Ready to curl up with a light-hearted mystery?
Click here to read Tonya’s cozy mystery, “The Ladybug Jinx,” free on Wattpad!
Learn more about cozy mysteries in this guest post from international best-selling writer Tonya Kappes:
Years ago, when I started writing, I was bound and determined to write in the women’s fiction genre. With pencil and paper (Yes! I wrote longhand back then) in hand, I sat down at one of my guy’s (I have three teenage boys living at home) pee-wee football practices under a big cozy tree and started my journey of writing women’s fiction.
I will write anywhere!
Quickly, that novel turned took a life of its own, which characters happen to do, turning into a whodunit instead of who am I going to love.
It was the intrigue of trying to figure a mystery that had me hooked. I had grown up on Murder She Wrote and Matlock, not to mention Veronica Mars. But I adored the short lived television series, Pushing Daisies.
(Pushing Daisies)
It was a show that was full of quirks, laughs, friendships, and mystery. Who doesn’t like all of those elements? I love them!
I am no different than you or any other reader. In fact, I’m an avid reader. So it’s a perfect combination for me.
Even though cozies are ultimately about figuring out the mystery, they are based around relationships. We are human, which makes us drawn to anything that deals with relationships. The main character in a cozy generally finds herself directly affected by the crime, and the reader loves the character which makes us have an emotional attachment to the main character. We root for her from the beginning until the end. It’s the emotion connection that we connect with.
And the setting of a cozy is a bonus to the reader. We love to gather at coffee shops, knitting groups, book shops, even bakeries and many other places so we can visit with our friends. I know when I go to a coffee shop to write or meet up with buddies that I get a warm fuzzy feeling which puts me in a great mood.
But that isn’t the only reason why readers love cozies. The hobby in the cozy is very appealing. In Strung Out To Die, the mystery is set in a lapidary or bead shop. In the book, the reader is going to learn more details about the beading/jewelry making hobby.
A cozy is all about a woman finding herself and not letting the little details of life (like a murder) derail them from reaching their dream and pursuit of happiness. Who can resist a lighthearted story and the possibility of a small romance?
What do you love about a cozy mystery?
Read Tonya’s “The Ladybug Jinx” on Wattpad!
Celia Briggs has always lived her life for everyone but herself. With the death of Celia’s mom, Celia realizes life is too short not to follow her dreams. In her small town of Grandberry Falls, Kentucky-Celia decides to open up, The Ladybug Florist, which is only fitting due to her love of flowers and ladybugs.
How can she not love ladybugs? Her deceased grandfather always said ladybugs bring luck and love.
Marty Briggs, Celia’s father, never dreamed his life as Grandberry Falls’ only flower delivery boy is harder than the job he’s retired from.
Sam Barber jumps in his car leaving his Hollywood life behind. He didn’t know stopping in the cozy town of Grandberry Falls, was about to change his life forever. Especially after answering the help wanted ad at The Ladybug Florist and giving a fake name so no one would recognize him.
Celia knows something is up Sam’s sleeve. Why would a thirty-year old man want to deliver flowers? Marty doesn’t care, he’s just happy to be retired-again.
Will Celia ever figure out Sam’s true identity? Does Sam reveal the big family secret Celia’s parents have kept from her all her life?
Celia’s about to find out if ladybugs are lucky or a jinx?