Terror in Taffeta: (Destination Wedding Mysteries) by Marla Cooper
About Terror in Taffeta
Terror in Taffeta (Destination Wedding Mysteries)
Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Setting - San Miguel de Allende - Mexico
Independently Published
(March 24, 2026)
Number of Pages: 288
More Details Coming Soon!
Wedding planner Kelsey McKenna is just a few hours away from wrapping up her latest job: a destination wedding in the charming, colonial Mexican town of San Miguel de Allende—until a bridesmaid collapses during the ceremony and turns the celebration into a crime scene. When the bride’s sister is arrested for murder, the demanding mom insists that Kelsey fix the matter at once. And although Kelsey is pretty sure that’s not in her contract, career-killer. Before she can leave Mexico and get back to planning weddings, Kelsey must deal with stubborn detectives, a rekindled romance, and late-night death threats in this smart, funny cozy mystery debut.
About Marla Cooper
MARLA COOPER is the author of the Kelsey McKenna Destination Wedding Mysteries. As a freelance writer, Marla has written all sorts of things, from advertising copy to travel guidebooks to the occasional haiku, and it was while ghostwriting a guide to destination weddings that she found inspiration for her series. She currently lives in Austin, Texas, with her husband and a few too many cats. She is the Vice President of Sisters in Crime, Heart of Texas chapter.
AUTHOR INTERVIEW
1. When
did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
For as long as I can remember! I spent a lot of time writing basically everythingexcept fiction. I was on the yearbook staff. I became an advertising copywriter. I did some travel writing. But I was in my 40s when I realized that I had a novel in me! I always thought it was something other people did! But then a friend of mine sold a cozy mystery and I thought, “Wow, that looks fun!”
2. How long does it take you to write a book?
The first one took several years, but I wrote it while also working full-time as a freelance writer. The second one took a year because I was under contract and had to get it done. I'm as curious as you are to find out how long it takes me to write the next one!
3. What is your work schedule like when you’re writing?
When I'm in the groove I will sit down and write a chapter at a time — anywhere between 1,500 and 2,500 words. Sometimes it's in the middle of the afternoon and sometimes it's late at night, but I've never been a morning writer.
4. What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
I don't know if this counts, but according to my husband, I scowl at the page when I'm mad at one of my characters. I don't usually realize I'm doing it until he points it out, but clearly I don't have a good poker face, because I'm very expressive even when no one's looking at me.
5. Where do you get your information or ideas for yourbooks?
The idea for Terror in Taffeta came about because I had a client who was a destination wedding planner, and she hired me to ghostwrite a nonfiction guide to destination weddings for her. She was telling me all about her job and I thought, "What a perfect job for an amateur sleuth!"
6. When did you write your first book and how old wereyou?
When I was in my twenties I started a novel that went nowhere, which was ironic because it was about a road trip. I literally just started with no idea what the plot was and I think I got about ten chapters in and I realized it was about nothing. I would love to dig up that manuscript so I could have a good laugh at myself! I didn’t try again until I was in my early 40s, when I wrote Terror in Taffeta.
7. What do you like to do when you’re not writing?
I herd cats! I used to volunteer at the Austin Animal Center and, after coming home with one too many animals, now I feel like I'm running my own rescue. I also found a late-in-life hobby: playing ukulele. I had never been musical but I picked one up when I was in Hawaii and there was a rain storm. We ducked into a shop and the next thing you know, I was a uke player!
8. What does your family think of your writing?
Some mix of proud and confused! My father-in-law, surprisingly, is one of my biggest fans. He brags to everyone that a character is named after him. My stepfather, on the other hand, was really proud that I had written a book, but did not understand the concept of cozy mysteries at all. When I explained the premise to him, he responded by saying, "Do you know who I like? James Michener.” I never let him live it down.
9. What was one of the most surprising things youlearned in
creating your books?
The first time I did it, I think I surprised myself by actually finishing one. It is a process, and it takes a long time. And every time you sit down to start a new book, you think, "Will I really be able to pull this off again?"But you do. There are times when you want to give up. But there’s nothing better than that feeling when you get to those two magical words: “The End.”
10. Do you have any suggestions to help me becomea better
writer? If so, what are they?
First of all, write what you love. You really do learn by doing it. Read a lot in your favorite genre, and you'll start to see patterns. Find some other friends and read each other's work. It's so much easier than working in a vacuum! And mostly, just start. Some things will work and some things won’t, but you can always edit it once you have something on the page.
11. Do you hear from your readers much? Whatkinds of things do
they say?
I do hear from readers sometimes and it absolutely makes my day! I'm one of those people who loves it when someone replies to my newsletter. And when I get an email out of the blue saying, "I read your book and loved it!”… well, there's no better feeling! I also blog with Chicks on the Case, and whenever it's my turn to post, I love chatting with people in the comments.
12. What do you think makes a good story?
I love a good plot-driven story with a fast-moving pace and lots of plot twists. Character development is great so that readers care about the people in the story, but too much can start to bog down unless it’s done extraordinarily well. And as a cozy mystery author, I'm always a sucker for justice being served at the end.
13. As a child, what did you want to do when yougrew up?
When I was in kindergarten, I wanted to be a kindergarten teacher, but I'm pretty sure that was the only profession I knew existed.In elementary school, I wanted to be a ballerina, but unfortunately I was a little, erm… top-heavy for that. Luckily, I always wanted to be a writer!
14. What would you like my readers to know?
Since you are the Deal Sharing Aunt, I would like your readers to know that I have a free short cozy mystery novella available if they sign up for my newsletter! It's called "Welcome to Cozy Town" and,as I described it in my introduction, it's "the coziest cozy I could cozy." I threw every cozy trope I could think of into the mix. Tagline: “Come for a visit. You’ll probably be fine.” I’d love to share it with your readers for free! Grab your copy at www.marlacooper.com
Author LinksGoodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/249576645-terror-in-taffeta
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