The Corpse by the Creek: A Succulent Sleuth Cozy Mystery by Iris March
About The Corpse by the Creek
The Corpse by the Creek: A Succulent Sleuth Cozy Mystery
Cozy Mystery
3rd in Series (plus 2 short stories)
Setting - Ohio
Publisher : Wandering Gingko Press
Publication date : June 2, 2026
Number of Pages ~200 pages
Digital ISBN-13 : 979-8998642616
ASIN : B0GS6S4HB6
Paperback will be available as well.
Volunteer water sampling. Development deals. A dead businessman in the woods.
While volunteering with a local stream restoration group, Molly and her husband, Scott, expect to end the day with nothing more to show for it than muddy hiking shoes and water samples. Instead, they stumble upon a dead body left in the woods behind the Buckeye Trail. The victim turns out to be Upton North—an unpopular developer with business ties to half the town and enemies to match.
As Molly starts asking questions, she uncovers a web of grudges involving tenants, activists, and business owners. She’ll have to follow clues from forest trails to forgotten basements—and confront just how far greed and intimidation pushed the wrong person too far.
With a busy garden center to manage, and a beloved black and white cat occasionally underfoot, Molly digs into another Succulent Sleuth case where the roots of the crime run deep.
About Iris March
Iris March has a reputation for killing house plants, and now she’s killing people off in books? Coincidence? Perhaps not. Iris has spent two decades working in the sustainability field and is usually either reading a book or on a trail. She lives in Ohio with her husband, son, and three cats.
Interview:
1. When did you first realize
you wanted to be a writer?
Since I was a child. I loved writing short stories, and reading books was one
of my favorite pastimes.
2. How long does it take you to
write a book?
The actual writing process can take anywhere from eight to ten months. I also
build in time to set the manuscript aside after the first draft so I can return
to it with fresh eyes for revisions and a final edit before it goes off to my
editor.
3. What is your work schedule
like when you're writing?
That depends on what stage of the process I’m in. When I’m writing a first
draft, my goal is to write first thing in the morning after a treadmill
session. I usually do a few writing sprints to reach my daily word count goal,
which can range from 500 to 2,000 words. The rest of the day is dedicated to
admin work, editing, and other responsibilities. During the second draft stage,
I prefer working in the afternoon, and I usually tackle editorial revisions
then as well.
4. What would you say is your
most interesting writing quirk?
I probably have two very different modes when it comes to noise. While I’m
editing, I prefer complete silence. But when I’m writing a first draft,
background noise doesn’t bother me at all.
5. How do books get published?
These days, authors have two main publishing options: traditional publishing
and independent publishing. Both paths have pros and cons, and I think it’s
important for every writer to research both carefully to decide which one is the
best fit for their goals.
6. Where do you get your
information or ideas for your books?
For research, I’ll often track down experts, either in person or through online
forums, or I’ll do internet research. Most of my questions tend to involve law
enforcement procedures. As for story ideas, I get them all the time. Some
develop into strong plots, while others are simply fun “what if” moments that
don’t go much further.
7. When did you write your first
book and how old were you?
I wrote my first book, a cozy mystery, when I was in my twenties.
8. What do you like to do when
you're not writing?
Aside from reading, I enjoy cooking, and I love taking our dog for walks.
9. What does your family think
of your writing?
They’re very supportive, and they enjoy reading my stories.
10. What was one of the most
surprising things you learned in creating your books?
Because I’d been part of a writers’ group with several multi-published authors,
I already had some understanding of what publishing involved. So there weren’t
too many surprises on that side of things. What surprised me most, in the best
possible way, was the author community itself. Before becoming a published
author, I didn’t realize just how generous, supportive, and encouraging other
authors could be. The camaraderie has been amazing.
11. How many books have you
written? Which is your favorite?
I’ve written 17 books and I’m currently working on number 18. I don’t really
have one favorite, but there are a few that are especially close to my heart:
- The Uninvited Corpse, a Food Blogger
Mystery, because it was my first published book.
- Sleuthing in Stilettos, a Resale Boutique
Mystery, because of how much Kelly’s character grew throughout the series.
- The Corpse in the Gazebo, a Food Blogger
Mystery, because it tackled a cold case intertwined with a true crime
podcast.
- The Cold Case and the
Corpse,
a Food Blogger Mystery, because it allowed me to shake up the structure of
the series and add more suspense.
- Spirits and Suspicions, my February 2027
paranormal cozy mystery release, because it challenged me to write in a
very different subgenre.
- Do you have any
suggestions to help me become a better writer? If so, what are they?
I would encourage you to keep writing and to learn as much about the craft as possible. Even after writing 18 books, I’m still learning. In fact, this month I’ll be attending a webinar focused on craft. There’s always something new to discover as a writer. - Do you hear from your
readers much? What kinds of things do they say?
I do hear from readers, and I love connecting with them. It’s especially fun chatting on social media and hearing about their day or what they’re currently reading. I also receive emails with questions about my books or messages from readers telling me how much they enjoyed a particular story or series. It’s always a good day when I see an email from a reader in my inbox. - Do you like to create
books for adults?
Absolutely. - What do you think makes
a good story?
As a reader, I love compelling characters and a story filled with twists and turns that keep me turning the pages. - As a child, what did you
want to do when you grew up?
Be a writer. - What would you like my
readers to know?
I’d like your readers to know how grateful I am that they took the time to read this interview. I’d also love for them to check out A Cultivated Corpse. And please don’t hesitate to reach out with questions or simply to say hello.
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