In interviews and at book events I’m often asked if my protagonists are like me. I always answer no and add that they may be an idealized version of me—younger, smarter, more adventurous, and much more interesting. Yet that is not true of Eve Appel. She is no exaggeration of any of my characteristics. Instead she is the embodiment of what draws me to many people: Eve is quirky, odd, unusual, in-your-face, and bold, not the usual cozy mystery heroine. I suspect that many readers find her too brash. Where did this woman come from and does she belong as the protagonist of a cozy mystery?

Eve emerged from my life-long fascination with folks who are different, not just different from me, but different from most people. I suspect my involvement with odd folks began with my family, a clan of atypical individuals, some of whom like my father were anomalies in the community, a farmer who was also an intellectual espousing liberal ideology. Many in our small village did not like him because of his views, but everyone seemed to respect him for his humanity and his reasonable approach to life. Then there was Mom, odd in her own right. Oh, let’s be honest. Mom was bat shit crazy.

My father’s sister was about as in-your-face as it gets with a voice that could be heard county-wide. She was near six feet tall with flaming red hair. She didn’t really care if you agreed with her or not. In contrast, her mother, my paternal grandmother, was under five feet tall, appeared to be a quiet woman unless you crossed her and then she took on an extra foot in emotional height. She believed in recycling before it became a fad. I learned my love of used from her. My other grandmother was a sweet woman married to an emotionally and physically abusive husband. I adored her. I learned at an early age that people were all quite different from one another and I sought out the atypical in my friends, and I have some odd friends. Put these experiences all together, stir vigorously and out comes Eve Appel.

I’ve added an important characteristic to my bold Eve. She is loyal and supportive of her friends. If she likes you, she likes you and will defend you in the face of danger both emotional and physical.

Here’s the question I ask myself again and again: is Eve the protagonist for a cozy mystery? Because she is so brassy and bold, she feels more like a PI or a cop or a criminal lawyer, yet she owns a consignment shop, loves designer clothes and wears stiletto heels. She’s not the gal next door and probably not the woman many would choose as a best friend, yet Eve is a compelling and fascinating person. I’ve chosen to underline her curious nature by signing her up to apprentice as a private detective in training with the only PI in town. She’s doing well, except she is a bit overcommitted with her family, her friends, and her consignment shop business. If anyone can handle all these obligations, Eve can. I think I have kept the writing cozy by inserting humor, something I value as mentally healthy and something family taught me as a way to move through difficult times.

I love Eve because she has emerged from what I know: family that can be considered dysfunctional and many friends who fit the category of “a character.” She is loving and funny, sassy and snoopy and bright, above all, bright.

So, I ask again: Is this a cozy mystery? I think it is. What do you think?

 

Coming soon: Book 3 in the Big Lake Murder Mysteries, Scream Muddy Murder

EMILY RHODES DOES IT AGAIN! This time she nosedives into a mud puddle at a Seminole War battle reenactment and finds she’s sharing the muck with a dead body. As usual the hunky detective she loves to aggravate, Stanton Lewis, cautions her against getting involved in the case, and as usual she ignores him. Emily’s sleuthing pays off, revealing disturbing information about the victim’s past. Is it the reason behind his murder? With the help of her family and friends, Emily sets out to uncover secrets kept too long and puts herself and the people she loves in the killer’s path. Too late she realizes Detective Lewis was right. Her snoopiness proves to be a deadly idea.

Bonus feature inside the book: Emily’s neighbor shares her recipes. Make them for your favorite sleuth!