Genre’d Off Book: Nicolas DiDomizio on A Murder Most Camp
- genredpodcast
- Mar 5
- 4 min read
We are joined by author Nicolas DiDomizio to talk about his upcoming book A Murder Most Camp, a cozy murder mystery that is equal parts hilarious, heartfelt, and completely chaotic in the best way.
Nic's new book drops April 28, and we are lucky enough to be kicking off his entire promo season with his first interview about the book.
Naturally, Katy finished the ARC about 45 minutes before recording. She is still emotionally at Camp Lore.
In this episode we talk about the wild process of writing a book while starting a new full time job, how unpredictable the publishing industry can be, the complicated role genre plays in marketing books, and the reading habits that shaped Nic as a writer.
Also discussed at length: Goosebumps, memoirs that change your brain chemistry, the joy of chaotic characters, and why Annabelle deserves her own series.
Safe to say we have officially adopted Nic as a friend of the pod.
What We Cover
Writing A Murder Most Camp
Nic shares the behind the scenes story of how the book came together.
The short version. It was chaos.
The book was acquired based on the first three chapters. At the same time, Nic was starting a new full time job after several years as a full time author. That meant writing the entire novel on a brutal deadline while juggling work and life.
The first draft was turned in after months of early mornings, late nights, and zero social life.
Then came the real work.
With the help of his editor, the book was reshaped over the summer into the hilarious cozy mystery readers will get to experience this spring.
And we can confirm it was worth it.
The Publishing Reality Check
One of the most fascinating parts of this conversation is Nic explaining the reality of publishing.
Writing the book is only one piece of the puzzle.
Everything else depends on timing, market conditions, sales history, and a long list of factors completely outside the author’s control.
Nic talks about
The eight years it took to get an agent
The three additional years before selling a book
The challenge of selling books after your first title underperforms
The way publishing decisions often come down to business calculations
It is equal parts inspiring and slightly terrifying.
The Genre Conversation
If you listen to Genre’d, you know we love talking about genre.
Nic shares a really interesting perspective here because when he started writing, he was not thinking about genre at all.
He was simply telling stories.
His early books blended elements of comedy, thriller, romance, and literary fiction. That made them fun to read but difficult for publishers to categorize.
Which matters more than you might think.
Genre helps publishers decide how to market a book and helps readers understand what they are getting.
But it can also limit discovery.
Nic talks about how he used to wander bookstores with no concept of genre at all. He would bounce between memoir, literary fiction, thrillers, and rom coms without thinking about labels.
There is something kind of magical about that approach.
Cozy Mysteries and Why This One Works
Katy has been on a mission lately to find a cozy mystery that actually feels cozy.
Many books marketed as cozy have turned out to be… not that.
A Murder Most Camp finally delivered.
The book follows a chaotic group of characters at a summer camp where a murder occurs. The story mixes humor, mystery, and just enough romance to keep the emotional stakes high.
The result is a genuinely fun reading experience with a mystery that keeps you invested.
It also includes one of our favorite characters in recent memory.
Annabelle.
We will be campaigning for an Annabelle spin off series moving forward.
Nic’s Reading Roots
Nic traces his reading origin story back to Goosebumps by R. L. Stine.
The page turning suspense of those books was the first time he remembers feeling completely hooked by a story.
From there he moved into comedy memoirs and essay collections, which heavily influenced his voice as a writer.
Some early favorites include:
David Sedaris
Chelsea Handler
Helena Andrews’ Bitch Is the New Black
These books showed him that humor and personal storytelling could coexist.
Later he discovered darker fiction like Gillian Flynn and Dennis Lehane, which helped shape his love for twisty narratives.
Books Nic Loves
Nic shared several books that have stayed with him over the years.
Mystic River by Dennis Lehane
A gripping psychological thriller about trauma, friendship, and the ripple effects of violence.
How to Murder Your Life by Cat Marnell
A darkly funny memoir about addiction and media culture in New York.
Swish: My Quest to Become the Gayest Person Ever by Joel Derfner
A hilarious memoir about identity and self discovery.
I Am Not Myself These Days by Josh Kilmer Purcell
A wild memoir about drag performance, New York nightlife, and a truly chaotic relationship.
The Memoir Renaissance
One theme that kept coming up during this conversation is how powerful memoir can be.
Nic believes memoirs are some of the most entertaining and revealing books out there.
We are officially adding several new titles to our TBR thanks to this episode.
Katy is especially excited about the category she now refers to as "juicy memoirs."
Upcoming Book: A Murder Most Camp
Nic’s newest novel releases April 28.
The book blends mystery, humor, and romance with a chaotic cast of characters that you cannot help but root for.
It is a fast paced story with sharp dialogue, great character dynamics, and plenty of laugh out loud moments.
Katy read it in under two days and physically could not stop talking about it.
Which is usually the sign of a very good book.
Where to Find Nic
Follow Nic on Instagram:
Tour stops currently scheduled include:
Chicago – March 27
Saratoga Springs – April 28
Houston – May 1
Scottsdale – May 2
More events are expected to be announced soon.
Join the Conversation
Have you read A Murder Most Camp yet?
Do you have a favorite cozy mystery that actually feels cozy?
Tell us your favorite memoirs and thriller recommendations.
We are always looking for the next great read.
What’s Next on Genre’d
We will absolutely be revisiting A Murder Most Camp in a future episode once readers have had time to dive in.
Expect a full spoiler discussion, character breakdowns, and more Annabelle appreciation.
Until then, happy reading.
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