Joan Donaldson-Yarmey joins us for this week’s The Cozy 52 interview. Read on to find out more about Joan’s books, what inspires her writing, and the interesting Canadian-focused project she’s working on.
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 Joan Donaldson-Yarmey
NAME: Joan Donaldson-Yarmey
LIST ALL YOUR COZY MYSTERY SERIES:
- The Dating Coach Series—published by Renaissance Press
- The Travelling Detective Series—published by Books We Love, Ltd
HOW ARE YOUR COZY MYSTERIES PUBLISHED? Traditional
The Q&A
TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOURSELF
I was born in Vancouver and raised in Edmonton. I started my writing career with an article in the Western People, a now defunct insert in The Western Producer which isa newspaper for western farmers. I write mystery, romance, young adult, and historical novels or a combination of two or more of them.
LIST THREE FUN FACTS ABOUT YOURSELF THAT WE WOULDN’T READ IN YOUR ‘OFFICIAL’ BIO.
- I have always driven sports cars and my present one is a BMW, twin turbo convertible.
- I have taken part in many 5K and 10K runs/walks with my children, grandchildren, and friends.
- I have had as many as five cats with a stray coming for breakfast. Sadly I am now down to one cat who is 15 years old.
WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO START WRITING? WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO WRITE COZY MYSTERIES?
I have loved reading mystery novels since I was a child—Nancy Drew, Trixie Beldon. As an adult I found that some of the mystery novels I read weren’t as good as they could be. I thought I could write as good (or as bad) as some of those authors and I started fiction writing.
WHAT SUBGENRE(S) OR THEMES OF COZY MYSTERIES DO YOU WRITE?
Travel, dating coach, bookstore.
TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOUR COZY MYSTERY SERIES. WHAT INSPIRES YOUR SERIES?
My Travelling Detective Series is about a woman, Elizabeth Oliver, who travels around Alberta and B.C. gathering information for travel articles. Each time she gets drawn into some sort of mystery. These stories were inspired from my travel books. In my Dating Coach Series, Jenna Hamilton co-owns a bookstore and has also set a dating coach business where she coaches people on how to act on a first, second or even third date. Some of her clients aren’t lucky in love or in life.
WHY DO YOU THINK PEOPLE LOVE TO READ COZY MYSTERIES?
In a cozy mystery there isn’t blood and gore. If there is a death to solve, it usually happens off scene. Because the main character hasn’t been trained in detective work, she/he must use their own abilities to solve the mystery.
ASIDE FROM BEING AN AUTHOR, ARE YOU INVOLVED IN THE COZY COMMUNITY IN ANY OTHER WAY?
I have given writing workshops in the past but not since Covid hit.
WHO ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVOURITE WRITERS?
Linwood Barclay, Mary Higgins Clark, Ann Rule.
IF YOU WERE MAROONED ON A DESERTED ISLAND, WHAT 3 BOOKS WOULD YOU WANT WITH YOU?
I’d like three books that I haven’t read, since I don’t read a book a second time—I already know how it ends. Those three books would have to be mysteries.
DO YOU HAVE ANY PROJECTS COMING UP THAT YOU’D LIKE TO SHARE WITH US?
My publisher, Books We Love, (BWL, Ltd) published the Canadian Historical Brides Collection for Canada 150th birthday. There were twelve books, one for each province, one for the Yukon (mine) and one for the Northwest Territories and Nunavut. BWL is now the process of planning The Canadian Historical Mystery Collection. Again there will be twelve books, each one set in a province or territory and again my story will take place in the Yukon. It is due out in September of 2024 and is tentatively titled the Klondike Conspiracy.
The Quickie 5
- FAVOURITE FOOD: chocolate
- BEVERAGE OF CHOICE: Pepsi
- MOST PRIZED POSSESSION: My family although I don’t own them. Favourite inanimate object would be my car
- SUMMER OR WINTER? Actually Fall with its colours and smells but if I had to choose between summer and winter, it would be summer.
- FAVOURITE VACATION SPOT? Dawson City, Yukon. I have been there twice and want to go once more.
To keep up to date with Joan Donaldson-Yramey online, you can connect with her on:
