Hey there, mystery mavens—it’s Kendra Cassidy here, your favorite retired admiral turned literary busybody.

Today, I’ve locked onto an author whose books are as twisty as a wormhole and just as hard to predict: Michele PW (Pariza Wacek). If that name rings a bell, it should—she’s a USA Today bestselling author with 23 novels, 5 novellas, and a dangerous tendency to surprise you when you least expect it.

Michele taught herself to read at the age of three. Not because someone told her to, oh no—but because she had stories to tell, and waiting for the alphabet to cooperate just wasn’t fast enough. She’s been hooked on storytelling ever since, moving from scribbled childhood pictures to sprawling mysteries that straddle the cozy, the psychological, and the supernatural.

Raised in Wisconsin—and back living there now after three decades in the mountains of Arizona—Michele writes stories that blend small-town charm with secrets darker than a nebula. Her fictional towns of Redemption and Riverview may sound quaint, but believe me: behind every friendly smile is a secret, and behind every cozy tea shop or investment firm? Something far more twisted. Whether it’s the lighthearted sleuths of The Redemption Detective Agency or the grittier shadows in her psychological thrillers, Michele’s fiction shares a core message: things are never quite as they seem.

When she’s not weaving words, she’s reading them, cheering on the Packers and Badgers, or letting Mr. PW handle the cooking while she dreams up her next delightfully deceptive plot twist. (Pro tip: don’t challenge her to a football debate unless you’re ready for a Hail Mary.)

So buckle up, readers—we’re heading into the heart of Redemption, Wisconsin. Fair warning: there’s a missing dog, a few secrets, and a whole lot of delightful chaos waiting ahead.

Let’s solve the unsolvable.

A book that pleasantly surprised you? “A Court of Thornes and Roses” by Sarah Maas. While I read a lot of different genres and I definitely enjoy fantasy, my go-tos are psych thrillers and mysteries (big surprise as that’s what I write). But, when I start seeing a book that isn’t a psych thriller being talked about in the 2M+ psych thriller reader group I’m in, I’ll usually give it a try. That’s what happened with“The Fourth Wing” by Rebecca Yarros. I had never read a romantasy before then, so I wasn’t sure what to expect, but it turned out to be a fun read. I decided to see what other romantasy books were like, so I picked up ACOTR. I’m reading it and it’s fine, and it’s fine, and I’m starting to wonder why there is all this fuss about it because it’s really just fine…when I finally hit the point of the book where all the fuss happens and then I finally got it. That book actually surprised me, which doesn’t happen a lot anymore. 

Coffee, tea, or cacao? Coffee. No question. (I don’t care that Charlie, the main character of the Charlie Kingsley mystery series, makes and sells custom teas. I’m all about the coffee.)

When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer? When I was three years old. I wanted to write stories so badly so I taught myself to read. Before that, my only way of “writing” was by drawing terrible pictures and then using those pictures to remind myself of the story so I could verbally tell it. But, even at that age, I was frustrated that I couldn’t remember the words exactly from one telling to the next, hence I realized I needed to learn how to read and write.

What is your work schedule like when you’re writing? Not nearly disciplined enough. I have a lot of issues starting and will find all sorts of other things that must be done before I can sit down and write. (Anything from posting on Instagram to emptying the dishwasher to reading about the Packers on ESPN.) Eventually I remind myself the book isn’t going to write itself, nor do I really don’t want to cancel a preorder, and that gets me to finally buckle down.

When did you write your first book and how old were you? I was 16 and I wrote it in my parent’s dining room. We had a family computer, one of the first Apple computers (I’m old Gen X) and for about six months I worked on what would become my first novel. It has since disappeared, much like the floppy disks I saved it on, and I have no doubt it’s for the best. I suspect it was a terribly pretentious thing, similiar to the other stories I wrote while in high school. (I had aspirations of being a great literary genius, not just a common mystery author—heaven forbid!)

What do you like to do when you’re not writing? Read. I would read a lot more but my writing gets in the way. Also I like to watch football, both college and pro. (Go Packers and Badgers! Also explains why reading ESPN tops getting my words in for the day.) Apparently I will also soon be watching college volleyball as well as one of my nieces was recruited for a Division 1 school, and a second niece will likely be recruited as well.

Is there a trope you find yourself going back to in multiple works? Or one you avoid? Family secrets is a big one. Even in my pretentious first novel, which didn’t even have a mystery in it, had family secrets in it. Another theme that shows up a lot is things are never as they seem. This one shows up more naturally in my psych thrillers but it even makes an appearance in my cozy mysteries.

What does your family think of your writing? I am very blessed to have a very supportive family, including Mr. PW. They don’t always read my books, but they’ve always supported me pursuing my dream. 

How many books have you written? Which is your favorite? 23 novels and 5 novellas. Favorite is a loaded word. I think the best book I ever wrote was one of my psych thrillers, “The Taking,” which was also one of my worst sellers, so clearly the readers were not impressed. I’ve been very much enjoying writing the new cozy mystery series The Redemption Detective Agency, as it’s part romcom, part cozy mystery. I’m finding I really like pushing the humor aspect. Luckily the readers also agree.

Do you have any suggestions to help someone become a better writer? If so, what are they? Read more and write more. Which I know is exactly what Stephen King also said you should do, so not terribly creative. On the other hand, if the master is going to give you advice, you might want to consider taking it.

As a child, what did you want to do when you grew up? Write books. I’ve been singularly focused on writing books my entire life (which doesn’t mean I’ve been writing books my entire life, just that I’ve been singularly focused on becoming an author).

What is the first book that made you cry? I think it was “The Cat that Went to Heaven.” I was very young when I read it, and I don’t know who the author is, but it sent me into this weird existential crisis about life after death. I can’t even tell you why it set me off anymore, I just remember melting down and my poor parents couldn’t figure out what to do.

Does writing energize or exhaust you? What an intriguing question. I’ve never thought about it before, but I would say both. It energizes me while I’m writing, but once I’m done, especially if it’s a particularly intense writing session, I’m spent. Completely wrung out. All I can do at that point is collapse in front of the television.

Do you want each book to stand on its own, or are you building a body of work with connections between each book? All my books are connected—both the psych thrillers and the cozy mysteries. They all take place in either Redemption, Wisconsin, or Riverview, Wisconsin, which are both fictional towns located in the southern part of the state. (Redemption is similar to Reedsburg, which is in the Wisconsin Dells area and where my parents had a cabin, and Riverview is basically Madison, which is where I grew up.) In addition to the location being the same, I also have characters and places that overlap. I also keep all of my books clean (except for one) (and yes, that includes the psych thrillers). Clean to me is defined as no swearing, no gore, little violence and no on-page sex. What changes between the psych thrillers and the cozy mysteries are the themes—either dark or light. In fact, that’s one of the ways I explain my series—do you want to explore the dark side of Redemption, or the light side of Redemption?

What do you have coming next? I’m mostly focused on the cozy mysteries right now. Book 3 of the Redemption Detective Agency, “The Mysterious Case of the Missing Ghost,” is coming out August 26, and in November 2025, there will be a crossover Christmas book featuring a story from The Redemption Detective Agency and The Charlie Kingsley Mysteries. 

And that’s a wrap, friends—and what a ride it’s been! Twists, secrets, suspicious small towns... and more to come, because Michele PW is just getting started. Whether you’re in the mood for a lighthearted mystery with heart, or a psychological rabbit hole that’ll keep you up all night, she’s got your next obsession ready to go.

And here’s the real kicker—you don’t even have to wait. Michele is offering the first chapter of The Mysterious Case of the Missing Motive for download right now. Yes, right now. Why are you still here?

Go grab it and start piecing together the puzzle. I’ll wait. (Just don’t blame me when you forget what time it is.)

Want more Michele? Of course you do. Connect with her here:

🌐 Website: MPWNovels.com

 📚 Amazon: amazon.com/author/michelepw

 📖 Goodreads: goodreads.com/michelepw

 📸 Instagram: @themichelepw

 📘 Facebook: facebook.com/michelepwauthor

Now go on—there’s a motive to uncover.

 —Kendra Cassidy, out. 🔎✨