The Cozy 52: Q&A with author L.P. Suzanne Atkinson

L.P. Suzanne Atkinson joins us for this week’s The Cozy 52 interview. Read on to learn more about her books, what inspires her writing, and DO NOT miss her incredible “three facts”!

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 L.P. Suzanne Atkinson

NAME: L.P. Suzanne Atkinson

LIST ALL YOUR COZY MYSTERY SERIES:

• The Stella Kirk Mystery Series:
  • No Visible Means (2019)
  • Didn’t Stand A Chance (2020)
  • Sand In My Suitcase (2021)
  • Fictional Truth (2022)
  • Mallory Gorman Won’t Be Buried Today (March 31, 2023)

HOW ARE YOUR COZY MYSTERIES PUBLISHED? I am an independent publisher and publish under the imprint – lpsabooks

The Q&A

TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOURSELF

I am a retired mental health social worker and trainer for continuing care and long-term care assessors. I am married (40 years in March), love dogs and don’t know how to live without one, and adore our RV. I don’t write daily, but I obsess, ruminate, and work at writing every day.

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

1. I was an animal surgeon
2. I have been shot
3. I found a dead girl in the St. Lawrence River many years ago

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

I have always written in one capacity or another. My first book was titled Emily’s Will Be Done and is creative non-fiction, telling the true story of executing the exceedingly complicated will of my dearest friend who died suddenly.

I progressed from there to a stand-alone coming-of-age novel, and four-book suspense / psychological thriller series (Regarding Hayworth), and then on to cozy mysteries. I read mostly this genre and thought an RV park could be a unique setting.

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

No direct subgenre.

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

My cozy mysteries might be considered darker than many. My desire is to illuminate the root causes of why a person is reduced to committing a murder. Figuring out whodunit is not so important to me as understanding why – the human condition.

WHY DO YOU THINK PEOPLE LOVE TO READ COZY MYSTERIES?

Cozy mysteries are safe. The basic rules mean you won’t find yourself having nightmares after you turn off the light.

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

I am a member of the Prince Edward Island Writers Guild and I teach a course for the PEI library system called: So…you want to write a novel. We only relocated to this province in September, so I have been working diligently at becoming involved. I read, for the first time on PEI, at a Guild Open-Mic night on the evening before Post-Tropical Storm Feona dropped by.

WHO ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVOURITE WRITERS?

I like Jacqueline Winspear and Anna Lee Huber for cozy mysteries, but I also like Ann Marie MacDonald, Richard Russo, and Carol Shields.

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

…And Ladies of the Club by Helen Hooven Santimyer, anything by Truman Capote, and Fayne by Ann Marie MacDonald (just purchased)

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

Mallory Gorman Won’t Be Buried Today: A Stella Kirk Mystery #5 is available for pre-order across all platforms and is officially out March 31/23. Book #6, Fate Deals the Cards, will be ready next March, and Book #7 (I never reveal the title this early) is for release in 2025 and well on its way.

The Quickie 5

• FAVOURITE FOOD: cashews
• BEVERAGE OF CHOICE: rooibos tea
• MOST PRIZED POSSESSION: my great grandmother’s hand-painted Limoges chocolate pot
• SUMMER OR WINTER? Fall
• FAVOURITE VACATION SPOT? Anywhere my little nineteen-foot travel trailer can go

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To keep up to date with L.P. Suzanne Atkinson online, you can connect with her on:

WEBSITE | FACEBOOK