Q&A: Chrystal Schleyer, Author of 'A Rather Peculiar Poisoning'

We chat with debut author Chrystal Schleyer about A Rather Peculiar Poisoning, which follows a celebration at a turn-of-the-century manor that takes a deadly twist, and everyone becomes a suspect.

Hi, Chrystal! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?

I’m the youngest of seven girls (and a twin myself) and now have a little brood of my own. I also have far too many animals on a little piece of land, but always hoping for more critters!

When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?

When I became a mother, I think I really searched for a hobby. I tried sewing, gardening, photography, painting, and finally… writing. It was the thing that stuck for me. I enjoyed it so much.

Quick lightning round! Tell us:

The first book you ever remember reading: Probably a Goosebumps book. I’m sure there were more before that, but I clearly remember reading Goosebumps on the school bus as a preteen.
The one that made you want to become an author: My twin sister Christina Ferko (who is also an author) is who I credit for making me realize I wanted to go from writing as a hobby to publishing.
The one that you can’t stop thinking about: Ande Pliego’s next book. It’s got everything I love in it.

Your debut novel, A Rather Peculiar Poisoning, is out September 2^nd! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?

Knives Out meets Downton Abbey.

What can readers expect?

A moody, gothic atmosphere and complicated relationships with a twist they (hopefully) won’t see coming.

Where did the inspiration for A Rather Peculiar Poisoning come from?

I’ve always enjoyed mysteries, but never thought I could write one. After spending years writing YA fanatasy/sff, I decided to give my favorite genre a try. ARPP was born just from the desire to try.

Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?

I enjoyed Della’s character so much more than I expected. She ended up being one of my favorite characters to write!

Did you face any challenges whilst writing? How did you overcome them?

The murky middle is always so hard for me, and there’s really nothing to do but push through it.

This is your debut novel! What was the road to becoming a published author like for you?

Long and then short! This was my 7^th manuscript I had written over 12 years of seriously trying to be published. I queried ARPP and signed with my agent after a few months (I was so used to querying for at least a year before moving on) and then it sold in five weeks. It was a long wait (worth it) followed by a whirlwind.