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.

HOW I GET COMFORTABLE OUT OF MY COMFORT ZONE

 by Korina Moss

Out of my comfort zone:
Giving my Agatha Award acceptance speech
in front of hundreds of people

Remember when “comfort zone” became a buzz word and we were constantly encouraged to step out of it? Those self-help gurus were relentless, but I wasn’t buying it. What’s wrong with being comfortable? It’s a synonym of cozy, and as the writer of the Cheese Shop Mystery series, we all know how I feel about the word cozy. Thus, I’ve never been a fan of stepping out of my comfort zone, however life has been consistently kicking me out of it over the last several years. Becoming a published author is like immersion therapy for discomfort. I’m left with no choice but to lean into it, whether it’s doing podcast interviews, speaking at events, mentoring writers, or sharing recipes. Yes, I said sharing recipes. 

I may have to dig into my copy of
Betty Crocker's New
Boys and Girls Cookbook

I’ve always been a passable cook, but it’s never been something I cared to take too much time doing. I’m a food enthusiast, but I’m happy to let someone else do the cooking. Now that I’m single and my son is away at college, I only cook for myself—which is to say, I don’t cook. I throw things together. I am the queen of the one-bowl meal. I used to bake often and well, but again, as a household of one, baking is a roundly dangerous prospect. So, when I was recently invited to become a member of the wonderful blog, Mystery Lovers’ Kitchen, my first thought was uh-oh. The twelve members are fantastic culinary cozy authors who share recipes they cook themselves, which include photos and step-by-step instructions. Obviously, you gotta cook. I was honored to be considered to join their group and I wasn’t about to pass that up. I mean, have you seen the Mystery Lovers’ Kitchen authors? Leslie Budewitz, Maddie Day, Meg Cochran, Leslie Karst, Libby Klein, Lucy Burdette, Maya Corrigan, V.M. Burns, Vicki Delany, Cleo Coyle, and our own Writers Who Kill member, Molly MacRae.  

After my initial panic, I did what I always do when life kicks me out of my comfort zone. First, I find something that makes me feel even a little bit qualified to do this uncomfortable thing. The only way to break down fear is to hit it with logic. Ok, so what are my qualifications for this? I, too, am a culinary cozy author. I’ve learned a great deal about cheese while doing research for my Cheese Shop mysteries, and cheesy recipes are included in my books. I love watching cooking shows and cooking and baking competition shows. In fact, Loretta, the flamboyant betta fish in my series, is a big fan of Food Network’s Chopped. 

After making myself feel slightly more comfortable with my qualifications, the next step is to ask what I can bring to this experience that will highlight my strengths. It’s a reminder that I don’t have to be just like everyone else, which takes most of the pressure off. What can I bring to the blog? Surely, some Mystery Lovers’ Kitchen readers are single, like me, so perhaps simpler recipes-for-one are something they’d like to see more of. Another strength? Cheese, which—let’s face it—is practically a superpower. 

My superpower

The last step is to think about the purpose of the experience. Why do people read Mystery Lovers’ Kitchen? Because of their shared love and appreciation of food. Do I share that purpose too? Absolutely. I admitted in my extended author bio that I've been on my own Eat, Pray, Love journey, however I seem to have stalled at the Eat phase. 

After doing these three exercises, I usually find I’m not as far out of my comfort zone as I thought. And invariably, once I actually do this new thing, it becomes not only more comfortable, but enjoyable. Whether it involves becoming a better public speaker, gaining practical experience, or allowing myself to be more present in a daily activity like cooking, it also turns into a growth opportunity. I will probably always feel discomfort at facing new experiences, but I can comfortably say the rewards are worth it. 

Readers: Have you had experiences venturing out of your comfort zone? How do you handle it?

The delicious croque monsieur 
from Cheddar Off Dead

My first post for Mystery Lovers’ Kitchen is Monday, March 11th, where I’ll be making a recipe from my first Cheese Shop Mystery, Cheddar Off Dead—a croque monsieur sandwich that’s easier to make than to pronounce!

KORINA MOSS is the author of the Cheese Shop Mystery series (St. Martin’s Press) set in the Sonoma Valley, including the Agatha Award winner for Best First Novel, CHEDDAR OFF DEAD, and the most recently Agatha-nominated Best Contemporary Novel, CASE OF THE BLEUS. Her books have been featured in PARADE Magazine, Woman’s World, AARP, and Fresh Fiction. To learn more, visit her website korinamossauthor.com. 

The Challenge and Reward of Writing a Standalone Series

by Korina Moss

 

Cozy mysteries are my favorite kinds of books to read because they are generally standalone series. I know standalone series sounds like an oxymoron, but it’s really the best of both worlds. Although the series is a continuation of the same characters in the same town, each book’s mystery is complete--it stands alone without plot cliffhangers. I love these types of mysteries because even when I’m racing to finish and find out whodunnit, I don’t want it to end. I always want to continue to follow the characters, even doing their routine things. Just give me a few more chapters of them eating breakfast… working together… doing anything so I don’t have to leave them yet! 

I always start with the first book in a series. Being a writer of a standalone series, however, I’m aware that the first book a reader may pick up may not be Cheddar Off Dead, the first book in my cheese shop mystery series. The challenge comes in writing descriptions that draw new readers in but don’t bore those who are well-versed in my fictional town of Yarrow Glen. A friend of mine who’s an avid cozy mystery reader was put off by an author whose long-running series she loves, but who describes the town and characters the same, verbatim, in every book. As an author, I understand the temptation—it’s difficult to find new ways to describe people and places when you want new readers to know the same things that old readers know. Unfortunately, we can’t all be Sue Grafton in how cleverly she not only made her recapped descriptions work but made them comforting to return to in each book. 

The best part of writing this kind of series is being able to develop my characters and their relationships over many books. I was thrilled when my publisher offered me a second contract to write three more books in my cheese shop mystery series, for a total of six books thus far. It means I can think more long-term about my characters, and it allows them more room to grow. My readers can get to know them even better and see how their personalities and relationships change over time. When readers open another cheese shop mystery, I want them to immediately feel they’re back among old friends. 

The second cheese shop mystery, Gone For Gouda, releases on September 27th and is available for pre-order. Cheddar Off Dead is available wherever books are sold. You can go to korinamossauthor.com for more information. 

Are you like me and always start a series from the first book or do you pick up the latest book? 

CELEBRATING WITH FAMILY, FRIENDS, & A GIVEAWAY!

by Korina Moss

I can’t believe it’s been over two months since the release of Cheddar Off Dead. A hectic yet wonderful whirlwind of activity surrounded my first Launch Day, culminating in a book party thrown by my family. Except for the date, all the details were kept top secret from me. My son and I arrived from Connecticut and thought we’d stepped into my fictional town of Yarrow Glen in the Sonoma Valley. (In actuality, it was my sister’s backyard in upstate New York.) A skull-decorated faux cheddar wheel with a large knife sticking out of it mimicked my book cover, and the cake looked like a real book. Even Loretta, my protagonist Willa’s flamboyant fish, made an appearance (in the form of my niece’s fish). 

The wine flowed, and everyone partook in gorgeous charcuterie boards and wonderful cheeseboard pairings. I happily signed books and met some new readers. I received some thoughtful gifts, including an apron and a cheeseboard with the name of Willa’s cheese shop, Curds & Whey. One of my sisters made me another apron quoting Willa: “I firmly believe most of life’s problems can be solved with cheese.” It was a fabulous day of celebration that I’ll never forget.

Speaking of celebrations, June is my birthday month, so I want to celebrate it by giving back to my most loyal readers. I’m holding a Subscriber Gratitude Giveaway. The giveaway will include four summer cheeseboard cards, a Good Vibes journal, and signed bookmarks. Only those who subscribe to my free monthly #TeamCheese newsletter before June 20th will be entered to win. You can subscribe via my website at korinamossauthor.com. The winner will be announced on my social media and in July’s newsletter. 

I’m already thinking ahead about fun ways to launch Book 2 in my Cheese Shop Mystery series. It’s only three months until Gone For Gouda releases. Here’s what’s happening with Willa and her Curds & Whey crew: 

Things are going from gouda to bad to ugly for cheesemonger Willa Bauer in Gone for Gouda. 

Yarrow Glen’s newest cheese shop, Curds & Whey, has a lot on its plate, but cheesemonger Willa Bauer relishes a challenge. There’s a float to build for the fall festival, plus the French-inspired cheese shop is playing host to celebrity vegan chef Phoebe Winston. But when photos surface that prove this vegan influencer is, in fact, a carnivore, things crumble faster than any cheese on the market: Phoebe is murdered. Willa’s employee, the affable Archie, was the last one to see Phoebe alive and the first person the police suspect. To clear his name, Willa must uncover who’s been up to no gouda...

Readers: Tell me about your favorite party!

Go to my website to order Cheddar Off Dead and Gone for Gouda and subscribe to my newsletter. Follow me on Facebook and Instagram.