Tag Archive for: #cozymystery

No Fur or Feather Babies

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By Lois Winston

When I was asked to write a cozy mystery series, I knew I should include a pet. Cozy readers love books with pets, especially dogs or cats. Sometimes the pet is even an integral part of helping to solve the mystery. I also have many friends who write cozy mysteries, and most of them are pet owners.

I’m the outlier. I don’t have a fur baby. Instead, I have allergies. Allergies to just about all pets. At least the kind you can pet, cuddle, and play with. Tropical fish would probably be safe, but I consider those pretty things to watch swimming around rather than pets. If it has fur or feathers, I need to steer clear, and chances are, I’d probably also have issues with amphibians and reptiles. I’m even allergic to certain people—or at least to some of the grooming products they use.

I used to have pets. When I was a teenager, we had a dog. I walked around sneezing and coughing and suffering with horrible sinus headaches for several years until I left for college. Once I had my own apartment, I tried kittens. What was I thinking? The headaches, sneezing, and coughing returned with a vengeance.

When my kids were young, we got them a pair of gerbils. Even though I stayed far away from the cage, I still suffered.

So, unfortunately, I remain petless. My protagonist in the Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mysteries is far from petless, though. Not only does Anastasia’s household include her mother-in-law’s French bulldog Mephisto and occasionally Catherine the Great, her mother’s Persian cat, but Anastasia has also inherited her great-aunt Penelope Periwinkle’s African Grey parrot.

However, Ralph is no ordinary parrot. Having spent most of his life in Great-aunt Penelope’s classroom, listening to lectures on the works of William Shakespeare, Ralph possesses a unique talent. He has the uncanny ability to squawk situation-appropriate quotes from the Bard of Avon.

Is this even possible? Some African Greys do have huge vocabularies, but even though I’ve read up on the species, I’m no parrot expert. It doesn’t matter, though. I write fiction, humorous fiction. If readers can suspend their disbelief enough to accept a protagonist who stumbles across more murders than the average cop in an entire law enforcement career, why not a Shakespeare-quoting parrot?

Ralph is also very protective of his adoptive family. I hope you’ll check out how he proves his worth in Guilty as Framed, the 11th book in my humorous Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mystery Series.

~*~

USA Today and Amazon bestselling and award-winning author Lois Winston writes mystery, romance, romantic suspense, chick lit, women’s fiction, children’s chapter books, and nonfiction under her own name and her Emma Carlyle pen name. Kirkus Reviews dubbed her critically acclaimed Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mystery series, “North Jersey’s more mature answer to Stephanie Plum.” In addition, Lois is a former literary agent and an award-winning craft and needlework designer who often draws much of her source material for both her characters and plots from her experiences in the crafts industry. Learn more about Lois and her books at her website www.loiswinston.com where you can also sign up for her newsletter and follow her on various social media sites.

Lessons From Live Theatre

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I had the privilege of going to see a fun new play called “The Shark is Broken,” written by Ian Shaw and Joseph Nixon. The play details the behind-the-scenes drama surrounding the filming of the 1975 blockbuster movie, Jaws. The play was short (90-minutes) and anything but sweet, but overall a funny, very enjoyable show for any die-hard fan. There were only three actors on stage and a pretty basic set, serving as a great reminder of how to nail a story, be it a play, a movie, or a book.

  1. Character is key! Plot is important in any story, but to grab the reader, the author must have a great set of characters. From the second the first actor entered the stage during the play, I had no doubt he was playing Richard Dreyfuss, based on mannerisms alone. Each character should possess distinct traits that make it easy not only easy to identify, but to create and add conflict to a play or a book. A rollercoaster of emotion keeps a story fun, and nothing is better than the tension felt between opposing characters.
  2. Action Needs Reaction! “The Shark is Broken” took place entirely on a small set, without any big action scenes. But it kept my attention because of the dynamics created by the characters. The myth
    surrounding the filming of Jaws is all about the tension between the actors on set. The verbal tug-of-war between Richard Dreyfuss (played by Liam Murray Scott) and Robert Shaw (played by real-life son, Ian Shaw), had the viewer fully engaged from start to finish. There was no shark needed to heighten the tension on set between these two!
  3. Real Life Inspiration! It’s been so long since I’ve been to a city (Toronto, in my case) to see a play, I’d almost forgotten how much fun it can be to leave home. From the train ride to the pre-dinner grub, nothing beats character building than going out and watching people in action. For me it was the restaurant staff, the sports fans roaming about (The Toronto Maple Leafs had just won a hockey game in over-time), and even the people passing me on the sidewalk. Everyone is unique, just like each character in a story. Subtle details like the scent of someone’s perfume, the slow-gait of a two lovers holding hands, even the feel of the wind tunnel created from nearby skyscrapers. All these details matter. Don’t even get me started on snippets of conversations overheard at nearby tables or close-by theatre goers… There’s always something to see, hear, smell, or feel.

Where do you find inspiration? Any other Jaws fans out there?

So You Want to Write a Book

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By Sparkle Abbey

Part 2: Old School Research

Welcome back to So You Want to Write a Book!


There’s a book in everyone, right? If you’ve decided that there’s a book in you and you’re ready to embark on that journey, we’re excited for you!

Last month we talked about where to start when writing a
book for the first time. We asked you a lot of questions, such as:

  • Are you passionate about a particular
    storyline?
  • What type of book are you interested in writing?
  • What idea is constantly on your mind?

You may remember there was also an assignment. We hope you
took our suggestion to write down ALL your ideas. If so, pull out that notebook
where you jotted down them down, and let’s talk about what you wrote. (If you
didn’t take that step, there’s still time. Just take that step today.)

By now you should have decided what you’re passionate about
and what type of book you’re going to write. You should know if you’re writing
fiction or non-fiction. A thriller or a memoir. Romance or a self-help book.  

Okay, are you ready for step two? Step two is what we call Old
School Research. And we’re the first to admit, that not everyone agrees on this.
We believe to write well in any genre or subject, you need to be well-read in
that area. What is currently being written? What type of plot resonates with you?
What characters speak to you? How do the best-selling stories unfold? What can
you LEARN from books you love as well as books you put down after a few pages?



Back when we first started writing we read over 100 books in
our genre. While we aren’t telling you to read 100 books before you start
writing, we are telling you to read extensively in the genre or subject in
which you’re going to write. There are some who disagree with this approach for
various reasons. They may worry about copying another author’s work. Probably
not. After 100 books, one thing you’ll notice is there’s really no new plot. And
how you write your story is all about what you uniquely bring to the table.
However, by reading deeply in your selected subject, you’ll have a better
understanding of how to make your book stand out from the crowd. You’ll also
begin to understand the importance of reader expectations. (More on that down
the road!)

Well, what do you think? Are you onboard to read, read,
read for the next few weeks while you’re thinking about your book? As you read,
keep your notebook handy. Take notes on what you learn, how you’ll be
different, what works, and what doesn’t.

If you’d like, share in the comments what you’ve decided to
write and what you’ve learned from reading extensively in your subject, and how
you’ll use that to write a book that stands out from the crowd. And as always,
if you have questions, feel free to ask us.

Next month we’ll talk about knowing where you’re headed.
Sound intriguing? 


Sparkle Abbey’s latest story (written in first person) is a short but fun one. If you’ve not yet
checked out PROJECT DOGWAY, this is a great time to do that. 

Sparkle Abbey is actually two people, Mary Lee Ashford and Anita Carter, who write the national best-selling Pampered Pets cozy mystery series. They are friends as well as neighbors so they often get together and plot ways to commit murder. (But don’t tell the other neighbors.) 

They love to hear from readers and can be found on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest, their favorite social media sites. Also, if you want to make sure you get updates, sign up for their newsletter via the SparkleAbbey.com website


Interview with a Literary Agent!

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By Lynn McPherson

I’m super excited to announce that I’ve found an agent to represent my work! Carol Woien from Blue Ridge Literary Agency. While I dig into initial edits, I thought it might be fun to find out more about Carol, and her journey to becoming an agent.

What is a literary agent?

A literary agent represents authors to publishers, helps build careers, negotiates contracts, and can also offer creative guidance such as book edits.

How, and why, did you become an agent?

I’m friends on Facebook with agent Dawn Dowdle, owner of the Blue Ridge Literary Agency. In one of her Facebook posts she mentioned that she’d hired an agent. I commented that I’d be interested in becoming an agent, too if she had another opening. She messaged me back, we talked, and here I am!

What are some of the most recent books you’ve read and enjoyed? Any all-time favorites?

So many! I love most all cozy mysteries, especially those by J.C. Eaton, Valerie Burns, and Leslie Budewitz. I’m also a big fan of psychological suspense by Shari Lapena, Ruth Ware, and the writing team of Greet Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen. I also confess to loving Danielle Steel. All-time favorite? Daphne by Rebecca Du Maurier is certainly up there.

What do you look for in an author?

Patience, creativity, imagination, good writing skills, and flexibility. Did I mention patience?

Any querying tips?

Queries ideally should hover around 250 words. You need to get to the point quickly with your hook and pitch, and the obstacles your character faces. It’s okay to query several agents at a time, but make sure you personalize each query. Be professional.

What is on your #MSWL?

Cozy mysteries, romance, true crime, and suspense.

Where can we find you?

Carol Woien, Literary Agent 

https://www.facebook.com/carolwoien

Carol lives in Indiana with her husband. Under a pseudonym, she is the author of two previously published cozy mysteries.  She spends her free time reading, writing, at the beach or a pool, visiting with family, and avoiding math. 

Interview with Amateur Sleuth, Sarah Blair

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By Lynn McPherson

Today on the Stiletto Gang, I’m interviewing Debra H. Goldstein’s protagonist in the Sarah Blair Mystery Series… Sarah Blair!
Can you tell us a little about yourself and where you’re from?

I was married at eighteen, divorced at twenty-eight, and all I got out of the marriage was my Siamese cat, RahRah. Starting over, having gone from a life of luxury to an efficiency apartment here in Wheaton, Alabama, the town I’ve lived in since I was born, is difficult. Luckily attorney Harlan Endicott have me a job as his receptionist/secretary, and I’ve got the support of my twin sister, Emily, and my mother. Family and friends are important to me.

I’ve read that you don’t cook. How did you end up owning a restaurant?
I find being in the kitchen more frightening than murder. My twin sister, Emily, is a gourmet chef. Between take-out and her cooking, I eat fairly well. When her boyfriend, Chef Marcus, and Chef Emily wanted to open their own white-tablecloth restaurant, their loan application was denied. It took time, but we got that straightened out. At that point, they needed a building from my late husband. The only way they would put their restaurant in my building, was for me to agree to be a partner. Believe me, they don’t let me anywhere near the kitchen.
Where did your cat, RahRah, get his name?
RahRah was rescued from the swirling waters after Hurricane Katrina be my now ex-husband’s mother. He was just a kitten. She named him RahRah in celebration of his survival.

What do you do for fun?

I have a bluff that I love to go out to and sit and meditate, looking at the beautiful water. I also volunteer weekly to walk dogs at the local animal shelter, plus I’ve been in charge of fundraising efforts for the shelter.

What qualities do you have that make you such a great amateur sleuth?
I don’t know that I’m a great amateur sleuth. I’m more of a plodder who goes by the facts.
Who do you turn to when you’re in trouble?
My family or my boss, Harlan Endicott. Mother, Emily, and Harlan are the people I’m loyal to who are my rocks. They are always there when things go bad for me–and they are the same people I turn to when things go right.

What’s next for you, Sarah?

Four Cuts Too Many, which features me, came out May 25, 2021. Five Belles Too Many, the tale of a New York sponsored television show wanting to throw a perfect Southern wedding by having a competition in Wheaton, Alabama will be out in June 2022. Look for Mother-Maybelle and George to be two of the finalists while I’m going to be Mother’s chaperone.

Debra H. Goldstein, author of The Sarah Blair Mystery Series.

Setting a Perfect Mystery!

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 By Lynn McPherson

Summer has finally arrived and I’m here for it. The long, hot days have brought with them a flurry of activity in my yard because I’m getting a pool (hooray!). Watching the big machines and busy workers under the bright sunny skies has reminded me about the importance of setting in a story. Have you thought about the surroundings of each scene in your manuscript? If not, you should. Let’s talk about why.

Mood can make or break a story whether writing a psychological thriller or a cozy mystery. The right atmosphere is needed to bring your reader into a matching mindset. Is it dark or light? Hot or cold? Are your characters sitting in a busy cafe or standing on an isolated ledge? Each factor can contribute to how a reader visualizes the scene before them and is brought into the heart of the story.

Setting can also help establish the character of your protagonist. If your amateur sleuth lives in a small town in a modest house with a friendly pet, it will also evoke a different image than if they are centered in a modern condo in the middle of Manhattan.

Time is another factor the setting should take into account. If it’s 1952, a robin blue kitchen might be the cutting edge but considered a pre-reno nightmare in 1995. And what about the cars being driven or the styles being worn? Subtle clues used to describe when the action takes place helps the reader create a strong mental image. What might you use to make sure you establish accurate details that draw your reader in?

Setting is an important element in writing that we sometimes forget. Make sure you take time to create the world your characters exist in so your readers aren’t left with blank spaces or blurry details.

What are some of your favorite ways to establish setting?

Lynn McPherson has worked for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, ran a small business, and taught English across the globe. She has travelled the world solo where her daring spirit has led her to jump out of airplanes, dive with sharks, and learn she would never master a surfboard. She now channels her lifelong love of adventure and history into her writing, where she is free to go anywhere, anytime. Her cozy series has three books out: The Girls’ Weekend Murder and The Girls Whispered Murder, and The Girls Dressed For Murder.  


Getting the Word Out by Debra H. Goldstein

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Getting the Word Out by Debra H. Goldstein

I’ve been so busy balancing the pandemic, mentioning that the
fourth Sarah Blair book, Four Cuts Too Many, is available for pre-order, and writing
the fifth book for 2022, that I haven’t given quite as much love to recently
published Three Treats Too Many.

Part of my seeming neglect of Three Treats Too Many is that the
very day it came out in August 2020, is the same day we moved into our new house
(I know, only a fool builds a new home during a pandemic). Consequently, I was
balancing unpacking boxes, figuring out new appliances, reviewing edits for
Four Cuts, writing blogs, and doing virtual appearances. I can honestly say
there were days I whipped off my t-shirt, grabbed a nice top, and barely made
it on to the computer looking like a human being from the waist up. And then, I
found myself glued to the news.

I know I am not the only author who has been a little off
my game, so I’m inviting you to mention your new books in the comments below. Let’s
give ourselves a round of applause for being published during these crazy
times!!!

Oh, and here is what Three Treats Too Many is about:

When a romantic rival opens a competing
restaurant in small-town Wheaton, Alabama, Sarah Blair discovers murder is the
specialty of the house . . . 
 
For someone whose greatest culinary skill is
ordering takeout, Sarah never expected to be co-owner of a restaurant. Even her
Siamese cat, RahRah, seems to be looking at her differently. But while Sarah
and her twin sister, Chef Emily, are tangled up in red tape waiting for the
building inspector to get around to them, an attention-stealing new
establishment—run by none other than Sarah’s late ex-husband’s mistress,
Jane—is having its grand opening across the street. 
 
Jane’s new sous chef, Riley Miller, is the talk
of Wheaton with her delicious vegan specialties. When Riley is found dead
outside the restaurant with Sarah’s friend, Jacob, kneeling over her, the
former line cook—whose infatuation with Riley was no secret—becomes the prime
suspect. Now Sarah must turn up the heat on the real culprit, who has no
reservations about committing cold-blooded murder . . .
 
 Includes quick and easy recipes!    Try it…. You might like it….

 

Eat, Drink and Be Murdered

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by Sparkle Abbey

What is it with food and mysteries?

In some mysteries, food is front and center like Sparkle’s, uhm, Mary Lee’s, Game of Scones or Risky Biscuits. But even if the theme isn’t food-related like in our Pampered Pet mysteries, food and drink play an important part because of what food, and interactions involving food, tell us about people.

You’ll often find our main characters, Caro and Mel, at their favorite coffee shop, the Koffee Klatch, chatting with Detective Malone, Betty Foxx, or even sometimes a suspect. And what someone chooses to eat or drink, and how they enjoy their food tells us a lot about the character. 


Is it a fancy coffee and a tasty treat? No-fuss black coffee? Do they stop and savor their selection? Or grab something to go? 
 
Do you notice what people are eating in the books you read? What do their food choices reveal about the characters?

In honor of Valentine’s Day we wanted to share a fun, pink drink we discovered while perusing the Food Network’s website for some inspiring recipes our character might want to try. The Queen of the Rodeo was inspired by the fabulous Dolly Parton!

Queen of the Rodeo – From Food Network

Shake 2 ounces vodka, 1/4 ounce maraschino liqueur, 3/4 ounce each lime juice and grapefruit juice, and 1/2 ounce pomegranate syrup in a shaker with ice. Strain into a glass, garnish with a lime wheel, and dust with edible pink glitter.

*If you’d like a non-alcoholic version, leave out the vodka and substitute cherry syrup.


Sparkle Abbey is actually two people, Mary Lee Ashford and Anita Carter, who write the national best-selling Pampered Pets cozy mystery series. They are friends as well as neighbors so they often get together and plot ways to commit murder. (But don’t tell the other neighbors.) 


They love to hear from readers and can be found on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest, their favorite social media sites. Also, if you want to make sure you get updates, sign up for their newsletter via the SparkleAbbey.com website.

Origin and Evolution of the Mystery Genre

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 By Kathryn Lane

When I’m about to start writing a
new Nikki Garcia mystery, I take time to look back, like traveling through a
time capsule, to the origin of the genre.

Most literary historians place the origin of
mysteries in 1841 when Edgar Allan Poe wrote The Murders in the Rue
Morgue. He invented devices of suspense fiction still in use, such as the
subconscious motivation of his characters.

Poe also used kernels of truth in his fiction. Murders
in the Rue Morgue is set in Paris. Since I like to place my novels in
foreign countries, I wondered why Poe used Paris as his setting. It turns out
that the first known private investigative firm was founded in that city by François
Vidocq, a former criminal who
became a criminologist and was also instrumental in organizing the Sûreté that became part of the
national police force with Vidocq as its first director.

Apparently, Poe created the first fictional
private investigator, Dupin, based on what Poe knew about Vidocq.
I doubt Poe ever anticipated
the reading public’s enduring fascination with suspense and mysteries, which have
also evolved into thrillers.

The next big innovator, Arthur Conan Doyle,
borrowed from other genres, including humor and romance, to spice up his Sherlock Holmes series,
a trend some current authors tend to follow.

Agatha Christie invented the husband-and-wife team
and moved her stories to the country, thus inventing the cozy mystery. She
dropped clues in her stories so the reader could figure out whodunit.

A lot of experimentation followed in the genre,
creating hard-boiled crime, spy thrillers, psychopathic and serial killers, and
the psychological thriller.

Readers who enjoy mysteries often prefer stories
full of twists and turns with memorable characters and plots that keep them
turning the pages.

After I go down memory lane in my time capsule, I enjoy
reflecting on specific ideas that might help me in my next project, such as creating
more tension between characters, perhaps experimenting with an unstable
character, or seeing how some of my favorite authors have used foreign locations
to make the story more satisfying.

As a reader, what do you anticipate in a new
mystery? 

Or, as a writer, do you look at the work of other authors, either
current or past, to inspire you?

***

Kathryn’s books – The Nikki Garcia
Thriller series and her short story collection – Backyard Volcano.
All available on Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B082H96R11

Kathryn Lane started out
as a starving artist. To earn a living, she became a certified public
accountant and embarked on a career in international finance with a major
multinational corporation. After two decades, she left the corporate world and plunged into writing mystery and suspense thrillers. In her stories, Kathryn
draws deeply from her
Mexican background as well as her travels in over ninety countries.

https://www.kathryn-lane.com

https://www.facebook.com/kathrynlanewriter/

Photos:

Crow, Investigator with Pipe, and
Fingerprint – Public Domain

Kathryn’s books – designs by Bobbye
Marrs

The Write Kind of Friends

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 By Lynn McPherson

Writing is a solitary occupation. One that requires concentration, imagination, dedication–and time alone to get it done. But it’s still important to connect with your peers. How can you interact these days without getting pulled into the endless loop of social media?

One way you might consider is joining a critique group. I’ve recently joined one and would recommend it for other writers. There are several reasons I think it works and why it’s a good idea. Today I’m going to share them with you.

1. Shop talk

Writers like to talk about writing. A critique group is a great place to talk, listen, and learn. Each author has a different experience and swapping stories is an enjoyable way to gain and share knowledge.

2. Bounce ideas off others

Many authors have beta readers who read their books before they are sent off to their editors and publishers. But before each manuscript is complete, writers are often stuck at some point–maybe a scene isn’t working or a character isn’t quite right. A critique group is a safe place for authors to read their work-in-progress and get feedback. Sometimes that’s all it takes to get past a roadblock.

3. Have fun!

Authors can get so caught up in their work they forget to take a minute and enjoy the process. There’s no better way to keep the juices flowing than by taking a break to look out at the world and get involved. And don’t forget the treats! My critique group is currently meeting virtually but I still make sure there’s a pot of tea and a handful of cookies within reach.

How do you like to interact with the outside world? 

Lynn McPherson has worked for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, ran a small business, and taught English across the globe. She has travelled the world solo where her daring spirit has led her to jump out of airplanes, dive with sharks, and learn she would never master a surfboard. She now channels her lifelong love of adventure and history into her writing, where she is free to go anywhere, anytime. Her cozy series has three books out: The Girls’ Weekend Murder and The Girls Whispered Murder, and The Girls Dressed For Murder.