I am VERY FORTUNATE to receive updates from Sisters in Crime! The updates that I get are extremely informative, and I absolutely love getting them. (Thank you!)
I have so much Cozy Mystery news to tell you about that I am cutting it in half. But first, I want to remind you that in the Cozy Mystery reading world, we can’t always be sure that our favorite authors are “allowed” to release another Cozy Mystery book in a series.
For those of you who are Kathy Lynn Emerson/Kaitlyn Dunnett fans, this news is really good! Kathy Lynn Emerson has a new mystery series coming out in the (possibly very near) future. I’m not sure when, but she just got the go-ahead for an historical mystery series, which, like her historical Lady Susanna Appleton Mystery Series, is set during Queen Elizabeth’s reign. Murder in the Queen’s Wardrobe is the name of the first of these Elizabethan mysteries. This time, a young woman becomes a spy for Queen Elizabeth. Didn’t I tell you this would be good news?
Now for the Lizbeth Lipperman (aka Liz Lipperman) fans, the green light for her 3rd Dead Sister Talking Mystery Series book is shining brightly! We’ll be seeing more of Lainey and Tessa Garcia!
As if there was any question about this next tidbit of information! New York Times bestselling author of the Cat in the Stacks Mystery Series, Miranda James (aka Dean James), has a three book deal. This way we’ll be able to keep up with Charlie and Diesel for quite a while, and hopefully, after the next three mysteries, there will be lots more!
Here’s some great news for Clea Simon‘s Dulcie Schwartz Mystery Series fans! You can relax now… books #9 and #10 have been green-lighted! Mr. Grey must be happy about this!
Oh Boy! In case no one knows this, Amanda Flower (aka Isabella Alan) will be starting her new Living History Museum Mystery Series some time soon. The first mystery in the series will be Brick and Bugles, and this time, her main sleuth solves a crime during the Civil War? Well not really during the Civil War, I should have typed during a Civil War reenactment.
Stay tuned! I’ll be bringing you more Cozy Mystery News!
Jenny says
Dear Friend,
You said, “But first, I want to remind you that in the Cozy Mystery reading world, we can’t always be sure that our favorite authors are “allowed” to release another Cozy Mystery book in a series.” I was wondering why that is. I’ve found this from time to time. I’m thinking in particular of Tim Myers. If something is successful, why would the publisher NOT want it to continue? What’s up with that?
-Jenny
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Jenny, that’s a really good question. I sure don’t know why publishers sometimes stop a mystery series, while they let others go on publishing. I have lost several of my favorite authors that way, and it is irritating, to say the least!
MJ says
Speaking of Amanda Flower, she has stated a couple of times on her facebook page that the 4th and final book (A Plain Malice) in the Appleseed Creek mystery series will be released this summer. In mid February she said she thought it’d be released early summer. Later, she said that it’s not yet on Amazon but hopes it will be later this summer.
I really like this series and am sorry it’s coming to an end. I think she has started many new projects and most likely doesn’t have time for them all. After the 3rd book, she said she introduced a new (sort of weird) character because she planned to utilize this character in several upcoming books in this series. I guess plans get changed.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
MJ, the good news about Amanda Flower finishing her Appleseed Creek Mystery Series, is that she knows ahead of time, and will be able to wrap it up the way she wants.
Also, it’s sort of nice to know an author wants to finish up a series before it gets old for the readers. I have had to drop a lot of my favorite authors because they just didn’t know when to call it a day. (Thankfully, some of my favorite authors have been able to keep writing books in their series that are still new/fresh plot ideas.)
Bookwoman says
I have been ever hopeful that some authors who lost publishing deals would begin to write more and self publish. I believe Edie Claire is one author who has done this. Tim Myers is still writing some series under Jessica Beck. He did write some ebooks in 2011 to continue the Lighthouse and the Candlemaking series. I for one would love to know when a series has ended. Many times I am waiting and waiting for a new book. When enough time has passed I figure that it is over.
Stash Empress says
OK… deep breaths…. I knew Jessica Beck was writing under a few other names — I knew about the Pizza series & the Cardmaking series… but… Tim Myers??? Seriously??? So is it a man writing under all those female names? Or a female writing under a variety of different names/genders???? What I mean to say is — will the REAL Jessica Beck please stand up?????
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Stash Empress, I remember finding out, and being so surprised.
I found out a while before I finally posted it on my site. >>> I don’t post pseudonyms unless I see that they have been made public. I don’t think it’s nice to post it when the author is trying to be very private about it.
I remember finding out about another Cozy Mystery author and writing to ask him if it was OK for me to mention his pseudonym. He had been trying to keep it very private, but his publisher actually made it very public on their website. >>> He said to go ahead, since his publisher had already let it out of the bag on their website.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Stash Empress, I just saw a very old To Tell the Truth with John le Carré. You know, I have seen John le Carré on TV over the years, but I was still surprised when he stood up. (I don’t know why I’m saying this, since it hasn’t got much to do with your comment, other than your last phrase…)
MJ says
Over a year ago, I noted that Beck ‘staged a scene’ in the Donut Shop series where a book discussion group meets. Members of the group discussed (complained) about male authors having to assume a female name in certain genres. The ‘discussion’ went on for a page or so. Actually it was really quite interesting. It didn’t take much brainpower to figure out the author of this series was probably male. At the time, I didn’t know which male author it was, but I ‘guessed’ it probably was T. Myers.
As part of a storyline, a character in another Tim Myers’ series complained about publishers suddenly canceling a series without warning. So he does use his books as a venue to vent on occasion. I really can’t remember which series that was, but most likely it’s one using a female pseudonym because I haven’t read any of his books written under own name.
Having said all that, I’m probably a good example as to why male writers use female pseudonyms in the cozy genre. I always select a book by a female author before I select one by a male author. However, there are several cozies authored by male/female writing teams. I don’t hesitate to get those books by the teams I enjoy.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
MJ, I remember you telling us about that very clever injection of “real life” into his/her mysteries.
Susan says
It would be great if authors who were dropped by the traditional publishers could “go indie” and publish their own work. Many, though, signed contracts giving the publisher rights to the work. That means the author cannot continue that series, and do not own the rights to their backlist. While a few authors have successfully sued to have their rights reverted, that’s not common (possibly because of the costs involved).
They could, however, go indie with a new series, and hope their readers will follow them. I think cozy readers would follow, don’t you?
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Susan, yes, I do! However we would have to know about their new series, which means they have to publicize themselves. Of course, I don’t know how much publishers publicize. The only author I have ever seen on TV ads is James Patterson. And, I think that’s great!
Donna Mc says
The publishing world is really changing. Traditional publishers used to snub indies. I watched something on Book TV about indie publishing and the featured speaker actually works for a “real” publishing house (a big name one, too) that has recently developed an indie line. The speaker said that indie authors are beginning to make inroads into traditional publishing, and that can actually give a publishing house a good indication of whether or not an author’s series shows enough promise to be picked up by a traditional publisher at some point. She said they look at the indie’s feedback on sites like Amazon and at sites like yours, Danna. (She didn’t mention your blog by name but I’ll bet it is at the top of their list!) So maybe the publishers are paying more attention to readers than we previously thought, because of people like Edie Clare and the other indies that were formerly with publishing houses. Emphasis “formerly”. Sounds like they are beginning to regret letting a few of the good ones get away!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Donna Mc, my husband reads a lot of indie books on his Kindle. I follow a few indie Cozy Mystery authors, as well. I wish more of my favorite authors who have been dropped would go that route!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Bookwoman, I didn’t know that Edie Claire had lost her publishing deal. If she did, that’s the publisher’s huge loss! She is one of the best Cozy Mystery authors out there today!
As for Jessica Beck, I noticed that the book covers had changed a lot starting with book #10, but I didn’t know she lost her publishing deal, either. That’s surprising, since the Donut Shop Mystery Series is a best selling series. Another publisher blooper!
Bookwoman says
Edie Claire Published the Never Series up to 2002. She was however able to get the rights back to her series and is now writing more of the Never Series. She has written 3 since being dropped in 2002.
I do not know if Jessica Beck lost her publishing deal I just mentioned that Tim Myers is still writing as Jessica Beck. I believe the Donut Series is still alive.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Bookwoman, yes the Donut Series is “still alive”.
Alfred says
This would be a shame if this is true. This is one series I have really enjoyed have the entire series but haven’t read the last 3 in it yet. I don’t know why they went from normal paperbacks to tall and skinny ones instead with under 200 pages.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Alfred, not to worry! Jessica Beck’s Donut Shop Mystery Series is still being enjoyed and published!
Judith says
At Malice Domestic, Kathy Lynn Emerson mentioned she was starting a new series with Lady Susanna Applegate’s adopted daughter, Rosamond. So, even though it is technically a new series, it should build on the earlier series.
I really enjoy all of Amanda Flower’s books and the new series sounds enjoyable, but I wish she would go back to writing the India Hayes series!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Judith, you lucky Cozy Mystery reader! I’ll bet Malice Domestic was nothing short of phenomenal!
Judith says
For a cozy mystery reader, Malice Domestic is the best. I have had a chance to talk with several of my favorite authors and discovered new favorites. I’m just sorry I didn’t start going sooner – I knew about it but never got around to going until a few years ago. Now I won’t miss it, I buy my membership for the next year before I leave.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Judith, what a great idea to buy your membership right while you’re there. To spend an entire weekend surrounded by all-things-Cozy-Mystery must be quite a treat!
Alfred says
HI Danna I have been a fan of Miranda James’s books since he started the series. This is one of the few series where there is actually a man solving the crimes instead of a woman and to have Diesel to help makes it better. I have just preordered Arsenic and Old Books that will be out end of January and it will be a hardback this time not a paperback.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Alfred, I think that when an author’s books are first released as hardback, it means they write a real winning series.