Jessica Baker joins us for this week’s The Cozy 52 interview. Read on to find out who she was named for (and how it relates to mysteries!), what she does for a living, and why her Lady Thea Mysteries are set in 1910 London!
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 Jessica Baker
NAME: Jessica Baker
LIST ALL YOUR COZY MYSTERY SERIES:
- A Lady Thea Mystery – 3 Books and 2 Short Stories
- Anthology: A Bookworm of a Suspect: A Novel Thief – April 11
HOW ARE YOUR COZY MYSTERIES PUBLISHED? I am self-published.
The Q&A
TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOURSELF
Hi everyone. I live in Central Florida. Outside of writing, I work in film (behind the scenes) and teach film at a college. I’ve always loved reading but have gotten a bit out of practice at it in the last few years.
I started writing Murder on the Flying Scotsman, book 1 of A Lady Thea Mystery in November 2017 for NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month). There are a lot of write-ins around Central Florida during November. I really enjoy getting to connect with other writers.
LIST THREE FUN FACTS ABOUT YOURSELF THAT WE WOULDN’T READ IN YOUR ‘OFFICIAL’ BIO.
- I love knitting, crochet, embroidery, sewing, pretty much anything fiber arts. I learned some of it from the local library and taught myself the rest from online. I also keep making myself clothes and can’t wear most of them because they are way too heavy for the climate I live in.
- I have a board of postcards and stickers from postcard swaps and penpals.
- One of my first film jobs was with Stephen Tobolowsky. You might know him from Groundhog Day and more recently, The Goldbergs, and for the Hallmark fans, he was in the Christmas movie Haul out the Holly last year.
WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO START WRITING? WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO WRITE COZY MYSTERIES?
It sounds cliché, but I’ve been writing for longer than I can remember. My mom saved some of the stories I wrote when I was about two or three years old that I have no recollection of creating. Every year in elementary school, there were writing contests and I always entered a story. My earliest mystery story was called “The Clue Club”, which I entered and won with during 5th grade. I’ve always enjoyed mysteries. My mom named me for Jessica Fletcher from Murder, She Wrote. She also bought me the Nancy Drew Notebooks when I was younger, which also inspired me to love mysteries.
WHAT SUBGENRE(S) OR THEMES OF COZY MYSTERIES DO YOU WRITE?
A Lady Thea Mystery is historical. I’m also dipping my toes into paranormal/contemporary fantasy cozies with A Novel Thief.
TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOUR COZY MYSTERY SERIES. WHAT INSPIRES YOUR SERIES?
A Lady Thea Mystery is set in 1910 England. I love the Edwardian time period, but before I started writing my series, I couldn’t find many cozies set during that time. They were all set in either the Victorian era (earlier) or the 1920s (later). I’ve always loved history and love both of those time periods as well, but I very much wanted to write the time period I couldn’t find books in to read.
WHY DO YOU THINK PEOPLE LOVE TO READ COZY MYSTERIES?
I think it provides a great escape. We know that cozies are going to provide a fun and entertaining mystery, but at the end of the story, the perpetrator will have justice served.
ASIDE FROM BEING AN AUTHOR, ARE YOU INVOLVED IN THE COZY COMMUNITY IN ANY OTHER WAY?
I’ve done some formatting, but at the moment, I’m just a writer. I’d like to be more involved in the community, but because I’m working multiple jobs, I don’t have the time right now.
WHO ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVOURITE WRITERS?
I have a hard time answering that because it changes too often depending on my mood. Frances Hodgson Burnett (A Little Princess) has always been one of my favorites because the story resonated with me when I read it as a child and I’ve reread it many times. I love how her characters could see magic in ordinary things, which I feel like that’s part of why we read to begin with.
IF YOU WERE MAROONED ON A DESERTED ISLAND, WHAT 3 BOOKS WOULD YOU WANT WITH YOU?
I’d want a notebook, a book on how to build a boat, and a book on identifying edible plants.
DO YOU HAVE ANY PROJECTS COMING UP THAT YOU’D LIKE TO SHARE WITH US?
I’m working on expanding the world A Novel Thief is set in. I don’t have a series name yet, but am excited about that.
I’m also working to expand Lady Thea’s World. In the project I’m working on, Thea won’t the main character. It takes place about 6 months after A Christmas Puzzle and Wilhelmina and James will be taking over the investigating for a bit. I’m so excited to share their adventures with you.
The Quickie 5
- FAVOURITE FOOD: I don’t actually have a favorite food. I’m a mood eater, so it changes day to day.
- BEVERAGE OF CHOICE: Coffee
- MOST PRIZED POSSESSION: It’s not my most prized possession, but I’d be lost without my computer since it’s where all my stories are.
- SUMMER OR WINTER? Winter
- FAVOURITE VACATION SPOT? I haven’t actually gotten around to travelling, but I’d love to see New England and Europe someday.
To keep up to date with Jessica Baker online, you can connect with her on:
WEBSITE | AMAZON | INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK | GOODREADS | BOOKBUB
