What is a cozy mystery? Author Lori Pollard-Johnson joins host Reenita Hora to discuss her mystery book, Corpse in the Craftsman Cottage. This episode explores the cozy mystery genre and Lori discusses fiction writing, creative writing processes, and how contemporary mystery fiction blends genres. Her protagonists are divorced best friends running a house flipping business, discovering mystery and mayhem in unexpected places. Learn about cozy mystery authors, mystery novel writing, and the importance of sisterhood in mystery genre storytelling. Then, listen to the fiction read to hear how the protagonist discovers a waterlogged corpse hidden inside a closet aquarium while renovating a 1920s craftsman cottage.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode: 

Discover what defines a cozy mystery and how violence stays off the page while maintaining compelling mystery elements and engaging dead body scenarios in cozy crime fiction.

Learn the importance of crafting strong female friendships in women's fiction, including how divorced protagonists support each other through house flipping adventures and mystery solving.

Gain insights into the mystery novel writing process, from finding inspiration in real-world food critics and chefs to developing small-town mystery settings that keep readers engaged without graphic cozy mystery violence.

Subscribe to Reenita’s Storytelling Den on Substack for free at https://substack.com/@reenitahora and to her YouTube channel to watch the video version of this episode! https://www.youtube.com/@reenymal

Check out her website to stay up-to-date on events, book releases and more! https://reenita.com/

TIMESTAMPS:  

00:00 The cozy mystery genre, violence occurs off the page in cozy crime fiction

02:15 Lori's fiction writing journey from periodicals to mystery books, including culinary mystery and women's fiction projects

03:28 Defining a cozy mystery and a culinary mystery inspired by working with chefs 

06:32 The importance of female friendship and sisterhood themes in contemporary mystery fiction and cozy mystery storytelling

10:52 Reading from Corpse in the Craftsman Cottage featuring a shocking dead body discovery in a house flipping project

KEY TAKEAWAYS: 

Cozy mystery novels keep violence off the page, allowing readers to enjoy mystery solving without graphic content—the dead body exists. Still, readers don't witness the killing, making cozy crime fiction accessible and entertaining.

Culinary mystery books blend food industry knowledge with mystery writing, creating authentic chef characters and restaurant settings that add flavor to contemporary mystery fiction while exploring themes beyond traditional small town mysteries.

Strong female friendships elevate women's fiction within the cozy mystery genre—protagonists who support each other through divorce, house flipping businesses, and mystery adventures create compelling, relatable narratives for cozy mystery authors to explore.

ABOUT THE GUEST: 

Lori Pollard-Johnson writes from Washington and Arizona with two 2024 releases: Corpse in the Craftsman Cottage, featuring BFF amateur sleuths, and Toxic Torte, a culinary cozy about a critic's demise. She has 100+ publishing credits and holds an MA in writing from Seton Hill University. A former teacher and college professor, she's been a PNWA Literary Contest finalist and won awards for short fiction and poetry. When not writing, she enjoys her grandbabies, yoga, swimming, hiking, renovating fixer-uppers, and watching javelinas in her backyard.

RESOURCES MENTIONED: 

Lori Pollard-Johnson - Facebook

Lori Pollard-Johnson - Business Facebook

Lori Pollard-Johnson - Twitter

Lori Pollard-Johnson -Instagram 

Corpse in the Craftsman Cottage (A Flippin' Good Mystery Book 1) - Amazon

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