Thinking about murder…

The move from romance writing to cozy mystery has been exciting! For more than a few months now, I’ve been working on retraining my brain to think about clever ways people might kill each other instead of clever ways people might convince others to fall in love with them! It’s a shift, let me tell you!

That said, the first Dahlia Vale book is with the editor now - a great developmental editor and coach who specializes in cozy - and I look forward (okay I’m lying. I’m terrified) to her comments. In the background, I’ve plotted out the next book (Bumped off at the Bake Sale!) and have already begun drafting!

It is a challenge to make your writing brain work differently. I spent ten years learning romance… but I like to think that a lot of what I learned about storycraft in general — structure, pacing, characterization, voice, etc. — can be applied. Which makes me optimistic that the first Nancy Stewart novel will be miles away from the first Delancey Stewart novel (I can already guarantee this is true. Man, it’s hard to type when you’re cringing!)

I’ve set the release date for book one… August 15!

Get ready for delicious recipes, a wonderful pet companion, and a town you’re going to want to move your family to! (Well, except maybe for all the murders that happen there…)