Writers' Narrative Magazine December 2024

EDITORIALTEAM

WendyH.Jones-EditorinChief-isalsoourExecutiveCommissioningandFeaturesEditor.Sheisthe multi-award-winning,best-sellingauthorofadult crimethrillersandcozymysteries,children’spicturebooksandnon-fictionbooksforwriters.Inaddition,sheisawritingcoach,partnerin Auscot Publishing and Retreats andhoststheWritingandMarketingShowpodcast.

SheenaMacleodisourDeputytotheEditorinChief. Sheoverseestheday-to-dayproductionanddesign. Sheis authorofthehistoricalfictionnovels,ReignoftheMarionettesandTearsofStrathnaver,andco-authorofthenonfictionbookSo,YouSayICan’tVote!FrancesConnelly.

PaulineTaitisourcontentmanager.Paulineisaprolific novelist,children’sauthorandwritingmentor.She writesbothsuspensefulromanceandchildren’s picturebooksfor3to7years.

AllisonSymesisourCopyEditor.Sheisanawardwinning,publishedflashfictionandshortstorywriter. Shealsowritesaweeklycolumnontopicsofinterest forwritersforonlinemagazine, Chandler's Ford Today.

Susan McVeyisourContentEditor.Susanwrites dystopianfictionandfantasynarratives,tailoredfor theyoungadultandteenageaudience.ShepublishesunderMartiM.McNair.Herworksinclude Island of Ruin (RuinorRedemptionBook1).

MaressaMortimeroverseesourmarketingandoursocial mediaengagement.MaressaisauthoroftheElabi Chronicles, Burrowed and Sapphire Beach.

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Ithasbeenoneheckofayearformepersonally,hencethesabbaticalfromthemagazine.Iamsureyouwillagreefloods,fires andanoperationonabadlybrokenarmare goodenoughexcuses.

Anyway,cozyandChristmasbooksareagreat waytoescapefromthevagariesofeverydaylife, henceourbumperChristmasIssue.Cozies,mysteriesinparticular,arehugelypopularatthemoment,soit’stheperfecttimetoconsiderwriting inthegenre.Thismonth’smagazinewillcertainlyhelpyoutodoso.

Fromwritingcozyflashfictiontothemesinthe genre,fromhistoricalcoziestowritingcoziesfor childrenwehaveyoucovered.Wanttoknow howtomarketbooksforChristmas?Santahas steppedintohelpallthewayfromtheNorth Poletogiveyouadvice.

Ofcourse,otheraspectsofwritingarealsoincludedwithpoetry,noirfictionandlookingat

theyearjustgoneandtheyearahead.Iamdelightedtobeinterviewingaward-winningcozy mysterywriter,LibbyKlein,whosharesherexpertiseinthisarea.

Withbookshopsandlibrariesandbookreview, therereallyissomethingforeveryone.Ihope youenjoytheissue,andIwishyouaveryMerry Christmas(orholidayifyoudonotcelebrate Christmas)andaHappyNewYear.

WewillbebackinFebruarywithanotherbumperJanuary/Februaryissueasthevolunteerswho runthismagazinehaveafestivebreak.

Wendy H. Jones Editor in Chief

Wendy H. Jones

Author, Publisher, Writing Coach

DearReaders,

IwouldliketowishallourreadersaveryMerry ChristmasandanevenmerrierNewYear.May yourstockingsbestuffedwithbooksandyour brainstuffedwithcreativeideas.Mywishforyou for2025isthatyourcreativitytakeswingsandfly andthatyourliterarydreamscometrue.Keep thosewordsflowing.Wehereatthemagazineare withyoueverystepofthewaybecauseweknow yourwordsareimportantandbringjoytoreaders.Believeinyourselfjustaswebelieveinyou.

Wendy H. Jones Writers’ Narrative Editor in Chief

DearReaders,

ItisgreattobebackinproductionwithWriters’ Narrativemagazineaftertheshortbreakoverthe summer.

Ilookforwardtoworkingonthesubmissionsfor themonthlythemedissuesofthemagazineand gettingthemreadytoarriveinyourmailbox throughout2025.

Asacozymysterywriterandreader,Iamdelightedtobepartofthismonth’sSpecialChristmas CozyEdition.Whatawaytofinishuptheyear. WishingyouallaveryMerryChristmasanda HappyNewYear.Remembertokeepyourletters comingin.Welookforwardtohearingfromyou.

Sheena Macleod Deputy to the Editor in Chief

Every month, a £10 book token will be awarded to the selected letter of the month. Please email letters to the editor to

writersnarrative@gmail.com

DearReaders,

Astheyearcomestoaclose,Iwanttotakeamomenttowishallourreadersandcontributorsa veryMerryChristmasandaHappy,HealthyNew Year.Thistimeofyearalwaysfeelsliketheendof onechapterandtheexcitingbeginningofthe next.Whetheryou’rejuststartingtowrite,refiningyourmanuscript,orfinallysharingyourbook withtheworld,everystepofyourjourneymatters.I’mconstantlyinspiredbytheincrediblepassionandcreativityofthewritingcommunity.This festiveseason,Ihopeyoufindmomentsofjoy, timetodream,andplentyofinspirationtocarry withyouinto2025. Here’stoanewyearfilledwithstorieswaitingto betoldandachievementswaitingtobecelebrated.Keepwriting,andneverstopbelievinginthe powerofyourwords.

Pauline Tait Writers’ Narrative Content Manager

Greetings!

MerryChristmasandaHappyNewYear. Mayreadingandwritingbringyoumuchcheer. FabtipsareineveryWNissue. Forwritersatanystagewhowishto Improvetheirworkandforittoappear Onlineorinprint,andforyoutostrive TowritemoreinNewYear2025!

Allison Symes Copy Editor

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Letter of the Month

FeaturedInterview:LibbyKlein

InterviewedbyWendyH.Jones

WendyH.JonesinterviewsLibbyKlein,best sellingauthorofthePoppyMcAllisterandLayla VirtueMysteries

ThankyouforagreeingtojoinushereatWriters’Narrative.Itreallyisanhonouranda pleasuretohaveyouheretochataboutwritingcozymysteries.

Whatdrewyoutothecozymysterygenre, andhowdoesitdifferfromothertypesof mysterywriting?

IloveCozyMysteriesbecausethey’reveryclean. There’snosex,language,orviolenceonthe page.Ireallywantedtowriteromance,butI didn’twanttowriteasexscene,soIsaid, I’ll murder someone instead.Ialsolovethatthey tendtobeseries.Thereisnothingworsethan fallinginlovewithabookonlytohaveitend. Withcozymysteriesyoucanhaveaseriesfullof loveableandcrazycharactersthatgoonindefinitely.IcanrevisitmyfriendsanytimeIwantby writinganewbook.Coziescombineasolid,well -craftedmysterywithalittleromance,alittle women’sfiction,andinmycase–alotofhumor.

Howdoyoubalancecreatinglight,comfortingatmosphereswiththesuspenseandtensionofamurdermystery?

Ibalanceitwithwarmthandhumour.Inacozy, thereissomuchfocusonthecastofcharacters andtheirrelationshipsthatthemurderisjust somethingthathappenstothem.Repeatedly. Sometimesmonthly.Itgivesthezanycastan opportunitytorallyaroundthemaincharacter andgivesupport.Orharassmentasthecase

maybe.Mycoziestendtobefullofcrazyantics andsarcasm.Poppy’sGreatAuntGinnyisalways schemingtogetPoppytodosomethingshe doesn’twanttodo.LikehostaHauntedHouse DinnerTourorentertheCapeMaySnowman BuildingContestonthebeach.Butattheendof theday,AuntGinnyisalsoasoftlandingforPoppytocomehometoforcomfortandreassurance.

Cozymysteriesfeatureamateursleuths.What qualitiesmakeanamateurdetectivecompellingandrelatabletoreaders?

Poppyisveryreal.Sheisn’tyoungandgorgeous, sheisn’tfabulouslysuccessfulattwenty-fiveor runningherownbusinessjustoutofcollege. She’saplus-sized,middle-agedwidowtryingto startherlifeoverandfindsomeself-love.She doesn’tcaveunderpressure–shefightsback withsarcasm.Shecaresdeeplyforthepeople shelovesandwilldoanythingtoprotectthem. Poppyisaveryhonestcharacter.Herflawsand mistakesareasmuchapartofherasherredhair andfreckles.Ithinkwhatmakeshersoeasyto identifywithisthatsherevealsthethingsweare allthinkingandfeeling.

Lisa Turley is from West Virginia. She is on numerous ARC street teams and reads in multiple genres. She is passionate about helping authors get the wordoutabouttheirbooks.

LibbyKlein

Howimportantissettingincozymysteries, andhowdoyoucreateasenseofplacethat feelsbothcharmingandintegraltothestory?

Settingisacharacterinagoodcozymystery.It setsthetoneandlet’syouimaginethisisyour town,orcampground,orapartmentbuilding.It’s whereyourcharacterhascoffee,bakescookies, andtalkstothenosyneighbours.Itgivesthe charactersandthereaderasenseofbelonging andacommunitytobelongto.HowdoesanaverageJanefindherselfchasingafterkillers?She doesittoprotectandavengethosesheloves.I placedmyseriesinthenon-fictionaltownof CapeMay,NewJersey.AnhistoricVictorian beachtown.IgrewupthereandIlovehowbeautifultheareaiswiththegorgeousVictorian homes,theocean,thepromenade.Andwith CapeMay’shugetourismindustry,therearealwaystouriststokillsoIdon’thavetodecimate thetown.AlthoughI’mprettysurethatI’vekilled morepeopleinninebooksthanhaveactually beenmurderedinCapeMayinahundredyears.

Food,crafts,andsmall-townlifeoftenplaya bigroleincozymysteries.Howdotheseelementsenhancethestorytelling?

The“detective”inaCozyMysteryisalwaysan amateursleuth.Someonewhohasadayjob wherehopefullytheyaren’tneckdeepinmurder victims.Thebaking,knitting,scrapbooking,runningateashoporbeingalibrarianispartofwho theyare.Thesearejustnormalpeople,living normallives,andthemosthorrificdisaster strikes.Someoneintheirmidstismurdered. Whetherthevictimwaslovedorhated,it’sa shocktoeveryone.Anditgivesusasthereader theabilitytoputourselvesintothestory.Wecan betheonetofollowthecluesandsolvethemystery,livingvicariouslythroughpeoplewhoare justlikeus.Ithinktheeverydayaspectsofcozies givethemwarmthandasensethatwe’retheheroofthestory.

Whatroledoeshumourplayincozymysteries,andhowdoyouensurethetoneremains

lightwhilestilldealingwithcrime?

Inmyfamily,wetendtohaveasenseofgallows humour.Whenstressarisesortragedystrikes–wejoke,welaughattheabsurdityofitall,and weorganizeapoolandbetonwhatdisease momwillbediagnosedwiththisweek.Because that’showwegetthroughthepain.Myseriesis nodifferent.Poppyisthe“straightman”ina worldofchaos-observingalltheinsanity aroundherwitharunningcommentaryofsarcasminherhead.AndwithAuntGinny,andher verynaughtyblacksmokePersian,SirFigaro Newton,Poppydealswith a lot ofchaos.The humourisn’tabout the murder.It’saboutlife, andhowpeoplereact.AndhowPoppyreactsto thenonsensethathappens.Forme,thebest booksaretheonesthatmakeyoulaugh.Iliketo thinkthatwhenyoulaughwhilereadingoneof mybooks,we’relaughingtogether.Becauseyou canbelieveIwaslaughingwhenIwroteit.

Cozymysteriesofteninvolveserieswithrecurringcharacters.Howdoyoukeepyour charactersfreshandengagingovermultiple books?

Charactergrowth.Everyonegrowsandchanges inmyseries.Relationshipschange.People aren’talwayswhoyouthinktheyarewhen they’reintroduced.Oncewestarttopeelthe onion,wecanseewhatmadethemthewaythey aretoday.Iwrotemyserieslikeonehugemillion-wordnovel.Notjustanewbookwiththe sameformateveryyear.Joanneisafictionalized conglomerationofmanypeopleI’veknownin mylife,andshehasoneofthebestcharacter arcsintheseries.Sheistheperfectexampleof someonewhosepasthurtshaveformedher abrasiveexterior,whileontheinsideshe’s someonesensitivewhofeelsverydeeply.Joanneismorethanshefirstappearstobe.But thebiggestgrowthhappensinPoppyherself.

Throughouttheseries,Poppyhasgonefrombeingadepresseddoormat,wallowinginself-pity andshame–tobeingaself-confidentBossLady.

She’shadtofighttoacceptherselfandthefact thatshe’llneverbeaskinnysupermodel–no matterhowmuchdietingsheendures.She’s hadtofightforloveandallowherselftofollow herheartinsteadofalwaysdoingwhatother peopleexpectofher.Andshe’slearnedtoletgo ofthepastandliveherlifewithoutregrets.

Whatadvicewouldyougiveaspiringwriters lookingtobreakintothecozymysterygenre?

Readgreatbooks–notjustforenjoyment,but studythemfortheirstructureandstyle.Write everyday–yougetbetterbypractice.Writein yourownvoice–don’ttrytosoundlikesomeoneelseorhowyouthinkgreatliterature shouldsound.Don’tworryaboutyourfirstdraft. Everyone’sfirstdraftisterrible.Justgetthestorydown,thenlayerontheeditsuntilit’spolished.

Haveanycozymysterywritersorbooksinfluencedyourownwritingstyle,andwhatare yourfavouriteaspectsofthegenreasbotha writerandreader?

MyveryfirstcozymysterieswereTheCatWho books,byLilianJacksonBraunandtheCoffeehouseMysteries,byCleoCoyle.Iwouldnot blamemyhaphazardstyleoneitherofthose wonderfulauthors.ButIwasdrawntothemby myloveofcatsandcoffee.Theloveformurder camelater.Ithinktheyinfluencedmebycausingmetofallinlovewiththegenre.Inother genres,youturnthelastpageandmournthat it’sover.InaCozyseriesyoucanreachforthe nextbook.Atleastforalittlewhile.Myfavourite seriesarethosethathavealotofhumouranda littleromance.Justlikemine.

Tellusaboutyourowncozymysteries?

Poppyisaplus-sized,middle-agedwidowwho returnstoherhometownofCapeMayNJforher 25threuniontofaceoffagainstthecheerleaders whobulliedherthroughhighschool.Oneofthe cheerleadersendsupdeadinfrontofPoppy's

oldlocker,thentheotheronearrestsherforher murder.PoppyisonquiteajourneyinCapeMay. SheliveswithherGreatAuntGinnywhojust mightbecertifiablycrazy.Andherblacksmoke Persian,SirFigaroNewtonwho'sexceptionally naughty.Theybothgetherintoaheapoftrouble onacontinualbasis.ShehasagreatcastofsidekicksincludingAuntGinny’sbestfriends–the wildpackofhooligansknowasthebiddies.And herlifelongbestfriend,Sawyer–theEtheltoher Lucy.Nottomentiontwoverysexyloveinterests,TimandGiampaolo.Myseriesishilariously funnywhilebeingfullofwarmth.

Obviously,thisisaChristmasissue.Whatis specialaboutChristmascoziesandwhydid youdecidetowriteone?

Christmasistheultimatecozyseason.Thegenre embodiestheholidayspirit.Thespices,thecocoa,thefireplace,theblankets,thedeadguyin thefreezer.Well–that’scozytome.Maybeyounotsomuch.Butifyoulikeyourcozywithalittle murderinvestigation,I’myourgirl.Ilovetheholidays,andIliketocelebratethespecialmoments.

SometimesIneedabreakfromallthebaking andthemusic,andthere’snothingbetterthana goodbook.Ifyouliketocurlupwithsomething warmandcozyinfrontofthefire,aChristmas cozyistheanswer.

Ifourreadersweretobuyoneofyourbooksto readorasapresent,whichoneshouldthey startwithandwhy?

Youcanpickupanyofmybooksinanyorderfor agoodmurdermysteryandafunread.Butifyou reallywanttobeinvestedinthecharactersand Poppy’sjourney–especiallytheshort-livedlove triangle–I’dstartatthebeginning.Ifyou’regivingmybooksasaChristmaspresent,I’dgive Silent Nights Are Murder.It’sveryfestiveandwarm andgivesyoualltheholidayfeelingsyouwantin aChristmasCozy.

Silent Nights Are Murder byLibby

ReviewedbyWendyH.Jones

Review

Klein

ISBN:978-1496744425

Publisher:KensingtonCozies

EversinceThanksgiving,whenanengagementringina velvetbox andnogifttag wasleftbehind,Poppyand herpalshavebeenleftwithanunsolvedmystery.Butat leastthismysteryisn’tthekindthatinvolvesmurder. Thatallchangeswhenthebodyofafishsupplierisdiscoveredinthekitchenofherex’srestaurant andhe’s frozen,notfresh.

Foronce,it’snotPoppywhotrippedoverthecorpse, yetshecan’tescapebeingdrawninsincethevictimhas anotetapedtohimreading Get Poppy.Figures anengagementringisn'tlabeled,butthedeadguyisaddressedtoher.Now,whileAuntGinnyplansatreetrimmingpartyandpressuresPoppytodecodeamysteriousolddiary,theamateursleuthisaskedto “unofficially”goundercoverattherestauranttohelp thepolice.Untilthen,theonlycrimePoppyhadbeen dealingwithwasthecatFigaro’srepeatedtheftsofbird ornamentsfromthetree;nowitlookslikeit’sgoingto beamurder-yChristmasafterall.

LetmestartbysayingIlovecozymysteriesandLibbyKleinisoneofmyfavouritecozymysterywriters. WhenIdiscoveredshewasbringingoutaChristmascozyIwasdeliriouswithexcitement.Thedifficulty withexpectationissometimesthefinalproductdoesnotliveuptoit.Icanassureyouthisbooklivedup toitandthensome.

Fromthefirstsentencetothelastthisbookislaughoutloudfunnyandmysteriousasallgetout.Intrue cozystyle,thecharactersarelargerthanlife,especiallyAuntGinny,wholivesuptohercrazyreputation. Thereisonecharacterwhonooneisexpecting–orwants.Iwon’tgivethegameawaybysayingwho,but noonecanfigureoutwhytheyhaveturneduporwhattheyactuallywant.Ofcourse,mysteryandintrigue arefrontandcentreanditismorewhowouldn’twanttokillthefishmerchantratherthanwhomight havedoneit.Christmasis,ofcourse,acharacterinitsownrightandthefestivitiesaddtothestory.Food isamajorpartofthestorylineasPoppyisapastrychef.Ifoundmyselfhungrierateachturnofthepage. ThisbookhaseverythingyouneedfromacozymysteryandIhighlyrecommendit.

SmallSleuths,BigAdventures:WritingCozyMysteriesforChildren

Author and mentor, Pauline Tait, discusses what’s involved in writing cozy mysteries for children and offers practical advice.

We’veallseenthesparkleinachild’seye whentheycompleteapuzzleorsolvea mystery,especiallyiftheyreachtheir momentousconclusionbeforetheirpeersorthe literarydetective.Butthereisfarmoretocosy mysteriesforchildrenthanjustthegentlewhodunit.

Whilewordsaredevoured,childrenarebuilding criticalthinkinganddevelopmentalskills,boostingtheirconfidence,andforminganunderstandingofdiversecharactersandmotivations, givingchildren’sauthorsaroutetoaloyalaudience,marketablebooks,andendlessopportunitiesforcreativestorytelling.

WhyDoCosyMysteriesWorkinChildren’sLiterature

It’snosecretthatchildrenlovesolvingpuzzles. Allowingthemthisjoythroughthesafetyofwrittenwordscanbelife-alteringformany.Rather thandealingwithfrighteningsituations,these storiesfocusonage-appropriatepuzzlessuchas missingpets,mixed-upvalentines,orlostlibrary books.

Butit’snotjusttheentertainmentvaluethat’s essentialtoachild’sdevelopment.Readingcosy mysteriescanaidproblem-solvingabilities, memoryskills,patternrecognition,logicalthinking,andsocialawareness.

TheAll-ImportantStructure

PictureBooks

There’snoreasonwhythecozygenrecan’tapplytopicturebooks.Infact,manyfallunwittinglyintothiscategory.Withtheirsimpleplotsand smallerwordcount,picturebooksofferaquick resolutioninasafeandfamiliarsettingwhilerelyingheavilyonillustrationstocarrythemystery,withvisualcluesscatteredthroughoutthe pages.

ChapterBooks

Boththewordcountandchapterformatallow formuchlongermysteries.Authorscanintroducemultiplesuspects,layercluesdappledwith simpleredherrings,andwritestrong,intriguing charactersthatleadtosatisfyingsubplots.

EssentialElements

Developingstrongcharactersisessential.After

PaulineTait

all,it’sourcharactersthathookourreaders.The protagonistmustberelatable,believable,and makemistakes.Theymustshowkindnessas theylearnfromthesemistakesanduselogicto solvethepuzzleormysterylaidoutbeforethem.

AppropriateSettings

Settingstoriesinfamiliarplacesisessential. Youngreadersneedtorelatetoyourchosenlocationsandfeelsafeinthem,andthemysteryor puzzleyoulayoutmustberealisticandcredible tothoselocations.Traditionally,schools,local neighbourhoods,libraries,parks,andcommunitycentresareattheheartofcozymysteriesfor children,andtheyworkwell.

SupportingCast

Givingyourprotagonistasmallgroupoffriends andtrustedsecondarycharactersnotonlyhelps youlayerthemysteryandfeedsubplots,butit alsoallowsyoutoshowyourprotagonistworkingwellwiththeirpeers.Includeasiblingthat yourprotagonistcanrelyon,oracleverpetand understandingadults,thiswillallowyoutobeef outyourplotandcreateengagingsubplots.

EncouragingEmpathyThroughDiverseCharacters

Writingadiverserangeofcharactersincosymysteriesallowschildrentoseethemselvesreflected inthestoriestheyread.

Includingcharactersofcolour,whohaveadisability,wearglassesorhavefrecklesnotonlyinstilsempathybutteacheschildrenaboutdifferentbackgrounds,lifevalues,andculturalbeliefs. Essentialinhelpingthemnavigatetheirownsocialinteractionsbothinandoutoftheclassroom.

WritingGuidelines

Keepingyourmysteriesage-appropriateisessential.Fromthere,ensureyouleavediscoverable cluesthatleavenolooseends.Ifwritingpicture books,thesecluesdon’thavetofillyourtext withredundantwords;instead,allowtheillustrationstocarryelementsofthemystery.Yourtar-

getaudienceisacombinationofvisualreaders andearlyreaders,dependingontheirdevelopment,andtheywillbedevouringtheillustrations witheachturnofthepage.

Childrenlovegentlehumour,andintertwining chuckleswhilegraduallybuildingtensionina safeandrelatablesettingcreatesarecipefora storythatyoungreaderswilldevour.

EducationalBenefits

Readingisinvaluablewhenitcomestofeeding andnurturingdevelopmentalskillsinchildren. Addingcozymysteriesintothemixcreatesacacophonyofwordsthataid:

• Criticalthinking

• Readingcomprehension

• Memoryskills

• Socialawareness

• Problem-solvingabilities

• Attentiontodetail

• Self-confidence

Wheretostart

Focussingonsimple,everydaymysterieschildrencanrelatetoisessentialforhookingyoungerreaders.Chooseyoursettingandconundrum wisely.Isitaclassroommix-up,aplayground puzzle,oralosttoy?Whicheversituationyou choose,remembertostructureyourcluestoensuretheyarefairandobviousforyourtargetaudience.Keepthetensionmild,provideclearresolutions,andincludepositivemessagesand morals.

SeriesPotential

Whenplanningyourstoryarc,whetherforapicturebookorachapterbook,creatinganengagingnarrativeisamust.However,planninghow toexpandintoaseriesfromtheoutsetcanbea cunningstrategy.Witheachnewbook,yourprotagonistwilldevelopastheysolveonemystery afteranother.Youcanintroducenewsidecharacterswhilekeepingyourcoregroupintact, whethertheyareyourprotagonist’strustworthy friends,siblings,orsupportiveadults.

Marketingaserieswillalsosignificantlyenhance thevisibilityofbothyourbooksandauthor brand.Childrenwhohaveenjoyedbookonewill askforotherbooksintheseries.Parentswillbe equallykeentokeeptheirchildrenreading.

Ialwaysrecommendthatauthorssneakafestive taleintoatleastonebook,regardlessofhow manyseriestheyplantowrite.Thisprovidesan opportunitytopromotetheirfestivebookannuallywhileshiningalightontheirentirebacklist.

Ultimately,writingcosymysteriesforchildrenis aboutfarmorethanstorytelling.It'saboutnavigatingandsolidifyingyourauthorjourney throughwritingengagingandmarketablebooks thatchildrenwilllove.

Asaprofessionalwritingandpublishingmentor,I guideauthorsthroughthevaryingstagesoftheir journey.Frominitialideaordraftmanuscriptto findingandworkingwithillustrators,publication andbeyond.Mygoalistoensureauthorshave confidenceintheirmanuscripts,publishingjourney,andbooks,andthattheirworkmeetstraditionallypublishedstandards.

Thishasinspiredmysix-weekprogramme, How To Write A Children’s Picture Book – From Concept to Publication, aswellasone-hourMentoringSessionsforauthorsneedingguidanceinspecificareasoftheirwritingandpublishingjourney.

AuthorsI’vementoredhaveheldWaterstones events,hadtheirbooksstockedinWaterstones stores,andwonawards. www.paulinetait.com

WriteinTime

AgathaChristie1890-1976

AgathaChristieisknownworld-wideforhermurdermysterywho-dunnitswithtwistyendings.Her worksincludemanymemorablesleuthswho have becomehouseholdnames includingMiss Marple, HerculePoirotandTommyandTuppence.

Herfirstmysterynovel, And Then There Was Nonepublishedin1939-isoneofthebest-sellingbooks ofalltime.Herplay The Mousetrap openedinLondonin1952andrancontinuouslyuntil2020.

AgathaMaryClarissaChristie-LadyMallowan(nee Miller)wasborninTorquayonthe15thSeptember1890.ShemarriedArchibaldChristiein1914 (divorced1928)andMaxMallowanin1930.She wasamemberoftheDetectionClub agroupof Britishmysterywriterswhocollaborativelypublishedseveraldetectivestories.ShealsopublishedsixromancesunderthenameMaryWestmacott.

AgathaChristiediedonthe12thJanuary1976, aged85years.

Sheproduced sixty-sixpublisheddetectivenovels andfourteenshortstorycollectionsaswellas plays.Theseinclude:

SelectedDetectiveNovels:

The Mysterious Affair At Styles -1920

The Mystery Of The Blue Train - 1928

The Seven Dials Mystery - 1929

Murder On The Orient Express -1934

Death On The Nile - 1937

Pauline Tait is an award-winning children’s author, novelist, and writing mentor based in Perthshire, Scotland. She enjoys writing both romantic suspense and children’s picture books as well as mentoring children’s authors. More information on Pauline’s writing, mentoring and books can be found at www.paulinetait.com

Appointment With Death - 1938

The Body In The Library - 1942

A Murder Is Announced - 1950

A Pocket Full Of Rye - 1963

4.50 From Paddington - 1957

The Mirror Crack’d - 1962

The Christmas Express byIslaGordon

Reviewedby LouiseCannon

ONELASTCHANCEATLOVE...

ASIN: B0CPSJM8PL

Publisher: Sphere (November 2024)

Blurb

SIXPASSENGERS...

Whensixex-friendsareinvitedtoawinterweddinginCanada,thelast thingtheywantisareunion.Butbride-to-beBrynisdesperate,somuch sothatshe'sofferingtopayfortheirtravel.Butthere'sasurprisein store:Brynhasn'tbookedthemflights,insteadshe'sboughtnonrefundableticketsforthecross-CanadaChristmastrain.

FOURDAYS...

Fourdaystrappedtogetherinacosytraincabin,travellingthrough snow-toppedmountains,frozenlakesandglisteningChristmastrees, overthemostmagicaltimeoftheyear.It'satriplikenootherandBryn hopesitwillendtheirfeudjustintimeforthewedding.

Buttensionsonboardarefraught.CaliandLukeareeachother'sOneWhoGotAway,JossandJoeare theultimatesiblingrivals,andSaraisstuckwiththepeoplewhoalwaysleftherout.NottomentionEmber,Bryn'sex,whowasn'teveninvitedandisonherwaytocrashthewedding.

Thenasnowstormhitsandstopsthem-literally-intheirtracks.Willtheymakeittothewedding?And willitbetogether?

Review

TheChristmasExpresssetsoffwithanunusual,eye-catchingprologue,posingthought-provokingquestions,beforelaunchingintoshortchaptersandintriguingfestiveplot.Amongstthefriendsaretensions thatpracticallypopoffthepageastheytrytoreachBryn’swedding.Evenwiththis,afestiveatmosphere isskilfullycreated.

Asprinklingofsnowy,Christmasmagic,ultimatelycreatesanuplifting,scenictrainjourneytocosyup with.

Louise Michelle Cannon lives in Central Scotland with family and a cute but wily cat. She writes a blog – Bookmarks and Stages, reviewing books, theatre, festivals and conducts the occasional Q&A sessions.

WhyWriteCozyMysteries?

Wendy H. Jones discusses some of the things you might want to consider if you are thinking about writing Cozy Mysteries

Beforelookingatwhyweshouldconsider writingcozymysteries,itisworthunpackingwhatacozymysteryis.Whilstthereis nostrictdefinitionthemaincharacteristicisthe protagonist,orsleuth,mustbeanamateurand notamemberoflawenforcement.Ifyoulookat myarticleon‘Exploring Themes in Cozy Mystery’ I coverthisingreaterdetail.So,whywouldyou considerwritingcozymysterieswhenyourmain characterhasnoaccesstolawandorderbutstill hastosolveacrime.

Cozymysteriesareahugegenre,orcrimesubgenreintheUSA.Theyaregrowinginpopularity intheUKduetothebooksofmanycelebrityauthorswhopublishinthisgenre.Youaretapping intoanestablishedmarket.

Youcancombineitwithyourhobbyorcareer. Inotherwords,youalreadyhavemuchoftheexpertiseatyourfingertips.Lovecrochet,knitting, baking,travel,*insertowninterest*,youcanuse ittoyouradvantage.Workingasalawyer,accountant,carer,doctor,*insertownjob*,youcan useit.Ourcozyprotagonistcandoanyofthem. Lovehistory,writeacozyhistorical.Lexie Conynghamhasseveralcozymysteryseries.

Writingcozymysteriesisfunandyourcharacter isnotboundbywhatthepolicecando.They tendtobeabletogeteverywhereanddosounfettered.Forexample,in Silent Nights are Murder, whichIreviewedelsewhereinthemagazine, PoppyMcAllisterisundercoverasapastrychefin restaurant.Thisallowshertochat,orgossipif youwill,withpossiblesuspects.Shecanfindout thingspeoplewouldnotdisclosetothepolice.

Coziesallowyoutoexplorecharacterisationin

depthwheretheycomeacrossasaffableand friendly youraveragemanorwomaninthe street yettherearedarkerundercurrents.

Manyauthorsareputoffwritingcoziesasthey donotwanttowriteanythingassordidasmurder.Yet,thecrimeinacozycanbeanything.It doesnotneedtoinvolveadeadbody.Itcanbe theft,blackmailoranyothercrimewhereallthe charactersremainverymuchalive.

Theyusuallyhaveananimalinthemsomewhere.Sometimes,severalanimals.Itisgreat funtowriteaboutanimalsandyoucanmake themasquirkyasyouwant.Inmy‘CassClaymoreMysteries’,CasshasadognamedEagal whichisScottishGaelicforfearorterror.Hecertainlyisaterror,inthenicestpossibleway.

Youcanthemethemaroundholidayssuchas Christmas,Easter,Diwali,Hannukah,Eid,any festivalyouknowof.Youcanalsothemethem aroundliteralholidaysifyouareBritishorVacationsifyouareAmerican.

Ihopethishasgivenaflavourofwhyitisworth consideringwhethertowriteacozymystery.I certainlylovewritingthemandIknowanawful lotofpeoplelovereadingthem.Goodluckif youdecidetowriteone–youknowJanuaryisa perfecttimetostartanewbookproject.

Threads of Deception byElleJauffret

ReviewedbyWendyH.Jones

ISBN—978-1685127510

Publisher: LevelBestBooks

Blurb

Thirty-five-year-oldClaireFontainehaditallasasuccessfulD.C.defenseattorneyuntilacriminalexplosionshatteredhercareerandleft herwithadebilitatingFrenchforeignaccentsyndrome.Tomakemattersworse,herneurologistorderedhertotakeabreakfromthelaw andtheFBIurgedhertolaylow.She'salsobroke.Heronlymarketableskillistheculinaryexpertiseshe'sgainedthroughcountlesscookingclassesforsingles.Forcedtoembraceanewpathasaprivate chef,Claireacceptstheinvitationofarisingfashiondesignerfriendto movebacktoherSouthernCaliforniahometowntocaterforafashion TVshow-onlytofindsaidfrienddead.

Desperatetoproveitwasn'tasuicidebutamurder,Claireteamsupwithherchildhoodbestfriend,SuggieOh,thetown'sbelovedaccountant.Shealsoformsatension-filledalliancewithcharismaticDetectiveBenTorres,whoreluctantlyacceptshercooperationandwithwhomshe'sforcedtoshareanapartment.Assheinvestigates,Claireglimpsesintotheworldofcompetitivefashion,politicalcampaigns, andex-lovers'vendettas.Butgettingclosertothetruthmaynotbeassafeasjugglingknivesinadark kitchen.

Review

As both a writer and a reader I love reading books by debut authors and I was very much looking forward to reading this one. Described as a Traditional Mystery, I would say it lives up to the moniker, but it also has elements of cozy mystery. Iloved the opening chapter which had me hooked form the get go. The way it segued into chapter two was brilliantly done as I really did not know where it was going. All kudos to the author. Jauffret shows sheisaskilled writer in every beautifully written word. She may be the new kid on the block, but she certainly has

what it takes to be here for the long haul. The characters are exquisitely drawn, and each is distinct with their own unique characteristics. I love the twist that Claire, the main character, has Foreign Accent Syndrome following an explosion and everyone believes she is French rather than American. The plot is sound and kept me reading and Igenuinely wantedtofind out what washappening. The characters and their relationships developed throughout the book. By the end, I felt like they were old friends. A well written debut demonstratingthatElleJauffretisonetowatch.

Wendy H. Jones is the multi-award-winning, best-selling author of adult crime thrillers and cozy mysteries, children’s picture books and non-fiction books for writers. In addition, she is a writing coach, partner in Auscot Publishing and Retreats and hosts the Writing and Marketing Show podcast.

FestiveFlashFiction

Allison Symes discusses why festive flash fiction is a cozy, amusing read, just right for the end of the year, and shares tips on writing it.

Oneofthejoysofwritingflashfictionis, duetoitslimitedwordcount,itmustbe characterledbuttheycanbesetwheneverandwhereveryouwant.Theformcaneasilybeusedforcozystoriesandfestiveflashisa particularlygoodmatchhere.

Why?

Simplybecausefestiveflashfictionisfunto writeandjustasmuchfuntoreadorlistento (anditcanbebroadcast).

Cozyreadingfocusesonpeopleandrelationships,regardlessofthestorygenre.Thisapplies totheshorterformsoffictiontoo.Thereisjust lesswordcountroomtoshowthoserelationships.Itdoesencourageyoutomakethemost ofwhatyouhavetoworkwith,soyoufocuson therightdetailsleavingthereaderstoinferthe rest.

FestiveFlashFiction

Whatwouldbeagoodfestiveflashpiece?I wouldbelookingforastorywhichrelatedto Christmasandthatcanincludethesecularas wellastheChristiantraditions.

I’vewrittenapiecewhereSantagetspulledover forspeeding.I’vealsowrittenapiecewherethe elvesgoonstrikeatthelastminuteandSanta’s loyalsecretarysavesthedaybecausethegreat manhasunwittinglyforgottenhisweddinganniversaryagain.ThisyearMrsChristmashashad enoughandnotsuppliedtheusualgoodiesto keeptheelvesworkinghard,hencethestrike.

AllisonSymes

Soyoucanseefromthat,Ihope,anotherkey elementtoacozyreadisfun.

Sohowtogoaboutwritingafestiveflashfiction piecethen?

It’susefulistolistallyouassociatewiththe Christmasseason.Keywordswillleapoutat you.Thenitisaquestionofworkingoutwhich aspectoftheseasonyouwanttowriteabout. Willitbetheseriousside?Willitbethefood side?Willitbethesillyside?

Haveyourreaderinmindalways.Whatdoyou wantthemtogetfromyourstory?I’mseekingto raiseasmileoralaughwithmyfestivestories. SoIamlookingforwaysintocharacterswho willproducethoselaughsforme.Ioutlinemy characterssoIknowthemwellenoughtowrite theirstoryup.

Oftenwithhumoroustales,thecharactersare notfunny.Theydon’tseethesituationthey’rein asfunnyeither.Itisthesamewiththebestcomedies.Theactorsplayitstraight.Yourcharacters

shoulddothesame.Thehumourwillarise aroundandfromthem.

Ifyouhaveanarrogantcharacter,itwillbetheir downfallwhichwillproducethelaughsbut they’reunlikelytobelaughing.

Neverbeafraidtodropacharacterinthemire, especiallyiftheydeserveit.Readerswillbeexpectingthatandwillfeelletdownifyoudon’t deliver.Butthehumourwillarisenaturallyfrom thatdownfall.Wewouldhaveseenthecharacterhasbroughtthisuponthemselves.Welaugh. Storywrapsup.

SharingYourFestiveFlashFiction

IsharemyfestiveflashonsocialmediabutI’ve alsohadsomebroadcastonaninternetradio station.Isubmitmypiece,whenthecallcomes outforstories,viaasubmissionportalwhereI recordmytaleandsenditinthoughIcannotgo overthethreeminutesmark.

Irecordmytaleson Zoom bysettingupameetingwithmyself,pressingrecord,andnarrating mytale.WhenIendthemeeting, Zoom converts thefileintomp3format.Iplayitback.

DoingthismeansIamtakingthestoryinasa listenerwould(butthistechniqueisalsoagreat ideaforstorieswhichwillbeinprint.Youhear thestoryasyourreaderwouldreaditinternally. Thiscanbeenlightening).Bestofallwith Zoom, Ihavethetimingofmyrecordingconfirmed.It ensuresIcannevergooverthelimitI’vebeen set.

Idon’twaituntiltheendoftheyeartowritefestiveflash.Idraftthemwheneverthemood strikes.Oftenthatisinthesummer/autumn.For thewomen’smagazinemarkets,theycommissiontheirstoriesforChristmasalongtimebeforetheirfestiveeditionscomeout.Oftenby June,theyknowwhatwillbeintheirChristmas specials.SoIapplythisprincipleandwritemy festiveflasheswellaheadoftheseason.

Bearinmindthereare(a)openthemecompetitions,(b)seasonalcompetitionandmarkets, and(c)humorousstorycompetitions.Forthose towardstheendofayear,festiveflashcouldfit inwell.

CozyReadingandTips

Cozyreadingisaboutyourreaderenjoyinga readwhichmakesthemfeelgood(whichiswhy incozycrimetherearenogutsandgore).Thisis whyhumorousfictioncanfitinwellwiththecozymarket.

Thinkaboutwhatyouenjoywhenyoureadcozy stories,betheycrimeonesorotherwise.What drawsyoutothem?Thenthinkabouthowyou canapplythattoyourcreations.I’velong thoughtwritershavethebenefitofgettingeven moreoutofreadingthannon-writersdo.Wecan seewhatworksordoesn’tandknowwhy.

Asever,itpaystoreadwidelyinthefield.Itis thebestwaytosee(a)what’salreadyoutthere (publisherswillexpectyoutoknowsomething ofthemarketyouwishtowritefor)and(b)how yourstorycouldfitin.Youshouldbeabletosee whereitcouldfit.Weallneedourtalestobe squarepegsinsquareholeshere-thatisbyfar thebestwayofimprovingyourpublication chances.

Cozystorieswillalwayshaveanaudience.Itis theirfeelgoodfactorwhichattractsreaders. Theydon’thavetobenovelsornovellas,though theyoftenare.Whynotwritecozyshortstories andflashfiction?Thelatteraregoodfuntodo.

Allison Symes is a flash fiction/short story writer, blogger and editor based in Hampshire. She runs writing workshops, judges competitions, and writes weekly for writers for Chandler’s Ford Today. She has two flash fiction collections published (Chapeltown Books) with a third in the pipeline.

AGenre-ShiftingAdventure(From

DarkDystopiatoCozyCrime)

Marti M. McNair explores her genre-shifting journey from dark dystopian tales to charming cozy crime mysteries with a festive Christmas twist

AsadystopianwriterfocusingonYoung Adultaudiences,I’lladmitIwascaught offguardwhenaskedtowriteashortstoryforacozycrimecollection.Accustomedto craftingbleakworlds,tenseatmospheres,and survival-drivencharacters,myfirstthought was, How on earth do I tackle something cosy, heartwarming, and festive?

Itwasn’tjustthecontentshiftthatmademe pause-itwasthewholetoneofthegenre.My usualdystopianwritingreliesheavilyonthe first-personperspective,immersingreaders deeplyintheprotagonist’smindastheynavigateharsh,oftenchaoticrealities.

Cozycrime,though,demandssomethingquite different.Ihadtothinkofwaystokeepreaders curiousandintriguedwithoutleaninginto darkness,despair,ordoom.

‘Ihadtothinkofwaystokeepreaderscuriousandintrigued.’

Tohelpsettherighttone,Idecidedtostick withthepasttensebutswitchedtothethirdpersonnarrative.Thischoicecreatedsomedistance,lettingmeseparatemyusualgritty worldsfromthewarmthandfunofacozymystery.

Thethird-personapproachallowedmetosee thestoryandcharactersfromamoreplayful perspective,andsoonIwasabletoslipintoa brightandhappymindset.Beforelong,Ifound myselflaughingatmycharacters’holidaymishapsandfeelingsurprisinglyinvestedinthe delightfulchaosofChristmassleuthing.

Theexperiencewasunexpectedlyrefreshing, thoughitdidn’tcomewithoutitsshareofchallenges.Writingdystopianfiction,I’musedto buildingtensionthroughhighstakesanddra-

maticconsequences,usuallywithsurvivalonthe line.

‘Theexperiencewasunexpectedlyrefreshing, thoughitdidn’tcomewithoutitsshareof challenges.’

Cosycrime,however,thrivesonsubtlerstakesmisunderstandings,minormishaps,orsocial gaffesthatcreatelight-heartedmysteriestounravel.Iquicklylearnedthatmycozycharacters didn’tneedableakbackstoryoraworldonthe brink-theyjustneededasoliddashofcuriosity andasenseoffestiveadventure.

Ifoundtheshiftbetweenthetwogenresfunand fascinating.Indystopia,thenarrativeoftencentresonsurvivalandloss,exploringwhatremains wheneverythingelseisgone.Cozycrime,onthe otherhand,isallaboutthejoyofsmallconnections,friendships,andthecomfortofatight-knit community.

Insteadofmyusuallife-or-deathstakes,Ifound myselffocusedonmysteriesthatbroughtpeople together-amissingbrooch,apuzzlingsetof clueswritteninsideChristmascards,andthedilemmaofElwin,themissingchurchorganist.

Writingthisnewkindoftensionwasextremely satisfying,andIwassurprisedbyhowinvestedI becameinthesesmall-townlivesandlightheartedstorylines.Embracingthechallengewith

MartiM.McNair

anopenmind,Ifoundmyselflovingeverymomentoftheprocess.Fromdecoratingthe sceneswithfestivelights,andwinterwonderlandlandscapes,togivingeachcharacterahiddenagendaorasecretcrush,Iwasfullyengrossed.

‘Ifoundtheshiftbetweenthetwogenresfun andfascinating.’

AndnowI’mjustasexcitedforreaderstoexperiencethesestories,wrappedinChristmas cheerandmystery,justasIdidwhilewriting them.

‘IwassurprisedbyhowinvestedIbecamein thesesmall-townlivesandlight-hearted storylines.’

So,ifyoufancyabitofsleuthingthisholiday season,curlupwith A Right Cozy Christmas Crime and Cosy Christmas Crimes - bothcompiledbyWendyH.JonesandpublishedbyScott andLawson.Getcomfortablebythefire,warm upamugofmulledwine(addastickofcinnamonforgoodmeasure),andprepareformysteriesandmerriment.

Here’stoaseasonfulloflaughterandbooks.

MerryChristmas,andhappysleuthing.

SubscriberNews

Tonominateyourlocallibraryorbookshop tobefeaturedinfutureissues emailwritersnarrative@gmail.com subjectheadedfortheattentionoftheEditor inChief.

Marti M. McNair, an award-winning author based in East Ayrshire, Scotland, is thrilled to announce the release of Rebels of Ruin, the second instalment in her Ruin or Redemption trilogy.

Santa’sCozyChristmasMarketing

Wendy H. Jones shares 11 top tips for marketing a cozy Christmas book to capture the Christmas market.

Marketing,Santahearsyousay,there’s nothingcozyaboutmarketing.AllI wanttodoissitinmygarretandwrite books.Haveatit,myfriend,butSantahassome newsforyou.Ifyouwanttosellbooks,people needtoknowaboutthem.

Unfortunately,it’snotinSanta’sbrieftomagicallyletreadersknowyourbookisavailablein allvendors,worldwide.Hecan,however,deliver yournewlyboughtbooksaspresents,atwarp speedanywhereyourcustomerswouldlike themsent.

Inlieuoftheabilitytocarryoutyourspecificrequest,hedoeshavesomesoundadviceonhow tomarketyourbooks–Christmasbooksinparticular.(Thesetipscanbeusedforotherholidays).

Harnessthepowerofspecificdays–Mother’s Day,Father’sDay,NationalDogDay,National CatDay,AmazonPrimeDay,BlackFriday,infact anydaywhichlinksinanyway,toyourbook.Is yourcozysetinabookshop?There’sBookshop DayandIndieBookshopWeek.Isyourmain characterafanaticalknitter?Thenwe’vegot WorldwideKnitinPublicDay,Iamsureyouget thepicture.Christmasorotherwise,ifyourbook fits,useit.

OfcoursewemustnotforgetChristmasinJuly. Milkitforallit’sworth.It’sopenseasonformarketingChristmasbooks.WhilstSantamustwait forthesnow,therestoftheworldcelebrates withabandon.

Forgetallthebahhumbugofthosewhosay Christmasshouldnotbementioneduntilafter Halloween.Whomadethatruleup?Despiteanyone sfeelings,therealfactis,peoplestartbuyingpresentsalotearlierthanNovemberorDecember.Santa’slittlehelper,WendyH.Jones, hasalreadysoldsignedbooksforChristmaspresents.Atahighlandgamesnoless.

Don’tforgetthelargeswathesofreaderswho onlyreadChristmasbooks.Ikidyounot.Typein ChristmasfictionintoAmazonandyouget 50,000hits,withromanceandmysterytopping thesubgenreswithinthese.Thebottomlineis peopleneedtoknowyourbookisavailable,so marketyourlittlesocksoff.

EvenifyouwriteChristmasbooksforchildren, orcolouringbooks,oranythingelseChristmas related,youcanstillmarketthemyear-round. However,realistically,youarelookingatSeptemberonwards.

Schoolfairs,Christmasfairs,churchfairs,villagefairs,infactanyoldfairyoucangetyour handsonareallperfectforsellingChristmas

themedbooks.Don’tforget,atChristmaspeoplearelookingforgifts,sogiftpacksareperfect. Acozymysterybook,mug,sachetofhotchocolateandsomeminimarshmallowsinaChristmassygiftbagisafabulousgift.Orachildren’s picturebookwithateddybearorabookcushion.Tyingupthemorethanonebooktogether withaChristmassyribbonandpoppinginabar ofchocolate,isalsoagreatwayofmakingup bundles.Thinkoutsidethebox,orratherthink insidetheChristmasbox.

Sellingdirectfromyourauthorwebsiteisalso agoodwayofsellinggiftpacksdirect.

Speaktoyourlocalbookshop.Theymaybe willingtomakegiftpacksfromyourbooks,especiallytheindependentstores.

Joiningtogetherwithotherauthorswhowrite ChristmasCoziesisagreatwaytogetyour booksintothehandsofreaders.Christmasbox setsareextremelypopular.Ifyouhavethree booksandthreeauthors,thatis3xthemarketingprowess.

Harnessthepowerofyourlocalarea.Ifthe bookissetlocallyapproachgiftshops, bookshops,libraries,localattractionstoseeif theywouldallowyoutodoanevent.

Newsletterswapsalsoexpandyourmarketing reachexponentially.LookforothercozyChristmaswritersandreachouttothem.Thenyoucan highlighteachother’sbooks.

Theseareafewideastogetyoustarted.Iam sureyouwillbeabletothinkofmanymore.I hopesoasSantaisverymuchlookingforwardto deliveringyourbookstofamiliesaroundthe worldonChristmasEve.Youcaneventracktheir progressusingtheNORADSantaTracker.

HaveagreatChristmasandIwishyouallthe bestwithyourChristmassales.

WendyH.Jones

AKASanta’sLittleHelper

Wendy H. Jones is the multi-award-winning, bestselling author of adult crime thrillers and cozy mysteries, children’s picture books and non-fiction books for writers. In addition, she is a writing coach, partner in Auscot Publishing and Retreats and hosts the Writing and Marketing Show podcast.

WritingASweetbriar

The focus of this month’s poetic form is a sweetbriar

Thismonth’spoeticformisTheSweetbriar. It’saninventedverseformwhichonlyusesonerhymeandwascreatedby ViolaJacobsonBerg1918-2002.

TheelementsoftheSweetbriarare:

Apoemin12linesmadeupof2sestets/verses. (Thiscouldeasilybeconsideredastanzaicform tobewritteninanynumberofsestetshowever, itmightbedifficulttomaintainthesingular rhymeinmorethat2stanzas.)

Itissyllabic,with4-4-6-4-4-6syllablesperline.

Therhymingschemeis:xxaxxaxxaxxa-withx beingunrhymed. So,infact,youhavethesame rhymeusedthroughoutthepoem.

Themainproblemasmentionedaboveisfinding onerhymethatworkswithmorethan2verses–whichImanagedtodo. Iendedupwith6verses of6lineseach–niceandeven!

Myfirstjobwastofind12rhymingwordsthat wouldgowithmythemeofChristmas,andI endedupwiththese.Theboldedwordsarethe onesIused.

Here,Cheer,year,dear,deer,clear,hear,austere,beer,near,appear,cavalier;sincere, sphere,gear.

Becausethenumberofsyllablesissmall,it meansfindingfewwordsandkeepingtheideas succinct.Ofcourse,youcancontinuethemeaningfromonelinetothenext.Thefinishedarticle isn’tnecessarilyaverybeautifuloremotional poem,butmoresomethingofashortstory,and hopefullyatinysprinklingofhumour.

Ifounditeasiesttoworkoutthe6syllableline first.

LisMcDermott

Firstversionofthepoem(syllablecountonfirst verse):

4Festivities,

4Herefartoosoon,

6we’vebeensavingallyear

4Buyingpresents

4Hoardingthefood

6TocreateChristmascheer.

Preparingto seerelatives comingfromfarandnear. Distantcousins, Waywarduncles, ‘speciallythoseweholddear.

Excitementgrows, Swappingpresents Looksofsurpriseappear, Socksyetagain, Youhavetotry

Tomakeyourthankssincere

Christmasdayfun, Alldrinkingtoo

Muchwine,spiritsandBeer joyouschildren play,adultschatThemoodiscavalier

Version2: ChristmasisHere!

Festivities, arrivetoosoon, We’vebeensavingallyear tobuypresents, seasonalfood, tocreateChristmascheer.

Preparingto seerelatives trav’llingfromfarandnear. Distantcousins, waywarduncles, mostly,thoseweholddear.

Excitementgrows, asgiftsexchange. Looksofsurpriseappear; Socks yet again! Yousmile,hoping tomakeyourthankssincere.

Christmas-dayfun: Alldaydrinking fizz,wine,spiritsandbeer Joyouschildren play,adultschat; Themoodiscavalier.

Lis McDermott is a multi-genre author, poet and writing mentor. Visit Lis’ website: https://lismcdermottauthor.co.uk

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BookReleases

RecentReleases

A Right Cozy Christmas Crime

(by Wendy H. Jones, Sheena MacLeod, Pauline Tait, Sue Cook, Sophie Smythe, Stella Oni, Linda Mather, Dianne Ascroft, Gillian Duff, Alex Greyson, Julia Fancelli Clifford, Melicity Pope and Marti M. McNair)

ASIN: B0DKG4TP9Q

Publisher: Scott and Lawson Publishing (November 2024 )

Blurb

StepintoaworldwheretwinklinglightsandholidaycheerareaccompaniedbyChristmaspuddingsandadashofintrigue.

A Right Cozy Christmas Crime bringstogetherthirteenfestivemysteries whereannualtraditionsareintertwinedwithshadowysecrets.Froma historicScottishCastlehidingachillingtruth,tothebustlingstreetsof LagosfilledwithmorethanjustChristmasshoppers,eachtalesparkles withholidaywarmthwhileunravellingadeliciouslypuzzlingmystery.

It'stimetoputyourfeetup,siphotcocoaandjoinourdetectivesastheyensurejusticeisserved.Perfect forloversofcozymysterieswithaholidaytwist.

Miss Beeton’s Murder Agency byJosieLloyd

ISBN-10 : 0008550743

ISBN-13 : 978-0008550745

Publisher: HQ (October 2024)

Blurb

AliceBeetonnevermeanttowindupsingleandchildlessonthewrong sideoffifty.LikeherdistantrelativeMrsBeeton–yes,thatMrsBeeton–shehadhopedtohaveherownspic-and-spanhouseholdbynow.Inreality,shelivesinanimmaculatebutdingybasementflatinarather shabbyblockinKensingtonwithAgatha,herfiercelyintelligent,ifrather over-territorial,corgi-JackRussellcross.

NowAlicerunstheGoodHouseholdManagementAgency,providingdiscreetdomesticstafftoextravaganttownhousesandsprawlingcountry piles.SowhenCamilleMessentcallsinurgentneedofanewhousekeeper,MissBeetonsendsoutnewhireEnya.She’sratherforwardbutshe doescomewithimpeccablereferencesandisfluent en français.

ButintheearlyhoursofNewYear’sDay,AliceisrudelyawakenedwiththenewsthatEnyahasbeen founddead.Astheintriguing,ifsomewhatscruffy,DetectiveRigbystrugglestodrumupanadequate investigationandthewealthyfamilyandtheirpartyguestscloserank,MissBeetontakesituponherself tosolvethecrime.

How To Write And Market A Christmas Cozy Mystery

byT.Lockhaven

ReviewedbySheenaMacleod

ASIN: B09MR58F6C Publisher

:

TwistedKeyPublishing,LLC(December 2021)

Haveyoueverwantedtomurdersomeone?Doyou haveamurdermysterythat’sbeenpercolatingand you’redyingtowriteit?Thisbookwillteachyouhow!

Thisstep-by-stepguideiswritteninafriendlyconversationaltone.It’slikehavingyourownprivatetutor,sittingnexttoyou stealingyourcoffeeandcookies.Asa matteroffact,thisbookincludesmultiplestoriesthat youcanuseasyourown!

Here’swhat’sincluded(Includingonlineworksheets andgraphicsforeachstage):

WhyaChristmasCozy.ExpectationsoftheCozyMystery Genre.WhatDoCozyReadersReallyWant?CreatingExcitingProtagonists.WorldbuildingandSecondaryCharacters.CreatingTheVillain.HowToPlotAMurder.

ProtagonistMotivationtoSolvetheMurder.SuspectWorksheet.NewChristmasStoriesYouCanUse! (Detailedstoriesandhooks)HookandFourActStoryExamples.CreatingaCoverThatSells.Formatting YourBookforPublishing(Onlineexample).WritingYourBlurbandAdvertisingCopy.BuildingaSeries. MarketingandAdvertising.OnlineResourcesandVideos(AccesstoresourcesandprivateFacebook group) Andmore!

Review

IfyouhavealwayswantedtowriteaChristmasCozyMysteryanddon’tknowwheretostart,thenthisis thebookforyou.Iwasdelightedtocomeacrossthisresource.Theauthorguidesthereaderthrougheach stageofthewritingandmarketingprocesses.

AlthoughitsgearedtowritingaChristmascozy,theguidecanbeappliedtoanyformofcozymystery writing.Thisismorethanahow-tobooktoread.Italsoprovidesonlineworksheetsforyoutouseateach stageofthewritingandmarketingprocess,enablingthecontenttobetailoredtoyou.Thereareother onlineresourcesavailabletoo,makingthisabooktobetreasured.

Avaluablewritingandmarketingresourceandagreatadditiontomybookcase.

MonthlyWritingPrompts

Wendy H. Jones and Tami C. Brown set this month’s writing prompts. Inspired by a theme of Christmas they provide a range of prompts. Why not give them a try?

HereweareatChristmas,atimeofthe yearrichwithpossibilitiesforthewriter. ThisistruewhetheryoucelebrateChristmasorcompletelydifferentfestivities.Ihope youwilllikethismonth’schoicesofimages, proseandsongs

Words:

Awintermarket

AYuleCandle

Afamilysnowedinaremotecabin

AfamilybarbequeonthebeachinAustralia

Songs:

WhenSantaGotStuckUpTheChimney

Oh,HolyNight

WinterWonderland

ThefirstNoelle

WritingPrompts

(Photographic images by Tami C. Brown)

Images:

Image1:Cardinal

Somesaytheyareangelsandwhenthecardinalis closebyanangelisvisitingyou.

WendyH.Jones TamiC.Brown

LetyourGrinchHeartGrowandGrow

Findasmanyinyourtown,othertownsandpickyourfavoritewaythehomeownerdecorated.

Editor in chief, Wendy H. Jones is the multi-award -winning, best-selling author of adult crime thrillers and cozy mysteries, children’s picture books and non-fiction books for writers. In addition she is a writing coach, partner in Auscot Publishing and Retreats and hosts the Writing and Marketing Show podcast.

Tami C. Brown loves to have her camera ready to snap beauty wherever she goes. Her family and friends, affectionately known as the Queenies, are well prepared for random stops along the journey to have a photo op. She’s grateful for all photography opportunities and the adventures that come along with it.

Image2:

Image3: BabyManger

FirstTimeWriting:ExcitingorScary?

Hannah Elizabeth shares her experience of putting her stories out into the world for the first time.

Asafirst-timewriterthereareplentyof firsts:firstidea,firstburstofinspiration, firstoutline,firstplottingandyourvery firstsentence,paragraphandpage.So,where doesallofthiscomefrom?

Inspirationcancomefromanywhere:aconversationwithafriend,standinginaqueue,overhearingsomeonetalkingonthephone,orsimplysatonabus.Itdoesn’tevenneedtopresent thefulloutlineofastory;itcouldjustbeawhisper.

Forme,inspirationhitrandomlyonedayandI couldn’tgettomynotebookquickenough.Ihad noideawhatIwasdoingorwhatwouldcomeof it,butIquicklymanagedtofilluptwopagesof notes. Thatwasthenitforafewmonths.Idid gobacktomylaptopoccasionallyandaddto mynotesandattemptedsomeformofastory, butonthewholeIdidn’tdomuchelse.Iknew thesparkwaswithinmeandIfeltexcited.

Afterafewmonthsofslowlygoingbacktoitbit bybit,Idevelopedahabitofwriting,andthe charactersandplotcametogether.AsIwrote, partsofthestorystayedandpartsofitchanged. Istilldidn’tfullyknowwhereIwasgoingwithit butwasmorethanhappytogoalongforthe ride.Overtimeawholestorycametolife,characters,asolidplot,theoddtwistandanending.

onmystory,thenwhatamIdoing?Tobeatthe block,Ihadtoforcemyselftodosomethingelse tooccupymymind;read,goforawalk,watcha filmorgooutwithmypartnerandfriends.As wellasthisIhadtolearntorestmymindand stepbackfrombeingcreativeallthetimeand givemyselfsomeTLC!

Goingbacktoitcanbebothexcitingandoverwhelming,whetherI’mgoingbacktoitafew hourslaterorafewdayslater.I’mexcitedtoget backintoitwithnewideas,newcharactersand such;fullsteamahead.Itendtofindafterafew daysIbecometoooverwhelmedandenduprereadingpagesandpagesbeforeloggingoffthe laptopandslammingthelidshut.So,Itakea breakagain.

Settingtherhythmagaincanbedifficult.I’ve recentlylearnttosetmyselfsmalltasksforthe

chapterI’mworkingonandcrossitoffasIgo. Writingatcertaintimesofthedaycanhelpas well.

Sharingworkislikeasee proudofthepieceI toshareitandgetitoutthereandbaskineveryone’scomplimentsandpraises.Ontheother hand,Iamalsoabsolutelyterrifiedofsharingmy work.Itexposesmetojudgement,someof whichImaynotwanttohear.Criticismcanbe verydemotivatingandittookahugeleapof faithtosharesomethingthatfeltsointrinsically partofme.Iwouldrecommendsharingyourfirst draftwithsomeoneclose,whoknowsyouand willhopefullybekind.Thiswaythenegative feedbackwillhopefullyhurtless.Thehardest parttowassendingitouttofellowwriters.Oh boy!

Confidencehasneverbeenmystrongsuit;it somethingIamworkingonandwillcontinueto workon.Thatbeingsaid,Itookthatstepand postedapieceofmywritingonline.Thefeedbackwassupportive,kindandahit.ThepositivitygavemeahugeboostofconfidenceandIfelt morecomfortabletoshare.

Isoonfoundoutthatsharingcanbeadouble edgedsword.Ifirmlybelievethatfeedbackis essentialtoaidmywork,butitcanmakeyour emotionsraw.ThecommentsformynextchapterfeltcruelandIwashurt.SomethingIcared about,hadworkedonforalmostfouryearsand

thereactionIgottookthewindoutofmysails.I tooksometimetoletthecommentssinkinIhad thecommentsarejustanopinIthink holdingontothisasanewwriterissoimportant becausewhilethisindustrycanbetough,itdoes notmeanyouarerubbish. Itmeansthatahandfulofpeoplemightnotlikewhatyouwrite,but manyothersmayloveit.Ilearnttoturnthenegativefeedbackintosomethingpositive;ifsomeone howcouldI sclichéandbeen howcouldImakeitstandout againsttherest?Ireceivedgoodfeedbackand usefultipsonhowtohookthereader,andwas

snewandthereissomuch tolearn.Youmeetnewpeopleanddevelopan sscarybecauseitcanbeoverwhelming,difficultandahardtasktocomplete.I wouldsaytoanyonewhohasaninterestinit,to goforit.Itreallycanchangeyourlife.Writingis personalanduniqueandIthinkittrulyisamaz-

Hannah Elizabeth is a newbie writer putting hera giant book nerd who reads most genres and is open to any

ExploringThemesInTheCozyMystery

Wendy H. Jones explores some of the recurring themes in Cozy Mysteries

Ihavebeenreadingcozymysteriesformany yearssinceIfirstfellinlovewiththenovels ofAgathaChristieattheageoften.Whilst thiswasnottheusualreadingmaterialforatenyear-old,mymotherandthelocallibrarydecideditwastimeformetomoveontoadultfiction givenIhadalreadydevouredthebooksinthe entirechildren’ssectionofthelibrary.

Myloveofcozymysteriesneverwaned.Then,as anadult,IpickedupacopyofDonnaAndrews, The Penguin Who Knew Too Much,andlaughed mywaythroughthebook.MytypicalBritishreserveflewoutofthewindow,andIknewIwasa lifelongfanofthecozy.

Fastforwardtothepresentdayandthispassion hasturnedmeintoawriterofcozymysteries. Thishasgotmethinkingaboutwhatthethemes arewhenconsideringthegenre.Oneoftherecurringthemesisthattheyshouldbelightheartedand,inmanycases,humorous.

IcitedAndrewsasagoodexampleofawellwrittenhumorousmysterybutonecannotcoverthis themewithoutconsideringJanetEvanovich’s StephaniePlumseries.Theseareliterallya laughoutloudcaperfromstarttofinish.Noone seemstoknowwhattheyaredoingandyeteverythingturnsoutrightintheend.

Thisbringsmeneatlyontomynexttheme.The maincharacter,thesleuth,shouldnotbea memberoflawenforcement.Yes,thereare someexceptionstothis,suchasM.C.Beaton’s HamishMacbethseries,butoverall,thesleuthin acozyshouldbeanamateurasshouldtheir sidekick;yes,theamateursleuthusuallyhasa

sidekick.However,themaincharactercanhavea relativeorfriendinlawenforcement.

StephaniePlum ssidekickisLula,aplussizelady whosqueezesintosupermodelsizeclothes.She isafabulouscharacterandlargerthanlifeineveryway.Plum’slawenforcementboyfriendprovidesthepolicepresence.

Hobbiesandinterestsareusuallythecentral themeinmostcozymysteries.Thesearefarrangingandasearchforcozymysterybookswillbring upaplethoraofdifferentthemessuchaspets, cooking,knitting,crochet,reading,stampcollecting,winelovers,artandsomuchmore.If thereisahobby,Icanguaranteeyoutherewillbe abookseriesaroundthis.

Youmaybethinking,ifthishasalreadybeen done,whyshouldIbotherwritingit?Trustme, youwillputyourownstamponit–especiallyif youarewritingaboutstampcollecting.Okay, enoughofthejokes.Youcanalsowritecoziesset aroundplacessuchasvillages,café’s,pubs,libraries,carehomes,retirementvillagesoreven solicitorsoffices.

Noworkplaceorsettingistaboo.Ireadanexcellentseriesofcozymysteriessomeyearsagothat

wassetintheInnsofCourtinLondonwiththe maincharactersbeingbarristers.Youcouldarguebarristersarepartoflawenforcementbut, let’sfaceit,youraveragebarristerdoesn’tusuallygooutandinvestigatethecrime.

Cookingandbakingalsofeatureheavilyinmany cozymysteriesandthebooksusuallyincluderecipes.Inmyshortstory,‘TheProofisinthePudding’,intherecentlyreleased A Right Cozy Christmas Crime, asnowballcheesecakeispartofthe storyline.So,therecipeisincluded.

Ifyouwanttoreadanexcellentseriesbased aroundcooking,tryJoannaFluke’sHannah SwensonMysteries.Inauniquetwist,Libby Klein’smaincharacterisglutenfree,sotherecipesareglutenfree.

TitlesofCoziesareoftenaplayonwordssuchas For Richer, For Deader byHelenGolden.Aparticularfavouriteofmineis The Silence of the Flans (An Emergency Dessert Squad Mystery).Seriously, howcananyoneresistreadingabookwiththat title.

Itisalsonecessarytoconsiderthemurdererina cozymystery.Theyareoftenwellknowninthe communityandtheirmotivationisusuallygreed, revengeorevenboth.However,aswithanywritingthecozymysterywriterdoesnotneedtolimit themselvestothese.Manycozywriterscover hardhittingthemessuchasenvironmentalissuesorevendrugsandgangs.

WhilstIcouldwaxlyricalaboutthistopicfornumerouspages,thisisanarticle,ratherthana book,andImustdrawittoaclose.Ihopethis hasgivenyouenoughtowhetyourappetiteand getyoustarted.Iwouldencourageyoutogive writingacozymysteryago.Youmightsurprise yourselfandloveitjustasIdo.

Wendy H. Jones is the multi-award-winning, bestselling author of adult crime thrillers and cozy mysteries, children’s picture books and non-fiction books for writers.

FemmeFatalesandFlawedWomen:WritingStrong FemaleLeadsinScandi-Noir

Biba Pearce discusses why female leads in Scandinavian noir are not only strong but complex and relatable and why such characters provide for a compelling read.

Scandinaviannoirhaslongbeenknownfor itsunflinchinglookatsociety’sdarkercorners,butinrecentyears,ithasalsobecomeknownforitsuniqueportrayaloffemale protagonists.Thesewomenarecomplex,flawed, andlayeredinwaysthattraditionalfemmefatalesorclassicnoirheroinesrarelyare.CharacterslikeLisbethSalanderfrom The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo leadthisevolution.Ratherthan embodyingseductionordeception,theyaredefinedbyresilience,independence,andanoftenruthlesscommitmenttotheirownsenseofjustice.

Inmynewseries,startingwith Cold Reckoning,I introduceAvrilDahl,acharacterwhoexemplifies thecomplexityandinnerconflictthatmakes Scandinaviannoirheroinessocompelling.Asan FBIagenthauntedbyadarkfamilylegacy,Avril’s journeydeviatesfromthestereotypesassociated withboththeclassicfemmefataleandtraditional femaledetectives.HerstorytapsintotheScandinaviannoirtrendofportrayingwomenwhoare tough,morallyambiguous,anddrivenbyanintensesenseofpurpose–womenwhodefyconvention,oftenstraddlingthelinebetweenheroismandobsession.

TheEvolutionfromFemmeFatalestoFlawed Heroines

Theclassicfemmefatalearchetypedatesbackto theearlydaysofnoircinemaandliterature, wherethe“fatalwoman”usedherallureandcunningtomanipulateorseducetheprotagonist, oftenleadingtohisruin.Thesewomenwerepowerfulbutinawaythatwasalmostalwaystiedto theirsexuality.Incontrast,Scandinaviannoirhas shiftedawayfromthisportrayal,givingusfemale characterswhoarepowerfulnotbecauseoftheir

seductiveallure,butbecauseoftheirinner strength,resourcefulness,andcomplexpsychology.

IncreatingAvril,Iwantedtostaytruetothistraditionofnuanced,realisticfemaleleadswhoare morethanjustloveinterestsorfoilstomaleprotagonists.Avrilisneitherafemmefatalenora womandefinedbyherrelationshipswithmen. Instead,sheisafiercelyindependentcharacter whosedrivingmotivationisherneedforjustice –onethatbecomesdangerouslypersonalafter sheuncoversthetruthabouthermother’smurder.Herneedforresolutiondoesn’tmakeher traditionally“heroic,”butitdoesmakeherrelatableandhuman,asshewrestleswithherown identity,self-worth,andmoralboundaries.

ShapedbyTrauma

Avril’scomplexityisrootedinhertraumaticpast andherunresolvedinnerconflicts.In Cold Reckoning,shefinallycomesface-to-facewiththe serialkillershe’sbeentrackingforadecade. Thisrevelationdoesn’tjustshakehersenseof self itraisesuncomfortablequestionsabout herrelentlesspursuitofjustice,andthetollit’s takenonherlife.Unlikeclassicfemaledetectiveswhoareoftendepictedaspolishedoroverlycompetent,Avril’scharacterembracesmessinessandimperfection,qualitiesthatmakeher deeplyrelatable.

BibaPearce

WritingAvril’scharacterhasbeenanexercisein balancingherstrengthswithhervulnerabilities. Whileshe’saskilledinvestigator,shealsohasa guardednessthatsometimesisolatesherfrom others,leavinghervulnerableinwaysthatare rarelyexploredintraditionalnoir.Herrelationshipsarestrained,andherinteractionswithothersaretingedwithasuspicionandemotionaldetachmentthatmakeherachallenging butfascinating charactertofollow.

ScandinavianNoir’sRealistic,GrittyHeroines

Scandinaviannoirhasbecomeknownforits complex,layeredportrayalsoffemaleprotagonists.Thesewomenaresurvivorswhooftengrapplewiththeirowntraumaswhiletheyinvestigate thecrimesofothers.Theyoperateinmorallyambiguousspaces,embodyingthegenre’sexistentialquestionsandthemesofalienation.Rather thanbeingsimply“strong,”theyaredepictedas complicated,withflawsandscarsthatdon’t makethemweakerbutratherdeepentheirhumanity.

Unlikethefemmefatale,Avrildoesn’tuseher looksorcharmtogetwhatshewants,sherelies onherintelligence,andsometimesherwillingnesstomanipulate,traitsthatputherinmorally challengingsituations.

TheAllureofFlawedFemaleProtagonists

ReadersofScandinaviannoiraredrawntothese heroinespreciselybecausetheyarefarfromper-

fect.Theyrepresentrealwomen flawed,determined,andsometimesdriventoextremesbythe injusticestheyface.CharacterslikeAvrilresonate becausetheychallengetheboundariesofwhatit meanstobea“heroine.”Sheisbothdeeply scarredandincrediblyresilient,morethanwilling tobendtherulestofindjustice,evenifitmeans riskingherownsoulintheprocess.

Asthegenrecontinuestoevolve,characterslike AvrilDahlhighlighttherichnessofScandinavian noir’sportrayalofwomen.Herstory,likethatof manyotherflawedheroines,tapsintoadeeper fascinationwiththehumanpsycheandourown capacityfordarknessandredemption.

Forreaderslookingforfemaleleadswhoarenot onlystrongbutcomplex,relatable,anduncomfortablyhuman,Scandinaviannoir andcharacterslikeAvril provideacompellingjourney.The femmefataleofclassicnoirmaybearelicofthe past,butthestrong,morallyambiguousScandinaviannoirheroineisheretostay,withallher complexityintact.

Biba Pearce is a crime writer and author of the DCI Rob Miller, Kenzie Gilmore and Shrap Nelson series. Her books have been shortlisted for the Feathered Quill and the CWA Debut Dagger awards, and The Marlow Murders was voted best crime fiction book in the Indie Excellence Book Awards. Biba lives in Surrey where many of her books are set.

KeepingItShort

DianneAscroftdiscussesthekeyelementsthat makeforagoodCozyChristmasstory.

EarlierthisyeartheSistersinCrimeOnce UponACrimeUK/EUchaptersetoutto produceashortstoryanthology.Aswe wroteandpeereditedthestoriesforthebook, wediscoveredthatwewerecomfortablewriting novelsandnovellas,butsomeofusfoundit morechallengingtofitourwritingintothetighterwordcountofashortstory.

Dependingonwhoyouask,themaximumword countforthisformisbetween7,500and10,000 words.

Since A Right Cozy Christmas Crime wasreleased byScottandLawsonPublishingacoupleof weeksago,I’vegivensomethoughttohowto tacklewritingacozymysteryshortstory.Ithink thekeytodoingsoistoscaleitdown.Insteadof buildingafull-sizedhouse,buildaminiature one.Almosteveryelementthatisfoundinthe largerhousewillbetherebutinamuchmore compactform.

Whatarethebasicelementsthatarerequired? Inmyopinion,itboilsdowntoplot,peopleand place.

Theplotisthejourneyfromthepointwherea crimehappens,usuallyamurder,tothepoint whenthemaincharactersolvesthecrimeand catchestheperpetrator.

Theplotneedstobesimpleenoughtounfold withinthesetwordcountforthestory.Focussingonasinglestorylineandalimitednumber ofsuspectsisthebestwaytoaccomplishthis. Thereisrarelyroomforsubplotsormorethan twoorthreesuspectsinashortstory.

DianneAscroft

Asuccessfulshortstoryneedstoallowspacefor theactiontohappen,thecluestobeunveiled, thesuspectstobeinvestigated,andtheperpetratorandmotivetobeidentified.

‘The plot needs to be simple enough to unfold within the set word count for the story.’

Readerswanttoattempttosolvethemystery themselvessoincludingplotdetailsorsuspects thatcannotbefullyexploredwithinthestory andneedtobeexplainedattheendwillresultin anunsatisfactoryexperienceforreaders.

Peoplearethesecondbasicelement.Cozymysteryfanswantauthenticcharacters,with strengthsandweaknesses,thattheycancare aboutandrootfor.

‘There is rarely room for subplots or more than two or three suspects in a short story. ‘

It’snotnecessarytowritedetailedphysicaldescriptionsorlongexpositionsaboutacharacter’scurrentsituationorbackground.Choosing afewpertinentdescriptivedetails,aswellasusingdialoguecompetently,willbringthemtolife. Placeisthefinalbasicelement.

Ithinkoneofthethingsthatdrawsreaderstoa cozymysteryisasettingthatappealstothem. Thisisacrimegenrewhereweswapgrittyfor charming.

Readerswanttoimmersethemselvesintheirliterarysurroundings,notberepelledbythem. Again,aswithcharacters,placescanbeevoked usingbriefdescriptions.Capturetheessenceof theplace.Useallfivesensesbutdon’tbelongwinded.

Short,strikingwordimageswillevoketheplace inthereader’smind.

Writerswhocantieplot,peopleandplacetogetherinasimpleyetcaptivatingmannerwill havemasteredwritingshortcozymysteries.

Dianne Ascroft writes the Century Cottage Cozy Mysteries series, set in 1980s small town Canada. Writing cozy mysteries allows her to explore the characters and the place, as well as the mystery, at the heart of each story. https:// www.dianneascroft.com

It’sBetterTogether by

KathrynHolme

Everyoneknowsthatwritingismostlyasolitaryactivity:hoursspenthunchedovera laptoporwritinglong-handinoneofmany notepads.Iaminaweofwriterswhosaytheycan writeforsixhours,orcanproduce1000wordson adailybasis.

Inallhonesty,myusualdayinvolvesgettingdistractedbysocialmedia,undertakinghousehold choresorgoingforwalkswithfriends.WhenI eventuallysitdowntobeginwriting,Ifeelexhaustedfromtheday’sactivitiesandI’mtempted toreadanovelinstead.

Therefore,Iwasapprehensiveaboutaccepting aninvitationtojoinawrite-insession.Imetup withthreeothermembersofCityWritersin LocheeLibraryonTuesday12th November.We wereallocatedalargetable,andstaffprovided uswithhotdrinksandbiscuits.

Weshareddetailsofourcurrentwritingprojects anddiscussedfutureplans,includingpotential competitionstoenter.Ienjoyedhearingabout thevarietyofprojectsbeingundertakenbythe otherwriters.Iwaseveninvitedtocontributeto afuturecosycrimeanthology,whichmotivated metocontinueworkingonmynovella-in-flash aboutatheftatavillagehall.

Ifounditstrangenotbeingatmyusualdeskand ittookmeawhiletosettle.Someoftheother libraryuserswerenoisy,engaginginconversationsaboutthecostoflivingcrisis.However,the factthattheotherwriterswereworkinginspired metoputpentopaper.

Afteralmosttwohoursofwriting,Iwasdelighted todiscoverI’dfilledseveralpagesofmynotepad withanoutlineformynovella-in-flashandfive shortpiecesofflash.IthadbeenthemostproductivewritingsessionI’dhadinalongtime.To celebrate,weheadedtoacaféforlunch.I’malreadylookingforwardtothenextwrite-insession.

Kathryn Holme is a flash fiction writer, playwright and children's author. Her award-winning picture book- Captain Kit- was published in May 2024. Some of Kathryn's scripts have been performed at the Byre Theatre and at Dundee Fringe.

WhyReadCozyatChristmas?

Sheena Macleod explores why, like many others, she turns to cozy reads over the festive period and looks at some of the different cozy Christmas subgenres available.

Throughouttheyear,Ireadalargenumber ofmysteries.But,asthefestiveperiodarrivesmyreadinghabitsshifttoincludea widerangeofCozyChristmas-themedbooks.And Iamnotalone.

So,whyreadcozyatChristmas?Isitbecause therearesomanywonderfulbooksavailableat thistimeofyear,oristheremoretoitthanthis? ThereiscertainlynoshortageofCozyChristmas readstochoosefrom,andtheyareavailableina widerangeofsub-genresincluding,mysteries, humorous,historical,culinary,crafts,romantic andmuchmore.

CozyingupwithaChristmasreadbesidethefire onacoldwinter’sdayornightalsohelpsbuild thatfestivefeeling. Christmas-basedcozyreads areoftenpackedwithtraditionsandastrong senseoffamilyandcommunity.Readerscanexperienceallofthisvicariouslythroughengaging withthecharacters.

Festive-themedcozybookscanleavereaderswith awarm,fuzzyfeelingresultingfromthereleaseof the‘feel-good’hormone,dopamine

Readerscanalsofindinspirationandideaswithin thepagesofafestivecozybook;fromdecorating hollywreaths,creatingChristmascraftswithjars andtwinklinglightsandevenfindingafewnew Christmasrecipestotry.

Whateveryourreasonforreadingacozymystery atChristmas,therearelotsofbooksoutthereto choosefrom.Herearesomefestiveexamples.

FirstupisacozyChristmashistoricalmystery, Murder at Midwinter Manor byAnitaDavidson.

AGoldenAge,stand-alonecountryhousecozy crimesetin1916.Thisisbookthreeintheseries. DesperateforaweekendChristmas breakfrom war-tornLondon,HannahMerrillvisitshersister atMidwinterManor-anEnglishcountryestate.

Themanor-houseisalreadyfilledwithrelatives andmerrymakers.Whenadeadbodyisfoundin thelibraryandapreciousrubyisstolenfromanotherguest,itappearsHannah’sholidayit’sgoingtobememorableforallthewrongreasons.

Withthehousesnowedin,andthelocalpolice forceunabletofindacrediblesuspect,Hannah andherAuntVioletrealisethatonceagainit’sup tothemtosolvethemystery.

Nextupisa locked-room mystery, The Christmas Murder Game byAlexandraBenedict

ThisChristmasistodiefor...Letthegamebegin. Twelveclues. Twelvekeys. TwelvedaysofChristmas. ButwhowillsurviveuntilTwelfthNight?

Ifyouloveagoodchallenge,thenthisintriguing locked-roommysteryhaspuzzlesgaloretosolve.

LilyArmitageneverintendedreturningtothe grandfamilyhomewherehermotherdiedtwenty -oneChristmasesago.Thatis,untilshegetsaletterfromheraunt,askinghertoreturntoEndgameHousetotakepartinanannualtradition: theChristmasGame.Thechallenge?Solvetwelve clues,tofindtwelvekeys.Theprize?Thedeedsto themanorhouse.

Lilydoesn’twantthehouse,butreturnsbecause ofanotherofheraunt’spromises:theclueswill revealwhokilledhermother.So,forthetwelve daysofChristmas,LilystaysatEndgameHouse withherestrangedcousinstounraveltheriddles thatholdthekeytothefamilyhomeanditsdarkestsecrets.

Whenasnowstormcutsthemofffromthevillage, thegameturnsdeadly.

Forthenextcozymysterysub-genre,howabouta culinarycozymystery?It’stimetodeckthehalls withmurder. The Christmas Cake Murder byRosieA Pointisashort,sweetculinarycozymysteryto warmyouuponachillyafternoonorevening.

Book13,of25,inthe Bite-sized Bakery Cozy Mystery series. (194pages) Christmas Cake Murder isa fun,festivewhodunnitfilledwithChristmastraditions,asplashofromanceandaculinarytheme.

InPrattlebarkVillage.RubyandBeehavecreated theirnewesttreatforChristmas mint-chocolate cupcakeswithfrostingChristmastreetoppers.It’s Ruby’sfavouritetimeoftheyear,andtheyare bothinhighspirits.

EverythingisperfectlyChristmassy,untilRuby andBeefindthemselvesinthemiddleofamurder.Theyfindthedeadbodyofacarolleronthe streetinfrontofthefoodtruck.It’smurderby Christmastrimming,andRubyandBeearenot goingtorestontheirlaurels.Solvingthismystery mightevenuncoveranother.

WithChristmas,murder,andmysteryafoot,can thebakingduosolvethemysterybeforeit’stoo late?

Ifyoulikealargedashofhumourinyourfestive readsthenthereisnoshortageoflaugh-out-loud cozymysteriesaround.

Pineapple Gingerbread Men byAmyVansanthits thespotforfestivehumourwithlotsoftwistsand turns.

Book7,of23,inthePineapplePortMysteries. Santaisfounddeadwearingagingerbreadcostumeandwithanelf-on-the-shelfstuffedinhis mouth.

SheriffFrankasksanewprivatedetective,Charlotte,tohelpcrackthecase,butshehasnoidea thatthosegingerbreadmenaregoingtostart showingupeverywhere.WhatdidSantadoto makethemsoangry?Andwhat'sthesecrethiddeninhiscolourfulChristmas-themedbureau?

Charlottesplitshertimebetweensearchingfor Santa'skillerandhelpingDeclan'scrazyexStephaniestopacorruptdistrictattorneyinexchangeforabookthatcouldhelpsolvemore crimesinthefuture.

Charlotteneverthoughtshe'dhelpStephanie withanything but,coulditbecalculating Stephaniewho'sfinallybittenoffmorecookie thanshecanchew?

Ifyoupreferasprinklingofromanceinyourcozy mysteryreads, Mistletoe Murder byKatieForrest writingasMonaMarple.providesbothromance andhumour.

Book4,of7,inAChristmas Cozy Mystery Series. (140pages)Thedeathofaneccentricmillionaire inCandyCaneHollowhaseveryonesobbinginto theirmincepies.

Whenthewillisread,theestatehasn’tbeenleft tohisfamily,buttoanelfwhodidn'tevenknow him.It'stimetoseehowmoneychangespeople...andnoteveryonewillsurvivethefallout.

Hollyfindsherselfcaughtupinanothermurder, butshealreadyhasenoughonherplate.Hersisterisvisitinghernew,festivehomeforthefirst time,andtogethertheyhavetosortoutthefinal plansfortheWinterBall.

Oh,andissheimaginingthings,orisherdimpled dishofaboyfriendactingsuspiciously?

Sheena Macleod lectured at the University of Dundee where she gained her PhD. She now lives in a seaside town in Scotland. She writeshistorical fact and fictionnovelsaswellascozymysteries.

StuttgartCityLibrary,Stuttgart,Germany

Designed by architect Eun Young Yi, the unique Stuttgart City Library building drawsvisitorsfromallovertheworld.

Opened in 2011, gleaming white surfaces and crisp lines create a fresh, modern and relaxed feelwithintheunusualnine-storybuilding.

Taking inspiration from the Pantheon in Rome, architects adopted a minimalist approach. The open multi-floor reading room is shaped like an upside-down pyramid and, according to visitor reviews,isasightworthseeing.

The only colours within the public library come from the covers of the books displayed on the shelves.

Contents include a permanent exhibition on Stuttgart authors, a central children's library, a musiclibraryandagraphicslibrary.

If you are planning a visit to the library, remember to take along your camera. This breathtaking building is sure to inspire as well as relax you. a rooftop terrace offers

ANewChristmasTradition

Children’s author and creative writing coach Jenny Sanders discusses some of the things she does year upon year to get her into the festive mood. Including an annual ritual of reading Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol.

I’masuckerforChristmas. There’snothingI likebetterthanimmersingmyselfinallthe ‘feels’oftheseason.

TheyearIstoodinthechild’sfantasyworldof Macy’s,NewYork,justafterThanksgivingweekend,IthoughtI’dreachedthepinnacleofChristmasness. Itwasjaw-droopinglybeautiful;averitablecornucopiaofredandgreen;anescapist utopiaamidtheunrelentingwintergrey,which oozedwarmth,hopeandbonhomie.

Idon’tknowhowyouchoosetocelebratethe season,ifatall,butpartofgettingintothe Yuletidemoodformeistosurroundmyselfwith visualandaural-themedgoodies.

Ilaunchintothefinalmonthofeachyearusinga combinationofAdventdevotionalsandseasonal anthologies,attendingasmanycarolconcerts andservicesasIcan(fouronasingledayismy record,oneofwhichhadalivedonkey–truestory),andvisitingtheChristmasdisplaysinnumerousshopsandgardencentrestosoakintheatmosphere.

Favouritemusicalaccompanimentsareprovided bythechoirofCambridgeCollege(NineLessons andCarols),AmyGrantandMichaelBublé(other artistsareavailable).ClearlyIamstillachildand amverymuchOKwiththat.

AsfarasI‘mconcerned,thenorthernhemisphereistheonlyplacetobeifyouwanta ‘proper’Christmas. Sunandwarmtemperatures havetheirplace(alltheotherelevenmonthsof

JennySanders

theyearforme,please),butyoucan’tappreciatetwinklyfairy-lightswhendazzlingsunlight meansyoucan’tactuallytellwhetherthey’reon ornot.

Aquickchecklistfora‘proper’ChristmasfollowsforthosewhoareflounderingasDecember swingsaround. Besuretoincludethefollowing requisiteactivitiesonyourlist:

•Closingthecurtainsathalfpastthreewhenit getsdark.

•ListeningtoChristmasmusiconrepeatfrom December1st(earlierifyou’reintheUSAie: fromThanksgiving).

•Swathingyourselfinumpteenlayersofclothes toventureforthandgathersufficientsuppliesto nourishasmallarmyforamonth.

•DiggingouttheChristmasdecorations.Contemplatingthrowingoutthedisintegratingones yourchildrenmadeatpre-schoolthirtyyears agobutallowingwavesofsentimentalnostalgia toconvinceyoutokeepthemanyway.

•Devotinganentiredaytoputtingthemuputilisingdrawingpins,pushtacks,string,tape,rubberbandsandthetackystuffthatwillalmost

certainlyruinyourpaintworkforever.Pause onlyforfortifyingfestivetreatsandmulled wine.

•Dustingoff,washingandusinganyChristmas chinayoumayhave,regardlessofwhetherit matches.

•Writingafamilynewsletterinwhichyouconsciouslyrefrainfromboastingaboutyourchildren’sexploits(‘RupertisaGrade25virtuoso concertpianist,Fenelladonatedakidney,Tarquinraisedacoolmillionforcharity,Felicity becameabrainsurgeon/nuclearphysicist/ astronaut’etc.)rememberinghowmuchother people’sbraggingletterscanbanishtheChristmasspiritofgenerosityinaheartbeat.

•Compulsoryhotchocolateandastringof mandatorymovieswhichmustincludeatleast fiveofthefollowing: Home Alone (thefirstone–obviously), The Muppet Christmas Carol, Miracle on 34th Street, The Snowman, Its’ A Wonderful Life. (Yes,you’vegotme;alloftheabove.Other moviesareavailable,butwhybother? There’s onlysomuchtimeinaday/week,right?)

•Guilt-freemincepies. Everyoneknowsthat caloriesdon’tcountinDecember.

•Forthemostpatient:constructionofagingerbreadhouseeitherfromscratchorakit. This requiresasteadyhandtoavoidsuggestionsof seismicactivityrenderingyourconstructionunstable–morepost-officepartyvibethansturdy andenduringedifice.Also,watchoutthatthe dogdoesn’tgetoverinvolvedhere.

•Giftwrapping,andtherealisationthatonce againyouhaveboughtpresentsofsuchawkwardshapethatthetaskisfraughtwithdifficulty,plustheannualwrestletofindtheendofthe stickytape.Nextyeareveryonewillreceivea book–theobviousandperfectchoice,asyou remindyourselfeachyearbutsomehowforget.

MoreimportantthananyoftheseinmycalendaristheannualritualofreadingCharliesDickens’ A Christmas Carol.Imightarguethatthisis thewrittenworkthatmade,andstillmakes,

Christmaswhatitis,althoughtheBiblewillalwaysgiveitarunforit’smoney.

It’snotjustthesheergeniusofthenovellawith itsrichsymbolism,butthefactthatIgobacktoit yearafteryear.Thetaleisasfamiliartomenow asthosehand-crafted,lop-sided,seriously-theworse-for-weartreedecorationsofyesteryear. It’scertainlystoodthetestoftimemuchbetter thananyofthose.

The1843moralitytaleofEbenezerScroogewho turnsfromhismiserable,selfish,money-grasping life,respondingtothespiritsofChristmaspast, presentandfuture,stillpacksamerryfestive punch. It’stheGhostofChristmasPresentwho encouragesScroogeto,‘Comeinandknowme better,man!’–aninvitationopentoeveryadult andchild. Hisredemptiveandrevolutionary changeofheartstandsasashininglightofhope thatisn’tconfinedtotheChristmasseasonfor anyofus.

Ilovethat. ButwhydoI,andmanyothers,go backtothisoldfriendofataleeachyeardespite thefactthatweknowexactlywhat’sgoingto happen? Therearenosurprisesintheplot;the charactersarewellestablishedandthestoryarc isset.Thisistheverynatureoftradition;aretellingofastorythathasbecomepartofthewarp andweftoftheChristmasexperience.

EveryDecemberyoucanbesuretofindtheatrical performancesofDickens’work,oranewfilmic interpretationoncinemaorTVscreens. Some focusonthespookierpartofthestory,someon thechangeofcircumstanceforthepoor,impoverishedCratchitfamily,andallrejoiceinthesparingofTinyTimandthefinaldecoration:‘God blessus,everyone.’ Isthatnot,afterall,thereal SpiritofChristmas,echoingtheancientmessage oftheangelstotheshepherdsonahillinBethlehemdeclaring:‘GlorytoGodinthehighestand onearth,peaceonthoseonwhomHisfavour rests’?

Dickens’taleisathoroughlysatisfyingstory,but itpromptsaquestionandachallengeforuswriters:couldwealsowriteaseasonalstorythat wouldworkitsmagicinasimilarway?

Mightitbepossibleforanotherwriter–youor me–topullofftheenviablecoupofproducing aworkthatcanstandthetestoftimeandbecomeasmuchapartofhumanity’sDecember traditionas A Christmas Carol?Canwetoocraft acompellingtalethatdemandsreaderspullit outeveryyeartoreadagainandagain,andto giveasagifttotheirlovedones?

Quiteapartfromtheappealingideaofrakingin royaltieseveryyearwithoutevengettingoutof bed,thatwouldsurelybeataskworthaddressing.

Wehaveanotheryeartopullitoff.

Goodluck,andseasonsgreetingtoyouall!

Checklistforgettingintothefestive mood:

• ListentoChristmasmusiconrepeat

• DigouttheChristmasdecorations

• Allowwavesofsentimentalnostalgiatoconvinceyounottothrowanydecorationsout

• DevoteawholedaytoputtinguptheChristmasdecorations-pausingonlyforfortifying festivetreatsandmulledwine.

• UseanyChristmasdishesyoumayhave,regardlessofwhetheranyofthemmatch.

• Drinkhotchocolate

• WatchastringofChristmasmovies

Spiritual Feasting is Jenny’s faith-based exploration of authentic living in tough times. She has two collections of humorous children’s stories: The Magnificent Moustache and other stories and Charlie Peach’s Pumpkins and other stories. She is available for author visits for creative writing sessions with Key Stage 2 children in the UK.

• Constructagingerbreadhouse-eitherfrom scratchorusingakit.

• Wrapgiftsearly

• ReadCharlesDickens’ A Christmas Carol

AMagicalWritingRetreat

Author Linda Mather discusses her experience of attending a writing retreat and identifies moments that were particularly special for her.

It’satinyrailwaystationwithnophonesignal butit’sonlyashortwalktotheLibrary. Look outforthelittlePostOfficeandturnupthe lanebythechurch.’ AsIgavetraveldirectionsto oneofmySistersinCrime,Irealisedthatthis WritingRetreatsoundedmoreandmorelikea murdermysteryitself.

AllIneededtoaddwasthat11crimewriters weregatheringinaVictorianlibraryinrural WalesonaNovemberweekendandIcouldhave pitchedthestorytoNetflix.

Actually,therewerenomurderscommittedat Gladstone’sLibrarythatweekendandnostories optionedforTV–notyetanyway. Something moreimportanthappened. MembersoftheUK/ EUChapterofSistersinCrimetravelledfromIreland,France,EnglandandScotland,meeting eachotherinpersonfortheveryfirsttime. Up tothenwehadmostlyseeneachotherforonline writingpartiesandChaptermeetings.

Ofcourse,thatwasnotthemainreasonpeople travelledallthatway. Nooo,theysaid,they cametowriteofcourse,foraresetafteratough year,tomeetadeadline. Somesaidtheywould writeintheirroomsandonlycomedownfor meals. Whichwasfine. Itwasaretreatafterall.

Butthenthegroupandthelocationcametogethertoworksomemagic. ‘Thisislikemy childhooddreams,’onebest-sellingauthorsaid tomewhensheenteredthereadingroomand lookedaroundinaweatthetoweringshelves crammedwithbooks,thestainedglassandsofas.

AnotherspecialmomentwaswhenChapter membersopenedtheirgoodybagsandfounda

LindaMather

copyofARightCozyChristmasCrime,editedby WendyHJones,whohascollectedandpublishedourChristmasstories.

Forsome,thiswasthefirsttimetheyhadever seentheirworkinprint. Intheevenings,there wasdinnertogetherandgalesoflaughteraswe competedoveraboardgameandthenquieteneddownandtoldstoriesasthenightworeon.

Forme,itwasliterallyadreamfulfilledasIhad alwayswantedtorunaretreat,bringingtogethermyloveoflearningandwriting. Onthelast morning,IsetoutaclusterofwordsIhadcut fromnewspapersandmagazines.

EveryonechoseawordtosumuptheirexperienceoftheRetreat. IwasdelightedwhenpeopleheldupwordslikeFamily,Sharing,Support andCreativity. IlookedatthewordIhadchosen:Reset. AndIrealisedhowmuchmoreit meanttome. Iputthatworddownandpicked upFriendship.

So,evenifNetflixmakemeanofferandexceed allmyauthorlydreams,I’llbetherenextyearto seeifwecancreatethemagicalloveragainand Itrustotherfriendswilltoo.

Linda Mather, author of the Jo & Macy Murder Mysteries published by Joffe Books.

WritingCozyHistoricalMysteries

Lexie Conyngham advises that historical cozy mysteries are possible with the right setting and research, while maintaining the genre’s lighter themes and avoiding excessive violence.

Popular settings like post-World War I and Regency periods are highlighted but writers are encouraged to explore other eras as long as the historical details are convincing.

SomeoneoncetoldmeonFacebook–soit mustberight!–thatyoucouldnotwrite historicalcosymysteries.Thepastwastoo darkandterrible,hesaid,lifewastoobrutal,and nocosymysterycouldbewrittenagainstthat background.

Mindyou,youcouldarguethatlifeisbrutalthese days,too,andplentyofcosycrimeiswritten aboutthecontemporaryworld.Andatmany timesinthepastpeoplemightnothavefelt,at least,thattheirliveswereparticularlygrim.

It’saquestionoffindingyoursetting(acosy crimewrittenatthetimeoftheBlackDeath wouldhaveaveryparticularfeel),doingyourresearch,andapplyingthe‘rules’,suchastheyare, ofthecosycrimesubgenretoahistoricalcontext.

Ofcourse,cosycrimeshouldnot,byitsnature, betoonasty,violent,explicit,orbloody.There shouldbenoharmdonetochildrenoranimals.

‘Cosy crime should not, by its nature, be too nasty, violent, explicit, or bloody.’

Thepsychologicaleffectsofamurder(andactually,youdon’tevenhavetohaveamurder) shouldnotbetoolong-lasting.

InAmericanterms,oftencooking,bakingor craftsareaddedintothemix–andwhyshould

thisnotbethecaseinahistorical‘cozy’?

EveninBritishcosycrimeanimalsareofteninvolved,forcomfortandforcomiceffect.Again, inahistoricaltimewhenhorsesanddonkeys werethemainformoftransport,thiscaneasily bemanaged.

Somesettingshaveprovedmorepopularthan otherswhenitcomestohistoricalcosycrime–justaftertheFirstWorldWarcangiveyoutraumatisedheroesanddeprivation,butitcanalso giveyouflappersandboredwomenstartingto maketheirwayintheworld.

‘Some settings have proved more popular than others when it comes to historical cosy crime.’

RegencyromancecanspinoutintoRegencycosycrimeveryeasily–weliketothinkofclever girlsinEmpiredressesandhandsomeyoung meninbreechessolvingdrawingroommysteries.Butthere’snoreasonwhywecan’tbranch out.

AShakespeareansettingwouldbefun,ormaybe aDickensianone.Ithinkthatforcosyhistoricals

Lexie Conyngham

it’sbettertopickasettingthat’sgenerallywell knowntoreaders,sothatthereisn’ttoomuch timespentlayingoutthebackground–cosies shouldbeshortish,lightreadsinaplacethat feelscomfortableandfamiliar,evenifit’safantasyvillagewherethesunonlystopsshiningfor theoccasionalperfectsnowfall.

‘Cosies should be shortish, light reads in a place that feels comfortable and familiar.’ Butwestillneedtoknowourhistoricalperiod wellenoughtoconvincethereader–weneed toknowwhatcrimesarepossible,whatthe punishmentwouldbe(hereweneedtotread carefullyascapitalpunishmentdoesnotsitso wellwiththecosygenre),howthecrimescould beinvestigated,andgenerallyhowourcharacterslivetheirliveswhenthey’renotsolvingthe murderofanElizabethanplaywright’sdodgy landlordwhiletryingtomilkhistworecalcitrant cows,orsneakingaroundthestreetsofVictorianLondonafterajewelthiefwhenyoushould beclerkingonahighstoolinadarkoffice. Thereareplentyofgreatseriestoreadtoput yourselfinthemoodforhistoricalcosycrime–tryCatrionaMcPherson,OlgaWojtas,LyndaWilcoxorCarmenRadtkejustforastart!

Thenwhynothaveagoyourself?

WritingCozyHistoricalMysteries

• Cozycrimeshouldnot,byitsnature,be toonasty,violent,explicit,orbloody. Thereshouldbenoharmdonetochildren oranimals.

• Findyourhistoricalsetting

• Somesettingsaremorepopularthanotherswhenitcomestohistoricalcozycrime.

• Pickasettingthat’sgenerallywellknown toreaders

• AShakespeareansettingwouldbefun,or maybeaDickensianone

• Regencyromancecaneasilyspinoutinto Regencycozycrime

• Youneedtoknowthehistoricalperiod wellenoughtoconvincethereader

• AnimalsareoftenincludedincozyHistoricalmysteries,forcomfortandforcomic effect

• Coziesshouldbeshortish,lightreadsina placethatfeelscomfortableandfamiliar

• Thereareplentyofgreatseriestoreadto putyourselfinthemoodforhistoricalcozy crime

Lexie Conyngham is a historian living in the shadow of the Highlands. Her Murray of Letho and Hippolyta Napier novels are born of a life amidst Scotland’s old cities, ancient universities and hidden-away aristocratic estates. Beyond teaching and research, her days are spent with wool, wild allotments and a wee bit of whisky.

GuideBatsForTheClumsy

Sophie, with the able assistance of Peter Thomas, provides a timely reminder to remain alert to scammers over the festive period.

Asthefestiveseasonisuponus,somany unscrupulousindividualsaretryingto scameverybodywithofferswhicharetoo goodtobetrue.Wefeelweshouldsharethefollowingcautionarytale.

Theadvertwasverypromising.“Areyoucareless?Alwaysbumpingintothings?Keepontrippingoveryourfeet(oryourdogs)?Wehavethe answer.YoutrustGuideDogsfortheBlindand HearingDogsfortheDeaf.

Whatyoureallyneedisthelatestassistanceanimal,yourveryownGuideBatfortheClumsy. Fullytrained–inexpensive–easytolookafter. Whocouldresist?

AtfirstourDaddywasdelightedwhenhisGuide Batwasdelivered.TessaandIweremoresceptical.OurcleverfriendDottysuggestedthey soundedlikeaflybynightoperation:loopy;nutty,evenbatty.

ButDaddywasreassuredthatitwasagenuineGuideBatbytheboxindicatingthatitcame directfromtheAmazon,albeitcuriouslyvia Rockall.AcomprehensivesetofOwner’sInstructionswasincluded.

FEEDING

GuideBatsliveonadietofloveandaffection, supplementedbytheoccasionalsnack.

GENERALCARE

GuideBatsappreciateabathoccasionally,but donotputtheminawashingmachine.Theyget dizzy.

MODEOFUSE

HangyourGuideBatbyitsfeetupsidedownon yourwristlikeabracelet.Itsecho-locationsonar willstopyoufrombumpingintoobjects.Youwill needtolearntofeelyourGuideBat’sverydelicatemovementssteeringyouaroundobstacles. Pleasenotethiscantakeconsiderablepractice andperseverance.

TROUBLESHOOTING

IfyourBatseemsunresponsive,itissometimes hardtotellwhethertheyareawakeorasleep.It isunwisetosurpriseaBatbywakingitupsuddenly.Waituntilitawakesnaturally.”

Threeweekslater,DaddywasstillnaivelyexpectinghisGuideBattoleapintoactionbutit showednosignsofdoingso.Despiteholdingitin its“operatingposition”onmanyoccasions,he failedtosenseanymovementsatallfromit. ThenhereaddowntotheSmallPrintintheInstructions.

UPGRADINGYOURBAT

Youhavepurchaseda“Standard”GuideBat.If youareunabletolearnorarenotsensitive

Sophie

enoughtofeelyourBat’sguidance,youmayfeel theneedtoupgradetoa“Superior”Batoreven an“Ultimate”Bat.

Desperatetoescapehisbumblingineptitude, Daddytooktheplungeandsentoffforamuch moreexpensive"Superior"Bat.Apartfrombeing abitfluffierwecouldn’tseemuchofadifference withthisnewone.Wesuspecttheytrainlotsof batsandthentestthemandsellmostas “Standard”,somewhichdobetteras“Superior”, andthefewwhichshowarealaptitudeforthe workas“Ultimate”Bats.

WerecognisedthatthisnewBatmightbejetlagged,butaftertendaysitstillshowednomore signsofwakingupthanthefirst.Daddyknew thatbatsarenocturnalsohetriedtakingthis “Superior”Batoutat3am.Hedidn’tbumpinto anylampposts,oranypeople.TheGuideBat’s ultrasoundseemstorepelhumans,although unfortunatelynotdogs.

Atthepointofdespair,ourgullibleDaddy lookedattheInstructionManualonemoretime andfoundsomeevensmallerprint.

TERMSANDCONDITIONS

Somepeoplewillneverbesensitiveenoughto recognisetheirBat’sdelicatemovements.That isjustlife.GuideBatsfortheClumsyofferno guaranteeofsuccessandabsolutelynorefunds underanycircumstanceswhatsoever.

Understandablywehaveallbeengreatlydisappointed.GuideBatsfortheClumsyhashada reputableFacebookPageforfifteenyears,but alltheglowingreviewswereadtherehavenow mysteriouslydisappeared.

Theirwebsiteappearstobe“undermaintenance”.Awebsearchonlytakesyouto “BatBuyingGuide&SizingChart –Howto ChooseaBat",butthatseemstobesomething todowithbaseballandtotallyunrelated tobats.

Wefeelrippedoff.Daddyhasnowtwofurrybats

andithasnotbeenpossibletoencourageeither ofthemtoworkastheadvertpromised–orindeedinanywayatall.Theymightjustaswellbe stuffedtoys.

Daddyremainsasclumsyasever.Itseemsthat Guide Bats for the Clumsy arejustanotherexampleofthingspeopletrytosellyou,promisingthey willhelpyoufindyourwaythroughlife.

Actuallytheyarejustafteryourmoney.Theyare alljustfrauds,snakeoil,smokeandmirrors.Caveatemptor–theBatcaveisempty!

So,asyouaresearchingfortheperfectpresents, stayonyourguardforscammers.Haveyourselves afurryspanielChristmasandatail-waggyNew Year.Treatsonearth,goodwilltodogs!

Rev Peter Thomas has published three non-fiction books and is delighted now to assist Sophie in her creative writing projects. Originally a teacher and author in the fields of chemistry and computing, Peter retired in 2023 after 36 years as a Minister of local Baptist Churches. He continues to add to his blog and videos of more than a thousand sermons and reflections found at www.pbthomas.com

PeterThomasandSophie

Writing The Cozy Mystery: Authors’ Perspectives on Their Craft

Reviewedby WendyH.Jones

ISBN:978-1476690827

EditedbyPhyllisM.Betz

Publisher:McFarland Blurb

Thisbookbringstogetheressayswrittenbyanumberofwell-knownwriters ofcozymysteries,includingSherryHarris,AmandaFlower,LeslieBudewitz, andEdithMaxwell,amongothers,whoprovideinsightintotheirapproaches towriting.

Review

Asbothacozymysterywriterandpublisher,Iwasdelightedtoseeanew bookexploringthisgenreandlookedforwardtoreviewingit.Inthisbook

thecozyislookedatthroughthelensofnumerous,prolificauthorsusingtheirowncoziesasareference point.Thetopicisexaminedthoroughlyfromeverypossibleangle.Itwouldbedifficulttocoverthemall inashortreview,soIhavechosenafew,togivethoseinterestedinexploringthegenre,atasteofsometo giveaflavourofthebookasawhole.

Onethemeisthatcoziesareoftenseenaslightandfluffy,butHarrisoutlinesthewaysinwhichmany tackletoughthemes-thosewhichoccupymanyreadersinreallife,suchasenvironmentalissuesamong manyothers.In‘SteppingOutoftheShadowoftheQueenofCrime’,EvansexamineswhetheritispossibleforanycontemporarycozywritertocompetewithAgathaChristie.Herargumentsaresound,andI willleavethecuriousreadertodiscovertheoutcomeandwhetherheorsheagrees.

WhatcanonelearnfromstudyingChristie'sbooksisalsoexplored? Hennrikus'schapter, ‘FairPlayinCozies’,encouragesthewritertoexaminetheirrelationshipwiththereaderandthesenseoffairplayas seenbyeachparty.Thisthemeoffairnessresonatesthroughoutthebook.Overall,onegetsarealsense ofhowdiversethisgenrecanbeandthesheerchallengeofwritingone.Thecozywriterhasthefreedom toputtheirownstamponthestory,whilstadheringtotherulesofthecozygenre.

Thisbookcoverseveryaspectofwritingcozymysteriesthroughitsfourdifferentparts -WritingGenre, WritingTheme,WritingSettingandWritingCharacter.Fromcraftstoculture,diversecharacterstoculture,anddiversesettings,nothingisleftunexplored.Thisthoroughnesssetsthebookapart.Ialsolike thefactthechaptersareshort,allowingforaquickreadwhenthebusywritercansnatchafewmoments toabsorbinformationpertainingtotheircraft.

Iwillfinishbysaying,coziesratherthanbeingthepoorrelationofthecrimeworldaremakingaresurgenceandtheirpopularityisincreasing.Itiswellworthanywriterlookingathowtheycanaddcozymysterywritingtotheirwritingportfolioandthisbookwillhelpthemdoso.ThisisabookwhichIwouldcertainlyrecommendtoanyoneexploringthepossibilityofwritingacozymystery.Woulditalsoappealto thosewhoarealreadywritinginthegenre?Onreflection,yes.Itisimportantforwriterstorevisetheir craft,andthismaysparkideasonhowtheycandiversifyandstrengthentheircurrentoffering.

InkAndQuill,Montrose

byWendyH.Jones

Our Independent Bookshop For December is Ink and Quill, Montrose. Wendy H. Jones tells us why this small, family run bookshop is such a big hit with customers.

SomebookshopsarehugesuchasFoyles inLondon,orBarnesandNobleon5th AvenueinNewYork.Othersaresmallbut packamightypunchintermsoftheirstockand careforcustomers.

OncesuchshopisInkandQuillinMontrose, Scotland.Whilstithasnotbeenopenlongitis certainlymakinganimpactinthelocalcommunity.

Theowner,NicholaParkhasputtogethera spacewhichisinvitingandencouragesthereadertorelaxandbrowse.Shehasacarefullycuratedrangeofbooksreflectingawiderangeof readingtastesfromallgenresbothinternational andlocal.

Herpassionforreadingandbooksisevidentfrom heralmostdailysocialmediapostswhereshe highlightsthebookswhichhavebeendelivered. Astaunchsupporterofauthors,Nicholaputsona widerangeofeventsandsupportslocalauthors.

Iwouldencourageeveryonetovisittheshopif visitingMontrose.

Wendy H. Jones is the multi winning, bestselling author of adult crime thrillers and cozy mysteries, children s picture books and nonfiction books for writers. In addition, she is a writing coach, partner in Auscot Publishing and Retreats and hosts the Writing and Marketing Show podcast.

ReflectandRefresh

Author and mentor Jocelyn-Anne Harvey reflects on her writing and submission goals for 2024 and how the year hadn’t gone to plan.

How’s 2024 been for you? I’m sure it has been a rollercoaster as we’ve gone through the various experiences that life throws at us. What about writingwise? Some of us may have started back in January with a list of goals. We may have wanted to begin our writing journey or experiment with different forms. We may not have even had any expectations other than the desire to have the space to sitdownandexpressourstories.

I’d hoped to submit pieces tocompetitions, continue with my book manuscript and write more articles. However, this year hasn’t quite gone to plan. My writing spreadsheet is looking a little sparse! It’s not that I haven’t written but I haven’t been able to give myself the time I would havelikedtospendstorytelling.

There are many contributing factors and perhaps the simplest beingthat creativity is a funny thing.There can beseasons in our liveswhenwe are simply not in that place, despite our ideas, imaginings and desire to write. And there is something about this season, which can lead us down the path of reflection. The festive lights and comforting familiarities perhaps preparing usfortheturnofapageaswefaceanewyear.

I’ve been reflecting recently. Though I may not have completed allmywritingaims,mycontemplations reveal that I haven’t stopped being a writer. I don’t think we ever can. And if you’re reading this feeling like you’ve lost your writing

vibe – don’t panic – remember your love for words.

Creativity can’t be judged against productivity. Nor is it necessarily about how much we submit or publish. Yes, those are all lovely things and what can encourage us – the joy of having readers. Yet we must remember we are all individuals and that’s what makes our storytelling so beautiful. In this age of comparison, we can assess ourselvestooharshly.

‘Creativity can’t be judged against productivity.’

A short while ago I decide to have a declutter inspired by television shows, which aided my ponderings. You may be rightly wondering how sorting through stuff is linked, but you see, I discovered a folder within all those stacks piled up over the floor. In this folder were poems and short stories I wrote years ago. And as I read them, I concurrently thought, ‘Wow, when did I write this?’ and ‘I want to tweak that line, and that phrase, andthat…’

Discovering these materials sparked my writing muscle and I found myself wanting to spend time withthem.Itwasarelieftohavesomethingwhich

Jocelyn-Anne Harvey

I could edit and expand when I didn’t have the capacitytocreatesomethingnew. Weallknowaboutrewriting.Thistoolinourwriter’s kit is one we use again and again. Returning to those works didn’t feel just like rewriting to me.Instead,Ifeltlike Iwasbeingreintroducedto characters and locations and finding new tangents.Icould switchoffthat inner voice worrying about why I hadn’t written down my flash fiction ideaandfocusonthewordsinfrontofme.

‘Through giving myself space to reflect, I’ve learnt more about my writerly self.’

My imagination was rekindled, and my ideas refreshed due to the distance of time and lived experiences since first writing those pieces. It’s been a joy seeing the stories change through the perspective I’ve woven within them because of who I am now as a writer. The results being that I have polished up material to submit and share nextyear.

More importantly, through givingmyselfspace to reflect, I’ve learnt more about my writerly self. I hope this will help me continue to develop as I navigatethosechallenges!

So, whatever this year’s rollercoaster has been, despite the number of words we’ve written, let’s take the opportunity to contemplate. Then we’ll enter2025energisedandencouragedthatweare writers,andwewillcontinuewithourstorytelling dreams.

Reflect

andRefreshTips

Finding the white page too scary?

Thenwhynothaveasortout?Dig outthosescribbledideasandfirst drafts.Findoldwritingjournalsor computerfiles.You’relookingfor piece/swhichgiveyouthatflashof inspirationandcharacterswhohave moretosay.

Feeling you could have done more?

Goforawalkorcurlupwithamugof hotchocolate.Thinkabouthowyour writingyearhasbeen,whatyou’ve learntandwhatyoucoulddodifferently.Bekindtoyourself.Remember it’sgoodtohavegoalsbutourloveof creativityoutweighsthecontentwe produce.Jotdownthesereflections inyourjournal.

Finally, need some writing motivation?

Onceyou’vedonetheabove,thenset yourselfthreethingsyou’dliketo achievebyspring.Trynottoview themwiththeweightthatNewYear’s resolutionsbring.Instead,theseare realisticexpectationsandideallyan outletforthosepiecesyou’vepolishedup.

Jocelyn-Anne is a published writer, speaker, Creative Writing teacher and mentor who loves encouraging people. She has a MA in Creative Writing and is the author of Not Knowing, but Still Going. Coastal walks, cake and coffee are mandatory activities to spark her imagination.

SUBMISSIONGUIDELINES

Writers’NarrativeeMagazine

We are interested in submissions on any aspect of writing and publishing and will accept simultaneous submissions.AllinterviewsmustbepitchedtotheEditorinChieffirstbeforedoingtheinterview.

We accept varying lengths of submissions depending on the topic - 500, 1000, 1,500. Book reviews can be shorter but should include a substantial review in addition to the book blurb. Only submit previously unpublishedwork(eitheronlineorinprint).

MonthlythemeswillbepromulgatedinboththemagazineandintheFacebookGroup.

Please use Hart’s Rules: The Oxford Style Guide. Light editing will be undertaken. If major editing is required, the article will be returned with general advice on what is required to bring it up to publication standard.

All submissions are to be in Times New Roman or Times, size 12 font, single spaced, with no formatting. Allformattingwillbecarriedoutbytheeditorialteam.

Theonlyimageswhichshouldbesubmittedwithyour articlesareyourauthorphotograph andbookcoversifdoingabookreview.Includeabriefbioandauthorphotographalongwithyourfirstsubmission.

Pleasestatethemonthforwhichyouaresubmittingyourarticle.However,thismaybechangedifitisfelt itbettersuitsadifferentissue.

Writers’Narrativeispublishedmonthly.Submissioncutoffdates:

January/February –7th December

March–7th January

April-7th February

May–7th March

June–7th April

July–7th May

August–7th June

September–7th July

October–7th August

November–7th September

December–7th October

Submissionsviaemailto writersnarrative@gmail.com

Tonominate yourwritinggroup, locallibrary orbookshop tobefeatured in futureissues and for anyqueries including advertising with us email writersnarrative@gmail.com subject headed for the attention of EditorinChief

Whilethereisamonthlythemeandfocus,thiswillnotbetheonlytopicforthemagazine.General articlescanalsobesubmittedforpublication.

Themesfor2025

Month

January/ February Non-Fiction

March HistoricalFictionandNon-Fiction

Theme

April ScienceFictionandFantasy(It’sNationalScienceFictionMonth)

May Worldbuilding

June WritingfortheYAMarket

July WritingHabits

August CoverDesign

September Publishing

October ShortFormFiction

November NarrativeNon-Fiction

December DiversityinWritingandPublishing

CominginFebruary2025

Theme Non-Fiction

FeaturedAuthorInterview

Articles

BookReviews

NewReleases

Andmore….

January/February2025