A warm welcome to Phyllis Betz, who’s the editor of the Writing the Cozy Mystery anthology! Read on to find out why she thinks this collection of essays is so important.
Why I Put Writing the Cozy Together
Phyllis M. Betz
Sherry Harris’ essay in the anthology demands that the cozy be treated with respect. This is the reason why I thought bringing together cozy authors would serve a valuable function. Cozies are often considered nothing more than mindless entertainment; however, this is a point of view I vehemently disagree with. My critical position, I am a retired college professor, has always looked at popular fiction as being a more accurate reflection of society’s concerns as well as being the vehicle for pushing readers to see the world differently. As a reader I am also fascinated by how writers do what they do. (I am not a creative writer!) These two areas interests provided the foundation for the anthology. What better way to answer my questions than to ask writers themselves.
The anthology contains short essays by twenty-three writers of cozy mysteries; they explain how they approach their work, giving insights into their technical processes, the development of characters, how they have expanded the form to include more serious issues, as well as selecting the particular talent or profession of the protagonist. The writers have shown great skill in how they shape their texts and in their clear delight in continuing to pursue their careers.
I have come away from this project with a deep respect for how these writers think of themselves and their art. And I do believe that art is the proper descriptive term for their work. They have the ability to utilize the conventions of the genre with expertise and to adapt them to keep the form fresh and inviting. They understand their readers and are committed to maintaining their audience. They do all this and sometimes do it while managing two or more series at a time.
If I have any regret about the anthology, it is the price. Unfortunately, I have no control over what my publisher charges, and I know that this can prevent people from purchasing it. However, the anthology is now available for the Kindle, which may make it more attractive if you are interested.
What’s the last cozy mystery you read, and why did you pick it?
About Phyllis Betz:
Phyllis Betz is a retired English professor. She has done extensive work on mystery and detective fiction and has an endearing love of the cozy.
About Writing the Cozy Mystery anthology:
This book brings together essays written by a number of well-known writers of cozy mysteries, including Sherry Harris, Amanda Flower, Leslie Budewitz, and Edith Maxwell, among others, who provide insight into their approaches to writing. Topics covered include how they work with the form, develop characters and settings, and utilize the particular hook, skill or business that establishes the protagonist’s ability to solve crimes. In addition to discussing these traditional aspects of writing, several authors focus on how they have expanded the direction the contemporary cozy mystery has taken with the inclusion of more diverse characters and social issues.
Chicks on the Case 
Thanks for the guest post, Jen. I love cozy mysteries and respect the diverse authors. While I appreciate the efforts of Phyllis and the contributing authors, the Kindle price of $19.49 puts the anthology out of reach of writers who could benefit most from the insights. With today’s inexpensive and easy self-publishing, please help us understand why you did not choose that option.
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I totally understand your POV. In this case, Phyllis already had a working relationship with the academic press with a previous cozy mystery anthology , and I think the idea came out of that. Then Phyllis had to round up the authors to contribute to the anthology…
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Thanks for the explanation, Jen. I encourage writers to invest in their future, and that’s why my heart goes out to beginner and intermediate authors who need the wisdom from published authors but can’t afford the many books it takes to break down insights into practical application. Today, self-publishing is much easier to do than learning how to write the novel. There are excellent and low-cost solutions. The investment in learning how to self-publish provides an ongoing return, and the low cost can enhance the author’s profit.
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You might consider asking your library to buy the book.
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hello Phyllis, this is Hestia.
I picked up the book as soon as it was released.
as an unpublished writer, I am always looking for things that can help me figure out why I am still unpublished. Essays are a great thing as an anthology, because it teaches us in bite-sized chunks that are totally separate with different viewpoints for each chunk. Whereas a book may be only one topic, or different topics, but all the same place of knowledge. If that makes sense…
I understand the cost concern. I can’t imagine (if the authors get a little fee for the essay like most anthologies) the paperwork madness that must happen. I look at it as a textbook for college, and it’s much cheaper than those!
My goal is to study the essays over the holidays this year when I’m on vacation, so come January, I will be ready to get on the dance floor with some new moves.
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Thanks for the support, Hestia! I also like getting multiple viewpoints from authors, like SinC’s Promophobia about marketing.
Interestingly, I think the publisher is known for textbooks and reference materials, so maybe the price is lower by their standards!
Yay about your goals & can’t wait to see what you come up with in Jan!
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As a fan, this sounds like something I would really enjoy.
The last one I read was You Feta Watch Out by Linda Reilly. I picked it because I’ve enjoyed the previous ones in the series. And I enjoyed this one, too.
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Gotta love those punny titles!
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Thanks so much for visiting us and writing this important book. I still kick myself that I wasn’t part of it! The last cozy I read was an historical: MURDER AT GLENLOCH HALL by Clara McKenna. Historical cozies are my favorite genre.
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That’s next up on my TBR pile.
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This looks like a terrific book, Phyllis, and as others have said, it’s cheap by academic press standards. (I have a friend who’s book was just published by an academic press that’s selling for over $100.)
Thanks so much for visiting the Chicks today, and for putting together this important collection of essays!
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Over $100–wow!
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Congrats on the book, Phyllis. The last cozy I read – I think – was the latest in Edith Maxwell’s CeCe Barton series. I picked it up because Edith is a friend and I like her writing.
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I’m currently reading an ARC by Sandra Jackson-Opoku and enjoying it!
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Thank you, Phyllis, for all your work on this great antho–I have my copy! And I am currently catching up on some new titles by some of my fave authors: the Chicks!
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The last cozy mystery I read was an advance copy of The Tell-Tale Homicude by Daphne Silver. I read a lot of cozy mysteries, read Daphne Silver’s debut novel last spring and was thrilled for the opportunity to read the new one.
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The last one that I read was Erika Maren Steiger’s The Executive Producers. I read all three and they were great. Now reading Lynn Cahoon’s Cat Latimer Caught Dead to Write. I love them all.
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Dear Jennifer
We usually don’t read cozy mysteries. But your mention of this anthology made us curious. We’ll have a look at it.
The Fab Four of Cley
🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
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