Category: The Warm Mug of Cozy Corner Page 4 of 6

The Warm Mug of Cozy Anthology: Focus on Caitlin McColl

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On October 6, 2023

In Latest book releases, The Warm Mug of Cozy Corner

Welcome to our mini-series on A Warm Mug of Cozy Anthology, which celebrates the writers whose stories are featured in our inaugural volume.

Today, Caitlin McColl is telling us what inspired her story “Trinity Falls.”

What inspired my story? A few things:

I wrote some mystery stories in the past but they were more straight up detective stories. I’d never written a cozy mystery and thought it would be interesting to try to write a story using the ‘rules’ of the cozy – especially the idea of it taking place in a small town.

Lately I’ve been on a crime/thriller binge after discovering a few new mystery/crime writers, so that helped with some inspiration. There’s also a few cozy mystery TV series that I love: Agatha Raisin, Murdoch Mysteries, Queens of Mystery…. and maybe even Nancy Drew (yes, I admit, I watched a few seasons of the teen mystery drama!).

But I love the main character in my story because…well, she’s actually a main character in some of my Steampunk fiction! But of course, my anthology story isn’t steampunk, so she’s not exactly the same character – but what she does as a job in my Steampunk stories was a perfect fit for a cozy mystery! 

So, it was mostly my main character that inspired my story.  That, and for some reason, despite having been there only once many years ago, I pictured the town my story takes place in being something like a small town on the East Coast of North America – which is strange, seeing how I live on the West Coast! But the west coast didn’t seem to have the same vibe as the east coast for a mystery.

Caitlin McColl has written many short stories since childhood, mainly fantasy—with dragons, wizards, and other fantastical monsters. Her areas of interest are fantasy and steampunk fiction, but once in a while she also delves into genres like crime. Which makes sense because she watches a lot of crime dramas and reads lots of crime thrillers. She lives in Vancouver, Canada with her husband and dog. She currently writes stories and articles on Medium.com.

Website: https://caitlinmccoll.wixsite.com/author

Thank you for sending us your story, Caitlin! We know people will love reading it as much as we have.

Today’s instalment concludes this year’s series. We hope that you enjoyed learning more from the contributors to our anthology. 🙂

In the meantime, don’t forget to order your copy of A Warm Mug of Cozy Anthology: Volume 1.

CLICK TO GRAB YOUR COPY

Cendrine & David

The Warm Mug of Cozy Anthology: Focus on Natalie Klein

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On September 22, 2023

In Latest book releases, The Warm Mug of Cozy Corner

Welcome to our mini-series on A Warm Mug of Cozy Anthology, which celebrates the writers whose stories are featured in our inaugural volume.

Today, Natalie Klein is telling us what inspired her story “Murder on Main Street, A Derry Downs Mystery”

The thrill of the chase, suspenseful plot twists, and the satisfaction of solving the crime – nothing gets my heart racing quite like a good old-fashioned whodunit.

So, when the opportunity arose to immerse myself in a cozy murder mystery, I couldn’t resist throwing my hat in the ring. The prospect of sleuthing alongside captivating characters and unravelling an intricate web of clues had me hooked from the get-go.

Amidst Sydney’s hustle and bustle, I often yearn for the quaint charm of a small country town. Where strong friendships are formed over cups of steaming tea and life’s simple pleasures are savoured. This is where the seeds of my cozy murder mystery were born.

‘Welcome to Derry Downs, a little slice of country paradise where sewing needles are the weapons of choice and juicy gossip flows like the finest wine. Alice and Bobbie are the town’s dynamic duo, running the beloved Sewing Bee and keeping the community afloat with their boundless energy and friendly smiles. But when tragedy strikes and brings chaos to this once-peaceful town, it’s Alice’s determination to solve the crime that will have you cheering her on with every stitch. Will she track down the culprit, or will her pursuit put her in harm’s way?’

So, grab your magnifying glass, hone your detective skills, and get ready to embark on a thrilling journey with Alice to uncover the shooter in my cozy murder mystery.

Natalie Klein from Sydney Australia, crafts captivating stories for readers of all ages. She also works as a website copywriter, crafting clear, concise, and persuasive copy for small businesses.

When she’s not busy writing, she can usually be found listening to true crime podcasts, sewing, and exploring all things related to the history of England.

Website: https://www.nataliekleincopywriter.com.au

Thank you for sending us your story, Natalie! We know people will love reading it as much as we have.

See you soon for the next instalment in our series.

In the meantime, don’t forget to order your copy of A Warm Mug of Cozy Anthology: Volume 1.

CLICK TO GRAB YOUR COPY

Cendrine & David

The Warm Mug of Cozy Anthology: Focus on J. Ivanel Johnson

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On September 14, 2023

In Latest book releases, The Warm Mug of Cozy Corner

Welcome to our mini-series on A Warm Mug of Cozy Anthology, which celebrates the writers whose stories are featured in our inaugural volume.

Today, J. Ivanel Johnson is telling us what inspired her story “Winter’s Warmblood.”

As a former competitive 3-Day Event rider and internationally-certified instructor, I have always been interested in the wordplay of names in the equestrian industry, as many have double meanings to do with MURDER or CRIME. (See this article for more information.)

As I’ve also written a Scottish-connected full-length Canadian musical and am lucky enough that my maternal grandfather was born in Aberdeenshire, I was able to work and research in the very county from whence he came. Back in 2009-2010 I, like my Lucy character in “Winter’s Warmblood,” taught riding on a 20,000 acre estate in the beautiful wild Highlands where I also lived in a stone cottage in The Stableyard. 

All of the female characters in this short story are based on real-life friends and colleagues there, and one of them specifically asked if she could ‘star’ as the murderess. So this is especially dedicated to Leanne; she’s the type of gal that likes to ‘stirrup’ trouble even more than I do. 

I’m thrilled that “Winter’s Warmblood” has found its way to a ‘cozy’ home in this exciting new anthology!

J. Ivanel Johnson is the pen name for an award-winning mystery novelist, playwright and composer living in the Appalachians of New Brunswick, Canada. Now confined to her farm due to progressive (dis)Ability, she once worked as her story’s protagonist did—on a 20,000 acre estate in the Scottish Highlands.

Website: https://mckencroftproducti.wixsite.com/jivanelauthor

Thank you for sending us your story, J.! We know people will love reading it as much as we have.

See you soon for the next instalment in our series.

In the meantime, don’t forget to order your copy of A Warm Mug of Cozy Anthology: Volume 1.

CLICK TO GRAB YOUR COPY

Cendrine & David

“A Warm Mug of Cozy Anthology: Volume 1” is Out Today!

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On September 4, 2023

In Announcements, Latest book releases, The Warm Mug of Cozy Corner

Hello everyone!

That’s it, the wait is finally over! A Warm Mug of Cozy Anthology: Volume 1 is out!

For our first anthology, we have found nine tantalizing tales that are the embodiment of the genre itself. Not only are they a lot of fun to read but also very unique in their storytelling too. There is plenty of warmth, humour and unusual settings in these wonderfully imaginative stories to keep you on your toes. You will be still guessing the twists right up until the end.

Contributors to A Warm Mug of Cozy Anthology: Volume 1 are: Saffron Amatti, Jake Collins, J. Ivanel Johnson, Denise Johnson, Natalie Klein, Caitlin McColl, Sam Morris, Julie A. Sellers, and Ian Tucker.

CLICK TO GRAB YOUR COPY

If you don’t see your favorite online store in the list, wait for a few days, and it should appear there. Please note that the anthology will not be available through Amazon.

When you purchase your copy, you do not just support this website, you also make it possible for the authors who have opted to receive royalties to be duly compensated for their hard work!

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If you are a contributor to our anthology, we invite you to proudly display the banner below everywhere! Don’t forget to link to our store: https://warmmugofcozy.com/store.

Contributors and readers alike may also use the second banner.

We cannot wait to read your reviews of our anthology. Make sure you leave your thoughts on Goodreads and on the website of the store where you purchased your copy.

Have a wonderful week!

Cendrine & David

The Warm Mug of Cozy Anthology: Focus on Julie A. Sellers

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On August 28, 2023

In Latest book releases, The Warm Mug of Cozy Corner

Welcome to our mini-series on A Warm Mug of Cozy Anthology, which celebrates the writers whose stories are featured in our inaugural volume.

Today, Julie A. Sellers is telling us what inspired her story “The Mystery of the Frisky Deer.”

A laughing confession by a friend about a mistaken identity that led to a hot tip to the police inspired “The Mystery of the Frisky Deer.” Her situation was so humorous that I knew it would be the basis for a good story. I blended my friend’s experience with one of my own involving teenage pranksters and Christmas decorations. I added a pinch of humor and a dash of observation about human nature in small towns, and the result is a cozy mystery about community, misunderstanding, and ultimately, understanding.

Julie A. Sellers began writing at an early age. She has published three academic books, and her creative prose and poetry have appeared in many publications, including 105 Meadowlark Reader, Wanderlust, and The Very Edge. She was the Kansas Author’s Club Prose Writer of the Year in 2020 and 2022, and the Overall Poetry Winner (2022) / Overall Prose Winner (2017, 2019) in the Kansas Voices Contest.

Julie has authored Kindred Verse: Poems Inspired by Anne of Green Gables (Blue Cedar Press, 2021) and the novel Ann of Sunflower Lane (Meadowlark Press, 2022).

Website: https://julieasellers.com

Thank you for sending us your story, Julie! We know people will love reading it as much as we have.

See you soon for the next instalment in our series.

In the meantime, don’t forget to pre-order your copy. It is 50% off the retail price until September 3, 2023!

(You will only have to pay $2.99 $5.99.)

CLICK TO GRAB YOUR COPY

Cendrine & David

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