tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post6012922052040024459..comments2024-03-18T15:15:52.347-04:00Comments on Writers Who Kill: North of Cozy; South of NoirJim Jacksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15090252530437277145noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-42583319753917761272018-04-23T09:11:58.820-04:002018-04-23T09:11:58.820-04:00This is the best description ever of what I like t...This is the best description ever of what I like to read. I like books that blur the boundaries, so keep it coming!Shari Randallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16425493627354028820noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-72508588379932403172018-04-23T08:37:07.985-04:002018-04-23T08:37:07.985-04:00No, no murder, or death, should ever be taken ligh...No, no murder, or death, should ever be taken lightly. I did not mean to give that impression. In cozies, the surrounding circumstances of the investigation often were lighter. Police missed the big clues, failed to follow the leads, or make the connections requiring the amateurs to step in. It's what makes them fun to read rather than perilous. The reader knows there has been a death, but also knows that justice will prevail, and somehow, a sleuth very similar to the reader will have a hand in that justice. They are satisfying reads. In a more traditional cozy, the sleuth may be an amateur, but they often work with law enforcement (although the friction still exists creating a source of conflict) and the ultimate solution is a team effort. More and more in my reading of traditionals, I'm finding that the endings are satisfying, but there are very realistic (dare I say intentional) loose ends. <br /><br />There are very distinct tonal differences between cozies and traditionals. It's interesting to watch, and participate, in the evolution.Kaithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07758348842858993203noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-24663057865900225322018-04-23T07:53:03.907-04:002018-04-23T07:53:03.907-04:00That's interesting, Kait. I'm glad that...That's interesting, Kait. I'm glad that's the response you've been getting. I've never particularly thought of Cozies as dealing with light issues -- after all, no murder should be taken lightly -- and fortunately, society no longer needs to feel protected from the dark underbelly of life.Jim Jacksonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15090252530437277145noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-10020695284953644262018-04-23T06:29:11.821-04:002018-04-23T06:29:11.821-04:00Jim, I have seen some negatives for true or excess...Jim, I have seen some negatives for true or excessive cussing (I tend to avoid both in my books) but for situations that move cozies to traditionals, no, no negative reviews. I keep detailed death violence off the page, but peril violence is there, situations are gritty, and subplots often are too. Oddly enough, what I have found is that the praise comes in e-mails of the "love that you are dealing with darker, more realistic issues" variety. I strike up a correspondence with most reviewers, but I've never been comfortable asking them to post their opinions online.Kaithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07758348842858993203noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-13486065644560712672018-04-22T16:13:38.025-04:002018-04-22T16:13:38.025-04:00Hey Andrew, Thanks for stopping by.Hey Andrew, Thanks for stopping by.Jim Jacksonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15090252530437277145noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-41726367213919763882018-04-22T15:01:18.930-04:002018-04-22T15:01:18.930-04:00An interesting discussion. Yes, 'North of Cozy...An interesting discussion. Yes, 'North of Cozy, South of Noir' is a good fit for what I've been calling 'cozy-noir'.<br /><br />Just as noir doesn't require late night, rain-slick streets, nor do cozies require a small town, just so long as there's a close community of characters.<br /><br />Regards,<br />AndrewAndrewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05367811920645917911noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-52442250362648414972018-04-22T13:23:18.890-04:002018-04-22T13:23:18.890-04:00Loretta -- Made me smile!
KM -- crime novels alwa...Loretta -- Made me smile!<br /><br />KM -- crime novels always works and yours would fit right into my subcategory of "North of ..."<br /><br />Kait -- I wonder if readers who prefer "pure" Cozies might not object to those traits that carry them toward traditional. I've seen some negative ratings for cussing and such on what I'd take from their covers as cozies. Any experience with that?Jim Jacksonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15090252530437277145noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-55673610026177373582018-04-22T12:18:20.188-04:002018-04-22T12:18:20.188-04:00The lines are definitely blurring these days. More...The lines are definitely blurring these days. More and more cozies fall closer to the traditional mystery than traditional cozy. It's an exciting time to be writing.Kaithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07758348842858993203noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-60438777582967368042018-04-22T12:13:07.924-04:002018-04-22T12:13:07.924-04:00An awful lot of mysteries defy classification (som...An awful lot of mysteries defy classification (some even strain the definition of "mystery.") I've always been fond of Margaret Yorke's psychological suspense. I'm not sure they are mysteries.<br /><br />I call my Jesse Damon series "crime novels." Of course, at this point I'm not worried about placement in major books stores, etc. I might change my attitude if I ever get to that point.KM Rockwoodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03973749764907859829noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-79127715537981262772018-04-22T12:12:39.264-04:002018-04-22T12:12:39.264-04:00Love the label for the genre of these novels! The ...Love the label for the genre of these novels! The whole piece was just right for my coffee break while learning something. I've always liked the intrigue of things just a little north, or south, of something. Piques the interest, doesn't it? :) Of course I have to go in and have a look at the book now, because of its enticing genre...headin' north to Amazon, then south to my Kindle :) Loretta Wheelerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07992133163167526850noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-30738946400373090622018-04-22T10:17:20.817-04:002018-04-22T10:17:20.817-04:00Gloria -- I agree with you that Cozies can have el...Gloria -- I agree with you that Cozies can have elements of suspense -- and most stories have some suspense elements, they help keep readers turning pages!Jim Jacksonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15090252530437277145noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-18040798139173372018-04-22T09:59:28.524-04:002018-04-22T09:59:28.524-04:00Jim, I thought Empty Promises was definitely a mys...Jim, I thought Empty Promises was definitely a mystery and suspense, too. I certainly worried about the young guy whose name often changed and Seamus McCree, too, but not so much about Seamus since he's the main character in your series. I think even cozies can have an element of suspense in them, too. Gloria Aldenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13581719606924364447noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-91053259845414182972018-04-22T09:39:55.381-04:002018-04-22T09:39:55.381-04:00Margaret & Grace -- I think they have always b...Margaret & Grace -- I think they have always been there, but the problem is acerbated by search engines and online bookstores. It used to be you could ask a librarian or the salesperson at your local book store. They'd do what Shari Randall calls the "readslike" thing to help you find new authors. Now readers search on their own to find the exact thing they are looking for and Amazon and others have split the mystery/suspense/thriller genre into 10,000 subsets.<br /><br />And Grace -- I'm so glad you enjoyed <i>Empty Promises</i>.Jim Jacksonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15090252530437277145noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-19693707217019876592018-04-22T09:17:08.641-04:002018-04-22T09:17:08.641-04:00It is a areal problem trying to describe a mystery...It is a areal problem trying to describe a mystery. They are all so different. It becomes a real problem when publishers want your work to fit a defined category so they can shelve it with a particular category. It's hard for readers as well. We have an expectation of what a book in a particular category will be like (no graphic sex, violence, etc. in cozies; lots of thrilling scenes in thriller, etc.). So if a writer veers in a totally different direction, we are left scratching our heads. <br /><br />"Empty Promises" by the way, was terrific. It had a good balance of mystery book elements.Grace Toppinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10291304815273486038noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-24306080148155554422018-04-22T08:52:16.875-04:002018-04-22T08:52:16.875-04:00We will always have cozies, but "north of coz...We will always have cozies, but "north of cozy" is becoming more popular.Margaret S. Hamiltonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07979191318652199350noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-3058441601811882712018-04-22T06:34:44.815-04:002018-04-22T06:34:44.815-04:00I think Andrew MacRae coined that term to describe...I think Andrew MacRae coined that term to describe his first book and produced an anthology of stories using that theme. While Cozy-Noir (as I understand it something of a gritty atmosphere with a likable character) would fit solidly within my North of Cozy; South of Noir, I don't think it is equivalent to "traditional."<br /><br />But that's just my opinion.Jim Jacksonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15090252530437277145noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-2466159361366085192018-04-22T01:13:02.809-04:002018-04-22T01:13:02.809-04:00I wonder if cozy noir is the new traditional.I wonder if cozy noir is the new traditional.Warren Bullhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07789270258599769915noreply@blogger.com