COZY MYSTERIES: TIPS FOR CHOOSING A THEME

by Korina Moss 

A theme, as it refers to cozy mysteries, is the topic or hook that sets your book apart from others. Cozy mysteries all have an amateur sleuth, a close-knit town or neighborhood, likable sidekick characters, and a murder to solve. The focus is on solving the “puzzle” of the mystery and allowing your readers to try to solve it along with your sleuth. The biggest distinguishing factor for a reader on first glance is a cozy’s theme. It might be their profession: librarian, postmistress, or in my case in the Cheese Shop Mystery series, a cheesemonger. It might be a hobby: knitting, doing crossword puzzles, or antiquing. It might be a specialty of your protagonist: fixing old clocks, knowledge of botany, or being a history buff. Your choices are varied, but they are not limitless. There are important factors to consider when deciding on your theme. 

1. Does it interest me?

2. Can I make it central to each book?

3. Can readers relate to it and/or learn something new about it?

4. Do I know enough about it, or can I learn about it?

5. Are there cozy elements to it? 

6. Is it a theme that’s already been done to death? (pun intended)

7. How can I market it?

1. Does it interest me?

Although I was your average cheese eater before beginning the Cheese Shop Mystery series, I loved cheese. And the more research I did on it and the more cheese shops I visited, the more I loved it. Sharing your authentic interest with your readers will shine through.

2. Can I make the theme central to each book?

The theme is not meant just to be a backdrop. It should almost be its own character. It should be important to your protagonist, perhaps even their passion. The theme should be incorporated into the plot of every book. When readers ask me what idea I come up with first when writing my Cheese Shop Mysteries, I tell them I think of how some aspect of cheese will be the focus of the plot. In the first book, it was the opening of the Curds and Whey shop itself. In another book, it was a very valuable stolen bleu cheese. Another took place at a dairy festival. It was very important to my publishing editor that I went all in on the theme of cheese. 

My books go all in with the
cheese theme.

3. Can readers relate to it and/or learn something new about it? 

Everybody knows cheese and most people have a strong opinion about it. With so many kinds of cheeses, its long history, and its international renown, there’s also so much the average cheese eater doesn’t know about cheese. It’s relatable but there are so many more interesting fun facts to know about it. Incorporating something others love to do or eat is a great way to connect with readers. Giving them some interesting insider information about it through your protagonist is also something readers look for in a cozy. 

4. Do I know enough about it/are there ways to further learn about it?

You don't have to be an expert on your topic. However, you should consider the research aspect of it. How much time are you willing to put into the research? Are there ways to research your topic beyond online? (For example, I spent time with cheesemongers, cheesemakers, and cheese shop owners, as well as researching online.) You want your protagonist to feel authentic, so make sure you know as much as she or he is supposed to know.  

5. Are there cozy elements to it? 

Maybe the question to ask first is, what makes something cozy? Think about how your theme will fit into your book. Will it be a gathering place for members of your fictional community? Will the setting itself or the atmosphere give readers a sense of comfort or happiness? Will it offer your protagonist respite, joy, or time to reflect? It doesn’t have to be all of these things but if you can say yes to one or two, then it’s cozy. 

6. Is it a theme that’s already been done to death? 

If there are too many books already out there with your theme, you have to work harder to make it stand out. You may be thinking, it’s a different book with different characters; of course it stands out! But marketability relies on more immediate factors. You need to hook readers as quickly as possible, which means a striking theme or setting, an intriguing pitch, or an evocative cover. Preferably, all three if you can manage it. And if you can find a cozy theme that you haven't seen done before, all the better. 

Andover's theme is unique, made doubly
cozy by the literary-themed cocktails
served at the lounge. And this cover brings
the coziness home. 

7. How can I market it? 

You may want to consider if the theme offers interesting marketing ideas or specific places that would carry your book. Lucy Burdette takes advantage of her Key West Food Critic theme by holding many popular events in Key West, where she lives half the year. When I was in the gift shop of one of the Newport, RI Mansions, I saw a display of Alyssa Maxwell’s The Gilded Newport Mysteries. I’ve done Cheese and Murder Mystery Pairing events in conjunction with a local cheese shop, where I talk about my Cheese Shop Mysteries and a cheesemonger gives a guided tasting of some of the cheeses mentioned in my books. 

The cheesemongers at Spread Cheese 
prepare plates for one of our
Cheese & Murder Mystery Pairing events.

Choosing a cozy mystery theme isn’t like throwing a dart in the dark. It’s the foundation of your entire series. Your characters, setting, and plot are all determined by your theme. Before you start writing, ask yourself these seven questions. Choose wisely and have fun with it! 

Readers: Which cozy mystery themes automatically draw you in? 

KORINA MOSS is the author of the Cheese Shop Mystery, which includes the winner of the Agatha Award for Best First Novel, as well as two novels short-listed for Best Contemporary Novel. Listed as one of USA Today’s “Best Cozy Mystery Series,” her books have also been featured in PARADE Magazine, Woman’s World, and Writer’s Digest. Korina is also a freelance developmental editor specializing in cozy mysteries. To learn more or subscribe to her free monthly newsletter, visit her website korinamossauthor.com.

PREPARING FOR YOUR FIRST FESTIVAL AS AN AUTHOR

One of the ways to market yourself and your books is to do in-person signings. For most authors, it’s one of the more fun parts of the job. You get to meet and talk with readers and sell your books. Since I’m traditionally published, most of my events have been connected with a bookseller, which is easy for me—I just show up to the event. However, this past weekend, I was lucky enough to be invited to be a vendor at the 10th annual Little Falls Cheese Festival in Little Falls, New York. This is a very large festival—people came from as far as Wisconsin and Texas, and the estimate for this year’s attendance was between16,000 and 17,000 people. It was my first time selling my books on my own at an event, so I wanted to share with you some things to consider, depending on the type of your event.

For the outdoor event, I needed: 

• Canopy tent 

• Tables and chairs 

• Cash box 

• Smaller bills for the cash box to make change

• A square reader for credit cards and/or Venmo 

• Signage for pricing, your bio, and list of books for sale 

• Signage may also include a banner 

• Signage may also include a large display board of one of your books 

• Other signs to draw people in, i.e., “Get Your Book Signed by the Author”

• Book holders to display your books 

• Tablecloth

• Your books

• Pens to sign books

• Bookmarks or other swag

You might also want to have a notepad where they can write down their email address to subscribe to your newsletter. However, because this was such a large festival and my booth was often crowded with people, I opted to just offer my bookmark, which includes my website. I also slipped a bookmark into each book I sold.  

Give your books a whole-dollar flat price with tax already included. You don’t want to be dealing with figuring tax or handing back a bunch of coins. Make it as easy as possible for people to whip out their cash and buy a book! I opted to charge a higher price for credit card sales, which covered the fees and also incentivized customers to use cash. 

People will ask what your book is about, so have a short pitch ready. Mine was as simple as, “It’s a cozy mystery where my protagonist is a cheesemonger who owns a cheese shop and solves murders in her spare time (as one does).” I could tell they basically wanted to know why an author was at a cheese festival, so that gave them an answer. But my cheese pun titles pretty much sold themselves. 

Think about your own comfort. Plan for weather. We got lucky with a warm, sunny day, but weather can vary, especially when you have to get there early to set up and be there all day. We brought a blanket for the chilly morning and dressed in layers. Splurge for cushioned chairs. You’ll be sitting most of the day. Remember to bring plenty of water and (not too messy) food for yourself. You don’t want to have to leave your booth to stand in a food truck line for lunch. 

If you have someone willing to help you set up and deal with sales while you sign and converse with readers, take someone with you! My sister came with me, and I literally could not have done it without her help. Plus, it was a lot more fun to share the day with her. 

Decide how many books to take. Since this was my first time at this event, I wasn't sure how many books I should buy for it. Honestly, I didn’t think enough about it. I’d bought most of my books (at a discount) a year or more ago and hadn’t been to many self-sell events, so I was anxious to finally get rid of them. The last thing I wanted to do was buy a ton more and come home with a bunch of them. Most likely you’ll be doing future events where you can use those books, but since my series is complete and most of my events include a bookseller who supplies the books, I didn’t want too many left over. 

I ended up taking 120 books, which wasn’t enough. The festival ran from 10AM – 5PM, and I sold out by 1:00. I'm certain I could have sold at least 50 more books. I wish I had taken more, but another thing to plan on is a learning curve when it’s your first time attending an event.  

Consider which events to participate in. Figure how much it will cost you (don’t forget the possible cost of the booth space) and how many books you’d have to sell to make a profit. You want it to be worth it and know (as much as you can) what you’re getting into. Part of the reason this one was so successful for me is that not only is it a very popular event, it’s a cheese festival. So, my Cheese Shop Mysteries fit right into the theme. They only allow cheese-related vendors, so every vendor had artisan cheeses they made or sold in their shop, or they had items related to cheese or dairy. My books not only had a target audience for their cheese theme, but unlike the cheese sellers, I had no competition. 

Even with my expenses, I still made a nice profit, and I had a lot of fun. I got to visit a new town—Little Falls, NY—which is very much like the quaint small towns we cozy mystery authors write about (minus the murders), and I met so many wonderful people. The festival was exceptionally well organized and a great experience, all around. There’s nothing better than meeting readers excited to read your books! Chatting about mysteries and cheese all day? Sign me up for next year! 

If you want to know more about this year's  Little Falls Cheese Festival, The Daily Post has a great article and video! 

Writers: At what kinds of events have you sold & signed your books? 

Readers: At what kinds of events have you met an author and bought their book? 

KORINA MOSS is the author of the Cheese Shop Mystery, which includes the winner of the Agatha Award for Best First Novel, as well as two novels short-listed for Best Contemporary Novel. Listed as one of USA Today’s “Best Cozy Mystery Series,” her books have also been featured in PARADE Magazine, Woman’s World, and Writer’s Digest. 

Korina is also a freelance developmental editor specializing in cozy mysteries. To learn more or subscribe to her free monthly newsletter, visit her website korinamossauthor.com.

WRITING AND READING IN SEASON

by Korina Moss

I took this photo of an early Oct snow 

We were having a heat wave one week in August when I called my friend, who was watching ice skating on TV. She watches it every summer because it keeps her cool. She also reads books that take place in winter. I think it’s brilliant, but I just can’t do it. 

I’m a seasonal reader and TV watcher. In the dead of winter, give me Stephen King’s Storm of the Century. I know lots of friends who do Christmas in July (thanks, Hallmark TV) but my Christmas cozies stay stacked on my bedside table until Thanksgiving. I’m even a seasonal puzzler – my jigsaw puzzles reflect the season. 

My latest autumn jigsaw puzzle

I love summer, but autumn is when the cozy season begins. I was in a TJ Maxx mid-August and went down an aisle that smelled of cinnamon and spice and was instantly pulled into autumn. I thought about the autumn-only foods to come like apple crisps, cider donuts, and everything pumpkin spice. (Okay, I’m not a pumpkin spice fan, but I love others’ enthusiasm for it.) Living in New England, it’s a time to really appreciate Mother Nature. Not only is the weather great, but once the leaves turn, I literally marvel at the brilliant foliage every time I leave my house. 

My neighborhood last fall

I reminisced about everything I love about autumn to write two of my cozy mysteries set in the fall. Cheese Shop Mystery #5, Fondue or Die, takes place at the Dairy Days Festival, which was inspired by my favorite September fair. Cheese Shop Mystery #2, Gone For Gouda, takes place in October. I threw in all the autumnal vibes, including beer cheese soup and a scarecrow contest. Both books include autumn recipes like a cheesy apple pumpkin fondue and Bavarian Beer Cheese dip. 

It's fun to immerse myself in the present season along with my favorite fictional characters. It makes me appreciate each season even more as it comes around. Whether it’s a harvest fair, a Christmas cookie swap, or fireworks on the beach, I get to live out the best parts of the season on screen, through a puzzle, or between the pages of my favorite cozy mystery. 

Readers: Are you a seasonal reader? 

KORINA MOSS is the author of the Cheese Shop Mystery series set in the Sonoma Valley, which includes the winner of the Agatha Award for Best First Novel, Cheddar Off Dead, and two novels short-listed for Best Contemporary Novel. Listed as one of USA Today’s “Best Cozy Mystery Series,” her books have also been featured in PARADE Magazine, Woman’s World, and Writer’s Digest. Korina is also a freelance developmental editor specializing in cozy and traditional mysteries. To learn more or subscribe to her free monthly newsletter, visit her website korinamossauthor.com.

WHAT MAKES A REAL MYSTERY WRITER?

 by Korina Moss

Winning the Agatha Award for Best First Novel

I have a confession to make. I’ve been masquerading as a cozy mystery author, but I’m really a fraud. I’ve written six cozy mysteries. I’ve won an Agatha Award. I’ve been interviewed on the Sisters in Crime podcast. Heck, I’ve even become friends with cozy icon Donna Andrews. Yet, I was never a real author. Why? I didn’t have the one thing that makes a writer—a cozy mystery writer, in particular—legit. A cat. 

Mystery author Molly Macrae with one of her editors

Frankly, I don’t know how I did it. I mean, I actually wrote all six books with my laptop on my lap! I know! Crazy, right? Everyone knows when you decide to become a mystery writer, you need three things: an idea, perseverance, and a cat. Who needs AI when you’ve got CI—Cat Intelligence? Even before writers had computers, they had cats clumping up their typewriter keys, locating where those red herrings should be with a well-placed paw. A cat is the ultimate assistant, editor, and marketing manager all rolled into one (much like a squeaky catnip toy, which they’ll make you bring them later). 

Wiping the screen for a fresh perspective

My real mystery author friends would ask me: How do you make your daily word count without those extra letters your assistant provides while sauntering over the keyboard? How do you keep from getting carpal tunnel syndrome without your assistant pulling your hand away from the keyboard for extra petting? How do you know if your manuscript is acceptable without your editor draped over your printed pages? How do you come up with good ideas without a tail swishing in your face? How do you even market your books? 

Making sure I take breaks

All valid questions. My answer is that I do know something about furry assistants. I started my cozy mystery writing journey with a cat. His name was Carl and he “helped” me immensely. Unfortunately, just before I signed my first contract with Macmillan, he passed away from mouth cancer. Somehow, I managed to write my entire Cheese Shop Mystery series with my lap cat-less. 

Carl, who worked tirelessly on my behalf

Ironically, now that my series has ended, I finally decided to become a real writer. I got a cat. We named her Marlowe (like Raymond Chandler’s detective), and she’s six years old. She’s a tortoiseshell cat, which means she has tortitude (that extra attitude torties tend to possess), which fits her position as assistant/editor/marketing manager perfectly. 

I’ve been working on a proposal for a new mystery—a pitch, a synopsis, and sample chapters. But now I’m wondering… do I really need all that? I’m a mystery writer with a cat. Surely, that says it all. 

No longer a cat-less lap

Readers: Tell me about your pets! Is it true, a cat is a must-have for a mystery writer? 

KORINA MOSS is the author of the Cheese Shop Mystery series set in the Sonoma Valley, which includes the winner of the Agatha Award for Best First Novel, Cheddar Off Dead, and two novels short-listed for Best Contemporary Novel. Listed as one of USA Today’s “Best Cozy Mystery Series,” her books have also been featured in PARADE Magazine, Woman’s World, and Writer’s Digest. Korina is also a freelance developmental editor specializing in cozy and traditional mysteries. To learn more or subscribe to her free monthly newsletter, visit her website korinamossauthor.com.

WRITING AND MOTHERHOOD by Korina Moss

 

Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms out there! I’m a writer who’s also a mother. Or maybe it’s the other way around. I’ve had some dream-come-true success as a mystery writer, but when all is said and done, being a mom has been the job I take the most pride in. My son is a kind, accepting, empathetic, open-minded, and hard-working young adult. What else could a mom want? Because of his neurodiversity, I spent most of his school years advocating for him so he would be treated just like any other student and have the opportunity to live up to his potential. Now, he is about to finish his junior year in college on a four-year full academic scholarship, awarded in part for the leadership qualities he exhibited in high school. (Yes, I’m unapologetically bragging about my son.) 

One of the reasons I never dove headfirst into my writing when he was younger was because I didn’t have the emotional energy to focus on my creative pursuits while trying to remedy a flawed educational system (albeit with some amazing teachers and staff). But another reason was simply that I enjoyed getting to do all the fun mom stuff—planning birthday parties, making Halloween costumes, going on class field trips—unencumbered by outside responsibilities. So, I continued to be creative on my own terms – writing biweekly humorous essays for a local newspaper, entering (and winning) a statewide short story contest, and tinkering with a cozy mystery novel for nearly a decade. 

My winning story in the Hartford Courant

When my son was sixteen, I received my first publishing contract. Even then, I had a hard time making the switch to a full-time working (now single) mom. Luckily, my first book didn’t release for two more years, so I only had to focus on the research and writing while he was in school (and online schooling during Covid). All the extras that go into being a published author – the marketing, signings, and conferences on top of deadlines -- didn’t come into play until he was in college. 

One of the favorite book dedications I’ve ever read was one that said (I’m paraphrasing): “To my children without whom this book would have been completed two years earlier.”  I applaud any parent, especially a mother (because we seem to have the extra guilt gene), who is able to tap into their creative energy while raising children. I just didn’t have the emotional bandwidth to sustain both. Some moms I know write in the car pick-up line at school. Some get up extra early or write when their kids are in bed. (Or when their kids are lying next to them, during those times their children are sick or unable to sleep.) Some moms even have full-time jobs on top of it all. I have a friend whose manuscript is on submission who has four children. I only have one, so I don’t know how she does it! Mothers are truly amazing. (Yes, fathers are too, but we can talk about them next month on their holiday!)

Son reading before bed while mom writes

When I was in my twenties, I used to be an assistant event planner at a university alumni center, which required juggling many balls at once. I believe I was able to do it so easily because my investment in anything I was juggling was limited, unlike writing and motherhood. Books are like our babies, right? We birth them too. When I’m working on a book, I’m always thinking about the story. It’s like being in a perpetual daydream, which never blended well with motherhood for me. Luckily, there are plenty of moms out there who manage it just fine… or manage it with a lack of sleep, lots of compromise, and perhaps a helpful spouse. But they manage it, nonetheless, with happy, healthy children and a writing career to show for it. 

My Cheese Shop Mystery series

Maybe you thought this post would offer some advice on writing and motherhood. As you can see, I’m not the one to give it. Plenty of moms have balanced the two much better than I ever have. What I have managed to do is let go of regret that I decided to wait to prioritize my writing until I felt I could handle doing both. It’s okay to decide to hold off a writing career or, conversely, to go full speed ahead. It’s also okay to change your mind daily as you experiment with different ways to juggle the two. We each have to decide for ourselves how much we can handle and what we’re willing to compromise or sacrifice. There is no wrong decision. At the end of the day, no matter what has or hasn’t been accomplished, we’re still moms and we’re still writers. 

Readers: What’s your advice for balancing motherhood with writing or other priorities?   

KORINA MOSS is the author of the Cheese Shop Mystery series set in the Sonoma Valley, which includes the winner of the Agatha Award for Best First Novel, Cheddar Off Dead, and finalist for Best Contemporary Novel for Case of the Bleus and Fondue or Die. Listed as one of USA Today’s “Best Cozy Mystery Series,” her books have also been featured in PARADE Magazine, Woman’s World, and Writer’s Digest. Korina is also a freelance developmental editor specializing in cozy and traditional mysteries. To learn more or subscribe to her free monthly #teamcheese newsletter, visit her website korinamossauthor.com.

SPRINGING INTO AN EXCITING MONTH by Korina Moss

 Mother Nature wakes everything up in springtime, which invariably rejuvenates me too. And I’ve got an exciting month ahead. 

First up, I’ll be traveling to Bethesda, MD for the Malice Domestic fan convention, which you’ve been hearing about from some of the other Writers Who Kill members. I love getting to spend three days with friends (authors, influencers, and fan-readers alike) who I don’t usually get to see the rest of the year. Meeting writers I admire, seeing so many books for sale and feeling the enthusiasm, particularly of the fan-readers and new writers, is invigorating. It’ll be especially exciting attending the Agatha Awards banquet where my latest book, Fondue or Die, is nominated for Best Contemporary Novel alongside books by fellow nominees Connie Berry of Writers Who Kill, Ellen Byron, Gigi Pandian, and Ann Cleeves. (See Paula Benson’s latest WWK blog post “A Visit with the Authors of the Agatha Nominated Best Contemporary Novels.”) It’s an amazing group of women. Wish me luck! 

I’ll barely be recovered from the long weekend when my next book, Bait and Swiss, releases. (If you’re going to Malice, you’ll get to buy it first!)  This one features cheese and chocolate, so have snacks at the ready! Want to know a little more about Cheese Shop Mystery 6?

It’s been almost two years since Willa Bauer opened Curds & Whey in Yarrow Glen, and both cheesemonger and cheese shop are thriving in the Sonoma Valley. While Willa doesn’t eat chocolate, it’s true that life is like a box of chocolates—you never know what you’re going to get. Unfortunately, life’s latest curveball is that Willa’s ex-fiancé and ex-best friend—the reason for her chocolate aversion—are opening a chocolate pop-up shop across the street. By the end of the shop’s first day, the town’s newest reporter is the victim of death by chocolate. And it’s not long before tourists are too afraid to shop in town until the killer is caught. Willa’s ex wants her to be Swiss Congeniality, solve the case, and save the day. As much as Willa wants to hit him with the nearest cheese wheel, she can't stop herself from saying yes. To save Yarrow Glen, Willa and Team Cheese have some work to do.

Readers: What fun or exciting things are coming up for you this month? 

KORINA MOSS is the author of the Cheese Shop Mystery series set in the Sonoma Valley, which includes multiple Agatha Award nominated books for Best Contemporary Novel and the winner of the Agatha Award for Best First Novel, Cheddar Off Dead. Listed as one of USA Today’s “Best Cozy Mystery Series,” her books have also been featured in PARADE Magazine, Woman’s World, and Writer’s Digest. Korina is also a freelance developmental editor specializing in cozy and traditional mysteries. To learn more or subscribe to her free monthly #teamcheese newsletter, visit her website korinamossauthor.com.

Cozy Mystery Writing Tip: Letting Readers Become Armchair Detectives

by Korina Moss

In each of the books in my Cheese Shop Mystery series, my protagonist Willa and Team Cheese—the three friends she solves mysteries with—always sit at the same hand-hewn picnic table in the kitchenette of her cheese shop to discuss the murder and the suspects. Readers of my series know this is the time when the suspects and their motives will be laid out, helping readers to keep track of what our sleuths have discovered, and allowing them to make their own guesses as to whodunit. 

Cozy Mystery Booktuber, the Beachbum Bookworm

This is part of the fun of reading a cozy mystery—trying to solve the puzzle along with the sleuth. Cozy mysteries play fair with the reader. They lay out clues, weaving in some red herrings. With the clues given, readers may be able to solve the mystery. It all depends on how clever the author is at distraction. Cozy writers need to have a big enough pool of suspects for readers to guess from but not too many to overwhelm them. Readers also need to be able to keep the suspects and their motives straight. Here is the way I help my readers do this. 

• Soon after the murder is discovered, I write a scene cataloging who my sleuth thinks the suspects are. Every cozy should have five to six clear suspects. Your protagonist sleuth may not know who all of them are right away, but you should have a solid list of suspects very early in the book. 

• Then after some investigating (between a third and halfway into the book), I revisit the suspects and what’s been discovered about them. Maybe I’ve dismissed one or added one or maybe the list remains the same. The sleuth may be feeling more strongly about some than others at this point, which can change again based on new evidence. Some suspects may have a strong motive for having murdered the victim, but it appears they didn’t have opportunity or vice-versa. More investigating will reveal new motives and secret opportunities to have committed the crime. 

• As the book goes on, your protagonist’s investigation narrows down the suspect list until he or she is left with stronger suspicions about two or three of them. So, toward the end of the book, I’ll have a scene identifying the narrowed list of suspects and the reasons my sleuth thinks one of them may be the culprit.

Of course, all of these discoveries are also woven in throughout the story but stopping two or three times to write a scene discussing the suspects is helpful for the reader to play along and try to solve the mystery before the big reveal. As long as you’ve plotted your mystery carefully to keep even the savviest reader guessing, helping them become armchair detectives will help you gain a loyal readership. 

Readers: When reading a mystery, do you like to try to solve whodunnit? 

You can be an armchair detective when cozy mystery booktuber, the Beachbum Bookworm, discusses my Agatha Award-winning novel Cheddar Off Dead with her YouTube viewers during the last week of March (exact date to be announced). I'll be there too, so buy and read Cheddar Off Dead, go to her channel, subscribe and hit the notification button. Keep up with me on Facebook, Instagram, and my website so you won't miss it!

Cozy booktuber Sonia with an i

BUY NOW FOR $2.99

KORINA MOSS is the author of the Cheese Shop Mystery series set in the Sonoma Valley, California, which includes multiple Agatha Award nominated books for Best Contemporary Novel and the winner of the Agatha Award for Best First Novel, Cheddar Off Dead. Listed as one of USA Today’s Best Cozy Mystery Series, her books have also been featured in PARADE Magazine, Woman’s World, and Writer’s Digest. Korina is also a freelance developmental editor and book coach specializing in cozy mysteries. To learn more or subscribe to her free monthly #teamcheese newsletter, visit her website korinamossauthor.com.

TAKING THE PATH OF MOST RESISTANCE

 by Korina Moss

When I began writing my fifth Cheese Shop mystery, Fondue or Die, I had one thought – to make things easy on myself. For once, I was going to choose the path of least resistance. You see, I’d just finished writing book 4, Case of the Bleus, which was anything but easy. I’d written it with two mysteries in one book—a murder mystery and a cheese mystery. It was a fun idea, but intersecting the two plotlines for the denouement’s reveal was more difficult than I’d anticipated. Let’s just say, there was a lot of hair-pulling to get it done just right and on deadline. It was worth it when my readers loved it, and it was eventually short-listed for the Agatha Award for Best Contemporary Novel last year. But when I’d turned it into my editor, overwhelmed and burnt out, I was determined that my next mystery was going to be simple, straight forward, and with much less hair pulling. 

My initial sketchy outline for Fondue or Die kept to my promise. However, the more the story took shape, the more that straight line began to curve and twist and circle back again. It quickly became clear that my new project had become my latest problem child. I couldn’t help it – the plot twists and complications that make my books more difficult to develop are the very things that also make them more exciting to write and more satisfying for readers. “YOU DID THIS TO YOURSELF!” I repeatedly yelled throughout the eight months of writing, revising, and hair pulling. 

So it was with a great deal of gratification—not to mention astonishment and of course, gratitude— that I received the news that Fondue or Die is a finalist for this year’s Agatha Award for Best Contemporary Novel. I’m humbled to see it alongside fellow nominees: A Collection of Lies by Connie Berry (who is also a member of Writers Who Kill), A Midnight Puzzle by Gigi Pandian, A Very Woodsy Murder by Ellen Byron, and The Dark Wives by Ann Cleeves.

The awards banquet will take place on April 26th at the Malice Domestic Fan Convention in Bethesda, Maryland. If you’d like to attend, more information can be found here. 

Readers: Have you ever attended a mystery conference or convention? Would you like to? 

KORINA MOSS is the author of the Cheese Shop Mystery series set in the Sonoma Valley, California, which includes multiple Agatha Award nominated books for Best Contemporary Novel and the winner of the Agatha Award for Best First Novel, Cheddar Off Dead. Listed as one of USA Today’s Best Cozy Mystery Series, her books have also been featured in PARADE Magazine, Woman’s World, and Writer’s Digest. Korina is also a freelance developmental editor and book coach specializing in cozy mysteries. To learn more or subscribe to her free monthly #teamcheese newsletter, visit her website korinamossauthor.com.