Saturday, April 15, 2017

When in Rome…or Mexico…or Napa with Marla Cooper


JENN: I was lucky enough to meet Marla Cooper at a Left Coast Crime conference in Portland (it was Portland, wasn't it, Marla?) a few years ago. We met in the audience of a cozy-noir panel and bonded over our love of the traditional mystery and our own stellar abilities at cuss words. Marla is sassy and funny and a delight to chat with so when she mentioned she had a book coming out, I offered to read it for an endorsement because I figured it had to be good. I was right because the book was TERROR IN TAFFETA which was nominated for a Lefty for best debut novel! As expected, it was terrific and it kicks off her series about a destination wedding planner (genius!). So, here is Marla to talk more about destinations...

MARLA: One question I get asked a lot — second only to “Where do you get your ideas?” — is: “Do you actually visit the places you write about?”

The short answer? Absolutely! When you’re trying to evoke a sense of place, you owe it to yourself to visit in person, because there are some things you just can’t learn on the internet. And besides: vacation!

See, my heroine is a destination wedding planner, so each book is set in a different location. And instead of creating a fictional small town, like any reasonably sane person writing a series would do, I chose to write about real places that lots of people have actually visited. I know I couldn’t do justice to the settings without going there in person, and readers would totally bust me if I even tried.

I won’t lie: I don’t feel put upon that I “have” to do all that research. And invariably, I learn things that not only go in the book, but actually affect the plot. When it was time to decide where to set the second book in my series, Dying on the Vine, I picked the Napa and Sonoma wine country. And boy, did I ever take my research seriously!

It all started with a visit to Domaine Carneros, which looks like this:

I was there tasting sparkling wine with my husband and my friend Brian (my real-life Brody), and there was a wedding party celebrating on the patio. (Excuse me, terrace. A place this grand doesn’t have a mere patio.) Of course, that immediately got me thinking about my protagonist Kelsey and what would happen if she were to plan a wedding there.

However, Kelsey doesn’t usually book venues that are quite so grand, so that got me thinking about what kind of wedding planner would feel right at home there. She’d probably be a bit of a diva. Larger than life. A little pushy and grandiose herself. And thus was born Babs Norton, the Queen of Wine Country Weddings.

In the book, Babs Norton is a preferred vendor at Higgins Estate, which bears a striking resemblance to Domaine Carneros. (I’m sure they’d like me to insert a disclaimer here that there are absolutely no dangerous goings-on or sinister plots there, and that everything except for the setting is 100% a work of fiction.)

So where would Kelsey like to plan a wedding? I think she’d prefer someplace like Preston Farm & Winery, which by some stroke of coincidence just happens to be my favorite winery. Preston has a 100-year-old farmhouse, picnic tables, cats lolling about in the sun, vegetables for sale from the garden, and of course great wine.



I love Preston so much that I decided to give them an old barn that Kelsey thinks would make a great wedding venue, and thus a subplot was born. Since they don’t actually have a barn, I turned to Pinterest, and … voila! (I love what Kelsey did with the place.)       


But perhaps the most inspiring thing of all were the wine caves. I knew that some wineries had started digging caves into the hillsides for underground wine storage, and some of them even had event rooms. That sounded promising, so I found one and took a tour. The caves are dark, they’re chilly, and they lack cell reception. (Ooooooohhhh…..)

I knew I had to use it in my book. And just in case I needed a sign, well, there was this:
(I’m assuming that’s just cabernet sauvignon, but still, it got my attention.)

After seeing how inextricably my plot and my setting became intertwined, I realized that visiting the locations is about more than just getting the details right. It’s about finding my story.

Also? Pretty much anywhere I travel these days, I’ve got my eye out for the scene of the crime.

So, what about you, Reds? How do you pick your setting? And is it as integral to your story as a character in the book?

ABOUT MARLA: Marla Cooper is the author of TERROR IN TAFFETA, an Agatha and Lefty finalist for Best First Mystery Novel and book one in the Kelsey McKenna Destination Wedding Mysteries. Her second book, DYING ON THE VINE, is set in the California wine country and is now available from Minotaur Press. Originally hailing from Texas, Marla lives in Oakland, California, with her husband and her polydactyl tuxedo cat. Learn more at www.marla-cooper.com.

Marla's latest release is DYING ON THE VINE:
When wedding planner Kelsey McKenna goes to the Wine Country Wedding Faire, the last thing she expects to do is take on new clients. After all, she’s just there to help out her friend Brody and maybe score some free cupcakes. But when a young couple in a pinch asks for her help, she just can't say no.
There’s only one problem: they’d been working with Babs Norton, the self-proclaimed Queen of Wine Country Weddings—and things did not end well. Kelsey wants to make sure there are no hard feelings, but unfortunately she never gets the chance. When she goes to Babs’ office, she finds the wedding planner dead on the floor.
Babs' high-strung assistant Stefan knows exactly who killed Babs: Kelsey. At least, that's what he very publicly accuses her of at Babs' funeral. When Kelsey decides to do a little sleuthing to clear her name, she uncovers a myriad of secrets and lies. And when a second wedding planner is attacked, Kelsey begins to wonder if she might be next.



60 comments:

  1. A mystery involving a destination wedding planner seems like a perfect plot for a book and it certainly sounds as if you’ve enjoyed checking out some possible wedding sites for Kelsey. I’m looking forward to reading your stories, Marla . . . .

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    1. I agree it is the perfect hook for a series, Joan. Weddings do bring out the best and the worst in people.

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    2. Thank you so much, Joan! I definitely enjoy scouting locations!

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  2. I love hearing about how the setting influenced the plot of the second book. Those behind the scenes details are always tons of fun.

    And if you haven't read this series yet, do so today. It is fabulous!

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    1. I am not at all surprised that you enjoy this series, Mark. It's a kick, isn't it?

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    2. Thanks, Mark! (And thanks, Jenn!) I knew the setting would influence the plot, but I don't think I'd even realized how much until I wrote this post! :-)

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  3. This sounds like so much fun, Marla! I have a new series set on Cape Cod, and the setting is definitely a character (although I'm not going to be able to afford to do the research for a mid-summer book!). What I love about my historical series is that it's set right here where I live - but 130 years earlier. Many of the buildings from then are still standing, so I can wander the streets on my daily errands and imagine life back in the late 1880s. Best of luck with the new book, and see you in a couple of weeks, I hope!

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    1. Why did I think that you lived on Cape Cod?

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    2. Oh, I love Cape Cod! Spent many memorable weekends there in college. I'll have to look for your series, Edith!

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    3. Thanks, Edith! And yep, I will see you at Malice!!

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  4. Congratulations Marla on your second book, Dying on the Vine! I am also glad to have met you and learned about your series at Left Coast Crime!! And setting this book in California wine country is a great setting...I love going to both Napa and Sonoma in person and virtually!!

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    1. Yes! It was great meeting you at Left Coast. (And here's to zinfandel!)

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    2. I love the cask of wine with the spill running down it that Marla shared - very inspiring. I can't believe I've never been to Napa. Must rectify that.

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    3. Marla, yes we have to have that glass of zinfandel the next time we meet!

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  5. This sounds like a really fun book, Marla. I wish you tons of success, and many happy years researching new locations! I think setting is a really important part of what gives a book a unique voice. It often shapes what the characters do, and how they look at life. Right now I'm reading three different series where the setting flavors the entire story: Julia Keller's Bel Elkins stories, set in West Virginia; Alan Bradley's Flavia de Luce stories, set in small town post-war England; and Ben Aaronovitch's Rivers of London series, set in a magical version of London. Couldn't be more different. Couldn't be more delightful.

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    1. Thank you so much, Gigi! And thanks for the great reading recommendations!

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    2. I agree, Gigi, setting is so important. I am intrigued by your mention of Ben Aaronovitch's Rivers of London. I do love all things London.

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  6. Congratulations, Marla - what a wonderful, fun, book, and I'm dying to read the inside story of wedding planning in Napa country. To say nothing of learning about all those wonderful winery secrets.

    My books are set in Florida, both underwater and in high-end real estate so yes, setting is often a character, and I have to admit, the research in both venues can be great fun!

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    1. Thank you, Kait! I love Florida, and your series is on my TBR list!

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    2. Hi, Kait,

      I bet Florida is a fantastic character.

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  7. Oh, Marlaff, congratulations! And this sounds like such fun… and you are such a devoted Author to do such difficult research. :-)
    It's always fun, too, when you kind of let go of the research and just let the story be. But that grounding in reality is what can allow that to happen.
    Do you have a list of where you are going next?

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    1. Thanks, Hank! Ahhh, yes, the lengths I will go to for my readers. It's hard work, but someone's gotta do it, right? :-)

      I did have a list, but whenever I travel, I see things that get the wheels turning — which means now I have a backlog of locations that I want to write about!

      P.S. "Marlaff" has a nice ring to it!

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    2. Marla, I can't wait to see where you go next.

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  8. So much for dictation! I'm not sure what Marlaff is ...

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  9. Oh, wonderful! Another book from Marla Cooper! I loved the first book, and I can't wait for more.

    Marla, as I read Terror in Taffeta there was such a clear picture in my head of the setting that I felt like I was right there. And how I admire you for the sacrifices you make in order to make that happen for the reader:-)

    Deb Romano

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    1. Thank you so much, Deborah! And I'm glad you could picture San Miguel de Allende. It's such a beautiful town it's hard to do it justice. (And, oh, the margaritas I drank in the name of research...)

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  10. The book sounds like great fun, Marla! And good for you, picking places a little more convenient to visit than I did:-)

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    1. Love that your novels are set in the UK.

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    2. But you really can't beat Notting Hill, Debs. Is it possible to be homesick for a place you've only visited and not lived? I think I am. *sob*

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    3. I won't be able to get away with that for all my books. Someone at a library event suggested Reykjavík, which sounds pretty good to me!

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  11. Congrats on your sophomore book, Marla! I'm a big believer in 1) location shaping the story and 2) actually putting your feet on the ground in the place you write about. I'm delighted to see you agree! (And am once more wondering what I was thinking of when I set me series in an economically depressed area of upstate New York. Next series: Northern California!)

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    1. Agree with you that location shapes the story.

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    2. Julia, yes! And just think, all your trips would be tax deductible!

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  12. I love it, too, when the research takes over. Vineyard tunnels? How perfect! And I've got to say, Preston Farm & Winery looks like my kind of place for a wedding. Thanks for visiting, Marla! And congratulations on the new book.

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    1. Preston Farm and Winery looks like a place I would like to visit.

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    2. Thank you so much, Hallie! I'm glad to hear you share my enthusiasm for Preston. I'm actually driving up to visit them tomorrow, and I've promised to bring them copies of my book. (I let it slip last time we went that I'd written a mystery and used them as inspiration.) Thanks for having me today!

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    3. It does look beautiful. I am getting the traveling bug.

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  13. How exciting, to visit these great places and imagine a wedding at them. I'm looking forward to reading this second book in a fun series.

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    1. You will love Dying on the Vine.

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    2. Thanks, Kathy! Job hazard: I now picture weddings (and murders!) everywhere I go. And I shamelessly try to get myself invited to weddings, too! Thanks for saying hi. :-)

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    3. A nice Scottish castle would make for a fun wedding - men in kilts - just sayin'

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  14. Marla, welcome to Jungle Reds! You are the second interview this week on Jungle Reds that I actually met in person! Congratulations on your second book! Loved Dying on the Vine. I imagine Kellie Martin, the actress from Mystery Woman and Life Goes On, as Kelsey. I am familiar with Pacific Heights since several friends lived in that area. I recall the difficulties trying to find parking there!

    To answer the questions, though I am not a published writer yet, I think the location matters in novels. If the story takes place in one of my favorite places, I am more likely to like the book,

    I have visited the Wine Country several times with my boyfriend. It is beautiful. I love your photos. When I participated in a travel photography workshop, taught by Robert Holmes and Andrea Johnson, we went to the Wine Country and visited two wineries, including Buena Vista Winery.

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    1. That photography workshop sounds terrific! (And now I'm trying to guess who this is... so far my best guess is ... DM?) Regardless, thanks so much for the warm welcome!

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  15. I love the barn picture from Pinterest -- that is a wedding or a party that would be magical ~

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    1. I have to confess, I've really enjoyed using Pinterest to plan my fictional weddings. I can see why brides-to-be get into it so much! Some of the details in the book came straight from my Pinterest board. And I agree: I want to go to whatever they were planning in that barn!

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    2. I love Pinterest, too, except when I step away and realize HOURS have passed.

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  17. I share Hank's question, Marla: Do you have a list of future destinations for you and the series?

    What are the most popular spots for destination weddings? Just curious!

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    1. I'm always on the lookout for good locations! I hadn't thought of New Orleans as a contender, but when I was there for Bouchercon, I had so many moments of inspiration that I practically had the book outlined by the time I left!

      It's funny, northern California wine country kind of seemed like cheating for me and my main character, since we both (coincidentally) live in the Bay Area. But it actually is one of the top spots for a destination wedding in the United States!

      Beaches are always popular for destination weddings, and while I'm tempted to use the excuse to go to Tahiti, Hawaii sure has a lot going for it — including the fact that it's only a five-hour flight away!

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    2. Beach weddings are wonderful - I have a lot of friends who have been married on the beach in Belize.

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  18. What a great post--and pictures!--loved seeing the inspirations for the locations in your wonderful series.

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    1. Thank you, Cynthia! It was fun for me to relive it all. (And I hadn't really realized just how much the setting inspired the plot until I wrote this!)

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  19. I love seeing your inspiration, Marla. I'm a total wedding fanatic (Say Yes To The Dress) so it's no wonder your series is at the top of my list. We were in Sonoma a few years ago and went to a wonderful restaurant with a quirky name - The Girl and the Fig. Have you tried it? One of my faves. Hope to see you at Malice! Best wishes with your new book.

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    1. Yes! I love The Girl and the Fig. I haven't been there in ages, so thanks for reminding me it's there. Looking forward to seeing you at Malice!

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    2. Shari- I'm a wedding nut, too. I just find them so wonderfully optimistic, creative, and fun.

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  20. Hi Marla! We met briefly at BoucherCon and I want to thank you for being so sweet and friendly; it meant a lot to me as an unpublished writer.

    I'm not a big fan of weddings, but the one that I've enjoyed the most was my cousin's destination wedding last year in Cancun. It was at an all-inclusive resort called Azul Sensatori, and It. Was. FABULOUS. Even though it was pricey, my husband and I decided to treat it as an anniversary trip since my cousin was getting married on our one-year anniversary! Totally worth it.

    As far as setting goes, I think it's really important, particularly in the mystery genre. I read to learn about places I've never been before, but I also love reading about places I'm familiar with. One of the reasons I enjoy Sara Paretsky's work so much is because I can picture all the locations she mentions in her Chicago setting.

    My WIP is set at a comic book convention, and you better believe it plays a major part in my story! Next week is the convention that I'm basing my setting on, so I'm using it as another research trip. There's a speed dating scene in my book, so I've even signed myself up for geek speed dating at the convention!

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    1. Mia! Hello! Thanks so much for writing. Your book sounds awesome. Geek speed dating? Sign me up!

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