Steeped in Tradition: Exploring the World of Tea: Tea Talk: An Interview with Lynn Cahoon

I'm pleased to welcome author Lynn Cahoon to the blog today. Her latest Tourist Trap Mystery is entitled Tea Cups and Carnage.

Kathy: Tea Cups and Carnage was released June 7th. What made you decide on a tea focus for this book?

Karen Owen, blogger at A Cup of Tea and a Cozy Mystery, and I started chatting after she started reading my books. She told me I so needed a tea shop in South Cove. Now, Jill, my main character, didn't like the idea of competition, so we adjusted Kathi's plan for Tea Hee during the writing stages.

Kathy: I love the name of the new specialty shop in South Cove. Is Tea Hee based on a real shop, or is it purely fictional?

There is a Tea Hee shop in the UK, (I just googled it) but Kathi's shop in the book is totally fictional. I love the play on humor. I was leaning toward something around the Mad Hatter's tea party since with all the tables and different sets in the shop. I love referencing my favorite fairy tales in the series. You'll see Cinderella in a few too.

Kathy: How does tea play a part in your writing?

I have to admit, I'm a big iced tea drinker in the summer. Winter, I love having a cup of tea sitting by me at night while I'm crafting a story.

Kathy: I'm partial to unsweetened iced tea and lapsang souchong. What about you? How do you like your tea?

Me too. At least the first one. I ordered an iced tea in NC last summer and about spit it out all over my son's car when I took a big drink. It was sweet tea. I learned to be more specific that week. LOL

Kathy: Do you have a favorite type of tea? Any you don't particularly care for?

My favorite hot tea is either an apple cinnamon blend or oolong. I always order tea when we're eating Asian. It's just part of the experience. And I think that's the point, tea probably more than coffee is the experience. When it's raining and cold outside, a cup of tea will warm you and your soul. Enjoying a cup of tea is different than just drinking a soda or a glass of water. It feeds a different part of your being.

Kathy: In addition to drinking tea many people collect tea cups, tea pots, and other tea things. Do you collect any tea accouterments?

I don't. I'm trying really hard not to be a collector. I did find some miniature tea sets a few years ago during one of my trips. I wish I still had them.

Kathy: Do you consider yourself a tea connoisseur, a tea neophyte, or simply a person who enjoys tea?

I'm a simple girl. I just like tea. I drink beer when I'm out, I like cotton rather than satin and lace, and I like a good cup of tea.

Kathy: Do you have a favorite tearoom, or place to enjoy tea?

I never heard of tea rooms before I moved to the St. Louis area. I have one in my new home town that I've been looking for an excuse to spend some time at. Tea Cups release just may be that excuse. :)

Kathy: What does tea mean to you?

I think I hit on this earlier. It's a different expression of life. Food is a big theme in my books, some would say too big of theme, but they are usually men and don't get it. Tea is like a good soup. It doesn't just hydrate your body, it feeds your soul. In today's fast paced world, we don't have a lot of experiences that we take time to enjoy. I'm always rushing here or there. But give me a cup of tea and my body and mind relaxes, at least for that few minutes. It's the warmth, and the smell, and the taste, they all work together to focus you.

And we all need a little time for tea.