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Cozy Mystery (and Other Favorite) Books, Movies, and TV

Mystery Books’ Covers… Part 1

March 24, 2009

Do you think that you can judge a (Cozy Mystery) book by its cover?

A while back I got a letter from a Cozy Mystery Site reader who complained about one of her very favorite authors changing her book covers. She asked my why the author’s covers had changed. Of course, I didn’t know the answer to that question. That question, however, started me thinking about the whole array of  mystery book covers. I began to wonder if they affect us when we contemplate adding a new author to our queue of mystery authors. There are so many types of book covers, and some speak to us more than others. The good news is that every reader is “seeing” a different thing when they look at a book’s cover… which is why there are so many different illustrators and photographers designing the different book covers.

Well, I have to admit that I do think that the covers of books have a lot to do with whether or not we decide to “take up” with a new author. I know that when I am looking at the books of an author with whom I’m not familiar, I tend to be swayed by the covers of their books. Of course, that doesn’t mean that I make my decision solely on the book’s cover. Obviously, the first thing I do is to see the book’s cover but then I read the synopsis of  the given book AND I read what other people have to say about the book.

I have several examples of mystery books in mind. If you have the time, please click on the following authors and take a look at some of the very different types of book covers…

Robert Barnard        Nancy Atherton            Mignon F. Ballard

Donna Andrews       Nancy Fairbanks         Harley Jane Kozak

Carola Dunn             Jacqueline Winspear

Kate Kingsbury        Joyce & Jim Lavene

Donald Bain              Lee Goldberg

Jo Bannister              Kathryn R. Wall            Margaret Maron

Do you think that any of the above authors’ book covers would help you decide on whether or not you want to read the particular authors books? Do any of the above authors’ book covers catch your attention… making you want to know more about the books? If yes is the answer to either of those questions, then mission accomplished! The book covers have at least served the purpose of getting your attention.

Here are the other two parts of this theme:

Mystery Books’ Covers Part 2

Mystery Books’ Covers Part 3

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Mystery Books that Take Place in the State of Washington

March 22, 2009

Here are some Fun Washington Facts:
Washington is the only state that was named for a US president, and its flag is the only one to have the picture of a president. State Capital: Olympia. State Flower: Coast (Pink) Rhododendron.  State Motto: Al-Ki (translated means “by and by”)

Authors who are found on the Cozy Mystery Site and who feature Washington (state) locations in their books:

Ellie Alexander (aka Kate Dyer-Seeley): Sloan Krause Mystery Series

K.K. Beck: Jane Da Silva Mystery Series

Leslie Budewitz: Seattle Spice Shop Mystery Series

Waverly Curtis: Barking Detective Mystery Series

Mary Daheim: Emma Lord Mystery Series AND Hillside Manor Bed & Breakfast Mystery Series

Jo Dereske: Miss Zukas Mystery Series

Kathie Deviny: Grace Church Mystery Series

Deborah Donnelly:  Carnegie Kincaid Mystery Series

Sharon Duncan: Scotia MacKinnon Mystery Series

Aaron Elkins: Gideon Oliver Mystery Series AND  Chris Norgren Mystery Series

G.M. Ford: Leo Waterman Mystery Series AND Frank Corso Series

Sarah Fox: Pancake House Mystery Series

Linda French: Professor Teodora Morelli Mystery Series

Yasmine Galeron (aka India Ink): Whisper Hollow Mystery Series

Leigh Hearon: Carson Stables Mystery Series

India Ink (aka Yasmine Galenorn): Bath and Body Mystery Series

J.A. Jance: J.P. Beaumont Mystery Series

E. L. Larkin: Demary Jones Mystery Series

Cricket McRae: Home Crafting Mystery Series

Deborah Morgan: Antique Lovers’ Mystery Series

Lynne Murray: Josephine Fuller Mystery Series

Liz Osborne: Robyn Kelly Mystery Series

Bernadette Pajer: Professor Bradshaw Mystery Series

Janice Peacock: Glass Bead Mystery Series

T. Dawn Richard: May List Mystery Series

Arlene Sachitano: Harriet Truman Loose Threads Mystery Series

Tracy Weber: Downward Dog Mystery Series

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

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

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Peter Abresch, Sally Chapman, Annie Griffin, Margaret Searles: Four New Authors to the Cozy Mystery Site

March 20, 2009

Here are the four latest authors who I am adding to the site, based on your recommendations and requests. Actually, Sally and Annie are the same person, so that really makes only three new authors. Three of them feature “senior” sleuths. These seniors lead extremely active lives…

Peter Abresch writes the James P. Dandy Elderhostel Mystery Series which is set in New Jersey and features an ex-physical therapist. (An Elderhostel is a place that offers low cost rooming rates and with low costing classes, which are usually held at college campuses.)

Sally Chapman (aka Annie Griffin) writes the Silicon Valley Mystery Series which features Julie Blake, an investigator for computer fraud.

Annie Griffin (aka Sally Chapman) pens the Hannah & Kiki Mystery Series which features very active senior sister sleuths based in California.

Margaret Searles is an ex-teacher who writes the Mrs. Millet and Mrs. Hark Mystery Series.

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Author Interviews… Susan Wittig Albert

March 18, 2009

I have just added my interview with Susan Wittig Albert as my second Cozy Mystery Author Interview. Boy! This is fun!

As you all know, Susan Wittig Albert is the author of the very popular China Bayles Herbal Mystery Series (which happens to take place almost in my back yard — somewhere between San Antonio and Austin, Texas) and the Cottage Tales of Beatrix Potter Mystery Series.  Also, she and Bill Albert (her husband) wrote the  Kate Ardleigh Sheridan & Sir Charles Sheridan Victorian Mystery Series using the pseudonym Robin Paige. But most of you probably already knew that, too!

I am delighted to add the Susan Wittig Albert Interview to the Cozy Mystery Site. Who knows who will be next!

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