I write mysteries that don’t have explicit sex or violence, so technically they’re in the “cozy mystery” category, although that might be a little misleading. I think that because of the success of series like “The Cat Who…” and the Hannah Swensen mysteries, sometimes people expect cozies to have cats and recipes. My main characters tend to be indifferent housekeepers and terrible cooks who can barely care for a pet. In Sinful Science, the main character, Fortune Redding, sort of inherits a cat, so I suppose that fulfills the cat requirement.
How did you come to write cozies?
As Toni Morrison advised, I write what I’d like to read—PG-rated mysteries with humor, especially in an academic setting. I enjoy Dorothy Sayers, Amanda Cross, Sarah Caudwell, and Joanne Dobson, for example. And speaking of writing what you like to read, I was already a fan of Jana DeLeon’s Miss Fortune series when I discovered that Amazon’s Kindle Worlds was offering the opportunity to write in the Miss Fortune universe. I jumped right in and wrote Sinful Science, and had a lot of fun with it! [2018 update: Kindle Worlds is no more, but the Miss Fortune novellas live on under Jana DeLeon’s own publishing imprint!]
Who is your favorite character to write about?
In the Miss Fortune universe, I love Gertie and Ida Belle, two retired ladies who are not quite what they seem. Their bickering is a lot of fun.
Who inspires your books?
For my murder mysteries, what usually happens is that I get home, sit down at my computer, open up my word processor, and ask myself, “Okay, who needs to die?”
What do you do when you’re not writing?
I teach at a public university, read murder mysteries, and hang out with my family.
If you were stuck on a deserted island what three things would you take?
Assuming there was an electrical outlet, I’d say 1) My Keurig machine, 2) A supply of coffee, and 3) cream for the coffee.
Managing a fitness club café and collaborating on a cookbook with her grandfather are Val Deniston’s usual specialties, but she’s about to set sail into nearby Chesapeake Bay—straight into a murder case . . .
Since catering themed events is a good way to make extra cash, Val agrees to board the Titanic—or at least cater a re-creation of the doomed journey on a yacht. The owner of the yacht, who collects memorabilia related to the disaster, wants Val to serve the last meal the Titanic passengers ate . . . while his guests play a murder-mystery game. But it is the final feast for one passenger who disappears from the ship. And that’s only the tip of the iceberg.
Now Val has to reel in a killer before s’more murders go down . . .
Includes delicious five-ingredient recipes! Enter to win a print copy (U.S. only)
About the Author
Maya Corrigan blends her love of food and detective stories in her Five-Ingredient Mystery series set in a fictional historic town on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. The first book in the series, By Cook or by Crook, was published in 2014. It was followed by Scam Chowder in 2015, Final Fondue in 2016, and The Tell-Tale Tarte in 2017.
Before taking up a life of crime (on the page), she taught university courses in writing, detective fiction, American literature, and drama. She won the 2013 Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Unpublished Mainstream Mystery / Suspense. Her short stories, written under the name of Mary Ann Corrigan, have been published in anthologies.
When not reading and writing, she enjoys theater, tennis, trivia, cooking, and crosswords. Her websitefeatures trivia about food and mysteries.
Honolulu landlord Wilson McKenna can smell a scam from across the room. So when one of his tenants loses everything in a work-at-home scam involving a new perfume, he’s shocked. With his wedding just weeks away, McKenna has to make a tough decision. Does he evict a woman who’s down on her luck? Or take time out from wedding planning to help his tenant?
Turning the case over to his PI-in-training friend Chance Logan seems like the perfect solution—until Chance tells McKenna he needs a wingman for a visit to fragrance entrepreneur Skye Pilkington-Winchester. McKenna’s sure he can keep everyone happy by helping Chance this one time. But nothing is ever as easy as it seems, and soon McKenna’s up to his board shorts in hot water. His tenant’s simple fragrance scam might involve industrial espionage, Skye’s assistant is murdered, and McKenna’s bride-to-be accuses him of having cold feet.
As McKenna and Chance dig deeper, it seems so much of what they’re being told doesn’t pass the sniff test. And the only way to get his life back is to find the dead girl’s missing boyfriend, unmask a killer, and finish up in time for the wedding. Other than that, it’s just another day in paradise. Enter to win a copy of The Scent of Waikiki plus a Starbucks gift card
About the Author
Terry Ambrose is a former skip tracer who only stole cars when it was legal. He’s long since turned his talents to writing mysteries and thrillers. Several of his books have been award finalists and in 2014 his thriller, “Con Game,” won the San Diego Book Awards for Best Action-Thriller. He’s currently working on the Seaside Cove Bed & Breakfast Mystery series.
Choose from twenty-five free cozy mysteries. What is a cozy mystery? Cozies generally feature amateur sleuths, small towns, humor, minimal sex or violence, and brains over brawn.
My Professor Molly short, Trust Fall, is in there. Trust Fall is for anyone who loves mysteries and loathes team-building retreats.
Fall into fun with 14 short springtime stories by New York Times & USA Today bestselling and award winning authors! Enjoy a little mystery, a hint of romance, and a lot of laughter with these shorts from some of Gemma Halliday Publishing’s bestselling series.
Includes
“Mystic Wedding Bell Blues”
(A Mystic Isle Mystery)
by
Sally J. Smith & Jean Steffens
Pushing Up Daisies: A Short Story Collection
Available on these ebook platforms:
Frankie- People have different ideas about what it means to be a writer versus an author, and which is better. K.M. Weiland’s site is called “Helping Writers Become Authors,” which implies that author is the preferred state of being. Dean Wesley Smith, on the other hand, defines a “writer” as being active and forward-looking, already working on the next book while the “author” rests on his or her laurels. Rather than step into the middle of that debate, I’m just happy that I have the opportunity to write entertaining stories, and share them with other people. Lian- That is why I love this question. It means something different to everyone. 2. What is the first book that you remember reading?
Richard Scarry’s Best Word Book Ever. I don’t think it had much to do with inspiring my literary career, but I liked the pictures. I loved Richard Scarry when I was little! 3. If you could have lunch with 3 authors (past and present) who would they be and what do you think you would all talk about during lunch?
C.S. Lewis, E.F .Benson, and Sarah Caudwell. I wouldn’t say a word; I would just listen to the conversation. Oh, and it would have to be at a nonsmoking restaurant. Otherwise Sarah Caudwell might just puff away on her pipe and not say anything. That is a super fun image. 4. If you could be friends with a character in one of your stories who would it be and what kinds of things would you do together?
Pat Flanagan, the pessimistic newsblogger/English Instructor in the Molly Barda mysteries, is modeled after a very good friend of mine who passed away two years ago. We used to search out little hole-in-the-wall diners. Years ago we found the most amazing apple pie at a place called Champion’s in Escondido. They’re still there, and they still don’t take credit cards. I sorry to hear about your friend. it is terrific that he can live for you as one of your characters. 5. Who do your stories appeal to?
People who enjoy the Molly Barda Mysteries are diverse age- and gender-wise, but what they all seem to have in common is experience working in extremely bureaucratic organizations. They also have excellent taste.
–Well, we can’t fault them on their taste. 😉 6. What is your all time favorite book or author?
There isn’t just one, of course, but I’ll say Sarah Caudwell, because she’s much less famous than she deserves to be, and every time I read something by her I fairly collapse with envy. Her writing is hilarious and perfect. 7. Which of your current works in progress are you most passionate about?
I’m excited about writing in the Miss Fortune world. Working within the constraints of another author’s characters and setting is a real challenge, but as they say, creativity thrives under constraints. -That sounds like it would be challenging. 8. What or who inspired you to begin writing?
I write what I like to read, so I guess you could say I’m my own inspiration. -I have heard that all good writers start out as happy readers. 9. How do you avoid or defeat writers block?
There are definitely days when I don’t want to face my work in progress. What works for me is to have a system and just keep at it, step by step. First, outline the plot. Then, turn the outline into a series of beats. After that, expand the third-person present tense summary into the first-person past tense story, and don’t worry about getting everything perfect. Once I get to that point I have a completed first draft, and it’s a lot easier to go back and edit. -Having a system is a great way to keep on going. 10. How do you define success as an author?
If my writing can make someone burst out laughing as they read, that for me is success. -Success! My mom laughed her head off while reading Sinful Science!!
Grab some cheesecake—Dorothy, Rose, Blanche, and Sophia are coming home.
Dorothy Zbornak, Rose Nylund, Blanche Devereaux, and Sophia Petrillo have long been heroes for fans of the iconic 1980s sitcom The Golden Girls. Now, the National Entertainment Collectibles Association (NECA)—purveyor of fine pop culture collectibles—is giving them the action figure treatment with a brand-new line of 8-inch-tall figures that will look perfect on your desk, encased in theft-proof glass, or simply hanging out under the lanai on a warm summer’s day.
All profits from this pack go to support NO KILL animal charities! Fetch it now! And help us help pets!
‘Summer Snoops and Cozy Crimes’ includes never before published books from
Autumn leaves aren’t the only things falling in the historic Virginia village of Taylorsford—so are some cherished memories, and a few bodies.
October in Taylorsford, Virginia means it’s leaf peeping season, with bright colorful foliage and a delightful fresh crew of tourists attending the annual Heritage Festival which celebrates local history and arts and crafts. Library director Amy Webber, though, is slightly dreading having to spend two days running a yard sale fundraiser for her library. But during these preparations, when she and her assistant Sunny stumble across a dead body, Amy finds a real reason to be worried.
The body belonged to a renowned artist who was murdered with her own pallet knife. A search of the artist’s studio uncovers a cache of forged paintings, and when the sheriff’s chief deputy Brad Tucker realizes Amy is skilled in art history research, she’s recruited to aid the investigation. It doesn’t seem to be an easy task, but when the state’s art expert uncovers a possible connection between Amy’s deceased uncle and the murder case, Amy must champion her Aunt Lydia to clear her late husband’s name.
That’s when another killing shakes the quiet town, and danger sweeps in like an autumn wind. Now, with her swoon-inducing neighbor Richard Muir, Amy must scour their resources to once again close the books on murder.
Enter to win a signed hardcover
Author Interview
Victoria, welcome to Island Confidential! Can you tell us about your heroine?
Amy Webber is a 33-year-old librarian, currently working as the director of the public library in the historic mountain town of Taylorsford, Virginia. She lives with her Aunt Lydia in a lovely, but slightly run-down, Victorian house that has been passed down through her mother’s family. While Amy’s family has lived in Taylorsford for generations, Aunt Lydia is now the only one left in town, as her sister (Amy’s mother) moved away as soon as she went to college. Amy visited Lydia in the summers, but she wasn’t raised in Taylorsford and only moved in with her aunt about two years previously. This gives her a bit of a hybrid status – she isn’t entirely an outsider, but she isn’t totally accepted by the town either.
Amy has never been married and is not concerned about this. She is dating her next-door neighbor, Richard Muir, who is a contemporary dancer, choreographer, and dance instructor. Amy has always been curious and determined to solve problems, which leads her to investigate murders that occur in and around Taylorsford. She assists the sheriff’s office with her research skills and her ability to uncover both historical and recent truths about her town and its citizens and visitors.
Are you and Amy at all alike?
The main connection is that both Amy and I are librarians with backgrounds in art history and a love of movies and gardening. However, Amy looks nothing like me, and she is certainly a good bit younger than I am. Actually, although I’m sure a lot of my worldview and opinions seep through, I deliberately try to NOT make my protagonists mirror me too closely. I like to explore personality traits, appearances, and behaviors different from mine as I think that is much more interesting than creating characters who resemble me.
How do you think you’d feel about Amy if you met her in real life?
I’d like Amy. She is a caring person who has a good sense of humor as well as a great deal of innate curiosity and intelligence. I think we could be good friends!
Do your characters change and evolve throughout consecutive books in the series?
I hope so! I definitely try to show them learning things about themselves and others, as well as about life in general. Amy definitely evolves over the course of the books – she becomes a lot more confident in her own body and develops more internal strength and courage. She also learns to change some of her opinions concerning other people and grows to appreciate different ways of looking at the world. Some of the other characters also learn to let go of old habits and discover new horizons.
Have you ever thought of killing someone that you know in real life–on the pages of a murder mystery, I mean?
No. I actually don’t create characters based on people I know. I do draw on certain characteristics or behaviors I’ve observed in people in real life, but I tend to combine those elements in different ways to develop wholly original characters.
How realistic is your setting? Do you take liberties, or are you true to life?
My setting is very realistic. I based on my own knowledge of growing up in a life in a small, historic, town in the mountains in northern Virginia. I hope I am true to life. Perhaps one stretch is that more murders occur in and around Taylorsford than might be statistically likely in real life but try to make everything else realistic.
When the movie or TV series is made, who plays the major parts?
All I know is that whoever plays Richard needs to look and move like a dancer, even if they aren’t actually one, and I would hope that Amy, Richard, and Sunny would be played by characters in their thirties instead of much younger actors.
What’s the worst and best advice you’ve heard or received as an author?
Worst: Write to the market and use social media as some sort of targeted “weapon” to achieve certain sales goals.
Best: Always think of the long-game and don’t allow present obstacles or failures to derail your career or to destroy your love of writing. Be true to yourself and build your career by writing books you believe in.
About The Author
Victoria Gilbert, raised in the shadow of the Blue Ridge Mountains, turned her early obsession with reading into a dual career as an author and librarian. She has worked as a reference librarian, research librarian, and library director.
When not writing or reading, Victoria likes to spend her time watching films, gardening, or traveling. She is a member of Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, and International Thriller Writers, and is represented by Frances Black at Literary Council, NY, NY.
Victoria lives in North Carolina with her husband and some very spoiled cats.
Over fifty short stories in a variety of genres: mystery, romance, thriller, speculative, true adventure, science fiction, humor, and more. My Professor Molly short, Trust Fall, is in there too. Trust Fall is for anyone who loves mysteries and loathes team-building retreats.
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