Author Chat

Welcome to Author Chat. Every Wednesday I’ll be featuring a different Cozy Author.

Elieen Watkins

1. Tell us a little about yourself.

“I write the Cat Groomer Mysteries series for Kensington Publishing, so far including The Persian Always Meows Twice, The Bengal Identity, Feral Attraction, and Gone, Kitty, Gone.” I’ve wanted to write fiction ever since I was a child, and won my first short-story contest in college. For most of my life, I made my living writing and editing feature stories (nonfiction) for two major daily newspapers. Over 30 years I wrote about six novels, mostly paranormal thrillers. I sent them to agents or editors, got them back, changed them a bit, sent them out again, got them back again. (Rinse, repeat.) Finally, in 2002, I connected with a new electronic but “traditional” publisher who accepted one of my thrillers, then went on to publish everything else I had in my files. Eventually I put out eight books with them. The last two paranormals were mysteries, and borderline cozy—a female amateur sleuth with psychic gifts. Shortly after those came out, the small publisher went out of business. But an agent who had read one of my mysteries approached me to write the series I’m currently doing for Kensington. 

2. How long have you been a fan of the cozy genre, and when did you decide you wanted to write one?

In my early days I read thrillers and horror, but after awhile those genres became too gory and nasty for me. I gravitated more toward mysteries, and started to pick up some cozies because I was attracted to the themes. I never thought I could combine paranormal and mystery, but when I read the Barbara Michaels (Mertz) contemporary gothics, I realized it could work. That inspired me to write my first two mysteries, and to read more cozies.  They actually have something in common with my favorite horror and paranormals—they feature everyday people who find themselves in extreme situations, and who dig for answers to protect themselves and others they care about. Usually the every man, or every woman, also has some special talent that helps them rise to the challenge. I love telling that story, over and over.  

As I said, an agent “recruited” me to write for Kensington, and my editor suggested three topics, two featuring cats. I chose a cat-groomer sleuth, because I love animals and felt I could enjoy writing about someone who worked with them for a living. Like most animal professionals I know, Cassie takes the welfare of her feline clients very seriously, and going to bat for them often gets her involved in solving murders. 

3. If we were tourists in your story world, where would your characters take us?

Geographic places? Most of my locales are fictional, but Cassie lives over her own shop in the small town of Chadwick, New Jersey. I envision this as in Sussex County, which is in the semi-rural, northwestern part of the state. I say it’s about 45 minutes from Morristown (real), where her mother lives, and which is urban by comparison. Once known for its iron mines and farms, Chadwick has been through hard times, but is trying to invent itself as a picturesque, residential and getaway destination. The outskirts are being developed with McMansions and upscale condo communities, but small farms still exist, and the nearby mountains attract hikers, some hunters, and even a few folks who want to live off the grid. I deliberately gave Chadwick this rather split personality, so wealthy people could bump up against blue-collar folks and some have-nots, and Cassie would occasionally be drawn out of her cozy downtown environment into wilder terrain. The fact that the town has high aspirations also lets her deal with a wealthy customer who’s trying to get her home on the Historic Register, and a hotshot promoter who brings a major cat expo to a nearby conference center. 

For tourists: Besides visiting Cassie’s Comfy Cats, you’ll want to hit Towne Antiques, which has a nice assortment from Early American to mid-Century modern; Nature’s Way, where Cassie’s best friend Dawn can fix you up with health foods, organic produce, and natural remedies (say hi to her kitten, Tigger); grab lunch at Chad’s Diner, done up fifties style with turquoise vinyl booths; stroll through the town’s riverside park, complete with a gazebo; maybe see a vintage movie at the Paragon, the restored 1930s theater; and stop for dinner at either Slice of Heaven—artisan pizza—or at Kin Khao for an excellent thai meal.  Finally, you can have a drink and maybe also hear live music at The Firehouse, which started out as just that at the turn of the century, but has been remodeled as a great pub.

4. Where can my readers find your books and follow you?

My books are available just about everywhere, including Barnes & Noble stores, Amazon and other online vendors, and my publisher’s website (my page is  https://www.kensingtonbooks.com/author.aspx/31851). My own website is  http://www.efwatkins.com/. I am on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/eileen.f.watkins) but no other social media such as Twitter or Instagram. My mostly youthful characters are more “connected” than I am!

Phyllis Entis

Hi Sleuths! Today I’m super excited to welcome Phyllis Entis to our little group.

Thanks for coming to chat with us. Why not tell my readers a little about yourself?

I moved to a small town on Long Island, NY when I was ten years old. Four generations of my family lived in the same town. My grandfather owned the local deli, and half my family worked there. I started stocking shelves when I was twelve. That’s where I learned all about the gossip hot-spots all small towns have. I still live in the same small town on the south shore of eastern Long Island, with my husband, three kids (ages 28,20, and 8), son-in-law, and our five dogs.

I am the author of the Damien Dickens Mysteries series, which includes The Green Pearl Caper, The White Russian Caper, The Chocolate Labradoodle Caper, and The Gold Dragon Caper. My debut novel, The Green Pearl Caper, was a Library Journal SELF-e Selection. I am also a free-lance web journalist and retired food safety microbiologist with degrees from McGill University and the University of Toronto. In 2007, ASM Press published my non-fiction book, Food Safety: Old Habits, New Perspectives. In addition to working on the fifth installment in the Damien Dickens series, I am currently researching material for a book on pet food safety.

                At present, I live in Carmel-by-the-Sea, California with my husband and our Australian Cobberdog, Shalom. When I’m not writing, I usually can be found walking around town, browsing in the local library, baking bread, playing with the dog, or enjoying my garden.

How long have you been a fan of the cozy genre, and when did you decide you wanted to write one?

I cut my teeth on Nancy Drew, Judy Bolton, and other mystery series of that ilk. As my vocabulary and interests matured, I segued to Agatha Christie and Ngaio Marsh. I have always enjoyed classic detective fiction, cozy and otherwise.

                I first decided to attempt a novel in 2012 or 2013, as a result of attending a regular writing workshop. One of the pieces of flash fiction I produced during a 20-minute ‘write to a prompt’ session evolved into The Green Pearl Caper.

If we were tourists in your story world, where would your characters take us?

The first three books in the series are set mainly on the eastern seaboard of the USA. Damien and Millie (began as his secretary, but became his wife and partner by the start of the second book) are based in Atlantic City. The action takes place in their home town, in Vermont, Montreal, and South Florida. The fourth book begins in Atlantic City, but quickly moves to Vermont and thence to Utah, Nevada (Las Vegas) and Central California (at the very end).

                Book five (as yet unnamed) starts in Central California, but some of the action will take place back in Atlantic City.

Nice. So Where can my readers find your books and follow you?

All of my books are available on Amazon in ebook, paperback and audiobook editions. At the moment, The Gold Dragon Caper ebook is in wide distribution, available from all ebook retailers. The paperbacks are available at Barnes and Noble in addition to Amazon. The audiobooks can also be found at Audible and iTunes.

        I can be found at phyllisentis.wordpress.com and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/PhyllisEntisAuthor.