goodreads
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