Here are some fun Maine facts:
The capital is Augusta.
The largest city is Portland.
State motto is “Dirigo” (“I direct”)
State nickname is “Pine Tree State”
State flower is the White Pine Cone and Tassel
State bird is the Black-capped Chickadee
Maine shares its borders with only one state, and has the USA’s most eastern city – Eastport.
Maine supplies almost all of USA’s blueberries (99%).

Mystery authors who are found on the Cozy Mystery Site who feature Maine locations/settings in their books:

Annie’s Antique Shop Mystery Series

Donald Bain & “Jessica Fletcher”: Murder, She Wrote Mystery Series

Jennie Bentley: Do It Yourself Mystery Series

J. S. Borthwick: Deane & McKenzie Mystery Series

Kerry J. Charles: Dulcie Chambers Mystery Series

Vivian Conroy: Country Gift Shop Mystery Series

Leighann Dobbs: Blackmoore Sisters Romantic Cozy Mystery Series AND Mooseamuck Island Cozy Mystery Series

Claire Donally: Sunny & Shadow Mystery Series

Kaitlyn Dunnet (Kathy Lynn Emerson): Liss MacCrimmon Mystery Series

Jessica Estevao (aka Jessie Crockett): Change of Fortune Mystery Series

“Jessica Fletcher” & Donald Bain: Murder, She Wrote Mystery Series

Cynthia Gallant-Simpson: Coastal Maine Mystery Series 

Sarah Graves: Home Repair is Homicide Mystery Series

Sarah Graves: Death by Chocolate Mystery Series

Linda Hall: Whisper Lake Mystery Series AND Fog Point Mystery Series AND Teri Blake-Addison Mystery Series AND Coast of Maine Mystery Series

B. B. Haywood: Candy Holliday Mystery Series

Lee Hollis: Hayley Powell Food & Cocktail Mystery Series

Margaret Lawrence: Hannah Trevor Mystery Series

Karen MacInerney: Gray Whale Inn Mystery Series

Leslie Meier: Lucy Stone (Holiday) Mystery Series

Meira Penterman: a Stand Alone

Virginia Rich: Eugenia Potter Mystery Series

Barbara Ross: Maine Clambake Mystery Series

Sofie Ryan (aka Sofie Kelly): Second Chance Cat Mystery Series

Lea Wait: Shadows Antique Print Mystery Series AND Mainely Needlepoint Mystery Series

Please feel free to comment if you see an author from the Cozy Mystery Site who belongs on this list, or if you have any corrections.

♦To access more Cozy Mysteries by Theme click on this link.♦

Here are some Fun California Facts:

State Motto: “Eureka” which means: I have found it.
State Flower is the California Poppy.
Capital is Sacramento.
State Bird is the California Valley Quail.
State Nickname is “The Golden State.”
Spanish explorers thought that California was an island, and named it for a Spanish queen named Califia in a work of fiction written in 1510 by Garcia Ordonez de Montalvo.

Mystery authors who are found on the Cozy Mystery Site who feature California locations/settings in their books:

Sparkle Abbey: Pampered Pets Mystery Series

Steve Allen: Steve Allen Mystery Series

Jennifer Apodaca: Samantha Shaw Mystery Series

George Baxt: Celebrity Sleuths Mystery Series

Lillian Bell (aka Kristi Abbott, Eileen Rendahl, & Eileen Carr): Funeral Parlor Mystery Series

Joan Blacher: Ardis Jensen Mystery Series

Juliet Blackwell: Witchcraft Mystery Series

Juliet Blackwell: Sophie Tanner Haunted Home Repair Mystery Series

Kate Bryan: Maggie Maguire Mystery Series

Jan Burke: Irene Kelly Mystery Series

Lynn Cahoon: Tourist Trap Mystery Series

Stephen J. Cannell: Shane Scully Mystery Series

Taffy Cannon (aka Emily Toll): Nan Robertson Mystery Series

Taffy Cannon (aka Emily Toll): Roxanne Prescott Mystery Series

Gayle Carline: Peri Minneopa Mystery Series

Kate Carlisle: Bibliophile Mystery Series

Kate Carlisle: Fixer-Upper Mystery Series

Grace Carroll (aka Carol Culver): Accessories Mystery Series

Bailey Cattrell (aka Bailey Cates & Cricket McRae): Enchanted Garden Mystery Series

Sally Chapman (aka Annie Griffin): Silicon Valley Mystery Series

Margaret Chittenden: Charlie Plato Mystery Series

Carol Higgins Clark: Regan Reilly Mystery Series

Michael Connelly: Harry Bosch Mystery Series AND Mickey Haller Mystery Series AND Jack McEvoy Mystery Series AND Terry McCaleb Mystery Series

Hy Conrad: Mr. Monk Mystery Series

Bruce Cook (aka Bruce Alexander): Chico Cervantes Mystery Series

Marla Cooper: Destination Wedding Mystery Series

Laura Crum: Gail McCarthy Mystery Series

Carol Culver (aka Grace Carroll): Pie Shop Mystery Series

E.V. Cunningham: Masao Masuto Mystery Series

Claire Daniels (aka Jaqueline Girdner): Karma Crime Mystery Series

Eileen Davidson: Soap Opera Mystery Series

Dianne Day: Fremont Jones Mystery Series

Margaret Dumas: Charley & Jack Fairfax Mytery Series

Susan Dunlap: Jill Smith Mystery Series  AND Kiernan O’Shaughnessy Mystery Series AND Vejay Haskell Mystery Series AND Darcy Lott Mystery Series

Pamela DuMond: Annie Graceland Mystery Series

Lesley Egan (aka Elizabeth Linington & Dell Shannon): Jesse Falkenstein Mystery Series AND Vic Varallo Mystery Series

A. A. Fair (aka Erle Stanley Gardner): Cool Detective Agency Mystery Series

Jerrilyn Farmer: Madeline Bean Mystery Series AND Red Carpet Mystery Series (with Joan Rivers)

Mary Feliz: Maggie McDonald Mystery Series

Janet Finsilver: Redwood Cove Mystery Series

Elaine Flinn: Molly Doyle Mystery Series

Earlene Fowler: Benni Harper Mystery Series

Erle Stanley Gardner (aka A. A. Fair): Perry Mason Mystery Series AND Doug Selby Mystery Series

Kellye Garrett: Detective by Day Mystery Series

Daryl Wood Gerber (aka Avery Aames): French Bistro Mystery Series

Jaqueline Girdner (aka Claire Daniels): Kate Jasper Mystery Series

Lee Goldberg: Mr. Monk Mystery Series AND Diagnosis Murder Mystery Series

Nadia Gordon: Sunny McCoskey, Napa Valley Mystery Series

Ron Goulart: Groucho Marx Mystery Series

Margaret Grace (aka Camille Minichino): Miniature Mystery Series

Sue Grafton: Kinsey Millhone Mystery Series

Annie Griffin (aka Sally Chapman): Hannah Malloy & Kiki Goldstein Mystery Series

Terris McMahan Grimes: Theresa Galloway Mystery Series

Patricia Guiver: Pet Detective Mystery Series

Rebecca M. Hale: Cats and Curios Mystery Series

Gemma Halliday: High Heels Mystery Series AND Hollywood Headlines Mystery Series AND Anna Smith & Nick Dade Mystery Series AND Wine & Dine Mystery Series

Betty Hechtman: Crochet Mystery Series AND Yarn Retreat Mystery Series

Nancy Herriman: Mystery of Old San Francisco Mystery Series – 1860s San Francisco

Lee Hollis: Desert Flowers Mystery Series – Poppy Harmon is a widow who opens the Desert Flowers Detective Agency in Palm Springs.

Dorothy Howell: Haley Randolph Mystery Series

Jonnie Jacobs: Kali O’Brien Mystery Series AND Kate Austen Mystery Series

Sue Ann Jaffarian: Odelia Grey Mystery Series AND Fang-In-Cheek Mystery Series AND Ghost of Granny Apples Mystery Series

Nancy Lynn Jarvis: Regan McHenry Real Estate Mystery Series

Claire M. Johnson: Mary Ryan, Pastry Chef Mystery Series

Linda O. Johnston: Kendra Ballantyne, Pet-Sitter Mystery Series AND Pet Rescue Mystery Series

Stuart M. Kaminisky: Toby Peters Mystery Series

Susan Kandel: Cece Caruso Mystery Series

Leslie Karst: Sally Solari Mystery Series

Faye Kellerman: Decker & Lazarus Mystery Series

Jonathan Kellerman: Alex Delaware Mystery Series AND Petra Connor Mystery Series

Karen Kijewski: Kat Colorado Mystery Series

Laurie R. King: Martinelli & Hawkin Mystery Series

Harley Jane Kozak: Wollie Shelley Mystery Series

Rochelle Krich: Molly Blume Mystery Series AND Jessie Drake Mystery Series

Joyce Krieg: Talk Radio Mystery Series

Martha C. Lawrence: Elizabeth Chase Mystery Series

Laura Levine: Jaine Austen Mystery Series

Hailey Lind: Art Lover’s Mystery Series

Elizabeth Linington (aka Leslie Egan & Dell Shannon): Ivor Maddox Mystery Series

M. Louisa Locke: Victorian San Francisco Mystery Series

T.C. LoTempio: Nick and Nora Mystery Series

Sheila Lowe: Forensic Handwriting Mystery Series

Lisa Lutz: Izzy Spellman Mystery Series

Lindsay Maracotta: Lucy Freers Mystery Series

Mary Marks: Martha Rose Quilting Mystery Series

G. A. McKevett: Savannah Reid Mystery Series

Staci McLaughlin: Blossom Valley Mystery Series

Mary Miley writes the Roaring Twenties Mystery Series which features an ex-Vaudeville/silent films actress in Hollywood during the 1920s.

Marlys Millhiser: Charlie Greene Mystery Series

Camille Minichino (aka Margaret Grace): Periodic Table Mystery Series (Most of the books are set in Massassachusetts, some in California.)

Marcia Muller: Sharon McCone Mystery Series AND Rho Swift Mystery Series (as of Aug. ’10 only one mystery) AND Elena Oliverez Mystery Series AND Joanna Stark Mystery Series

Marcia Muller & Bill Pronzini: The Carpenter & Quincannon,Professional Detective Services Mystery Series features an ex-Pinkerton operative & an ex-Secret Service agent in 1890s San Francisco.

Shirley Rousseau Murphy: Joe Grey Cat Mystery Series

Sister Carol Anne O’Marie: Sister Mary Helen Mystery Series

Carlene O’Neil: Cypress Cove Mystery Series

Diana Orgain: Maternal Instincts Mystery Series

Joyce Oroz: Josephine Stuart Mystery Series

Denise Osborne: Queenie Davilov Mystery Series AND Feng Shui Mystery Series

Nancy J. Parra (aka Nancy Coco & Nell Hampton): Wine Country Mystery Series

James Patterson: Women’s Murder Club Mystery Series

Joanne Pence: Angie Amalfi Mystery Series

Gillian Roberts: Howe & August Mystery Series

Lora Roberts: Liz Sullivan Mystery Series AND Bridget Montrose Mystery Series

Cindy Sample: Laurel McKay Mystery Series

Corinne Holt Sawyer: Benbow & Wingate Mystery Series

Michele Scott: Wine Lover’s Mystery Series AND Horse Lover’s Mystery Series

Dell Shannon (aka Elizabeth Linington & Leslie Egan): Luis Mendoza Mystery Series

Patricia Smiley: Tucker Sinclair Mystery Series

Julie Smith: Rebecca Schwartz Mystery Series AND Paul McDonald Mystery Series

Shirley Tallman (aka Erin Ross): Sarah Woolson Mystery Series

Elizabeth Atwood Taylor: Maggie Elliott Mystery Series

Terri Thayer: Quilting Mystery Series

Diane Vallere: Material Witness Mystery Series

Ayelet Waldman: Mommy Track Mystery Series

Joseph Wambaugh: Hollywood Station Mystery Series

Penny Warner: Party Planning Mytery Series AND Connor Westphal Mystery Series

Betty Webb: Gunn Zoo Mystery Series

Kirsten Weiss: Pie Town Mystery Series, Perfectly Proper Paranormal Museum Mystery Series, Doyle Mystery Series, Witches of Doyle Mystery Series, AND Riga Hayworth Mystery Series

Melinda Wells (Linda Palmer): Della Cooks Mystery Series

Don Yarber: Kip Yardley Mystery Series

Please feel free to comment if you see an author from the Cozy Mystery Site who belongs on this list, or if you have any corrections.

♦To access more Cozy Mysteries by Theme click on this link.♦

I asked for help in compiling a list of Cozy Mystery authors who you all (site readers) would recommend to someone who is a NEW reader of Cozy Mystery books. I knew who I would recommend, but since everyone has different ideas about who is a great Cozy Mystery author and who is NOT (unfortunately, I have more than just a few of these!) I thought I could definitely use the help in identifying authors who would be good “starting authors” for NEW readers of the genre.

Here is a list of the authors who came recommended by seasoned Cozy Mystery readers:

Susan Wittig Albert: China Bayles Herbal Mystery Series…

Nancy Atherton: Aunt Dimity Mystery Series…

Lorna Barrett (aka L. L. Bartlett): Booktown Mystery Series…

M. C. Beaton (aka Marion Chesney): Hamish Macbeth Mystery Series AND Agatha Raisin Mystery Series…

Nancy Bell: Biggie Weatherford Mystery Series…

Miranda Bliss: Cooking Class Mystery Series…

Rhys Bowen: Constable Evans Mystery Series AND Molly Murphy Mystery Series…

Laura Bradley: Hair Raising Mystery Series…

Lilian Jackson Braun: The Cat Who * * * Mystery Series….

Emily Brightwell: Mrs. Jeffries Mystery Series…

JoAnna Carl (aka Eve K. Sandstrom): Chocoholic Mystery Series…

Laura Childs: Tea Shop Mystery Series and Scrapbooking Mystery Series…

Sheila Connolly (aka Sarah Atwell): Orchard Mystery Series AND Museum Mystery Series…

Cleo Coyle (aka Alice Kimberly): Coffeehouse Mystery Series…

Alisa Craig (aka Charlotte MacLeod): Inspector Madoc Rhys Mystery Series AND Dittany & Osbert Monk Mystery Series… 

Mary Daheim: Emma Lord Alpine Mystery Series…

Casey Daniels: Pepper Martin Mystery Series…

Dianne Mott Davidson: Goldy Bear Mystery Series…

Carola Dunn: Daisy Dalrymple Mystery Series…

Janet Evanovich: Stephanie Plum Mystery Series…

Monica Ferris (aka Margaret Frazer & Mary Monica Pulver): Needlecraft Mystery Series…

Joanne Fluke: Cookie Jar Mystery Series…

Sally Fredman: Brandy Alexander Mystery Series…

Erle Stanley Gardner (aka A. A. Fair): Perry Mason Mystery Series AND Doug Selby Mystery Series AND Cool Detective Agency Mystery Series…

Anne George: Southern Sisters Mystery Series…

Dorothy Gilman: Mrs. Pollifax Mystery Series…

Ann Granger: Markby & Mitchell Village Whodunit Mystery Series…

Martha Grimes: Richard Jury Mystery Series…

Joan Hess (aka Joan Hadley): Claire Malloy Mystery Series AND Maggody Mystery Series…

Hazel Holt: Mrs. Mallory Mystery Series…

Jan Karon: Mitford Series (not mysteries…)

Alice Kimberly (aka Cleo Coyle): Haunted Bookshop Mystery Series…

Kate Kingsbury: Pennyfoot Hotel Mystery Series…

Joyce & Jim Lavene: Missing Pieces Mystery Series…

Richard & Frances Lockridge: Mr. & Mrs. North Mystery Series…

Charlotte MacLeod (aka Alisa Craig): Peter & Helen Shandy Mystery Series AND Sarah Kelling & Max Bittersohn Mystery Series…

Debbie Macomber: Cedar Cove Series AND Blossom Street Series (not mysteries)

Rett MacPherson: Torie O’Shea Mystery Series…

Nancy Martin: Blackbird Sisters Mystery Series…

Jenn McKinlay (aka Lucy Lawrence): Cupcake Bakery Mystery Series…

Leslie Meier: Lucy Stone Mystery Series

Elizabeth Peters (aka Barbara Michaels): Amelia Peabody Mystery Series AND Vicky Bliss Mystery Series…

Ellis Peters: Brother Cadfael Mystery Series…

Spencer Quinn (aka Peter Abrahams): Chet and Bernie Mystery Series…

Cynthia Riggs: Martha’s Vineyard Mystery Series…

Paige Shelton: Farmer’s Market Mystery Series…

Patricia Sprinkle: Thoroughly Southern Mystery Series…

Fran Stewart: Biscuit McKee & Marmalade Mystery Series…

Sarah Strohmeyer: Bubbles Yablonsky Mystery Series…

Leann Sweeney: Cats in Trouble Mystery Series…

Victoria Thompson: Gaslight Mystery Series…

Livia J. Washburn: Fresh Baked Mystery Series AND Literary Tour Mystery Series…

Heather Webber: Lucy Valentine Mystery Series…

Patricia Wentworth: Miss Maud Silver Mystery Series…

Jacqueline Winspear: Maisie Dobbs Mystery Series…

PS>>> I wasn’t surprised to see that several of these recommended Cozy Mystery authors are some of the authors on my “Favorite Authors” list!  Also, since Agatha Christie is probably the Queen of the Cozy Mystery, here is a list of authors who are similar to Agatha Christie.

Thanks, again, to all who submitted the names of their favorite Cozy authors!

♦To access more Cozy Mysteries by theme, click on this link.♦