I talked to Abby Vandiver at the Ohioana Book Festival.

Tell me about your book and why you wrote it.

My name is Abby Vandiver. I also write as Abby Collette and also as Cade Bentley.

What is up with the different names?

I kill people in my books. I used to be a lawyer and an economics professor. I got sick. I had to do something to keep my mind off of it. I started writing books in my fifties. The first time I got a traditional publishing deal, I was sixty years old. It is never too late. I have written about thirty-five books. I mostly write cozy mysteries; but, I have also written women’s fiction. My book takes place in Natchez, Mississippi, about a couple of sisters who are estranged and have to come back to bury their father. It has some black history stuff in it. I have black characters in all of my books. I try to put some social issues in there. I also put recipes in there.

What type of recipes? Recipes with real butter?

Yes, you gotta have butter. In my Books & Biscuits Mystery Series, they open a soul food restaurant. I give recipes. You know that is pretty hard because with soul food you cook it and you taste it, then you add a little of this and a little of that. No one knows how much you put in there. You add it until it tastes good. I also have ice cream recipes in my Ice Cream Parlor Mystery Series. Some of the recipes contain alcohol. Some are kid friendly.

Where can someone buy your books?

You can buy my books at any independent book seller. I am an advocate for small independent bookstores. You can also buy them at Amazon, Walmart and Target. My favorite place of all to tell people to get a book is at your local library. If they don’t have it, ask the librarian to order it.

Is there anything that I didn’t ask you that you think I should have asked you? If so, go ahead and answer that question.

How good are my books?

They are the best.