Media Kit

Short Bio
Fast Facts
Career Highlights
Articles & Interviews
Industry Contacts
Social Media

Short Bio

Tonya Kappes has written more than 150 southern cozy mysteries, all of which have graced numerous bestseller lists, including USA Today and Woman’s World Book Club pick twice. Best known for stories charged with southern charm, emotion and humor and filled with flawed characters, her novels have garnered reader praise and glowing critical reviews.

Use this quick, professional bio to introduce Tonya at your event or in your article. For a longer “Meet Tonya” story, follow this link.

Fast Facts

Tonya graduated from the University of Kentucky with an elementary education degree and then went on to get certified as a child therapist.
Tonya wrote her first book under an oak tree while waiting for her son to finish peewee football practice.
Tonya presently serves on the Board of Directors for both BingeBooks and the Bookfunnel.
Every year in September Tonya plays herself in New York City’s award winning Divabetic Radio Show’s annual Mystery Theater.
Two Dames on a Mystery Train is Tonya’s annual event where Tonya meets up with 100 readers on a weekend centered around a mystery dinner train and fun excursions.
Two of Tonya’s books were on the USA TODAY Bestseller’s list together in one month.

Career Highlights

Beaches, Bungalows, & Burglaries has spent three years on Amazon’s Cozy Mystery Top 100.
2017 Penned Con Suspense Author of the Year
2017 Tonya was able to retire from her job as a child therapist to fulfill her dream of being a full time author.
In 2018 A Charming Voodoo was Woman’s World Magazine October Book Club pick.
2019 A Ghostly Undertaking received the Best Fiction Award at Cincinnati’s Books By the Bank.
In 2023 Vistas, Vices, & Valentine's was First Magazine’s January Book Club pick.
In 2023 Vistas, Vices, & Valentine’s was Woman’s World Magazine February Book Club pick.
As of 2023 Tonya has over 100 published cozy mysteries.

Articles & Interviews

AUTHOR INTERVIEW: TONYA KAPPES

May 31, 2022 | Mystery Manon

Hi Tonya! Thanks so much for joining. Earlier this month saw the release of Blowin’ Up A Murder, book eight in your Kenni Lowry Mystery series, which is set in small-town Kentucky and features charming, quirky characters. Southern hospitality plus homicide is your specialty—what do you think makes this combination so popular?

It’s definitely the Southern style and ways incorporated with the murders that readers really love—how we Southerns like to sweep things under the rug and make insults without people even realizing it just adds a little fun to an already fun genre to read.

Read on→