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Some conversations just feel like pulling up a chair at a friend’s kitchen table—and my recent chat with bestselling cozy mystery author Tonya Kappes was exactly that. We talked about Thanksgiving at her house (yes, there’s fried cornbread involved), her four sons coming home, a gingerbread decorating contest her readers might get to judge, and of course, how she first found her way into writing the cozy mysteries so many readers love.
“I want readers to feel like they’re stepping into a town where they’re already known and loved.” — Tonya Kappes
Thanksgiving at Tonya’s: Fried Cornbread, Full House, Full Heart
When I asked Tonya what Thanksgiving looks like in her world, she painted a picture that felt like the opening scene of one of her own books: a bustling kitchen, football in the background, and a table that keeps stretching to make room for everyone.
This year, all four of her sons will be home, along with her son’s fiancée, turning the house into a whirlwind of laughter, stories, and bottomless appetites. And while there will be plenty of traditional dishes, one thing immediately caught my attention: fried cornbread.
Forget the neat little squares baked in a pan—Tonya’s fried cornbread is the kind that sizzles in a skillet, comes out golden and crisp on the edges, and begs for butter the second it hits the plate. It sounds like the kind of comfort food that makes its way into a book without even trying.
“Fried cornbread is non-negotiable. If it’s Thanksgiving at my house, it’s on the table.” — Tonya Kappes
A Gingerbread Showdown (That Readers Might Judge!)
As if a house full of grown sons at Thanksgiving weren’t entertaining enough, Tonya shared one of her favorite holiday traditions: a gingerbread decorating contest.
Picture it: all the boys—now adults—hunched over gingerbread houses with serious competitive energy, arguing over icing, gumdrops, and structural integrity like it’s a high-stakes home renovation show. Add a soon-to-be daughter-in-law into the mix, and you’ve got a whole subplot unfolding in real time.
And here’s the fun part: Tonya hinted that her readers might get to be the judges this year. She’s toying with the idea of sharing photos of the decorated gingerbread creations and letting her audience vote on the winner. It’s cozy, interactive, and exactly the kind of reader connection that makes her community feel like an extended family.
“If I share the gingerbread houses, I might have to let the readers pick the winner. My boys are just competitive enough to care what the readers think!” — Tonya Kappes
How Tonya Fell in Love with Writing Cozy Mysteries
The first question I asked her—because I know it’s what so many readers wonder—was: “How did you get into writing cozy mysteries?”
Like many of us, Tonya has always been a reader first. She loved stories that blended small-town charm with a clever puzzle, and characters that felt like neighbors you’d wave to across the street. Eventually, she realized that the stories she wanted to read were also the stories she wanted to write.
She talked about experimenting with different genres at first, but her heart kept circling back to cozies: mysteries without the gore, but full of warmth, friendship, and just enough danger to make you turn the page past bedtime.
Over time, she built the kind of fictional towns readers never want to leave—places with quirky shop owners, loyal pets, nosy neighbors, and amateur sleuths who care as much about their community as they do about catching a killer.
“Cozy mysteries let me mix what I love most: small towns, strong women, and a good puzzle. You get the tension of a mystery, but you also get comfort.” — Tonya Kappes
Writing Mysteries That Feel Like Home
As we talked, it became clear that Tonya’s stories are grounded in the same things that make her holidays special: family, food, tradition, and community.
Her fictional worlds are full of the same textures as her real one—favorite recipes, local gossip, long-standing traditions, and the sometimes-messy, always-loving dynamics of people who’ve known each other forever.
Whether it’s fried cornbread around a Thanksgiving table or a gingerbread contest that spirals into a friendly feud, those lived moments find their way into her books. They add heart to the mystery and make her readers feel like they’ve been invited in.
Want to Join the Fun?
If you love:
- Small-town settings where everyone feels like a neighbor,
- Holiday traditions, comfort food, and family chaos,
- And cozy mysteries that feel like a warm blanket and a puzzle rolled into one—
—then Tonya’s books are absolutely for you.
Keep an eye out on her social media and newsletter for those gingerbread decorating contest photos. You just might get to help crown the winner…and earn a few bragging rights on behalf of your favorite.
Until then, brew a cup of something warm, imagine the scent of fried cornbread and gingerbread in the air, and curl up with one of Tonya Kappes’ cozy mysteries. It’s the perfect way to spend a long holiday weekend.
