Thursday, May 27, 2010

Cozy Mysteries

I’m going to be speaking about cozy mysteries at an upcoming meeting of the California Writers Club, San Fernando Valley chapter.

I’ve said that I will discuss topics relating to cozy mysteries including how to come up with a theme that people will love, how to murder people the cozy way, and how to have amateur sleuths solve the crimes in a manner that readers will enjoy.

I’m curious, though. I’d love to incorporate into my talk what other people say. If you’re reading our Killer Hobbies blog, you may well enjoy themes including handcrafts and other hobbies. Pets, too--even though I’ve always maintained they’re family members, not hobbies.

Do you choose to read a new cozy mystery series because of its underlying background, theme or setting? If so, what kinds of backgrounds, themes or settings appeal to you the most? If not, what do you look for?

Then there’s the plot. Do you have any favorite murder weapons or methods for cozies? And in what way do you think an author can best justify having a cozy mystery protagonist keep stumbling over dead bodies and outwitting the cops in solving the crime? Not every character focuses on that situation--although Kendra Ballantyne, my pet-sitting protagonist, is rather frustrated by the fact that she has become a murder magnet.

Is there anything else you’d like to hear about, if you happened to be listening to my talk? And, my fellow Killer Hobbyists, do you have any suggestions???

10 comments:

Donna Lea Simpson said...

As far as explaining away the fact that the protagonist of a cozy series keeps tripping over bodies, I think it's best to just leave that alone. Readers want more books, and gladly suspend disbelief, even if it means the murder rate in a tiny town of 700 would make it the murder capital of the US!

We just want more books!

Monica Ferris said...

Keep your talk as light and cozy as your genre -- but slide in something serious, such as the importance in this troubled world of "comfort reads," or tell how the traditional mystery always ends with justice happening, which can remind the reader that in the real world, too, justice happens, if you look for it. These are themes I work into my talks.

Linda O. Johnston said...

You're right, Donna--getting too much into explanations of why would only distract from the fun of the mystery.

Linda O. Johnston said...

I always focus on a satisfying ending when talking about genre fiction, Monica--and that includes having justice served in mysteries. I'll definitely work that into my talk. Thanks for the suggestion!

Dru said...

I look for cozy mysteries that are going to entertain me, make me laugh, make me sad, make me think, make me keep turning the pages. Sometimes the theme matters, sometimes not.

I've read a couple of cozies that despite the theme, I enjoyed it, because it was not focused on the theme, but on the mystery.

Linda O. Johnston said...

I think that really is the crux of mysteries and all good novels, Dru -- an enjoyable, entertaining read!

Betty Hechtman said...

Another appeal of cozies is that they seem to have a sense of community.

Linda O. Johnston said...

Very true, Betty. Friends and locations are important to our stories. I love setting mine in L.A., and I'll bet you do, too!

Camille Minichino said...

Al good points, and what a great opportunity you have, Linda.

If you do want to mention crafts cozies in particular -- there's that extra sense of community as crafters work together to create things as they solve the crime.

Linda O. Johnston said...

I'll definitely mention crafters, Camille, and use that sense of community, too. Plus, I'll discuss fun things like adding patterns, or recipes for cooking mysteries, to the books.