N.E. Carlisle

N. E. Carlisle writes stories steeped in mystery, community, and a strong sense of place—from small-town bookshops to windswept coastal shores.

She is the author of Hazelnuts and Homicide, the first in the Bonne Année Mystery Series, where food, friendship, and a dash of danger mix in the charming coastal town of Hazelton, Oregon.

Carlisle is also the creator of the Mermaid Eclipse trilogy, a coastal fantasy inspired by myth and transformation, with the sequel Blue Moon Mermaid currently in development.

When she’s not writing, she can often be found near the water, dreaming up new recipes, characters, and twists to the next story.

Hazelnuts and Homicide blends food, fiction, and mystery. What inspired you to bring culinary culture into a cozy whodunit?
I have always believed that food tells a story. Recipes, flavors, and shared meals build connection, and that sense of comfort pairs perfectly with a cozy mystery. When I began writing Hazelnuts and Homicide, I wanted a story where the sensory world mattered just as much as the plot. Année’s experiences with food help anchor her emotionally and guide her through the investigation, so blending culinary culture with a whodunit felt natural..

Hazelton, Oregon feels like a living, breathing place. What inspired this vivid coastal town?
Hazelton is fictional, but its soul comes from communities throughout Tillamook County. There is a unique rhythm to that part of Oregon. The mist, the coastal forests, the local traditions, the feeling that everyone knows everyone else. I wanted Hazelton to have that same atmosphere, where the landscape and the people shape one another. Even though it is made up, it carries the pulse of the Oregon coast.

Bonne Année hosts Food and Fiction supper clubs. If you could pair this book with one real dish, what would it be and why?
The Macabre Brussel Sprouts, without hesitation. They are rich, a little decadent, and full of flavor, yet still surprisingly good for you. They reflect the story in a fun way. Cozy on the surface, but with a twist. They are the kind of dish that pairs well with a mystery you want to curl up with on a winter night.  https://youtu.be/8CQDFEnSGpM?si=_0-sx89hWgoNqKgP

Oscar the Bernedoodle has become a reader favorite. Is he inspired by a real dog?
Yes. Oscar is based on one of my own dogs a Bernedoodle! Her expressive personality, intuition, and big-hearted presence all made their way directly onto the page. In the story, Oscar gives Année comfort and companionship, but he also nudges her in the right direction without even trying. He brings warmth and levity to the mystery, the same way he does in real life.

Your books often highlight tight knit communities. Why is the theme of found family important in your storytelling?
Found family is one of the most comforting themes in fiction, and it mirrors life in meaningful ways. Cozy mysteries are rooted in the idea that community can be a source of strength, healing, and humor, even when chaos is unfolding around you. Année is building a life from scratch in Hazelton, and the people she chooses to surround herself with become her support system. That sense of belonging is at the heart of the series.

You also write coastal fantasy in the Mermaid Eclipse trilogy. How is writing cozy mystery different from building magical, myth inspired worlds?
Writing cozy mysteries keeps me grounded in everyday emotion, while fantasy asks me to expand the world beyond its natural rules. Yet both genres rely on atmosphere, character, and place. In fantasy, the magic is literal. In a cozy mystery, the magic comes from community, comfort, and curiosity. Switching between the two lets me stretch different creative muscles, and each genre strengthens the other.

Your settings feel very immersive, from bookshops to ocean cliffs. What draws you to writing stories rooted so strongly in place?
Setting is an emotional force in storytelling. A cozy café, a foggy forest, or a quiet reading nook can influence a character as much as any plot point. I love writing environments where readers can step inside the world and immediately feel at home. Hazelton, with its bookstores, bakeries, and coastal beauty, is the kind of place I want to live inside too.

What was the most surprising or quirky research discovery while writing Hazelnuts and Homicide?
I became fascinated by the different varieties of hazelnut trees and shrubs, and how sensitive they are to shifts in weather. Some varieties thrive in specific microclimates, while others are more delicate. Learning about the relationship between hazelnut crops and the coastal environment gave me a deeper appreciation of Tillamook County and added a layer of authenticity to the book.

Both the Bonne Année Mysteries and the Mermaid Eclipse trilogy explore transformation in different ways. What themes do you find yourself returning to as a writer?
I return to themes of reinvention, belonging, and second chances. My characters are often standing at the edge of a new chapter, uncertain but hopeful. Whether it is a magical transformation or a personal one, I am drawn to stories about discovering who you are and who you choose to become.

Readers love Année’s holiday themed world. Can you give us a hint about what comes next in the Bonne Année Mystery Series?
The next book takes place during Easter and brings new people and celebrations to Hazelton. There will be more culinary delights, another mystery of course, and a little more romance. Année is growing into her new life, and her relationships are deepening right along with the next investigation. And yes, Oscar will be right by her side again.

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Website: https://necarlisle.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/necarlisle/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NECarlisleAuthor/
​YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NECarlisle​
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Purchase the book here: 
Paperback: https://a.co/d/9YyCtzQ
Kindle & Hardcover: https://a.co/d/4EmtzJJ