A Beauty Queen’s Guide to Murder and Mayhem with Author Kristen Bird

A Beauty Queen’s Guide to Murder and Mayhem (part of a series featuring a stable hand-turned-beauty queen/amateur detective) is yet another favorite of mine from author Kristen Bird. The story, which is set in the small town of Aubergine, Virginia has all the charm you would expect from a small town, along with a heavy helping of family secrets.

After her mother’s death, Dakota Green receives the 11th letter from her mother, which tells her to compete in the annual beauty pageant shrouded in mystery after the disappearance of Miss 2001. When the pageant owner vanishes, all suspicions land on Dakota, Aunt Dee who has been managing the pageant since she won back in the 90’s.

Get an inside look at A Beauty Queen’s Guide to Murder and Mayhem in the Q&A with author Kristen Bird, pre-order your copy (and keep an eye out for the chance to enter the giveaway over on my Instagram!)

When did you first come up with the storyline for your first series?

I’d written three darker suspense standalone novels, and I was ready for a change, for something lighter and less angry, at least for a season. My agent and I brainstormed this concept together because she knew I wanted to switch gears, and then I quickly fell in love with Dakota Green and her family and friends.

What kind of research did you do into beauty pageants before writing the book?

I did a deep dive into the history of beauty pageants, and I decided to make my fictionalized version the oldest running pageant in America (though that honor actually belongs to Miss America, started in 1921). I also read articles about recent beauty queens who ‘break the mold’ of the stereotypical winner, and I found a variety of pageant schedules to help direct the action in my novel.

Is Aubergine based on a real town?

Aubergine is totally from my imagination, but the Rose Palace, which is the grand estate that hosts the pageant, is based on the Biltmore Estate in North Carolina. I wrote sections of the novel with the blueprints of that estate pulled up on my computer, so I could be inspired by the layout.

In what ways is your Dakota Green similar to you, and in what ways is she different?

Dakota’s quiet cynicism and tendency to spiral is much like the way my brain works, but so are her deep loyalties to friends and family. A couple of differences: Dakota adores animals, which wasn’t true of me until I had my twins and discovered the delight that can be found in petting a horse or cuddling with a puppy. Dakota also values seeing herself as a loner, which isn’t quite true of me, though I do crave my introverted writing time.

What scene from the book was the most fun (or intense) to write?

I loved writing about Charlie’s budding romance with Dakota, which will be further developed in the next two books. Getting the ending just right was definitely a challenge since all of the moving pieces coalesced in those last few chapters.

Did you know who the culprit would be when you first started writing the book?

I knew the culprit, but I didn’t know all the reasons behind the murder. As a discovery writer, I discover motivations as I go.

If the book were turned into a television series or movie, who would you imagine playing the characters of Dakota, Aunt Dee Dee, Sheriff Charlie Strong, Lacy, and Summer?

I think it would be SO FUN if Sandra Bullock played Aunt DeeDee, a nod to Miss Congeniality. However, she still looks so young that she could probably play Dakota ;). I could also see Zooey Deschanel (from New Girl) playing Dakota and Ayo Edebiri (from The Bear) playing Lacy. I actually describe Sheriff Charlie Strong as a rugged David Harbour (Hopper in Stranger Things). Summer would be great played by Tiya Sircar (from The Good Place).

Two more novels in the series are coming out this year. What was it like diving back into Dakota Green’s world and the town of Aubergine?

It’s a delight to come back to this sweet town with a hint of mystery and scandal, and finding out more about the characters has been the best part of the whole process. I hope my readers feel the joy I experienced while writing these books as they read them.