Oklahoma author Eve K. Sandstrom—a.k.a. JoAnna Carl—dishes on cozy mysteries and her newest book in the Chocoholic Mystery series: The Chocolate Raccoon Rigmarole.

Author Eve K. Sandstrom, often known by her pen name JoAnna Carl, with her latest book. Photo by Mike Mazzo

OKT: What exactly is a cozy mystery?

Sandstrom: It has a small cast of characters and a limited setting, usually a small town. Somebody dies—or it wouldn’t be a mystery—but it nearly always happens off stage. I like to read them at bedtime, because they’re an escape. The ones that are really good have a lot about human life and realistic relationships.

OKT: Tell me about Lee Woodyard, the protagonist in your Chocoholic series.

Sandstrom: I hope that she’s just an interesting person, and in a lot of ways, she’s everything I wish I were. She’s six-feet-tall and blonde, and I’m a short, fat lady. As Lee grows up, she makes the unhappy choice in marrying her first husband. He’s wealthy, and he wanted her as a trophy wife. She spends five years trying to convince him that she’s an intelligent human being. He didn’t want her to be, so she finally leaves him and refuses any financial help. When her aunt in Michigan calls with all sorts of business problems, Lee, who has a business degree, goes to help her aunt straighten things out and ends up loving the small Michigan town.

OKT: Can you talk about your latest book, The Chocolate Raccoon Rigmarole?

Sandstrom: I had the perfect title for the book before I even wrote it—raccoons are cute, but they can be a problem. I told my brother, who’s an architect in Houston, I didn’t really have a good idea for my new book, and he said that he had a story. There was a man in the construction business—and I don’t know his name or anything specific—who got a phone call, and it was obviously someone that owed him money. The guy said to him “Bob, I’ve killed a lot of guys for minimum wage. I’ll be over to see you this afternoon, and I’m not bringing a lawyer.” We thought that was hilarious, because my brother knew the guy wasn’t going to do anything harmful, but it was such a tough guy remark. I built the whole book off of that remark and, well, they printed it.

OKT: What do you hope people take from your books?

Sandstrom: A pleasant evening. I don’t really want to change the world or anything, since I might make a bigger mess. But just some entertainment. There are things you need in your life that are just comforting.

Eve K. Sandstrom was raised on Nancy Drew and other mystery novels. She spent her early writing career in the journalism world working for The Lawton Constitution, among other publications. The Chocolate Raccoon Rigmarole is available wherever books are sold. penguinrandomhouse.com

Written By

Karlie Ybarra

Managing editor Karlie Ybarra loves to explore her home state—and meet many of its animal citizens—any chance she gets.