Rose Kerr is the latest author to join us on The Cozy 52. A Canadian (like me!), Rose has recently had her first cozy mystery, Death on the Set, published and I’m really excited to have her sit down and chat with today.
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 Rose Kerr
NAME: Rose Kerr
LIST ALL YOUR COZY MYSTERY SERIES: I have one series, and the first book came out on March 29th, 2022. The series is The Brenna Flynn Mystery Series.
HOW ARE YOUR COZY MYSTERIES PUBLISHED? My mysteries are traditionally published.
The Q&A
TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOURSELF
I grew up in a small village in Nova Scotia and discovered mysteries with the Trixie Belden and Nancy Drew series.
I’ve travelled to every province in Canada, most of it for work, but it was always fun. I haven’t visited the territories yet, but they’re on my list.
My husband and I settled in Marathon, a small town in Northern Ontario, for work and to raise a family. We both loved living by Lake Superior and the town had many activities for our children to take part in.
I started writing a few years ago. I enrolled in some creative writing courses, joined a writers’ group–Silverleaf Writers in Timmins and joined Sisters in Crime.
We’ve moved to southern Ontario to be closer to our adult children and their families and are enjoying the new location.
I’m represented by Dawn Dowdle, of the Blue Ridge Literary Agency.
LIST THREE FUN FACTS ABOUT YOURSELF THAT WE WOULDN’T READ IN YOUR ‘OFFICIAL’ BIO.
- I grew up speaking both French and English.
- I played hockey at university.
- I took a cake decorating class my last year of high school.
WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO WRITE COZY MYSTERIES?
It’s the genre I like to read the most. Cozy mysteries provide the reader with a strong cast of characters, interesting settings, and the opportunity to solve a puzzle.
I like that there isn’t a lot of violence on the page.
WHAT SUBGENRE(S) OR THEMES OF COZY MYSTERIES DO YOU WRITE?
My main character, Brenna Flynn, can’t find work in her field. She takes different temp jobs until she gets back into the field of education. Of course, in keeping with cozy mysteries, she’ll have to solve a mystery at each temp job.
TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOUR COZY MYSTERY SERIES. WHAT INSPIRES YOUR SERIES?
A couple of things inspire my series.
First is the location, a small town on the shores of Lake Superior. We lived in a small town on Lake Superior, and it was such a great place to live. I try to include glimpses of life in a small town.
The second is I wanted to write about a woman in her early 30s who has to deal with a lot of change in her life and that she realizes she’s stronger and more capable than she believed.
WHY DO YOU THINK PEOPLE LOVE TO READ COZY MYSTERIES?
I think the readers enjoy a few things with cozy mysteries.
- They enjoy solving the puzzle of the mystery.
- Getting to know the recurring characters in the story.
- Readers also like to learn new things, whether it’s a craft, cooking, or something about a new setting.
- And finally, cozy mysteries provide an escape from the world for a few hours.
ASIDE FROM BEING AN AUTHOR, ARE YOU INVOLVED IN THE COZY COMMUNITY IN ANY OTHER WAY?
I keep pretty much to myself, although the local library is getting the writers’ group organized again after being stopped for COVID and I’ll be taking part in those meetings.
WHO ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVOURITE WRITERS?
Agatha Christie continues to entertain me. More current authors include Vicki Delany/Eva Gates, Kate Carlisle, Essie Lang.
IF YOU WERE MAROONED ON A DESERTED ISLAND, WHAT 3 BOOKS WOULD YOU WANT WITH YOU?
Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None, John Grisham’s The Pelican Brief, and the book I’d be working on
DO YOU HAVE ANY PROJECTS COMING UP THAT YOU’D LIKE TO SHARE WITH US?
Book 2 in my series, tentatively titled, Death in Academia, has been turned in to my editor. And I’m working on book 3 in the series, Death at the Festival. It’s due to my editor in September.
The Quickie 5
- FAVOURITE FOOD: Pizza
- BEVERAGE OF CHOICE: Tea in the morning, water during the day, wine for dinner.
- MOST PRIZED POSSESSION: My MacBook Air
- SUMMER OR WINTER? Summer, our summers are short in Canada, so we make the most of them.
- FAVOURITE VACATION SPOT? There are two: Nova Scotia in the summer and Muskoka in the fall
To keep up to date with Rose Kerr online, you can connect with her on:
WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | PINTEREST | GOODREADS
