It’s almost time to sing Auld Lang Syne and as I reflect over the blogs I’ve posted for 2016, I realize what an amazing year I’ve had on the Cozy Corner. I’ve had the incredible opportunity to interview authors whose experiences and careers are as varied as the mystery genre they write. Many thanks to Fresh Fiction and the generous writers who’ve graciously given me their time. But most of all, to the readers who click on the Cozy Corner to find out what’s new in the genre—thank you for making the past year awesome! Take a moment and think about your best moments this year: The stranger who did something nice without a second thought. The store employee who went out of her way to help you. Remember that lunch you had with your colleagues. That movie you shared with your friends. That special night with the one you love. And don’t forget all those wonderful books that kept you up late at night, even if you did pay the price the next day. 😉 There are so many good things to reflect on from 2016. Forget the bad, yet be mindful of how you can make a difference…

Kym: “Today I have the pleasure of sitting down with Charli Rae Warren in her hometown of Hazel Rock, Texas for an interview. Charli is a kindergarten teacher who came back to Hazel Rock after a twelve-year absence! She’s also an imaginary friend of mine who lurks in my brain and messes with my hair.” Charli: “I beg to differ, you’re the one who’s constantly messing up my hair.” Kym: “That’s because it’s so beautiful; I’m a little jealous.” Charli: “Really?” Kym: I roll my eyes. “No, I just like messing with you.” Charli: “That’s not very nice.” Kindergarten teacher stare. Kym: Laughing. “That’s not going to work on me Charli, I’ve seen a lot meaner faces in my day than yours.” Charli: “So, get to the point. Why did you bring me to The Cozy Corner—other than to mess with me?” Kym: “I thought readers would like to hear a little bit about you, after all, your story releases December 6th.” Charli: “Already? Wow, it seems like it was just yesterday that you were slapping me on a piece of paper, then scratching me out, and then building me up—only to tear me back down again.” Kym: “It was…

What better way to celebrate Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday, than by featuring a few of my favorite e-book authors and publishers! I find it very appealing to help self-published authors, indie publishing houses and smaller publishing houses who focus on the e-reader (two are also available in print format) while being rewarded with murdously fabulous mysteries! From a recent release, to a current release, I then finished with a soon-to-be released e-book that you’re sure to enjoy. Don’t miss these great gifts for cozy fans this holiday season! BAD KITTY by Elisabeth Crabtree Hatter’s Cove Gazette Mystery #5 The hundredth anniversary of the Hatter’s Cove Catastrophe Winter Games has just begun and reporter Kat Archer has been ordered to get a heartwarming story of Hatter’s Cove residents and their feline companions competing in a quintessential Hatter’s Cove tradition. However, what she actually gets are stories of jealousy, lies, cheating and, by the end of that night, murder. Almost everyone chalks the death up to a tragic accident caused when the victim tripped over Mrs. Claws, the two-time reigning champion, while descending the stairs. Kat on the other hand is convinced the woman was murdered and is determined to…

Getting Cozy and Giving Thanks November is an important month for our country. It’s a month of freedom and expression. It’s a month of giving thanks to the men and women who’ve served our country in the military. And it’s a month to celebrate the unity between the Pilgrims and Native Americans—a spirit of giving that is the core of America’s foundation. I’d like to give thanks to the many authors who’ve visited the Cozy Corner this year and shared their talent and heart-filled stories that give so many readers a break from the pressures of the daily grind. This week we have three special authors who’ve gone one step further in the spirit of giving, and have shared three great recipes for you to add to your holiday feast. Three different tastes, three different cultures coming together to bring your family a cozy holiday feast. Enjoy! THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE GUACAMOLE by Rebecca Adler Taste of Texas #2 Tex-Mex waitress and part-time reporter Josie Callahan is about to serve up some Lone Star justice in this spicy Taste of Texas Mystery from the author of Here Today, Gone Tamale. Tourists are pouring into the town of Broken…

I’m very excited to have one of the leading historical cozy mystery writers here at the Cozy Corner. She’s polite and funny, hard-working and talented and vastly loved throughout the world of mystery writing. Please welcome Rhys Bowen! Kym: Hi, Rhys, welcome to the Cozy Corner! Rhys: Hi Kym. Nice to be here! Kym: You started your career writing children’s picture books and then young adult books under the name Janet Quin-Harkin. What did you like most about those two genres? Rhys: I’ve always loved children’s books. I suppose I like the playfulness, silliness and the complete belief in a world of good and evil with no gray areas. YA books, when I wrote them, were not so dark and mine were usually funny high school stories, similar in many ways to Lady Georgie’s adventures. Kym: Do you have a favorite picture book or young adult book that has more meaning to you? Or one that was more popular with your own children? Rhys: Well, I wrote a book called Ten Boy Summer, a spoof on romance that sold half a million copies, so I’d have to like that one. And one of my picture books, Septimus Bean and His…

Halloween doesn’t have to mean adding inches to your waistline, although that certainly is a delicious way to celebrate the holiday;) Our cozy authors, however, have given you another outlet for that addictive gene dying to take over—and it’s better for your weight, better for your teeth, and much better for your mind! Skip the sugar, and the corn syrup, and possibly the Hershey’s all together this Halloween, or at least limit it to one, and binge on mystery reading instead! For those readers who have already purchased their treats and have bags of candy sitting on the upper self of their pantry, I have two mysteries you can sink your teeth into right away. And for after Halloween, when the kid’s candy is scattered across the kitchen counter—calling your name like someone from beyond the grave, I have two more releases to keep the spirits at bay. Dig in—the tricks are deadly, and the treats are wrapped in delightful covers! PUTTING ON THE WITCH by Joyce and Jim Lavene Retired Witches #3 In the latest mystery from the bestselling authors of Looking for Mr. Good Witch, the retired witches of Wilmington, North Carolina, are ready to kick up their…

There are a few things that are an absolute must in the world of cozy mysteries, but first and foremost are the animals. A quirky, troublesome pet defines the genre—at least for me it does. I look for the image on the cover, a hint of a fur baby in the title or the series, and absolutely eat up the pages where the characters spend time with their ever loyal pet(s). Whether it’s a cat on the prowl, or a mischievous dog digging up trouble, the animals add a dimension to the story that you don’t normally find in other genres. They define cozy and keep me coming back for more. Watch for these new pet-tastic mysteries this month! NO FARM, NO FOUL by Peg Cochran Farmer’s Daughter First in the Farmer’s Daughter mystery series set on a picturesque farm in Michigan, where Shelby McDonald runs a popular lifestyle and cooking blog, from the national bestselling author of the Cranberry Cove Mysteries. On her blog, The Farmer’s Daughter, Shelby McDonald is growing her audience as she posts recipes, gardening tips, and her experiences raising two kids and running Love Blossom Farm in the small western Michigan town of Lovett. Working…

Fall is almost here, but it certainly doesn’t feel like it! The summer heat has dug in its heels and driven me to a cozy air-conditioned corner with a cold brew, a little spice and a honeymoon to boot—all of them, of course, fictional. I enjoyed all three of this week’s feature mysteries that took me on a tour from Monticello, to Seattle, to Pittsburgh, PA. And all three authors included recipes you don’t want to miss! Put them on your reading list, you won’t be disappointed. KILLING THYME by Leslie Budewitz Spice Shop #3 In Seattle’s Pike Place Market, Spice Shop owner Pepper Reece is savoring her business success, but soon finds her plans disrupted by a killer in the latest from the national bestselling author of Guilty as Cinnamon. Pepper Reece’s to-do list is longer than the shopping list for a five-course dinner, as she conjures up spice blends bursting with seasonal flavor, soothes nervous brides fretting over the gift registry, and crosses her fingers for a rave review from a sharp-tongued food critic. Add to the mix a welcome visit from her mother, Lena, and she’s got the perfect recipe for a busy summer garnished with a…

I must be dreaming; otherwise Mary Kennedy wouldn’t be sitting in the Cozy Corner answering all my questions. Yet a pinch of my arms proves I’m not in lala land, but rather sitting at my computer absolutely thrilled to meet my long time Facebook buddy, bestselling author of A PREMONITION OF MURDER, Mary Kennedy. About Mary Kennedy Mary Kennedy is the national best-selling author of two mystery series for Penguin-Random House, The Dream Club Mysteries and the Talk Radio Mysteries. She has written over forty novels, including a young-adult fiction series called The Hollywood Nights. Dr. Kennedy is a psychologist in private practice on the East Coast where she lives with her husband and six neurotic cats. She has tried unsuccessfully to psychoanalyze both husband and cats but remains optimistic. Talk Radio Mystery | Dream Club Mystery WEBSITE | TWITTER | FACEBOOK | BLOG Kym: Hi, Mary! Welcome to the Cozy Corner! Mary: Thanks, I’m thrilled to be here and am a fan of your books! Plus I envy your background. As a detective, you will have some terrific stories to tell. Kym: Thank you! Mary, can you tell us a little bit about your Dream Club Mysteries? Mary: Yes,…

It doesn’t matter where you are, what century you live in, or what culture you embrace, you will always find a woman on a mission—to better her life, help loved ones accomplish goals, or improve her community; she is driven to make a difference. This week I have three women ready to put evil in it’s place. After all, crime cannot be solved by man alone—but maybe, a woman hell-bent on finding the truth will do. IN THE LAND OF MILK AND HONEY by Jane Jensen Elizabeth Harris With its peaceful, hardworking Amish population, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, is a rural paradise. But former NYPD homicide detective Elizabeth Harris knows that evil lurks there—it’s just easier to hide… By solving the murders of two local girls, Elizabeth has gained some trust in the Amish community. So, she’s the first person its members turn to when a fast and fatal illness takes hold, though many believe that the sickness stems from a hexerei—a curse placed by a practitioner of old-world folk magic. Elizabeth doesn’t believe in curses, and when an entire Amish family is found dead, she begins to suspect something far more sinister… As the CDC is called in to investigate,…