This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

If you love mystery-romance heroines who are juggling work, family, and the occasional international investigation, you’re going to love today’s episode. I’m joined by author Sam Tschida to talk about the latest installment in the Gabby Green series and the chaos that comes with writing spy-adjacent romantic mysteries.

In this conversation, Sam shares how she built the second Gabby Green adventure—from tropical settings and Hollywood wellness culture to espionage twists and unexpected romance. We also talk about writing messy but lovable heroines, the reality of balancing motherhood with high-stakes careers, and why cozy mystery fans love returning to the same sleuth again and again.

We also chat about writing inspiration, the real-life research behind spy stories, and the books we’ve been loving lately.

⏱️ Episode Timestamps

[00:00] Welcome & catching up with Sam Tschida

[00:01] Writing the second Gabby Green mystery

[00:03] The tropical investigation setting and spy elements

[00:05] Researching espionage and consulting real sources

[00:06] Why the book’s setting changed from Hawaii to the Azores

[00:07] Plot twists, mystery pacing, and balancing romance

[00:08] Delegation, chaos, and Gabby learning she can’t do everything

[00:09] Possible movie adaptation news for Errands and Espionage

[00:10] Why readers love returning to the same sleuth in mystery series

[00:11] Cozy mysteries, baking mysteries, and comfort reads

[00:12] Laura’s dream Puerto Rican cozy mystery series

[00:16] Book recommendations from Sam

[00:18] Where to find Sam online

📚 Books Mentioned

Gabby Green Who Knows Whodunit by Sam Tschida — Mystery Romance | Amateur Sleuth | Series

Errands and Espionage by Sam Tschida — Mystery Romance | Travel Mystery | Amateur Sleuth

Undead and Unwed by Sam Tschida — Paranormal Romance | Vampire Comedy | Audio ✅

Matchmaking for Psychopaths by Tasha Coryell — Dark Comedy Thriller | Mystery | Audio ✅

Love Letters to a Serial Killer by Tasha Coryell — Thriller | Dark Romance | Audio ✅

The ReDo List by Denise Williams — Contemporary Romance | Cinnamon Roll Hero | Audio ✅

Pride and Protest by Nikki Payne — Romantic Comedy | Classic Retelling | Audio ✅

Join the Conversation

Subscribe to our Substack for exclusive recommendations. (wtrnblog.substack.com)

Follow & Subscribe: What to Read Next Blog | YouTube: What to Read Next

Subscribe & leave a review!

Spy Romance Meets Cozy Mystery: The Gabby Green Series by Sam Tschida