EPISODE · Dec 9, 2025 · 35 MIN
Lucy Connelly on Cozy Crimes, Pen Names, and Christmas in Scotland
from The Fresh Fiction Podcast · host Fresh Fiction Media
Lucy Connelly—also known as bestselling author Candace Havens—joins Samantha Tennant for a festive conversation about writing Death at a Scottish Christmas, creating holiday mysteries full of Scottish traditions, juggling multiple cozy series, and seeing her Ainsley McGregor books adapted for TV. She also shares her writing rituals, how she comes up with clever murders, and a surprise appearance from her real-life dog, Mr. Poe.
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What this episode covers
In this special holiday episode of the Fresh Fiction Video Book Club, host Samantha Tennant sits down with cozy mystery author Lucy Connelly—the pen name of longtime reader favorite Candace Havens. They dive into Death at a Scottish Christmas, the third book in the Scottish Isle Mystery series, exploring the rich blend of Scottish traditions, cozy vibes, humor, and murder that make the book such a treat. Lucy talks about writing Christmas stories in the Texas heat, watching nonstop holiday baking competitions as “research,” and how her son helps uncover the historical and cultural details she builds into each mystery. She shares the surprising business reason behind her pen name, how she juggles writing for three different publishers, and the joy of seeing her Ainsley McGregor novels adapted for television. Plus—holiday preferences, fruitcake opinions, favorite ornaments, crowd avoidance strategies, murder plotting secrets, and a cameo from Mr. Poe. Perfect for fans of cozy mysteries, holiday reads, Scottish settings, author interviews, or anyone who loves hearing how writers bring their worlds to life.
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Lucy Connelly on Cozy Crimes, Pen Names, and Christmas in Scotland
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