I began this blog because I love, love, love cozy mysteries. Finding a body in the library is my idea of a good read. But sometimes a girl wants the cozy without the mystery. Last month, when the stress of the holidays started creeping in, I ditched the mystery I had been reading to visit … Continue reading Why Jane Austen Is Like a Woolly Blanket and a Cup of Tea
Tag: cozy mystery blog
Location, Location, Location: A New Character in Town
Last month I revisited Blood Orange Brewing by Laura Childs. The Tea Shop Mystery series takes place in the city where my children were born: Charleston, SC. As I turned the pages, I recognized the picturesque gardens, the stately homes South of Broad, and the quaint shops dotting downtown. The images in my mind were … Continue reading Location, Location, Location: A New Character in Town
Review: Cliff Hanger by Mary Feliz
The publisher’s summary of Cliff Hanger (A Maggie McDonald Mystery, #5) by Mary Feliz: Maggie has her work cut out for her helping Renée Alvarez organize her property management office. Though the condominium complex boasts a prime location on the shores of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, aging buildings and the high-maintenance tenants have … Continue reading Review: Cliff Hanger by Mary Feliz
Book Amnesia: How to Find a Forgotten Book Title
Have you ever read a book that worms its way into your memories and then, when you want to read it again, you can’t remember the title or the author? Dang. Did it become a mini-obsession, something that sticks in your mind until you can figure out what was that book? That happened to me … Continue reading Book Amnesia: How to Find a Forgotten Book Title
Diverse Reading Creates Empathy
The other day I chatted with another lover of books and, after we caught up on our latest reads, she asked a couple of questions that got me thinking about why I choose the books I do: Are the characters we meet in a book reflections of ourselves? Or do we select books to vicariously … Continue reading Diverse Reading Creates Empathy
Lessons from Summer
As I write this, I’m sitting at my desk with the windows flung open, reveling in the gorgeous morning outside my door. The mild weather and the hordes of returning college students down the road are reminders that summer is coming to an end. I can’t say I’m sad about the passing of summer (I’m … Continue reading Lessons from Summer
Am I Ready to Call Myself a Writer?
The other day someone asked me, “What do you do?” Ugh. I hate that question. I know that people ask it to be social and to start a conversation, but it makes my job synonymous with my identity. That’s great if you have a universally cool, unusual, or impressive job, but it’s so easy for … Continue reading Am I Ready to Call Myself a Writer?
Tacos and Multi-Sensory Writing
Recently I lost myself in the book Murder Once Removed by S.C. Perkins. I thoroughly enjoyed this cozy centered around Lucy Lancaster, a Houston-based genealogist. After she uncovers possible suspects in a 19th-century murder connected to a prominent Texas family, Lucy becomes a target herself when a present-day killer wants her research. This book drew … Continue reading Tacos and Multi-Sensory Writing
Can a Murder Mystery Be Comforting?
Well, life threw me a curveball again. One of my beloved brothers passed away unexpectedly and I have been visiting with my mother, keeping her company as she tried to come to terms with the fact that she just outlived one of her children. She has difficulty with her mobility, so we watched a lot … Continue reading Can a Murder Mystery Be Comforting?
Where Do You Write?
As I write this post, I’m sitting at a small, wobbly café table in the corner of Barnes and Noble. I have a venti iced tea at my right hand and my writing notebook to my left. I have propped my tablet in front of me as I peck out these words on a wireless … Continue reading Where Do You Write?
JOSIE'S COZIES 