Article and Interview by Elise Cooper
Gone for Gouda by Korina Moss is the second installment in her cheese shop mysteries. As with the first book, readers are treated to a riveting cozy mystery and great banter between the characters.
The French-inspired cheese shop is playing host to celebrity vegan chef Phoebe Winston. But when photos surface that prove this vegan influencer is, in fact, a carnivore, things crumble. Phoebe is murdered. Willa’s employee, the affable Archie, was the last one to see Phoebe alive and the first person the police suspect. To clear his name Willa must uncover who’s been up to no gouda.
This story will put a smile on people’s faces and make their taste buds salivate for the cheese. There are plenty of plausible suspects with twists and turns. The town’s returning characters are fun and diverse, with interesting back stories.
Elise Cooper: The idea for the story?
Korina Moss: I wanted to write about an event and discover what would happen if something went wrong. I saw this article on Vegan cheese, which feels to me like an oxymoron. Vegan and cheese do not go to together. I wanted to make sure it has Fall occasions like the scarecrow contest, fall foods, and the fall festival because it takes place in October.
EC: What about the different cheese?
KM: Obatzd cheese is German, a different take on the American beer cheese. It is combination of cheeses so that they would not waste any cheese. They used old cheeses with a bunch of spices to make it taste good. It is still expensive. I like writing the origins of the cheese and its background.
EC: Are you sarcastic because you write it into the character’s dialogue?
KM: I am sarcastic in a light way. For example, I wrote, “You’d think with a name like Doolittle, he’d care more about animals.” Playing on Dr. Doolittle.
EC: Is there such a thing as mead?
KM: Yes. I did not know much about it but found it during my research. It is this new drink and is starting to get more popular. I enjoy doing unexpected things. I tasted my first mead last year, which was sweet. It tasted a lot like wine instead of beer. All the different varieties taste a little different. I set the story in the Sonoma Valley since most people think of wine not cheese. Although, there are dairy farms in that area.
EC: How would you describe Phoebe, the victim?
KM: She became famous from a reality show. She did anything to win. I do not think she is a nice person. She tried to reinvent herself showing more kindness as well as being an influencer, changing her image. She uses her beauty to get her way, is dishonest, self-centered, a snob, intimidating, demanding, and competitive.
EC: How would you describe the young man, Archie, a person of interest?
KM: He had a crush on Phoebe and is star struck. He is innocent, naïve, sweet, and kind.
EC: Detective Heath played more of a role in this book?
KM: He is quiet, intense, honest, a by the book person. He and Willa are starting to come to more of an understanding of each other.
EC: Next book?
KM: Book three in the series has the break in the romantic triangle between, Roman, Heath, and Willa. It comes to a head. She does understand that Heath and she have a chemistry. This book, comes out in March of next year, titled, Curds of Prey. The plot has Yarrow Glen’s favorite cheese shop, owned by the main character, Willa, Curds & Whey, getting to be a part of the social event of the season: Summer Harrington’s wedding. The day officially ends in disaster when Willa finds the groom, who also happens to be the mayor’s nephew, in the stable, dead. At the mayor’s request, Willa must follow the trail of cheese curds to find a killer while continuing to walk a tightrope between two of Sonoma Valley’s most powerful families.
EC: THANK YOU!!
