Last updated on January 13, 2023
When I offered to host Deborah Malone on my blog and she told me her novel was a “cozy mystery,” I wondered if I was the only person who had never heard that phrase. It reminded me of the Star Trek episode from “The Trouble With Tribbles,” where it seemed everyone knew what a tribble was but Captain Kirk.
“The crime-solver in a cozy mystery is usually a woman who is an amateur sleuth. Almost always, she has a college degree, whether she is using it or not. Her education and life experiences have provided her with certain skills that she will utilize in order to solve all the crimes that are “thrown her way.” The cozy mystery heroine is usually a very intuitive, bright woman….”
LORILYN: TELL ME ABOUT YOUR LATEST RELEASE.
DEBBIE: Death in Dahlonega is my debut cozy mystery. It is based on two friends who find themselves in a bit of a scrape. Trixie is a magazine writer and she is on assignment in Dahlonega, Georgia, and her friend Dee Dee has tagged along. Dee Dee owns an antique shop and this will be the perfect place for her to shop for antiques and other goodies. The girls are watching a film at the gold museum when Dee Dee has to go to the bathroom – this is not unusual for Dee Dee. While she is nosing around in the rooms she happens upon a dead body. She automatically pulls out the pickaxe and winds up being the main person of interest. The handsome sheriff is ready to retire and run for mayor, so Trixie doesn’t think he’s trying very hard to find the real killer. So she and Dee Dee take matters into their own hands. The question is will they find the real killer before Dee Dee ends up in the slammer?
I am working on my next two releases with Trixie and Dee Dee. The first one is Murder in Marietta and the second one is Terror in Tybee Island.
LORILYN: HOW MUCH TIME DO YOU SPEND IN RESEARCH BEFORE YOU WRITE A STORY?
DEBBIE: I like to visit the area and take lots of pictures as well as interview people that are familiar with the area. Then I continue to do research throughout the whole book to keep it fresh in my mind. I don’t really know how much time, but it is a good bit. Research is imperative.
LORILYN: WHAT IS THE MOST INTERESTING THING YOU HAVE LEARNED FROM YOUR RESEARCH?
Well, I don’t know about what I learned, but I do have a funny story. When I went to the gold museum and talked with the real ranger about taking pics/interviewing them etc., for the book she hurriedly called her boss and then preceded to tell me I couldn’t write about their security system. Of course, I didn’t know about their security system so it was funny for me. I really don’t think she knew what a cozy mystery was.
DEBBIE: HOW DO YOU LIKE TO SPEND YOUR TIME WHEN YOU’RE NOT WRITING?
Now that I’ve been published, I don’t have as much time to do other things, but I like to take photographs. I’m enjoying meeting people through my marketing of Death in Dahlonega.
LORILYN: HOW CAN READERS CONTACT YOU AND/OR LEARN MORE ABOUT YOU AND YOUR WRITING?
DEBBIE: You can contact me by going to my website deborah-malone.com. I would love to hear from my readers and if anyone wants a signed copy, I’d be glad to do that, and my email is debbiejeanm@gmail.com. Thank you for having me on your blog!
Hi Lorilyn,
Thank you for having me as a guest on your blog. It is nice of you to offer a free copy of your book to someone. As you know I've read your book and the person who wins will be blessed by reading it. I'll be stopping by to read the comments.
Debbie
OK – I think I got this wrong Lorilyn, it is a free Kindle copy to those who follow and leave a comment. Very generous of you!
Debbie
Hi Lorilyn. I enjoyed this interview, and I'm with you. Cozy mysteries are new to me, too. I don't think I ever put those two words together mentally. I'm about to become a new follower.
Okay. I hate to be ignorant. I subscribed, and it said I was subscribed to comments. I meant to be subscribed to the blog. But I can't find the subscribe button for the blog. Help! I'm old and I cannot find my way.
I have never heard the term "cozy mystery" and still not sure of the meaning even after reading the definition. So, she is a college educated, intuitive–a sharp cookie who just figures things out? Cozy and murder? I can't get them in the same sentence. Okay, you convinced me. I'll go read it!
Hi Katherine and Carol. Don't forget to send your email to Lorilyn if you want a free Kindle copy of her book "Children of Dreams."
Carol a cozy mystery is one where the murder takes place off stage – you don't see it happen- and the person who solves the crime is an everyday person, not a professional who works in the criminal field. It is meant to be a light read and most of the time involves a good bit of humor. I hope you take the time to read "Death in Dahlonega." Let me know how you like it.
Debbie
Hi Deborah, Enjoyed your interview. I had not heard of Cozy Mysteries until about a yr ago but I do love women seuths. I love mysteries and can't wait to read Death In Dahlonega. I am a Georgian by birth and have lived here all my life so I love books written using Georgia as the local. Thanks for stopping by to chat and share with us.
Hi Deborah, Enjoyed your interview. I had not heard of Cozy Mysteries until about a yr ago but I do love women seuths. I love mysteries and can't wait to read Death In Dahlonega. I am a Georgian by birth and have lived here all my life so I love books written using Georgia as the local. Thanks for stopping by to chat and share with us.
I too was mystified the first time I heard the term Cozy Mystery – thank you for clearing that up, Lorilyn! Debbie, your book sounds wonderful and I really like the cover – great job! Congrats on being published!
Thank you Lorilyn and Deborah for sharing about Deb's book Death In Dahlonega. I had heard the description Cozy Mysteries before, but never knew exactly where they came up with the phrase, but thank you for sharing what it means. I have not read a cozy mystery yet, but I will look forward to reading Deborah's book! I am following your blog Lorilyn and thank you for the chance
God's Blessings
If you want a free ebook on Kindle of Children of Dreams, you must follow my blog also:)
Thank you for your comments.
I have gifted the ebook Children of Dreams to everyone who has commented so far. If you didn't get yours, let me know.
I really enjoy a good mystery…they become real page turners. Loved the reference to Captain Kirk!
Maureen
I'm following your GFC, but that is going away next month. Do you have Networkblogs or Google+?
Maureen
I have a whole list of cozies..Love em! Please enter me.
I follow via email.
Please enter me in the drawing! My family is from North Georgia. I also write stories set in Georgia. Thanks, Sherri
I had such a crush on Captain Kirk. I was 12 at the time, young and innocent. Actually, today as I write, I think about why Star Trek worked so well, the characters who were all very different, the plot lines of the stories, which some I remember almost by heart, and the value it contributed to society (there were a lot of firsts on Star Trek in movie history), the farsightedness into the future, there wasn't a lot of fluff, it made statements about life and death — shoot, I should do a blog post on this:)
What is GFC? I always sign on through Google. I am networked, but don't know how to get to that anymore. I guess I need to figure it out. So much to do, so little time.
It's Google Friend Connect, and if I understand it, people that don't have a blog will not longer be able to use it. Kind of sad when we have worked hard to get it going….yours says Followers!
It's good to see so many of my friends here and also some new faces. I'm surprised at how many people don't know what a cozy is. I hope you understand more about it now.
Debbie
Great interview! Please enter me into the drawing! I signed up to follow by email and GFC.
Blessings
Judy
Great interview! Please enter me into the drawing! I signed up to follow by email and GFC.
Blessings
Judy