Renaii West

A multitalented writer and performer who recently authored the cozy mystery Death by Chaos

About Renaii West

Renaii West has been writing and performing from an early age. After earning her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, she became the dramatic arts instructor in a performing arts program, where she wrote and directed many of her own productions. Desiring to spread her creative wings, she is now creating fun-loving and sometimes quirky characters who inadvertently find themselves in the middle of a mystery and must use their wits and cunning to solve the case. Her passions and hobbies include mythology, classic films, travel, belly dancing, Tango, yoga, jigsaw puzzles, and, of course, mysteries.

For more information on Renaii, visit her website.

BOOKS:

Death by Chaos (2020)

Your biggest literary influences:

Christopher Moore: The juxtaposition of everyday people and mythological or supernatural characters always creates a humorous fun reading experience. 

Lisa Jewell: She creates relatable characters and well-developed plots that are full of suspense and surprising revelations.

Kate Morton: The shifting from one decade to another while slowly connecting all the dots keeps me guessing.

Linda Castillo: Her main character is a very flawed but relatable and likable woman, not only dealing with her past, but working in a male-dominated career.  The supporting characters add to the charm.  

Last book read:

Delta Lady: A Memoir by Rita Coolidge

Shakespeare for Squirrels by Christopher Moore

The book that changed your life:

The Group by Mary McCarthy

Your favorite literary character:

Wendy Darling (Peter Pan and Wendy). Wendy is courageous, adventurous, caring and she learned how to fly.

Currently working on:

The first in a cozy mystery series, starring Brighid, a quirky events planner, who is also a belly dancer and fire performer on the side. In the debut novel, Brighid does believe the death of her friend is an accident and will use her connections and her weaponry skills to discover the truth and bring justice.

Words to live by:

“Life is around you and in you.” Hair: The Flesh Failures/Let the Sunshine In

Advice for aspiring authors:

Make the time to do it. Find an unbiased reader to review.

Reviews:

Kirkus calls Death by Chaos, “A sublime portrayal of an unfaltering friendship in the face of adversity.”

Foreward Reviews says “Death by Chaos is a compelling novel in which a moment changes four college students’ lives forever.”

Praise on Amazon