Is My Book a Cozy Mystery?
Is my book a cozy mystery? That’s a question I hear often in writer groups as authors try to figure out which categories to select for their books at the online bookstores. However, I think it’s the wrong question. A better question to ask is: Will cozy readers like...
What is a Cozy Mystery?
What is a cozy mystery? Some people have a narrow definition: Cozies are “cute” books about women who bake cupcakes or knit or cook and who have a cat or dog. The pet might talk or help the protagonist solve the crime. The stories have lots of humor, a little mystery,...
Book Club Questions for Murder at Archly Manor
Olive Belgrave is part of the world of high society, but not wealthy in her own right. How is her position as a well-brought up lady both a help and a hindrance to her? How much did you know about the 1920s before reading the book? Was there anything that...
Podcasts for Mystery Readers
I’ve listened to podcasts about writing for years, but recently I discovered a new niche in the podcast world that’s so exciting–podcasts for mystery readers! Each one has a slightly different angle. Some focus on a single mystery author, while...
1920s Fashion Inspiration
One of my favorite parts of researching the 1920s High Society Lady Detective mysteries is the fashion–the stylish cloche hats, the casually sophisticated day dresses with their new dropped waistlines, and the gorgeous evening gowns. Here’s a sampling of...
Inspiration for Castle Ruin in High Society Books
If you’ve read my Murder on Location series, you may remember a mention of a castle ruin near the English village of Nether Woodsmoor. In the fourth book of the High Society Lady Detective series, Murder in Black Tie, my characters picnic at the ruin of Cormont...
Dictation Tips for Fiction Writers
A few years ago the buzz in the author community was about dictation. Authors were whipping out thousands of words using dictation software like Dragon Naturally Speaking. As a fiction author I have more book ideas than time to write them and my readers want more...
Winter Mysteries
Winter wonderland whodunit escapes. No snow shoveling required. If you’re in the mood for a snowy murder mystery tale it’s surprisingly difficult to find one that doesn’t revolve around Christmas. I love a good Christmas mystery as much as anyone—I’ve written a...
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