Andrew Welsh-Huggins

Join us at Spoon Bar & Deli for a special beer and books event celebrating the 10th anniversary of Andrew Welsh-Huggins’ “Andy Hayes Mystery” series with the release of “Sick to Death”. Enjoy Thunderwing Brewing’s new “Private Eye PA,” grab a book from The Buckeye Book Fair, and hear Andrew’s insights on his latest novel before getting your copy signed.

Inspiration Behind the Ink:

In a recent interview for Buckeye Book Fair, renowned mystery writer Andrew Welsh-Huggins revealed the development behind his latest novel, Sick to Death. Originally conceived against a backdrop “ripped from headlines” medical malpractice scandal, the narrative took an unexpected turn amidst the global upheaval of COVID-19. The author, known for his Andy Hayes private eye series set in Columbus, shared how the pandemic reshaped both his world and the novel’s themes. This adaptation was not merely a narrative pivot but a reflection of broader societal shifts, and evidence of Welsh-Huggins’s ability to weave contemporary issues into his crime fiction. He discussed how the pandemic’s pervasive impact became a driving force in reshaping the novel, grounding it in a post-pandemic world still grappling with its aftermath.

He began writing Sick to Death in August 2019, but the novel diverged from the original plot when the pandemic hit. While the novel is set after the last large COVID-19 surge, the pandemic  is “very much at the center of the action, the crime, and my characters’ motivations,” says Welsh-Huggins.

Connecting With Readers:

When discussing connecting with diverse readerships, especially amidst varying literary tastes, Welsh-Huggins emphasized his commitment to infusing each book with universal elements. “While I understand that mysteries aren’t for everyone, I try to imbue each book with enough drama, local color, and real-world and contemporary issues that readers whose tastes lie elsewhere might still enjoy my writing.”

Buckeye Book Fair Experience: 

Welsh-Huggins’s participation in literary events like the Buckeye Book Fair holds special significance, particularly as a central Ohio native connecting with readers from across the state. He spoke fondly of past interactions, highlighting a poignant encounter with a young woman named Landree Rennpage, a fellow Kenyon College graduate and Classics major, whose enthusiasm for books left an indelible mark. Tragically, Landree’s life was cut short, but her passion for literature inspired him to dedicate his novel, The Third Brother, in her honor. He included the Latin quote from Cicero, “Postea vero quam Tyrannio mihi libros disposuit, mens addita videtur meis aedibus” (very loosely translated as, “A room without books is like a body without a soul”).

Book Save Lives:

As the Buckeye Book Fair gears up to explore the theme of Books Save Lives, Welsh-Huggins shared a personal anecdote about the power of literature in his own journey. Reading the Clevand-set private eye novels by mystery writer Lee Roberts as a young man provide him with the initial inspiration to begin his own series set in Columbus. Ohio’s capital is not known as a hotbed of crime fiction, making Welsh-Huggins’s contribution to the genre unique.