Q & A with Cozy Cat Authors

Back again with another question for our amazing authors!  As every reader and writer knows, setting plays a major role in any story.  The world an author creates can propel the plot forward and even shapes the characters.  That's why this week we asked some authors to let us know about a setting they haven't used yet, but would love to try out for one of their cozies.  

The answers we got were all wonderfully different! 

"THE CHARACTER I WRITE ABOUT IS NAMED BESS BULLOCK. SHE LIVES IN A RETIREMENT HOME, WHERE MOST OF HER MYSTERIES TAKE PLACE. AS A FORMER POLICE OFFICER, SHE FINDS THAT HER HEIGHTENED POWERS FOR OBSERVING HER FELLOW RESIDENTS LEADS HER INTO SOME INTERESTING MYSTERIES.

I THINK IT WOULD BE VERY FUNNY TO TAKE BESS BULLOCK TO A SPA WITH HER DAUGHTER. OF COURSE MOST PEOPLE, LIKE BESS'S DAUGHTER, MIGHT GO TO A SPA TO UNWIND. I THINK OF A SPA AS A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE RELAX AND LET THEIR GUARD DOWN AND SAY WHAT'S ON THEIR MIND. IT WOULD BE QUITE ENTERTAINING TO SEE HOW BESS'S HEIGHTENED SENSES ABOUT THE EMPLOYEES AND THE CUSTOMERS AT THE SPA MIGHT DISRUPT THE...SPA EXPERIENCE." 

- Allen Boyer [Author of Bess Bullock Retirement Home Mysteries]

"HAWAII WOULD BE A GREAT SETTING. OF COURSE I WOULD HAVE TO RESEARCH IT IN PERSON THOROUGHLY. IF I WERE INJURED BY A FALLING COCONUT IT WOULD TAKE WEEKS TO RECOVER BEFORE I COULD FLY HOME. I THINK JOSEPHINE WOULD LOVE HAWAII˗˗ SHE'S A LOT LIKE ME." 

- Joyce Oroz [Author of Josephine Stuart Mysteries] 

"I'D LOVE TO SET A COZY SERIES IN THE '60's. I'M A LITTLE TOO YOUNG TO REMEMBER MOST OF THAT ERA FIRSTHAND--AND THAT MAY ADD TO MY FASCINATION-- BUT THAT DECADE WAS FILLED WITH SUCH SWEEPING POLITICAL AND CULTURAL CHANGES IT WOULD BE INTRIGUING TO PLAY IN THAT TERRAIN AND WATCH THE CHARACTERS EVOLVE AS THEY FACE THE FAST AND FURIOUS CHANGES THAT UNFOLDED EVERY YEAR. I'M IMPRESSED WITH THE WAY ALAN HUNTER USES THAT ERA AS A BACK DROP IN HIS GEORGE GENTLY SERIES; AND FELLOW COZY CAT PRESS AUTHORS HEATHER SHKURATOFF AND ANDREA TAYLOR, THE CLEVER SCRIBES BEHIND BARBARA JEAN COAST AND THE POPPY COVE SERIES, HAVE DONE SO DEFTLY A SIMILAR TRICK SETTING THEIR BOOKS IN THE LATE 1950's. THAT GAUZY VEIL OF NOSTALGIA GIVES THE BOOKS A DISTINCTIVE, ALMOST DREAMY QUALITY.

AND-AS MY READERS KNOW- MUSIC PLAYS AN INTEGRAL PART IN MY BOOKS. AND THE '60's CERTAINLY OFFERS A KILLER SOUNDTRACK!" 

- Amy Beth Arkawy [Author of Eliza Gordon Mysteries]

"SO FAR, I ONLY HAVE ONE PUBLISHED NOVEL AND THE ONE I'M CURRENTLY WORKING ON HAS THE SAME SETTING BUT ONE IDEA I'VE HAD FOR A SETTING IS A MYSTERY WRITER'S CONFERENCE. I CAN IMAGINE ALL KINDS OF MOTIVES AND METHODS FOR MURDER, GENTLY OF COURSE." 

- Anna Kern [Author of Murfy the Cat Mysteries] 

Wow, those all sound like intriguing settings for a cozy murder to take place! I can only imagine all the kooky and mysterious characters you could create to go with a spa or a conference filled with mystery writers. 

Like this week's Q&A? Don't be shy, comment on a setting that perked your interest or just like and share the post.