The Cozy 52: Q&A with author Erica Wynters

Erica Wynters joins us for this week’s The Cozy 52 interview. Read on to find out more about her books, her favourite authors, and how she stays involved in the Cozy Community.

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 Erica Wynters

NAME: Erica Wynters

LIST ALL YOUR COZY MYSTERY SERIES:

• Marigolds, Mischief, and Murder is the first book in the Camelot Flowers Mystery Series. Book Two will release in spring 2024.

HOW ARE YOUR COZY MYSTERIES PUBLISHED? These books are traditionally published.

The Q&A

TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOURSELF

I grew up in a rural town in Wisconsin. This gave me unique insight as I was creating the fictional small town of Star Junction, Illinois for my cozy mystery series. After thirty-three years of living in the Midwest, I moved with my family to Phoenix, Arizona. I work as a Marriage and Family therapist specializing in trauma, codependency, and relational issues. I’ve been married to my husband for twenty-two years and we have a fifteen year old son and thirteen year old daughter. I love hiking and am obsessed with finding waterfalls, rivers, and streams in the desert of Arizona.

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

1. I went bungee jumping as a teenager and loved it, although I’m not sure I’d do it now.
2. From sixth grade into my freshman year of college, I wanted to be an orca trainer at Sea World. The choices I made in life reflected that goal. I joined the swim team. I did forensics and mock trial to work on my public speaking. I visited Sea World as often as I could get there. Obviously I took a different path, something I was very grateful for after watching the documentary Black Fish.
3. My hobbies include napping, trying new skincare/facials, hiking, traveling (especially if it’s to a beach), and reading. The best thing about hobbies is that you get to decide what counts!

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

I started writing six years ago. My first novel was a romantic suspense set in New York. I had the idea in a dream, and when I couldn’t that dream out of my head, I decided to sit down and write it out. Three weeks later, I had a full length novel. (You can imagine how much of my day I spent writing over those three weeks!) I loved the process and committed to becoming involved in the writing community through my local Romance Writers of America chapter and learn more about the writing process. Nine months after I finished that first novel, I decided to try to try my hand at writing a cozy mystery. I’d been reading cozies since my early twenties and loved how easy it was to get lost in the stories. They were the perfect books to read when life was stressful or busy. My first attempt was well received by literary agents, but every one of them agreed that I’d put too much romance in the book. It read more like a rom-com mystery. I shelved that book for years and continued to write romantic suspense. In early 2022, an opportunity came through my literary agent to write for a dream publisher of mine. I’d fallen in love with Gemma Halliday’s mysteries, and she was actively looking for new authors. I dusted off that rom-com mystery and did some heavy edits to tone down the romance. A few weeks after we submitted it, Gemma reached out and said she’d love to publish the book. A year later, and after many more edits, Marigolds, Mischief, and Murder released into the world. I also have a set of novellas that I self-published starting in 2019. They’re a blend of romantic suspense and cozy mystery. The first one is called Death in the Desert, but the entire series is available in a box set called The Alexandra Briggs Mystery Box Set.

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

Gwen, the main character of Marigolds, Mischief, and Murder owns a flower shop with her family. This puts it in the crafts and hobbies subgenre of cozies.

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

I wanted to write something different than the typical cozy set in a restaurant, café, bakery, or library. In the original version, the main character was a personal trainer. This gave her access to a lot of people in town, which helped as she worked to solve the mystery. Over the course of editing for publication, we decided to change her profession. I already had an idea for a different cozy series set in a flower shop in Arizona. In this series, the main character would have taken over the family business, Camelot Flowers, from her parents. Her dad was obsessed with Camelot and named her Guinevere. Gemma and I took that idea and transported it to the snowy small town of Star Junction, Illinois.

Gwen’s life is complicated, in large part due to the fact that she’s had an unrequited crush on her best friend, Chris, since middle school. When Chris becomes the prime suspect in the murder of one of their former high school classmates, Gwen sets out to prove his innocence. That means dealing with the handsome new police detective, Finn Butler, which adds even more complexity to her love life. The Camelot Flowers mysteries have a fun love triangle, wacky friends and neighbors, a charming small town setting, and plenty of intrigue as Gwen runs around town trying to solve the murders. Although I had to reduce the romance, I didn’t remove it completely, and readers who have reached out have loved that part of the series.

WHY DO YOU THINK PEOPLE LOVE TO READ COZY MYSTERIES?

I think “cozy mystery” is the perfect name for this genre because they’re exactly that—cozy. They’re easy to read, which means you can be invested in a cozy mystery even if life is crazy. I think the small town setting and close knit community are appealing to people who live in small towns, because they can relate, and to people who live in large cities, because it’s something new and different for them.

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

I’m involved in a few cozy mystery Facebook groups as a reader. I love to connect with other readers and see recommendations of what other people are loving right now.

WHO ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVOURITE WRITERS?

In the cozy genre, I love Jenn McKinlay, Ellery Adams, and Ellie Whitaker. The first cozy I ever read was book one in The Charmed Pie Shop series by Ellery Adams. They are some of the big names in the genre and for good reason. Not only are their stories interesting, but the writing is top notch. I also love Gretchen Archer’s Davis Way Crime Caper series. It’s sort of a mix between a cozy mystery and a humorous mystery. I also really enjoy the Matchmaker series by Elise Sax.

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

Thinking about books I’ve read multiple times, I would bring a book by Stephanie Meyer. I’ve read the Twilight series many times, but I’ve also read her book The Chemist more than once. I’d also bring the book Prey by Michael Crichton. This is a book I return to if I want a good thriller that won’t give me nightmares. I’d also bring Riley Thorne and the Dead Guy Next Door by Lucy Score. That book has a great mystery, fun romance, and it’s hilarious.

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

The second book in the Camelot Flowers Mystery series will release spring of 2024. I’m not allowed to share the title yet, but I just finished writing the first draft, and it’s going to be a good one. I also have the first book I wrote, Saving Stella, with a publisher. The publisher is having some issues and is behind on their schedule, but I’m hopeful that the book will come out in 2024 as well. Finally, I have a four book series set in Chicago that follows four best friends as they face danger and find love. That series is romantic suspense. The publisher that held the contract for the series had to temporarily close and gave everyone their rights back. My agent and I are shopping for a new publisher now. I keep readers up to date on when projects are leasing through my website, social media, and my newsletter.

The Quickie 5

• FAVOURITE FOOD: : Chicken fajitas
• BEVERAGE OF CHOICE: Iced Tea with stevia
• MOST PRIZED POSSESSION: My daughter wanted me to say it was her, but she’s not a possession, so my real answer is my computer.
• FAVOURITE SEASON? If I’m in the Midwest it’s fall, but here in Arizona, it’s definitely winter.
• FAVOURITE VACATION SPOT? Maui

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To keep up to date with Erica Wynters online, you can connect with her on:

FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | WEBSITE | TIKTOK