Heather’s Bookshelf: Author Interview with Jodie Morgan
Book Title: Murder at the Summer Cheese Festival
Released: 09/18/25
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Interview by Heather L. Barksdale
What inspired you to write “Murder At The Summer Cheese Festival”?
Morgan: It started with two ‘what if’ questions that wouldn’t leave me alone. What if a life that’s stopped fitting wasn’t a catastrophe, but an awakening? And what if someone who’d spent years reading people in high-pressure restaurants turned that skill toward solving a crime?
Those questions gave me Laura Evans. But I needed more than that! I spent years teaching Food Technology to high school students and running a kitchen garden program where kids learned to grow veggies and cook. Food’s always been the way I understand community. When I started writing fiction, I knew food had to be at the center.
Then I needed a setting that’d bring together the other things I care about: crafting and belonging. I kept coming back to Vermont: the small towns, the local produce, the way neighbors know each other. It’s perfect cozy mystery territory! So when I discovered Vermont has the highest number of cheesemakers per capita in the United States, the festival idea clicked!
How did you come up with the names of your main characters?
Morgan: Laura’s last name, Evans, is Scottish. While I can’t claim any heritage for myself (though my eldest son keeps talking about genealogy, so who knows what he might find) I’ve always loved the sound of Scottish last names. And Laura is such a pretty name! I wanted something that’d match the person Laura is: kind, unassuming, and considerate.
One origin for Evelyn’s name derives from an Old Irish word, meaning beauty or radiance. I like to think Evelyn’s parents knew she’d grow to be a light in the world!
And for Jasmine: one of my favorite flowers is star jasmine, which my mother’s coaxed into a magnificent hedge in her backyard. Come late spring, the scent is so heady! The petals softly curve with slightly pointed edges, which suits a character who’s a warm, bubbly soul, but has a delightfully sharp wit.
Is there anything that you want readers to know about you, your writing process or your book?
Morgan: I’m a knitter with over forty years of experience and a crocheter of seventeen years, so the craft scenes in my books use correct techniques and terminology. And the recipes at the back of each novel? You can actually make them! I wanted readers to be able to experience Silver Springs in every way possible, including in their kitchens.
One thing that matters to me is accessibility. Every book comes in regular, large print, and dyslexic-print editions, because I want everyone to have a comfortable experience.
And if you find yourself craving cheese while reading? I consider that a success!
If "Murder at the Summer Cheese Festival" was adapted into a movie, who would you like to see cast to play your lead characters?
Morgan: I’ve thought a lot about this, and while I still haven’t figured out the specific actors, I know what qualities each character needs!
For Laura, I’d want someone who radiates competent warmth. She’s not flashy: she’s the person who makes everyone feel at ease, but she’s also noticing everything.
Evelyn needs someone with sharp intelligence and impeccable timing. She's elegant, formidable, and she can deliver an observation that reframes a conversation.
And Jasmine would need someone with real wit and energy: who can make you laugh, keep up with rapid-fire banter, and then wow you with her honesty.
So I'd love to hear who my readers would cast!
When you encounter writer's block, what do you do to break yourself out of it?
Morgan: I treat it the same way I would when I run into a struggle in my knitting: giving myself permission to get it wrong. The pressure to get it right is usually the problem! So I’ll write a version I know is terrible just to get something on the page. Usually, buried somewhere in that draft is a line or an idea that unlocks the real version!
If that doesn’t work, I step away. I'll pick up my knitting needles. It’s amazing what thoughts come to mind when I’m stitching away!
Are there any tips that you would like to share with other aspiring authors?
Morgan: Listen to your readers. When multiple people point to the same thing, pay attention! After I published my first two books, readers gave me feedback that was generous, specific, and honest. So I went back in, and the result is the version of those stories I always wanted to tell. It wouldn’t have been possible without those kind reviewers!
Also: publish everywhere you can. You never know where readers will find you.
What is your favorite genre, book, and/or author?
Morgan: I know many people say this, but Agatha Christie! Her plotting is extraordinary, and I’m constantly learning from her misdirections. I’m inspired by Fiona Leitch and Robert Thorogood, who deliver the most surprising twists! Kate Morton’s intricate storytelling has taught me so much about weaving timelines and secrets together.
Outside mysteries, Philip Pullman’s attention to the texture of his worlds reminds me the details of the setting are best when they’re immersive.
I’m always adding to my reading list. If your readers have suggestions, I’d love to hear about them!
What are you working on next?
Morgan: The second Silver Springs Mystery, Murder At Goldenleaf Apple Farm, which follows Laura’s next investigation in Maplewood County, is out now. I’m proud of that one and excited for readers to spend more time in Silver Springs.
My third book is being edited, which is exciting (and a little nerve-wracking!) I can’t reveal too much, but there’ll be plenty of surprising twists, delicious food, crafting, and snowy Vermont scenery.
Learn More About the Author and Murder at the Summer Cheese Festival:
Website: https://cozycozies.com
Amazon: https://amazon.com/author/jodiemorgan
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5666125.Jodie_Morgan
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/jodie-morgan-ca02d90e-e9b1-4816-98a4-81186b94d01d
Instagram: https://instagram.com/thecozycozies
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thecozycozies
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Find it for purchase here
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