Hey there, troublemakers—Kendra Cassidy here. Retired Admiral, Federation badass, and your guide to the cozy side of chaos.
Today, we’re heading down to the coast—where the sea air’s sharp, the tea is hot, and the body count is strictly fictional… unless it’s book launch week. That’s right, I’ve got Shannon Symonds in my sights, and if you don’t know her yet, it’s time you fixed that.
Shannon writes from an old house by the sea—or sometimes the Utah desert, because she likes to keep her readers (and her setting inspiration) on their toes. She’s got six kids, eighteen grandkids, and a heart that could outshine a lighthouse in a storm. Her journey from domestic violence advocate to award-winning author is the kind of heroic arc that makes my military record look like a beach holiday.
And when I say she knows what she’s writing about? I mean she’s been in the rooms where it happens—the ones with blue lights, hard truths, and quiet courage. Her stories blend heart, mystery, and healing in a way that feels as comforting as a worn sweater… and as fierce as a woman reclaiming her power. Murder by the Book is her tenth novel—part of the Balefire Bay series, where the cinnamon rolls are hot, the book club is loyal, and murder is a plot twist away.
So grab your favorite mug of cacao (she’ll explain), curl up somewhere cozy, and join me as we chat with Shannon about everything from Agatha Christie to her cinnamon roll-scented mysteries, with detours through healing, storytelling, and why the next chapter always matters.
Let’s turn the page, shall we?
A book that pleasantly surprised you?
London Lovett’s Frostfall Island series. Book one won me over. I am through the first four books. I listened to her audio while cleaning, walking, gardening, and driving for work. I ate them up! I want more.
Coffee, tea, or cacao?
Cacao!Crio Bru Highlander Grogg is my favorite. My favorite places to enjoy it? On a snowy night or during a coastal gale by a fire wearing a sweater or two.
Where do you get your information or ideas for your books?
I wrote my first book after having to leave a job and profession I was passionate about for my personal reasons. When I left, I still had things to say. My sister, a teacher, suggested I write a book. I had always wanted to write a book. I was a voracious reader as a child and whenever life allowed it. I wasn’t sure I could do it. I had only written short pieces, the kind a working mother of six has time for. I have published self-help articles, poetry, and other things over the years.
I worked alongside law enforcement for 15-years as a certified domestic and sexual assault advocate at the only non-profit in our county. I responded to hospitals and the scenes of the incidents. We were a small county, and so advocates wore many hats. I had the privilege of being part of new projects, new ways to serve survivors, and a research project exploring trauma recovery.
I learned a lot about police procedure, the law, and the courts, as well as all the services that surround criminals and victims. I’d spent hours in emergency rooms, in the homes of wealthy, middle class, and low-income victims in town and on gravel country roads. I had the privilege of working with all the parts of the system in our little town and county.
I had seen it all, including death, sadly. The thing that inspired me, inspires my books. People in difficult situations rise to the occasion in mighty and unexpected ways. They are often strong, smart, and will go on to have a wonderful life. They are also unseen.
I can never write about anyone I worked with or any specific thing that I have witnessed. I have a fertile imagination. I write about fictional characters in situations that I’ve seen over and over–and add murder to the mix.
The protagonist in Murder by the Book is a research librarian who is trying to make a new life with a new name–something advocates help with all the time. However, a handsome mystery writer, a library that should be in a European castle, and a book club full of amateur sleuths and quirky small town friends who unwittingly unravel her plans and create a place she never wants to leave.
When did you write your first book and how old were you?
I wrote my first book in 2017 and I was OLD! The last of my six children had left for college at the same time as I left my demanding job. I had long winter nights alone by the fire to live inside my book with characters I came to love.
My sister encouraged me and edited it as I went. I didn’t know what I was doing or what being an author entailed. I was told it was impossible to find a publisher and to expect a lot of rejection. The first publisher referred me to a better fit. I sent the book into Cedar Fort, and they published my debut novel, Safe House. They deserve an award for patience. The first thing I had to do was shorten the novel by 30,000 words!
What does your family think of your writing?
I have a wonderful family. My sister who gave me the courage to start passed away the day I got the first mock up of the book she helped with. My mother will listen to me read aloud as I edit for hours!
I also have amazing children help their silly mother when she needs technical assistance. I have children who are licensed large vessel captains, veterans, a detective, two-part time medical examiners, a dog lover, a patrol officer, an electrician and lineman. I am incredibly proud of them
Some of my kids and cousins read my books. They get to see them when they are drafts and raw. I don’t know if I would have ever published a book without their support.
How many books have you written? Which is your favorite?
Murder by the Book is my 10th novel. I love the characters, so it’s as hard to pick a favorite as it is to choose a favorite child. Maybe Finding Hope. It is a womens fiction with suspense. It was the first book I self-published. It was a joy to write, but then… So was my first cozy mystery, Murder Takes a Selfie.
Do you hear from your readers much? What kinds of things do they say?
I have a large and wonderful newsletter community. I love hearing from many of them. I am honest and open about my personal life and my life as an author. We have a lot in common and plenty to talk about. I have ben
Some of my favorite messages and emails from readers on social media come from readers who relate to my characters. I love it when they see themselves in the characters of the book.
What other authors are you friends with, and how do they help you become a better writer?
Deb Goodman has become the kind of friend who you never want to lose. She is prolific, educated, funny, and wise. She is a bestselling author of more than 25 books! If you go to her website: https://debgoodmanwrites.com/ she will give you a free Romcom titled: Just a Road Trip!
I was introduced to Deb when the Storymakers Guild matched us in a five-author writing group.
Deb is kind enough to read my drafts and finds errors proofreaders miss! When I’m stuck, a chat with Deb gives me all the ideas I need to write a better book.
Do you want each book to stand on its own, or are you building a body of work with connections between each book?
Both! I write each book as a standalone. But I love hiding surprises in them for people who read them in order. A family and their friends wander through all the books.
I put characters I love in terrible places and surround them with murder mysteries, storms, a little romance, suspense, dark nights, happy endings, and more. They grow and change while solving mysteries. All my books have a subplot and character arcs you will recognize, and I hope will draw you in deeper if you read my books in order.
What was an early experience where you learned that language had power?
I was very attached to my grandfather. We called him Papa. He was an accountant at the Sunshine Cookie Factory. He always smelled of leather and cookies. He passed away when I was nine-years-old. I loved him so much that I felt his loss deeply.
My parents went to church and believed in God and heaven. The rest of my extended family was not religious. I believed in heaven and that we would see him again. My young heart wanted to share what comforted me.
I felt my first poem well up inside me. It flowed out rapidly. I wrote it down. I went outside, and in the middle of our family gathering I read it out loud. It was about seeing Papa again.
While I read, I saw smiling faces with tears that I believe were happy tears. And even though not all of them believed there is a God, for me it began a lifelong search that changed me and others more than I ever imagined.
Sometimes I wonder where those big feelings and thoughts came from. It was the first time the words felt like they fell from heaven and changed my heart as I wrote them down.
Are you traditionally or self published? Or both? Do you feel there are advantages to one over the other?
Both! I think there are advantages to both. My publisher edited and designed professional books that I didn’t know how to make initially. They also put my books in libraries and all my favorite bookstores, including Costco (Who knew being in a big box store would be a thrilling moment).
Self-publishing four books gave me creative control. I met wonderful people and authors in the process.
Both have advantages and disadvantages. I will continue to do both and enjoy the good in each.
What do you have coming next?
Murder by the Book will launched on July 9th. It will be available for preorders soon. It is a standalone as well as the second book in the Balefire Bay Cozy Mystery Series. I love the mystery and happy ending in this book. I hope you do too!
Welcome to Balefire Bay, Oregon. Here the cinnamon rolls are hot, the book club is loyal, and murder is just a plot twist away.
Ivy Kelly has finally found peace in the coastal town she now calls home. Not only does she have a book club that feels like family, she's entered an exciting new romance with her handsome boss.
But then someone drops dead at the Book and Tea Shop.
Ivy's gut insists it's murder. She even thinks the real target might be her boyfriend's prickly mother. Everyone else thinks past trauma is clouding her judgment... Until a celebratory boat ride turns deadly.
With a killer on the loose and danger hitting way too close to home, Ivy recruits her book club back into sleuthing mode. But solving the mystery means confronting feelings she'd rather keep buried and facing a past that never really let her go...
This cozy mystery is perfect for fans of small town whodunits, quirky book clubs, and scrappy amateur sleuths with heart!
And that’s a wrap, darlings—murder, mystery, and more heart than a whole shelf of cozy romances. Shannon Symonds doesn’t just write page-turners—she lives them, with the kind of grit, grace, and ocean air that turns stories into lifelines.
If you haven’t picked up Murder by the Book yet, what are you waiting for? The cinnamon rolls are hot, the danger’s simmering, and the book club sleuths are on the case. Grab your blanket, your beverage of choice, and settle in—you’re going to want to binge the whole Balefire Bay series.
Want more of Shannon’s world? Stalk her (respectfully, of course) at the links below:
📸 Instagram: @shannonsymondsauthor & @cozymysteriesbythesea
👤 Facebook – personal | Author page
🎵 TikTok
📚 BookBub
Now go on—add a little intrigue to your TBR. Kendra out. 🖤