Hello and Welcome All!

Today I’m very lucky to be interviewing Lena Gregory author of Soft Serve Sleighing.

Hi Lena, thank you for agreeing to this interview.

Who inspired you to become a writer?

When my youngest son, who is now fourteen, was born, he didn’t sleep through the night. I’ve always loved reading, but with all those nights looming ahead of me, I decided to give writing a try. I knew nothing about the writing process, didn’t own a computer, didn’t know what Microsoft Word was, didn’t know how to send an email…never mind using track changes for editing. But I wanted to write, so I set up a loose-leaf binder and began my first novel by hand.

Once my husband realized I was serious about writing a novel, he set me up an office and got me a computer. One of my best friends taught me how to work Microsoft word, and I took off from there, researching everything I could get my hands on about the writing process. So, if anyone inspired me, I would say it was Greg and Renee.

Who are your favorite authors? Why?

One of my favorite authors is J.D. Robb, because her In Death series has an interesting mystery in each story, plus, she has an fascinating cast of characters who all grow throughout more than fifty books. Another is J.R.R. Tolkien, because he built such an amazing world with such intricate detail.

What types of scenes are your most favorite to write?

I enjoy writing two types of scenes the best. The first is suspense. I absolutely love writing a suspenseful scene, where my characters are in so much danger that I’m sitting on the edge of my seat and can’t type fast enough. The other type of scenes I enjoy writing are the fun ones. If I can laugh when I’m imagining the scene in my head, I’m thrilled.

Do you work with an outline, or just write?

I started out as a pantser. I’d just sit down and write whatever came to mind. I loved the twists and turns in the plot and the surprises that would inevitably pop up. The only problem was, I sometimes wrote myself into a corner that way. And forget word count. My first book came in at almost a hundred thousand words! Now, I’d have to say I’m a hybrid. I do still enjoy writing whatever comes to mind, but now I have at least a rough outline of the basic story.

******

Tell us a few Fun Facts about Soft Serve Sleighing?

Soft Serve Sleighing was a fun story to write. It takes place during a blizzard, and writing the scenes where they have fun in the snow brought back a lot of childhood memories. Also, Jake makes a shocking declaration and a bullet finds one of the Coffee & Cream Café gang.

Give us an insight into your main character. What does he/she do that is so special?

Danika Delaney is just your average girl next door. he struggles to keep her wavy (frizzy) strawberry blond (orange) hair under control. She battles her weight. And she cringes when she lands on the Watchogue rumor mill, which is too often. Unfortunately, karma has it out for her.

What was your favorite chapter (or part) to write and why?

My favorite scene in this book is the drone scene. I won’t say why, but the way Dani and Gwen handle the situation is exactly how my best friend and I would have done so back in the day. I’ve read this book countless times through writing and edits, and that scene still makes me laugh.

Readers should read this book… because it’s a fun mystery full of mayhem and murder.

Thank you very much for taking the time out of your busy schedule to take part in this interview.

Thank you so much for having me. I’ve enjoyed visiting with you and your readers!

Soft Serve Sleighing

(Coffee & Cream Café Mysteries #5)
by Lena Gregory
Cozy Mystery
Setting – Long Island, NY
Publisher: Gemma Halliday Publishing
January 28, 2025
Number of Pages – 226

From author Lena Gregory comes a delightfully delicious cozy mystery…

With most of Eastern Long Island closed down for a blizzard, Danika Delaney and her friends are holed up in her old fashioned malt shop, the Coffee & Cream Café, with ice cream and hot

chocolate. However, their plans to wait out the storm in cozy company are interrupted when a popular YouTuber and her two companions show up at the door—they’ve been trapped by the storm, and Dani generously offers to serve them breakfast. But her generosity isn’t rewarded in kind, as the reviewer then tries to extort money from Dani in exchange for a good review! When the storm finally clears, Dani is happy to have seen the last of them.

Or so she thought.

Dani and her friends decide to go sleigh riding the morning after the storm clears, but instead of a winter wonderland, they find the extorting YouTuber…dead! To make matters worse, Dani suddenly finds herself accused of the woman’s murder. Intent on restoring her reputation, Dani sets out to prove she didn’t do it. This is one storm she’s not sure she can weather…

Amazon * B&N * Kobo

Lena Gregory is the author of the Bay Island Psychic Mysteries, which take place on a small island between the north and south forks of Long Island, New York, the All-Day Breakfast Café Mysteries, which are set on the outskirts of Florida’s Ocala National Forest, the Mini-Meadows Mysteries, set in a community of tiny homes in Central Florida, and the Coffee & Cream Café Mysteries, which take place in a small town on the south shore of eastern Long Island, New York.

Lena grew up in a small town on the south shore of eastern Long Island, but she recently traded in cold, damp, gray winters for the warmth and sunshine of central Florida, where she now lives with her husband, three kids, son-in-law, and four dogs. Her hobbies include spending time with family, reading, and walking. Her love for writing developed when her youngest son was born and didn’t sleep through the night. She works full-time as a writer and a freelance editor and is a member of Sisters in Crime.

Author Links
Newsletter * Website * Facebook * Facebook Page * X * Goodreads * Pinterest