Readers often ask me why I write both cozy mystery novels and romance novels. At book signings, it’s phrased a little differently each time:
Why cozy mystery…and romance? Don’t you want just to choose one genre?
The answer is simple—and personal. I write both because I love both.
Why Cozy Mystery and Romance Are My Favorite Genres
When I first started writing, romance came first. I attended romance book conferences, belonged to romance writers’ groups, and could happily talk about romance novels for hours. Romance was my world.
But behind the scenes, I was also an avid reader of mysteries and suspense. Those books offered everything I loved—memorable characters, humor, heart, and just enough suspense to keep me turning pages long into the night. Cozy mysteries, in particular, gave me that comforting promise that the culprit would be caught, and the journey would be twisty and clever.
My husband used to joke that I always had a book in my hands. He even bought me my first e-reader so I’d never run out of reading material. One day, while we were talking about a paranormal cozy mystery author I’d just discovered, I admitted something out loud for the first time.
“I wish I could write witty, clue-filled books like that.”
He looked at me and asked a simple question:
“Why can’t you?”
From Reader to Cozy Mystery Author
I explained how cozy mystery novels relied on clever red herrings, layered clues, and misdirection that eventually led the reader uncover the murderer. I told him how many authors plotted their mysteries. I can’t plot my way out of a paper bag.
His response surprised me.
“Just because some authors do it that way doesn’t mean it’s a law,” he said. “You can write anything you want.”
After I stopped laughing, I realized he was right. The only lingering question was I was brave enough to try.
A few years later, I decided to find out. From May to December of that year, I poured my energy into writing the first four books in what would become the Bookstore Cozy Mystery Series. I worried—would readers enjoy them? Would they be good enough?
I had nothing to lose. I published them and held my breath.
How I Fell in Love with Mysteries: Nancy Drew to Agatha Christie
My love of mysteries began long before I thought about writing them. As a child, I devoured Nancy Drew and The Hardy Boys, flashlight under the covers, bedroom door closed. My mother must have known—those flashlight batteries never seemed to die.
Those early mysteries planted a seed: the thrill of solving a puzzle, the comfort of a clever hero or heroine, and the satisfying certainty that justice would be served.
As I grew older, that love led me to Agatha Christie, whose work continues to inspire me. After reading her autobiography, I understood what truly captivated me about her stories. It wasn’t just the puzzles or the red herrings—it was the heartbeat beneath them. The way secrets were revealed, the methodical misdirection, and how setting became an integral part of the mystery itself. Murder on the Orient Express is a perfect example.
That blend of puzzle, character, and atmosphere is something I strive for in my own cozy mystery novels.
Discovering Romance—and the Power of a Happily Ever After
As a teenager, I discovered romance novels—specifically historical romance. The first one I remember reading was The Inheritance. I don’t remember the author, but I remember everything else: England, forbidden love, longing, heartbreak, and ultimately, a happily ever after.
Romance novels taught me that love stories aren’t just about attraction—they’re about hope. About believing that even when life is messy and people make mistakes, love can conquer all. That belief stayed with me.
Why I Write Both Cozy Mystery and Romance Today
So why do I write both cozy mystery and romance novels?
Because life isn’t one-dimensional.
When I sit down at my desk, I don’t want to choose between genres. I want to combine the things I love most: mystery, romance, humor, heart, and small-town charm.
In my cozy mysteries, I create small towns readers can’t wait to get lost in—places that feel familiar and welcoming. In my romance novels, I dive into the emotional journey; my characters have flaws, but never fatal flaws.
In the Bookstore Cozy Mystery Series, the romance between Lily and Gage keeps hearts invested while they’re solving a murder. In my romance novels, suspense and mystery naturally blend, finding their way onto the page. No matter the genre, my characters feel like friends, and their stories reflect the people and communities I love.
And yes—every book comes with a guaranteed happy ending.
Writing Stories That Feel Like Coming Home
Readers of cozy mysteries and sweet-with-heat romance want the same thing at the end of the day: to feel good when they close the book. You want warmth with suspense, heart with humor, and characters who linger in your thoughts.
Every time a reader tells me they stayed up too late reading, or that Lily, Tessa, Carrie, or Linc feels like a friend, I’m reminded why I love writing.
I write cozy mystery novels because I love justice served with a wink.
I write romance novels because I believe in love—and in happily ever afters.
Life is friendships and heartache, laughter and mystery, romance and hope. Those are the stories worth telling. And somewhere in between all of that—that’s where inspiration for my books lives.
