E.R. Hepner (the cozy mystery pen name of author Elise Clark) joins us for this week’s The Cozy 52 interview. I love discovering new-to-me authors and finding out more about their stories and was excited to meet Elise. Read on to learn more about her ultimate dream, why she switched from writing romance to cozies, and learn more about her unique cozy mystery protagonists!
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 E.R. Hepner
NAME: E.R. Hepner, the cozy mystery pen name of author Elise Clark
LIST ALL YOUR COZY MYSTERY SERIES:
HOW ARE YOUR COZY MYSTERIES PUBLISHED? My mysteries are self-published and I’ve been writing professionally for over 15 years. They are available through Kindle Unlimited for free or for Kindle E-readers through Amazon.
The Q&A
TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOURSELF
I formally wrote romance under the pen name Sybil Swift, but switched over to cozies over three years ago because I really enjoyed true crime and creating a puzzle for my characters to solve which also left me scratching my head. One of my favourite reasons for writing cozy mysteries is to keep myself guessing and burying the ending until my readers gasp as much as I do. I currently live in the PNW, am having my second baby, and we’re getting a new dog soon. My dream is to live on a giant parcel of land with my family and homestead while I write books all year and my husband tinkers in his garage surrounded by animals.
LIST THREE FUN FACTS ABOUT YOURSELF THAT WE WOULDN’T READ IN YOUR ‘OFFICIAL’ BIO.
- I love caramel mochas
- I eat peanut butter straight from the jar
- I have a TBR that has over 300 books still on it, because I can’t stop picking up good authors.
WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO WRITE COZY MYSTERIES?
When I was writing romance, I started getting burned out a lot because of the quickness that was needed to hit release goals. I found that crafting cozies took off the burn out from writing romance and it was a lovely palate cleanser from all of the sexier themes I tended toward in my writing. I started writing my first cozy in 2013, never published it because it was an awful first draft, and started writing my next few books to get into the groove of their world and the quirky fun of the characters. From there, I’ve been along for the ride of exploring these characters stories, their secrets, and living in a cross between Desperate Housewives and The Good Witch.
WHAT SUBGENRE(S) OR THEMES OF COZY MYSTERIES DO YOU WRITE?
Right now, I write an obituary writer cozy series, a doomsday prepper series, and I’m working on a few paranormal series.
TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOUR COZY MYSTERY SERIES. WHAT INSPIRES YOUR SERIES?
When I started The Killing Type, my first obit mystery, I wanted to craft a cozy with a main character who was writer, but slightly different than the typical journalist or novel writer. I figured writing a writer within the series I was writing would be a little too close to home! So I came up with the idea of a down on her luck, out of college, alternative millennial who has to write obituaries in her small town to pay the bills and she winds up finding dead bodies—which weirdly helps her job. I thought the idea of my heroine tripping over murders while also having to write about them, was comical.
My second book series, Apocalypse Girl series with my heroine as a doomsday prepper came from watching the TV series “Doomsday Preppers”, no secret sauce there. But a heroine who was ready to conquer everything the world threw at her, including world ending possibilities, was so much fun to me. Plus, there was always the bonus that I could tie in fun side characters with bunkers, etc.
WHY DO YOU THINK PEOPLE LOVE TO READ COZY MYSTERIES?
Personally, I love unwinding the mysteries and feeling as if I’m friends and family with the people in each book. The books leave me satisfied at the end because it’s like hanging out with a group of friends for seven hours or taking a trip to Stars Hollow. All of my Gilmore Girl fans will hopefully get that reference. Cozy mysteries are thrilling and captivating, but in a way that’s way less stressful than picking up something by James Patterson or Dean Koontz.
ASIDE FROM BEING AN AUTHOR, ARE YOU INVOLVED IN THE COZY COMMUNITY IN ANY OTHER WAY?
Nope
WHO ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVOURITE WRITERS?
Some of my favourite cozy mystery authors are Krista Davis, Auralee Wallace, Heather Blake, Elise Sax, Jeanna Deliane, Sam Cheever.
IF YOU WERE MAROONED ON A DESERTED ISLAND, WHAT 3 BOOKS WOULD YOU WANT WITH YOU?
Oooo, that’s a hard one! Verity by Colleen Hoover, It Takes A Witch by Heather Blake, Outlander by Diana Gabledon
DO YOU HAVE ANY PROJECTS COMING UP THAT YOU’D LIKE TO SHARE WITH US?
I’m currently working on a paranormal cozy series with a single mother of a tween daughter who finds out she comes from a long line of mystical matchmakers and her grandmother is a ghost that haunts her townhouse. It is honestly so much fun for me. I also want to work on a vampire cozy series. On Kindle Vella, I’m writing contemporary romance and a paranormal NA vampire romance.
The Quickie 5
- FAVOURITE FOOD: Mac and cheese, chocolate soft serve
- BEVERAGE OF CHOICE: V8 Energy Mango Pineapple
- MOST PRIZED POSSESSION: My entire book collection
- SUMMER OR WINTER? Winter, all of the way. Heat is evil.
- FAVOURITE VACATION SPOT? Somewhere by a lake or body of water, where I don’t have to be on the sand.
To keep up to date with E.R. Hepner online, you can connect with her on:
