Jessica Brimer joins us for this week’s The Cozy 52 interview. Read on to find out more about Jessica’s writing, her book A Binding Chance, and her favourite books and authors.
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 Brimer
NAME: Jessica Brimer
LIST ALL YOUR COZY MYSTERY SERIES: A Messy Bookshop Mysteries. The first in the series is A Binding Chance.
HOW ARE YOUR COZY MYSTERIES PUBLISHED? My book is published through a small house, Next Chapter.
The Q&A
TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOURSELF
I’m a Tennessee girl, born and raised. Most of my family is from Michigan, and I spent my summers up there. I was the girl in school who wrote stories rather than do her schoolwork (I don’t recommend this lol). Writing stories had always fascinated me. I remember writing my first story when I was seven and had an urge to do another one. I wrote more and more as time went on. However, I was also the girl who had poor grammar and had to go to Sylvan Learning, an after school tutoring session. It helped, but I still struggled. In high school, I kept my writing to myself. Certain teachers bashed my work and told me to do it as a hobby, and leave the writing to professionals. For a long time I was afraid of criticism. It wasn’t until I was an adult when I wrote “for fun” a one-hundred thousand word story and realized I could write. Of course I had lots of typos, but I had a passion. During that time, I was on a documentary fix. One actor with a speech impediment stood out to me. If he could overcome a speech problem and be a famous actor, why can’t a girl with bad grammar conquer it and be an author? The following years, I learned more about writing, read more books, joined a writer’s group, and got a computer program to help point out mistakes. God also blessed me with a husband who excels in English. He helped me tremendously. Eight novels later, I submitted my cozy to a small publisher, and they accepted A Binding Chance.
LIST THREE FUN FACTS ABOUT YOURSELF THAT WE WOULDN’T READ IN YOUR ‘OFFICIAL’ BIO.
- I enjoy playing video games. I don’t play as much since I became a mom, but I make time for Final Fantasy.
- I have a huge fear of crickets! One jumped on my head as a kid and it got stuck in my hair.
- Hockey is my favorite sport. Detroit Red Wings and Nashville Predators.
WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO START WRITING? WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO WRITE COZY MYSTERIES?
As I said above, I’ve always loved writing. Mysteries were my favorite. I loved trying to solve the puzzle before the big reveal. The first cozy I read was by Joanne Fluke. I just fell in love with the genre and read more cozies. There’s so much to love about the genre. Great characters, pets, and lighthearted murder. After reading several series, I wanted to write them too.
WHAT SUBGENRE(S) OR THEMES OF COZY MYSTERIES DO YOU WRITE?
Bookstores and pets. Those are my favorite kind of cozies.
TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOUR COZY MYSTERY SERIES. WHAT INSPIRES YOUR SERIES?
In my college days, I worked at a Christian bookstore. I had a blast working there and yes, part of my check went towards books. While outlining A Binding Chance, I knew my protagonist had to work at a bookshop. For inspiration, I Googled pictures of bookstores and came across a picture of Flourish and Blotts, the bookstore in the Harry Potter series. I loved the stack of books and the slight mess, and it hit me. I could write about a messy used bookstore.
My protagonist, Garnet Stone, grew up in a law enforcement family and enjoys working at Teresa’s Bookstore. Garnet works hard to tidy the store and keep the nosy cat out of trouble. Some days Garnet wishes the nosy cat is more chill like her sister feline, who sleeps all day. When Teresa unexpectedly passes away, she leaves everything to her niece, Jane Jackson. Garnet is a little bitter not inheriting the store, but she busts a move to clean the store’s clutter to impress her new boss. Garnet is in for a rude awaking when Jane arrives to announce the store’s closure. To make matters worse, they find a woman dead in the bargain room. Garnet knows her boss isn’t to blame. She’s determined to solve the perfect crime and save her boss from prison, securing the bookstore’s future
WHY DO YOU THINK PEOPLE LOVE TO READ COZY MYSTERIES?
Like with most stories, I think it’s an escape from reality. Cozies give the readers a friendly town, characters with honorable qualities, and make us laugh along the way to solving a homicide.
ASIDE FROM BEING AN AUTHOR, ARE YOU INVOLVED IN THE COZY COMMUNITY IN ANY OTHER WAY?
I’m in several Facebook groups: Lauren Elliott Mystery Readers, Cozy Mystery Village, Cozy Mystery Party, Tattered Page Book Club, Linda and Friends Book Club, Southern Sisters Book Group, and some more. Every group has been wonderful. The people are so nice and friendly. What’s not to love about the cozy community!?
WHO ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVOURITE WRITERS?
In the cozy world it’s Vicky Delany, Ellie Alexander, Julie Anne Lindsay, and Kate Lansing. I read anything by Sally Hepworth and Lucy Foley. I also love spooky books, especially in October. My spooky go-to author is Darcy Coates. Some new authors I discovered last year were Jessie Q. Sutanto, Elly Cosimano, and Diane Kelly.
IF YOU WERE MAROONED ON A DESERTED ISLAND, WHAT 3 BOOKS WOULD YOU WANT WITH YOU?
The Bible, Finlay Donovan is Killing it, and Apple Cider Slaying.
DO YOU HAVE ANY PROJECTS COMING UP THAT YOU’D LIKE TO SHARE WITH US?
Yes. I’m working on the second book in A Messy Bookshop Mysteries, Book High and Low. I’m hoping it will be released before this summer. Currently, I’m finishing my rounds of edits and then I’ll send it to my beta readers. After I write the third book in A Messy Bookshop Mysteries, I plan on writing a standalone mystery.
The Quickie 5
- FAVOURITE FOOD: Steak
- BEVERAGE OF CHOICE: Coffee
- MOST PRIZED POSSESSION: A bowl that belonged to my great-great grandma. She passed away when I was six and I have a few memories of her.
- SUMMER OR WINTER? Summer
- FAVOURITE VACATION SPOT? Mackinac Island
To keep up to date with Jessica Brimer online, you can connect with her on:
GOODREADS | INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK | BOOKBUB
