I know that I have said this several times: When I first began the Cozy Mystery site, I really had something very different in mind. I only included authors who I had read… authors who I enjoyed and thought that a few of my Cozy Mystery book friends would enjoy.
Actually, my first version of the site was simply a list that I kept for my own use. I used this list every time I bought a new book. Since I kept the list on my computer’s desktop, I had easy access to it every time I ordered a book online. I also printed out my list so that I could take it with me every time I went to a bookstore. My list was pages and pages in large-font print. I marked off each book as I bought it and read it, and also added each book as soon as one of “my” authors published a new book.
A friend of mine asked if she could take a look at my list, so I tidied it up and sent it to her. When I told my husband about sending it to her, he asked me to think about putting my list online as a site. Since I am not the most computer-savvy person, I quickly thought about it, and then promptly said “NO!” I just wanted my list of books so that I could have access to “my” authors, and most importantly, I wanted somewhere to annotate each time I bought or read a book.
Whenever I complained about not having a “universal list” of Cozy Mystery authors with their books listed chronologically, my husband would (again) ask if I might want to create just that. I was tired of clicking on someone’s “Cozy Mystery Books List” thinking that I would magically see all sorts of authors from whom I could pick. Most of the lists consisted of a handful of authors with a smattering of their books. I wanted more!
So, a few years ago I slowly started constructing the site. I have to admit that most of the computer functions I do by rote memory… I don’t know why I click, drag, double-click, “control A C,” or “control V” >>> I don’t need to know why or how, as long as it works.
And, thanks to a whole lot of site readers, I have added a whole lot more Cozy Mystery authors to the site and I have discovered many new Cozy Mystery authors who I now consider “my authors.” These are authors who I include on my personal “Must Read” list… authors who have given me crime-filled hours of enjoyment. THANKS!
Donna Lea Simpson says
I’m so thrilled to have discovered your site! I now recommend it constantly (most recently on an All About Romances message board) and have added your blog as an RSS feed on my own blog.
I’m so happy to have found other readers who enjoy cozy mysteries as much as I do.
-V- says
And we are glad you listened to DH and gave us this blog!
*smile*
Petie says
I have loved this site from the first day I heard about it! It’s a ‘must’ whenever I hear of a new author – this is where I go to see if he or she is on it. And if they’re not, I love being the first to tell Danna about them. Danna, thanks so very much for creating the best guide a reader can have.
Petie Ogg
Janice says
I would just like to tell you how much I appreciate your site. I know it has to be a tremendous amount of work and I am very thankful you do it! Not only is it helpful, but your blogs are fun to read too! Your site is the one I go to when I need a little break or want to figure out the next author to discover. Keep up the great job!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Good grief! Had I known about all of this wonderful praise for the site, I would have posted this blog long ago!!!
Thank you so much for all of the fabulous words!
Shar says
As a person who would dearly love to write cozies I am thrilled to find a site devoted to them! SO if I never get a word published at least I can always find new titles, authors, etc. This is a wonderful site, I just discovered it today and I’ll return to it again and again. I agree with you that adding sordid and modern details is “butchering” Christie’s stories; she wrote great stories where, when people departed this world in an unnatural manner they had the decency to do so in a genteel manner (in the vicar’s library for example!!) without all the forensic detail and nauseating gore than seems to be so popular. Now that’s a cozy! The reader must provide whatever gore he/she is comfortable with through their own imagination; personally I enjoy the sleuthing and nosing out the whys, wheres and whos of the actual mystery! Thanks again for this site.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Hi Shar,
Welcome to the site! And, thanks for the kind words…
Right! What ever happened to the reader bringing his/her imagination and picturing the scene he/she wants to view?!?