serious themes in cozy mysteries
My version of developing story ideas
Yes, those are my feet in not very high fashion shoes (they’re plastic) and white socks. This is called, “I’m holding my feet to the fire.” It means I’m finally moving on with ideas for the next three Eve Apple mysteries. I am working on descriptions of my next three books in the Eve…
Read MorePlaying with the Cozy Mystery
Camel Press, publisher of my Eve Appel mysteries, sent me the contract for mysteries 7 through 9. I am thrilled to be writing three more adventures with Eve Apple and her friends and family. Now I must consider what joys as well as difficulties I will provide to create tension and conflict for her. I’ve…
Read MoreSmall town cops
Clewiston is a small community set at the southern edge of Lake Okeechobee in Florida. For the past several years the museum has sponsored a book event featuring local authors. The event is held at the museum, a wonderful place to explore. It is filled with artifacts that are prehistoric as well as others…
Read MoreAnxiety Dreams
What an odd topic for a blog that’s supposed to be about my plans for 2017, but my plans are all wrapped up in listening to what my dreams are telling me. I’ll bet your dreams do the same for you although you may or may not realize it. I am finishing the final manuscript…
Read MoreStalking isn’t cozy, but it’s in a cozy mystery
Author Cathy Perkins Stalking? In a cozy mystery? You bet. It’s one of the serious themes that mystery writer Cathy Perkins used in her book, So About the Money. An award-winning author, Cathy works in the financial industry, where she’s observed the hide-in-plain-sight skills employed by her villains. She writes predominantly financial-based mysteries but enjoys exploring…
Read MoreMen Write Cozies, too
Author James R. Callan I’m excited to have Jim Callan as my guest blogger. After a successful career in mathematics and computer science, receiving grants from the National Science Foundation and NASA, and being listed in Who’s Who in Computer Science and Two Thousand Notable Americans, James R. Callan turned to his first love—writing. He…
Read MoreSmall town issues in a cozy mystery: Author Judy Penz Sheluk
Where do writers find their inspiration? Judy Penz Sheluk looked at her town and found the heart of a cozy mystery. Judy Penz Sheluk’s debut mystery, The Hanged Man’s Noose (Barking Rain Press) was published July 2015. Her short crime fiction is included in The Whole She-Bang, World Enough and Crime, and most recently, Flash…
Read MoreCozies Get Serious: Author Linda Hengerer
I am so excited to have Linda Hengerer as my guest blogger today. Linda and I became friends through Mystery Writers of America Florida Chapter. My husband and I have had the pleasure of working with Linda the years she was the major force behind organizing the Sleuthfest conference. When I invited writers of cozies to talk…
Read MoreCozy Mysteries with Serious Themes: Author Lynn Cahoon
Several weeks ago I wrote in a blog that I inserted serious issues into my cozy mysteries indicating that I wanted my work to be more than “fluff”. I then invited other writers of cozy mysteries to visit this blog to talk about how they used serious themes in their work. Today author Lynn Cahoon…
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