Things that my readers will find interesting about me
Author Skylar Warren
1. Food evokes memories for me.
I fully appreciate that shrimp and grits is a beloved staple of the South. It is actually enjoyed in many regions of the U.S.; however, I am not a fan. In fact, I stopped being a fan of “hot cereals” (e.g., oatmeal, cream of wheat, farina, grits) as a child. I vividly remember my oldest brother slurping oatmeal out of his bowl and even piling it on top of his toast, like some sort of oatmeal sandwich. That was the moment I knew I was done with hot cereals forever. Thanks, Shawn. And now, ironically, I’ve written an entire book centered around grits.
2. I write best early in the morning.
I have a day job, so most of my writing on Monday thru Friday begins at 5 p.m. However, there is something about a sunny Saturday or Sunday morning that feels so full of promise and ideas. The day is laid out before you and feels like starting a new chapter, even if you’re still working away at the chapter from the day before.
3. I love both cozy mysteries and psychological thrillers.
I like contrast. I love the comfort and warmth of a cozy mystery just as much as I love the tension and psychological depth of a thriller. Both genres explore trust, but in different ways. I have to fight the urge to skip to the end, to see if I’m right about the antagonist, in both genres. A good mystery is like starting a new puzzle: you pick out of the corner pieces, put them together to build a frame, then fill in the middle pieces as you go.
4. Small towns intrigue me.
I grew up in a large city. Then I moved to a larger city. Not the kind of atmosphere where everyone knows you, your family, and all of your quirks. Small towns are like a hug. They can feel safe. They can be supportive. But in a small space that support and intimate knowledge have to feel suffocating at the same time. That dynamic makes for rich storytelling.
5. Representation matters in my work.
The Honeybee’s Diner Mysteries series centers on an African-American family and community. I wanted to write a small-town cozy where Black women are at the center as business owners, daughters, friends, and amateur detectives, not just as background characters. I wanted a series where the main character’s family has not only survived, but continues to thrive through some of the most difficult times.
6. I outline. Then I ignore my outline.
I truly enjoy structure, but characters always surprise me. Some of my favorite moments in Murder With A Side Of Shrimp And Grits happened when I was waiting on a train, or washing dishes, or having a casual telephone conversation. I’ve gotten used to the idea of metaphorically tossing my outline out of my living room window every morning. Then figure out how it works with what I have or what changes need to be made to fit the new idea into the book. It’s worth it. My thought process is, if something surprises me when I think of it, it would be a pretty good surprise for the reader which is one of my favorite and main goals. I call it a “deconstructed outline”.
7. I’m writing for longevity.
My goal isn’t to write one book. It’s to build stories that readers return to because the characters feel like old friends and the town feels like you’ve been there before. I want to write mysteries that will keep you guessing until the very end, while reassuring you that justice will be restored by the time you read the last word.
Murder with a Side of Shrimps
My new culinary cozy mystery, Murder With A Side Of Shrimp And Grits, introduces readers to Honeybee’s Hideaway. A beloved Southern diner in the small town of Willow Bluff, Georgia. When the mayor collapses after a bite of Jessie Haynes’ shrimp and grits, suspicion spreads like wildfire on Garden Street.
The book blends Southern comfort food, small-town secrets, and a determined amateur detective fighting to protect her family’s legacy.
Murder with a Side of Shrimps and Grits by Skylar Warren is Published 13th May 2026 ISBN: 9781807220112
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