This was the first cozy mystery series I'd ever heard of that's set in Japan.

I had to talk to Stephanie (SJ) Pajonas about her Daydreamer Detective, Mei Yamagawa. Mei has moved back home to the rural community where her mother lives, after failing at life in the big city. But, as so often with life, that's probably for the best because Mei's daydreaming ways make her an instinctive and insightful amateur sleuth.

Stephanie and I chat about what led to her fascination with Japan, learning Japanese, and practicing her language skills on her visits to that island nation.

You can find out more about today's guest, S.J. Pajonas, and all her books on her website SPajonas.com. You can also find her on Twitter @SPajonas.

Links and resources mentioned in this episode

* Click on any of the book covers to go to Stephanie's books on Amazon

* Stephanie also writes Science Fiction with a Japanese twist. You can learn more here.

* More about Kotatsu, the Japanese heated floor table Stephanie mentions.

Press play (above) to listen to the show, or read the transcript below. Remember you can also subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts. And listen on Stitcher.

You can also click here to watch the interview on YouTube.

Transcription of Interview with S.J. Pajonas

Alexandra: Hi Mystery readers, I'm Alexandra Amor. It's a mystery podcast, and I'm here today with S.J. Pajonas. Hi, Stephanie!

Stephanie: Hi. How are you today?

Alexandra: Very well. How are you?

Stephanie: Doing great.

Alexandra: That's good. All right, well let me give our listeners an introduction to you.

Stephanie (S. J) Pajonas is the author of several books series including the, Miso Cozy Mystery series, which we're going to talk about later today.

Stephanie is a writer, a knitter, armature astrologer, Capricorn, and Japanophile. We're gonna talk about that as well. She loves foxes, owls, sushi, yoga pants, Evernote, and black tea.

When she's not writing, she's thinking about writing or spending time outside, unless it's winter. She hates winter. Someday she'll own a house in both hemispheres so she can avoid the season entirely. She's a mom to two great kids and lives with her husband and family outside New York City.

Well, it's such a treat to talk to you today. And the reason I was really intrigued about your books is because they are set in Japan. And you, we mentioned in the bio there that you're a Japanophile.

How about we start with you telling us where your fascination with Japan came from.

Stephanie: My fascination with Japan has been long lived. I think that I became a big fan late in college. So that's been like 1998. I graduated in 1998.

It was around that time that the Miyazaki Anime were really popular h...