Writing the Cozy Mystery

Author: Phyllis M. Betz
Publisher: McFarland
ISBN: 1476690820
Category : Literary Criticism
Languages : en
Pages : 167

Book Description
This book brings together essays written by a number of well-known writers of cozy mysteries, including Sherry Harris, Amanda Flower, Leslie Budewitz, and Edith Maxwell, among others, who provide insight into their approaches to writing. Topics covered include how they work with the form, develop characters and settings, and utilize the particular hook, skill or business that establishes the protagonist's ability to solve crimes. In addition to discussing these traditional aspects of writing, several authors focus on how they have expanded the direction the contemporary cozy mystery has taken with the inclusion of more diverse characters and social issues.

Writing the Cozy Mystery

Author: Nancy J. Cohen
Publisher:
ISBN: 9780991465514
Category : Authorship
Languages : en
Pages : 48

Book Description
"Writing the Cozy Mystery is a valuable instructional tool that will help you develop your characters, establish the setting, plot the story, add suspense, plant clues and sustain your series"--Page 4 of cover.

Writing the Cozy Mystery: Expanded Second Edition

Author: Nancy J. Cohen
Publisher: Orange Grove Press
ISBN: 0998531723
Category : Language Arts & Disciplines
Languages : en
Pages : 114

Book Description
Writing the Cozy Mystery is a concise writing guide that describes step-by-step how to write a winning whodunit. Do you want to write a cozy mystery but don’t have a clue where to start? Or perhaps you’re already writing a series, and you need tips on how to keep your material fresh. Writing the Cozy Mystery is a handy reference guide that will help you develop your characters, establish the setting, plot the story, add suspense, plant clues, and solve the crime. This award-winning second edition contains examples from the author’s Bad Hair Day Mysteries along with writing exercises, marketing tips, advice on how to maintain your series, and special considerations for cozy authors. You’ll find everything you need to know in an easy-to-read, clear manner to write your own mystery and to refresh a long-running series. Recommended for cozy writers, mystery fans, and creative writing classes. Gold Award Winner in the FWA Royal Palm Literary Awards Gold Medal Winner in the FAPA President's Book Awards First Place Winner in TopShelf Magazine Book Awards Agatha Awards Finalist “If you are thinking about writing a cozy mystery, read this book first! Nancy lays out all the necessary steps in an interesting and informative way that is easy to follow. Highly recommended.” Catherine Bruns, USA Today Bestselling Author of the Cookies & Chance Mysteries “Nancy J. Cohen offers clear examples, practical writing exercises, and friendly advice designed to help the beginning cozy author start—and finish!—a saleable book. Even seasoned cozy writers can find helpful hints for building better characters and story.” Diane A.S. Stuckart, NY Times Bestselling Author of the Tarot Cats Mysteries “If you want to write a cozy mystery—or really, any kind of mystery—this is the book for you! Everything you need to know in one handy volume.” Victoria Thompson, Bestselling Author of the Gaslight Mystery Series

Hearts & Hazards: Writing the Gay Cozy Mystery

Author: Josh Lanyon
Publisher: JustJoshin Publishing, Inc.
ISBN: 164931048X
Category : Language Arts & Disciplines
Languages : en
Pages : 274

Book Description
Queer Clues & Cozy Moods Dive into the world of cozy mystery writing with a twist—murder and romance through the lens of LGBTQ+ characters—guided by the hand of a seasoned author who’s made her living in both mainstream and self-publishing for more than thirty years. Packed with analysis, writing exercises, checklists, tips, and tools, Hearts & Hazards: Writing the Gay Cozy Mystery offers more than just the ABCs of Character, Plot, Setting, Theme, and Dialogue. It delves deeper, exploring the nuances that will elevate your book from good to unforgettable, infusing your mysteries with the richness of LGBTQ+ life and love, all while ensuring your tales are wrapped in the warmth, wit, and intrigue cozy mystery readers adore. With a rare blend of industry insights, tailored advice, and practical strategies informed by an author who’s actually “been there, done that,” Hearts & Hazards: Writing the Gay Cozy Mystery addresses the unique challenges and opportunities of weaving LGBTQ+ themes into the cozy mystery genre, providing a roadmap to not only craft your story but also connect with an audience eager for representation.

How to Outline a Cozy Mystery

Author: Sara Rosett
Publisher: Sara Rosett
ISBN:
Category : Reference
Languages : en
Pages : 69

Book Description
Do you want to write a cozy mystery but don’t know how to get started? Use this companion workbook to learn how to create a framework so that you can begin writing your cozy. Do you want to know the basic building blocks of a cozy mystery? Do you wonder why cozy readers devour these mysteries voraciously? Are you fuzzy on how the structure of a cozy mystery fits into the classic plot structure? Do you wonder what the “rules” are for a cozy mystery? Let USA Today bestselling author Sara Rosett show you how she’s planned and written over 25 mysteries in this direct and to-the-point guide without fluff or filler. Use the How to Outline a Cozy Mystery Workbook—the companion to the How to Outline a Cozy Mystery Course—to work through your cozy outline step-by-step. In How to Outline a Cozy Mystery Workbook you'll discover: -The many different outlining methods you can use to build your story framework -The conventions (or tropes) cozy readers want and expect -The psychology behind why readers choose cozies -How a cozy mystery fits into classic plot structure -Tips on how to hide clues and red herrings -And much, much more! Sara Rosett’s firsthand knowledge of cozy mystery structure and what cozy readers want will help you shape your idea into a novel. Her tips and workbook will save you time and give you confidence as you approach the blank page. Buy Sara Rosett’s workbook today and you'll get an easy to understand plan for outlining your mystery in a helpful question and answer format to guide you through the process.

Reading the Cozy Mystery

Author: Phyllis M. Betz
Publisher: McFarland
ISBN: 1476641692
Category : Literary Criticism
Languages : en
Pages : 237

Book Description
With their intimate settings, subdued action and likeable characters, cozy mysteries are rarely seen as anything more than light entertainment. The cozy, a subgenre of crime fiction, has been historically misunderstood and often overlooked as the subject of serious study. This anthology brings together a groundbreaking collection of essays that examine the cozy mystery from a range of critical viewpoints. The authors engage with the standard classification of a cozy, the characters who appear in its pages, the environment where the crime occurs and how these elements reveal the cozy story's complexity in surprising ways. Essays analyze cozy mysteries to argue that Agatha Christie is actually not a cozy writer; that Columbo fits the mold of the cozy detective; and that the stories' portrayals of settings like the quaint English village reveal a more complicated society than meets the eye.

Written into the Grave (A Country Gift Shop Cozy Mystery series, Book 3)

Author: Vivian Conroy
Publisher: HarperCollins UK
ISBN: 0008239207
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 272

Book Description
‘the best book in the series to date’ - Rachel Gilbey Can fiction kill?

The Busy Writer's Tips on Writing Mystery, Crime & Suspense

Author: M. R. McAlister
Publisher: Blue Gem Publishing
ISBN:
Category : Language Arts & Disciplines
Languages : en
Pages : 98

Book Description
A glance at any best-seller list will tell you how popular mystery, crime and suspense stories are with readers. Most of you will find this perfectly understandable! There's nothing like the thrill of the chase or the intellectual challenge of trying to guess 'whodunit' or 'whydunit' before the sleuth. If you're the writer, this presents you with a challenge. You have to juggle a lot of balls at once. You need to: # come up with an intriguing mystery (or an edge-of-the-seat thriller) that will keep readers up long past bedtime # keep your sleuth busy tracking down the perpetrator # weave in and bring to life other significant characters # leave a trail of not-too-obvious clues if it's a mystery (trying to pull the wool over the reader's eyes) or building suspense with the hero and the Bad Guy on a collision course (if the reader knows who the villain is!) # walk in the shoes of the villain, ensuring that he is a worthy opponent. Oh, and did I mention that you have to write tight scenes, build the suspense, create believable conflict, and choose the correct viewpoint as well? Not to mention how to handle research... Good thing, then, that this is all covered in The Busy Writer's Tips on Writing Mystery, Crime & Suspense! Readers also get a bonus PDF with resources for Mystery/Crime/Suspense writers and a collection of all the reference articles mentioned in the book. In the words of Kathryn Fox, internationally acclaimed author of medical thrillers (Cold Grave and five others): "I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Marg McAlister's books to any aspiring or accomplished writers. She shares priceless insights into structure, characters, setting, action, suspense, and importantly, emotional punch. I’m working on my eighth and ninth books, and I still go back to Marg’s books when writing. I have no doubt that following Marg’s advice saves time, energy, and rewrites. A necessity in any crime writer's library!"

Happy Hollow Stables Cozy Mystery Series Books 1-3

Author: Eve Craig
Publisher: Cozy Mystery Press
ISBN:
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 134

Happy Hollow Stables Cozy Mystery Series Books 1-6

Author: Eve Craig
Publisher: Cozy Mystery Press
ISBN:
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 259

Book Description
All of the books in this compilation are clean Cozy Mystery short stories that do not contain any foul language, sexual situations, witches, or paranormal events. Book One - Dying To Win Holly Bridges had always dreamed of having her own stable. While out for a drive in the country, she found a farm with a large indoor arena and several outdoor arenas. Even though it looked like it hadn't been used in years, it was the perfect location for holding equestrian shows and stabling horses. Shortly after opening, Holly managed to acquire a prominent local's horse as her first boarder. With the new tenant it looked like Happy Hollow Stable's first equestrian show could be a huge draw for the locals. Well, that is until a dead body showed up in a nearby field. Will the show go on or will Holly have to give up her lifelong dream? Book Two - Kill Them With Kindness While celebrating the windfall of her very expensive Hanoverian gelding, Rufus, the old barn cat, showed up sick. When Holly realized that she hadn't chosen a vet for any of the animals, her assistant suggested that try the local Veterinarian in Hill City. After seeing the vet, Rufus wasn't getting any better, so Holly made a follow up appointment to have him checked out again. Shortly after their arrival at the vet's office she found the doctor dead. Did the Veterinarian die of natural causes or could it have been murder? Book Three - Old Dog New Tricks Holly was just getting settled in at Happy Hollow Stables when she found herself being adopted by a German shepherd that showed up looking for food. Since the dog arrived without a collar or any type of identification, she took him to the local vet to help search for his owner. The vet checked him for a microchip, but couldn't find anything. Since she was unable to locate his owner, Holly decided Happy Hollow Stables could be his new home away from home until his owner could be found. Soon after the dog got familiar with his new surroundings, Holly discovered he seemed to have yet another secret. How will she find out what it is? Book Four - Cart Before The Horse Holly's old truck wouldn't start after hitching up the trailer to pick up a new schooling horse for Happy Hollow Stables. Her assistant, Mckenzie, recommended that she have the truck towed into the local mechanic in Hill City. Once the mechanic completed his inspection, he explained that her truck was simply too old and not worth fixing and referred Holly to his business partner that sells used cars in the attached building. Will the cost of a new truck be murder? Book Five - Silence of Snowfall It's Valentine's Day and a local reporter for the Hill City Herald just announced a blizzard is coming. As the weather moves into the area, and road conditions begin to deteriorate, Holly finds herself with a sick horse and a host of uninvited Valentines Day guests at Happy Hollow Stables. Will Valentine's Day turn out to be murder? Book Six - A House Divided Holly just found out the property Happy Hollow Stables is on is now up for sale. Holly had been wanting to find a home that was closer to stables, but if the property is sold to someone else, she could lose her entire business. Could buying a new home be murder?