Q&A: Christina Dodd, Author of ‘Thus With A Kiss I Die’

June 28, 2025

43 4 minutes read

Q&A: Christina Dodd, Author of ‘Thus With A Kiss I Die’ — Christina Dodd Thus With A Kiss I Die Author Interview.jpg

We chat with author Christina Dodd about Thus With A Kiss I Die, which follows the delightfully irreverent eldest daughter of the not-so-ill-fated Romeo and Juliet returns to sleuth another day in fair Verona, in this hugely entertaining historical mystery series with a refreshingly bold premise.

Hi, Christina! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?

Readers become writers, and I have always been a reader. I read everything, but because I love humor, I like romance best.

A woman wants things like world peace, a clean house, and a deep and meaningful relationship based on mutual understanding and love. A man wants things like a Craftsman router with attachments, undisputed control of the TV remote, and a red Corvette which will miraculously make his bald spot disappear. So when my first daughter was born, I told my husband I was going to quit work and write a book. It was a good time to start a new career, because how much trouble could one little infant be?

Ha! It took ten years, two children and three completed manuscripts before my first novel, CANDLE IN THE WINDOW, was published.

Now all these years later, after writing suspense, paranormal, historical, and mystery novels, I’m tackling Shakespheare and giving Romeo and Juliet a new life along with their eldest daughter, Rosie Montague. And I’m loving it.

When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?

LORD OF THE RINGS was hugely influential; in fact, my husband and I named my daughters after the female characters. After the movies came out, my daughter Arwen had someone accuse her of changing her name to match the movie. She told the other person the books had come first. 🙄

I read research books for fun. My favorite book ever is either CHARLOTTE’S WEB or TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD. Or maybe the HARRY POTTER series. And of course, I read history, suspense and romance of all kinds — which is why I write history, suspense and romance of all kinds!

Quick lightning round! Tell us:

The first book you ever remember reading: How about the first book I remember my mother reading to me? NANCY HANKS AND THE WILDERNESS ROAD, about Abraham Lincoln’s mother. I adored that book. Mom probably read it to me 100 times.
The one that made you want to become an author: I never wanted to become an author. I thought I was unworthy and not glamorous enough to be an author. Turns out the work makes you worth and being glamorous isn’t a component. Darn it.
The one that you can’t stop thinking about: Romeo and Juliet, of course.

**Your latest novel, Thus with a Kiss I Die, is out now! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?**

I’ll do you one better—I”ll share what readers are saying, because who cares what I say about my book? It’s what readers think that matters. From Goodreads:

Literary shenanigans and twisty mysteries.
Self-aware humor (“dear reader” asides, lol), feminist without being rage-y, lots of swoony moments worthy of Romeo & Juliet, a murder to solve.
A clever, captivating read perfect for fans of historical mysteries with a twist and strong, witty heroines.

What can readers expect?

Think Hamlet with a witty, royal ghost, a feisty, smart-mouthed heroine and less broody, wildly mysterious and unexpectedly seductive prince.😊

**Where did the inspiration for Thus with a Kiss I Die come from?**

I was plotting with my younger daughter, Arwen (kids of authors learn to brainstorm early), and I said, “I’d like to write a book that springs off of a story so iconic everyone knows it without having it explained, like Pride and Prejudice or —”

She said, “The Daughter of Romeo and Juliet.”

I was off and running. Then I thought I should be practical. Then… long story, but The Daughter of Romeo and Juliet became A DAUGHTER OF FAIR VERONA and now we have the second episode, THUS WITH A KISS I DIE. A novella, WHAT DREAMS MAY COME, is spanning the time between the two novels and adding depth and adventure to the series, and draws on one of Shakespeare’s favorite tropes, cross-dressing.

Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?

I’ve written over 60 books and I’ve never had so much fun, and a good part of it is playing with Shakespeare’s characters as he created them. Romeo and Juliet are still in love. Verona is fascinated with them and their romantic natures. The whole Montague family is always monologuing and entering stage left and spouting poetry (except Rosie, who is too practical and also lousy at it.) Nurse remains the same as in the play, loud, raucous, supportive, a larger than life character.

Did you face any challenges whilst writing? How did you overcome them?

Challenges always. I’ve written over 60 full length books+novellas and short stories, and with every book some new challenge pops up. You figure out a way around that. Right now, for book #3 (the aforementioned SECRET SHAKESPEAREAN-RELATED TITLE) I’m writing the climax, although there’s no middle written yet. I frequently do that, yet no one has ever accused me of writing a book backwards. “There are three rules for writing the novel. Unfortunately, no one knows what they are.” – W. Somerset Maugham

What’s next for you?

More Rosie! A Daughter of Montague Christmas novella, MUCH ADO ABOUT MISTLETOE, will be released in October 2025 and I’m well into writing SECRET TITLE book three scheduled for release in Summer 2026.

Lastly, what books have you enjoyed reading this year? Are there any you’re looking forward to picking up?

I just finished Jayne Castle’s newest dust bunny futuristic romantic suspense, IT TAKES A PSYCHIC. Of course, Jayne Castle is Jayne Ann Krentz and the book hit the New York Times bestseller list.