Sherry Hall joins us for this week’s The Cozy 52 interview. Read on to find out more about Sherry’s cozy mystery series, what inspired her to start writing, and which writer will always be on her “Favourite Authors” list.
Who or What is The Cozy 52? Each week I will be sharing an interview with someone involved with Cozy Mysteries – an author, blogger, Facebook Group host, podcaster, cover designer – so that we can showcase this amazing community! I hope you’ll discover some new authors, plus learn more about what goes on behind the scenes with the people who write, publish and promote cozy mysteries!
Introducing Sherry Hall
NAME: Sherry Hall
LIST ALL YOUR COZY MYSTERY SERIES:
- Cedar Wells Mysteries
HOW ARE YOUR COZY MYSTERIES PUBLISHED? Self-published
The Q&A
TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOURSELF
I’m Sherry Hall–author, artist, wife to an amazing husband, barn queen, and most of all, a child of God. I am the author of the Cedar Wells Mysteries series. My husband and I live in rural west Texas outside of a little town that has a population of about 540 people. My tagline is Creating by God‘s Grace. So true! I am blessed to get to tell stories.
LIST THREE FUN FACTS ABOUT YOURSELF THAT WE WOULDN’T READ IN YOUR ‘OFFICIAL’ BIO.
- Let’s see…we ride longhorns for fun.
- I’ve spent 23 years in education, and when we were singing a song we’d written one year, my students told me, “Mrs. Hall, you just move your lips, and we’ll do the singing.” I can definitely mark professional singer off the list. 🙂
- Oh, and I have a countdown to Christmas on my phone 365 days a year!
WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO START WRITING? WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO WRITE COZY MYSTERIES?
I have written as long as I can remember. I subjected my poor family to plays, poems, and stories at every holiday get-together. I don’t have any idea how many “books” I wrote as a kid. I was always folding and stapling paper into a booklet, so I could write the next great American novel. I grew up reading Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys–every one of them–and playing Clue…such a great board game! I helped Jessica Fletcher solve her very first case and have been a fan ever since. Then I found Agatha Christie! What else could I write but cozy mysteries?
WHAT SUBGENRE(S) OR THEMES OF COZY MYSTERIES DO YOU WRITE?
The Cedar Wells Mysteries series is a small town book shop with a dog. Books and dogs–two of my favorite things.
TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOUR COZY MYSTERY SERIES. WHAT INSPIRES YOUR SERIES?
Cedar Wells is a historical town along a river in West Texas, strangely similar to the neighboring town about 25 miles from our home. I love history, and I just couldn’t pass up using its historical past. Like they say, sometimes truth is stranger than fiction. Tunnels dating back to the Civil War run under the shops on the main streets of the historic area. You can still tour the brothel museum that hosted one of the tunnel connections. Sarah Stone, my main character, owns The Brush and Plume, which just happens to connect via tunnel to the old saloon next door. You might be wondering, with the mention of a historical cat house, just how “cozy” my books are. Rest assured, while my series isn’t Christian-themed, both my main character and I are. Since it’s who we are, you’ll find our stories (I can’t take all the credit because my characters do most of the work) to be clean and cozy.
WHY DO YOU THINK PEOPLE LOVE TO READ COZY MYSTERIES?
I think people read cozies for the same reason I write them. I want to tell stories where the good guys, or gals, still win. Where people still help each other. Where romance is clean and so is the dialog. Call me Pollyanna, but I know God never intended for evil to become such a popular read. Cozy mysteries offer people and places you love to visit again and again with just enough tension to keep you turning pages.
ASIDE FROM BEING AN AUTHOR, ARE YOU INVOLVED IN THE COZY COMMUNITY IN ANY OTHER WAY?
Ah, these are aspirations for another day! I am a member of several FB groups.
WHO ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVOURITE WRITERS?
Agatha Christie will always be on the list. Ellery Adams, specifically her Book Retreat Mysteries, is a favorite of mine. Victoria Abbott, Victoria Hamilton, and Lorna Barrett are also at the top of the list. Honestly, the book I’m currently reading is usually my favorite author at that moment.
IF YOU WERE MAROONED ON A DESERTED ISLAND, WHAT 3 BOOKS WOULD YOU WANT WITH YOU?
The Bible and two cozies I haven’t read, yet. 🙂
DO YOU HAVE ANY PROJECTS COMING UP THAT YOU’D LIKE TO SHARE WITH US?
If my characters can solve the crime, Star Spangled Corpse, book three in the series, will be coming out next year.
The Quickie 5
- FAVOURITE FOOD: Lasagne
- BEVERAGE OF CHOICE: Peach Tea
- MOST PRIZED POSSESSION: Jesus
- SUMMER OR WINTER? Summer
- FAVOURITE VACATION SPOT? Home
To keep up to date with Sherry Hall online, you can connect with her on:
