The Cozy 52: Q&A with author Debra Sennefelder

Debra Sennefelder joins us for this week’s The Cozy 52 interview. Read on to find out more about Debra’s current cozy mystery series, which authors inspired her to write, and what she has coming up next.

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 Debra Sennefelder

NAME: Debra Sennefelder

LIST ALL YOUR COZY MYSTERY SERIES:

The Food Blogger Mystery series
The Resale Boutique Mystery series
The Cookie Shop Mystery series coming June 20, 2023

HOW ARE YOUR COZY MYSTERIES PUBLISHED? Traditionally published.

The Q&A

TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOURSELF

I was born and raised in New York City and now live in Connecticut with my family. I’ve always loved to read and write. I’ve worked in retail, pre-hospital care and customer service for a publishing company before becoming a full-time writer. When I’m not writing, I love to read, bake and spend time with our slightly spoiled Shih Tzu, Connie.

LIST THREE FUN FACTS ABOUT YOURSELF THAT WE WOULDN’T READ IN YOUR ‘OFFICIAL’ BIO.

I was in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
I worked as an emergency medical technician for six years.
I had a pet hedgehog and prairie dog.

WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO START WRITING? WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO WRITE COZY MYSTERIES?

Writing was something I’ve always done so I can’t point to a specific moment in time when I wanted to start writing. Mysteries have always been my go-to genre. After we bought our home, I found that our town had a local bookshop (sadly, it’s gone now) and there I discovered books by Joanne Fluke, Joanne Pence, Katherine Hall Page to name a few and I devoured them. I’d been wanting to get back to writing and decided that those cozy mysteries had all the elements I loved in story and that’s the story I wanted to tell.

WHAT SUBGENRE(S) OR THEMES OF COZY MYSTERIES DO YOU WRITE?

Two of my series are culinary themed and all contain pets.

TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOUR COZY MYSTERY SERIES. WHAT INSPIRES YOUR SERIES?

I have three series. The Food Blogger Mystery series features Hope Early, a food blogger who had to re-invent herself after a divorce and a very public loss on a reality baking competition show. The Resale Boutique Mystery series features Kelly Quinn, an out-of-work fashionista who inherited her granny’s tired, old consignment shop and is forced to return to her hometown and face her past. The Cookie Shop Mystery series features cookiepreneur Mallory Monroe who ditched her corporate job to follow her passion which led to her getting embroiled in a murder.

WHY DO YOU THINK PEOPLE LOVE TO READ COZY MYSTERIES?

I think cozy mystery readers love a good puzzle and they love returning to a town and a cast of characters they enjoy spending time.

ASIDE FROM BEING AN AUTHOR, ARE YOU INVOLVED IN THE COZY COMMUNITY IN ANY OTHER WAY?

No.

How the Murder Crumbles by Debra Sennefelder

WHO ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVOURITE WRITERS?

Now, that’s a long list! Joanne Fluke, Claudia Bishop, Katherine Hall Page, Joanne Pence, Dianne Mott Davidson, and Jill Churchill. Those are the authors who set me on the path that led to my own publishing success.

IF YOU WERE MAROONED ON A DESERTED ISLAND, WHAT 3 BOOKS WOULD YOU WANT WITH YOU?

A notebook, a book on how to build a boat and a guide on how to survive on a deserted island.

DO YOU HAVE ANY PROJECTS COMING UP THAT YOU’D LIKE TO SHARE WITH US?

Yes, I do. On June 20, 2023, How The Murder Crumbles, the first book in the Cookie Shop Mystery series debuts. And this coming fall, the next Food Blogger mystery will be released.