Who are you?
Joy Ann Ribar here. I’m a Wisconsinite from the Midwest (U.S.). We’re also known as cheeseheads because Wisconsin is the dairy state and produces award-winning cheese. Yes, I love cheese. There’s more to life than cheese and ice cream though. I started writing poems and stories when I was a tot, and I loved nothing better than putting on shows for my captive audience family.  They called me “the entertainer.” I’m passionate about community theater and have performed in many comedies and musicals. I write cozy mysteries (Deep Lakes series) and edgy mysteries with a paranormal bent (Bay Browning series).

Favourite genre/s to read or write?
I love to read and write mysteries. Reading mysteries is like playing a game with yourself to see if you can beat the author to the finish line. In my mysteries, readers should prepare for red herrings and plot twists they won’t see coming.

Please tell us about your latest work:
Deep Wedded Blues, number five in the series, is set in Wisconsin’s best month of the year -May, as main character, Frankie Champagne, prepares for her daughter’s wedding at her vineyard. A missing bride and a regional pandemic complicate the nuptials. When Frankie’s romantic partner leaves town to work on a murder case, she’s left with a solid case of the blues. Now Frankie must help the police figure out what is causing the Deep Lakes citizens to drop like flies and find her daughter, too. 

Do you like chocolate fish? 
Well, you did say chocolate, right?

What’s your main character like?
Frankie Champagne is a resilient, sassy, idealist, loyal friend, and isn’t afraid to cross police tape. 

• Would you go to the pub with them? She’d be a blast at the pub because of her sharp sense of humor. However, she’s a lightweight in the drinking department, so I’d have to keep tabs on her.
• Would you have them over for dinner? You bet. Frankie is a baker and vintner. Invite her to dinner and she will bring wine and kringle (A Danish coffee cake found in Wisconsin).
• What music do they listen to? Frankie and her crew at Bubble & Bake listen to music while they roll out dough, cut out cookies, and fill pastries. Anything with a good beat is on their playlist from Count Basie to Frank Sinatra and Bob Marley to Queen.
• What type of car do they drive? Frankie drives a nondescript blue SUV. She needs an SUV to tote baked goods and drive on the snowy winter roads.
• Are they a series character? Yes, Frankie is the main character in the Deep Lakes cozy series.  But, she has an excellent supporting cast, too. Her down-to-earth best friend, Carmen, quirky free-spirited Aunt CeCe, and Carmen’s dramatic storytelling Tia Pepita, plus a crew of accomplices.

What piece of advice would you give a new writer?
Write first and worry about how you’re going to get published or market your books afterwards.  Find a critique group or some kind of writing network to join. Authors are generous people. They will critique, review, support, and share your work.

What part of writing do you find the hardest?
Marketing takes up so much time that I’d rather spend writing, but it is necessary.  Besides online marketing, I spent the summer doing in-person events. The events were wonderful, but are both energizing and tiring. Marketing is something I’ve been learning since my first book published in 2019. I maintain connections with readers on social media, take part in panel discussions, appear as a guest on podcasts, and visit bookstores, libraries, wineries, and festivals. 

Have you ever had lolly cake?
No, but I never met a cake I didn’t love (except carrot cake).

Pantser or outliner? And why? 
A combination. I wrote my first book as a pantser and just let the story flow. While writing that book, ideas began to pop up for many more.  I started writing down ideas, then character suspects and motives, then relevant plot pieces.  Now, that’s how I write. My scribbles are blurbs rather than an outline, and I don’t create chapter outlines or story arcs. The scribbles help me remember the golden nuggets I don’t want to leave out, and they keep me organized.

Do you write in silence?
I usually play ambient music, nothing with words because that’s distracting. I like big band era music and new age instrumentals.

Do you like to listen to audio books? 
I do not listen to audio books.  I know many people love them. I enjoy podcasts as long as they’re around 30 minutes. I love holding a book and reading in bed!

Have you ever visited New Zealand?
No, and it’s on my bucket list. My husband and I love to travel with our friends, and we are planning a 2026 trip to NZ and Australia for three months.

Dogs, cats, guinea pigs, or some other type of pet?
Our dearly departed Dexter was a cuddle-buddy to me. He was a tabby alley cat. Now, we think we may get a small dog after we’re done traveling.

Where do you write?
Ha, my favorite question.  Since 2022, my husband and I have been living in our Winnebago, a 26-foot motorhome. We decided to sell our house so we could be part of our grandkids’ lives (we have 21 of them). Since they are scattered around the country, we visit them, and it doesn’t interrupt their busy schedules. My hubs works about six feet from me as a computer programmer. My office is in the living area/kitchen. I concentrate just fine as I’m gifted at tuning him out! 

Thank you for playing along!  Thank you for taking time to read about me. -Joy

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