The Cozy 52: Q&A with author Shannon Symonds

Shannon Symonds joins us for this week’s The Cozy 52 interview. Read on to find out more about her books, her favourite authors, and how she stays involved in the Cozy Community.

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 Shannon Symonds

NAME: Shannon Symonds

LIST ALL YOUR COZY MYSTERY SERIES:

• The Cozy Mystery by the Sea series
  • Murder Takes a Selfie
  • Murder Takes a Vlog
  • Murder Has a Ball
  • Murder Has an Event
  • Murder is Delivered
  • The Seaside Murder before Christmas
• Balefire Bay Cozy Mysteries
  • Booked for Murder

HOW ARE YOUR COZY MYSTERIES PUBLISHED?

My first four cozies in the By The Sea Cozy Mystery Series were traditionally published by Cedar Fort and are available on Audible. Cedar Fort then moved to publishing more religious materials. I self-published the next two books. Cedar Fort’s books are available at Deseret Book, Barnes & Noble, Target, Walmart, and available at small bookstores.

However, Cedar Fort created a new online app subscription, and I entered a non-exclusive contract, allowing him to publish the last two books in the series on their site, another book from a non-cozy series. I will self-publish Booked For Murder! Self-publishing allows me to speed things up!

The Q&A

TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOURSELF

I live in an old house a block off the ocean in a small town on the Oregon Coast. I was gifted a great childhood–before life demanded I adult!

My four great-aunts didn’t have children. They shared myself and my cousins with my grandmother.  In the early 1920s they bought a house in Seaside, Oregon, and rolled it on logs to a beautiful waterfront spot. They  named it Lassie Hame or Girls Home in honor of their heritage. They all taught school. The minute school was out, I lived in the beach house bunk room with my cousins. I am somewhere in the middle. There are 13 cousins, and we remain close to this day. The house is in a trust and a gift to all of us.

My father was transferred inland. But, when I had my own children, I returned to the sea.

My cozies are all located on the wild Northern Oregon Coast. The weather, the old homes, and the scenery are all a part of the series and the mysteries. My first series involved young people, their grandmother and family living in an old Queen Anne a block off the sea. I hope you learn to love them all and the friends they make in town.

The sea is my sanctuary. I am a survivor of experiences I had inland. Thanks to a solid foundation and support system, all the bad things became the driving force behind my career as a certified advocate. Although I can’t tell any true stories, my mysteries are inspired by common and cumulative experiences I had working alongside law enforcement with survivors and their families. I met and learned to love the strongest women. Look around and you will see that you know someone who had a rough road for a while, but came out of it stronger and wiser. I love writing three-dimensional characters who have a lot to learn about their own self-worth and find their voice while creating wonderful friendships and learning the lessons life has for them. I hope they make you cheer and laugh.

Here is my bio:

Shannon Symonds writes in an old house by the sea. She loves laughter, a good mystery, walking the beach, deep sea fishing, and bonfires.

In 2023, she was nominated for the LDS PMA Praiseworthy Award. In 2021, she was awarded the Author Ready Author to Watch Award for her “By the Sea” Cozy Mystery YA series. In addition, her debut novel was a Whitney Award Nominee. Murder Takes a Selfie was sold at Costco (who knew having one’s book in a big box store would be the mark of success).. They continue to be available at Deseret Book, Barnes & Noble, Amazon, and her favorite beach town book stores.

Shannon has worked for over 15 years as an certified DV/SA advocate serving survivors of abuse alongside law enforcement. She is a Family Support Specialist, and  loves volunteering for other causes that she is ridiculously passionate about. Shannon has been a hybrid author since 2014. She authored 263 articles for Deseret Digital Media, which were periodically syndicated, blogged for Hilary Weeks’ Billion Clicks project, and the Operation Underground Railroad’s volunteer newsletter between 2017 and 2020. She published her first book with Cedar Fort in 2017. Shannon received the Davis County Child Abuse Prvention Award, the Oregon Trial Lawyers Public Justice Award 2002 for the Tiffany Alvera Case that changed housing for victims nationally, and the 2002 Star Advocate Commendation from the Oregon Department of Justice. In 2020, Shannon was the Operation Underground Railroad Volunteer of the Year for the creation of the Authors for Freedom Event.

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

1. During Covid, my daughter and her family moved into my house to save money. Their kids are so cute–I decided to keep them! They make my house busy, messy, and full of hugs and toddler kisses.
2. My adult kids are mystery and true crime fans. I have a few law enforcement officers, death investigators, ship captains and disabled veterans, a nurse, dog groomer, and a veteran now mom. They are a wonderful help when it comes to plotting a murder. Between their medical, law enforcement, and other skills, they help me make every mystery better.
3. I am a bonfire pro. I know exactly what supplies to bring to create the perfect S’more and night on the beach.

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

I have a deep love of all bookish things. At age 9, I became an Agatha Christie fan. I adore Miss Marple. I also love a good laugh. I have always written and wanted to write books.

 I love that cozies can be well written mysteries, but safe to buy. I like clean fiction. I hate surprises! Especially since I share my books with family members. I want to write books that my eleven-year-old granddaughter will enjoy.

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

All my books have had libraries or are centered around a bookstore.

My new book is a culinary mystery. It will include my great grandmother’s and grandmother’s chocolate cake recipe and, of course, a bookstore and tea shop.

WHY DO YOU THINK PEOPLE LOVE TO READ COZY MYSTERIES?

In this very difficult time in history. Cozies are predictably fun and clean. Predictable, right now, is a gift. The best part? They wrap up a murder and have happy endings–in a fun package. I don’t know about you, but I want to guess who the bad guy is before the killer is revealed. I often explain cozy mysteries as “tidy mysteries.” Death is usually off stage and relationships are behind doors.

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

I speak to any audience who will listen. I’ve spoken at conferences, to church groups, to book clubs, and podcasts or live interviews. I like sharing the inspiration behind my books. I want my readers to fall in love with my flawed characters, see themselves reflected in my stories, and realize that those of us with challenges have the capacity to be happy and wonderful.

WHO ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVOURITE WRITERS?

• Agatha Christie
• Catherine Coles
• Verity Bright
• London Lovett
• Ann Sutton
• Lauren Elliott
• Ellery Adams

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

• Ship building for dummies
• Bible or how to pray for help
• The entire Miss Marple series

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

I am super excited about my November release, Booked for Murder: Book 1 in the Balefire Bay Cozy Mystery Series.

Blurb for Booked for Murder:

Ivy Kelly is on the run and searching for refuge in the small town of Balefire Bay on the Oregon Coasts. But when she arrives, she finds more than just a safe haven. Someone has died and one of her new friends could be the killer. The people hunting her want to make sure she disappears permanently.

Ivy isn’t on the run long before she meets Aggie, a knitter, book club member, true crime sleuth, and part owner of Balefire Bay’s Book and Tea Shop. Aggie introduces Ivy to the possibility of a new life that includes a dream job working in a library that looks like a mashup of Downton Abbey and Hogwarts and is owned by her favorite reclusive author. With a new life comes a new mystery, as Ivy finds herself enmeshed in a murder that the town is determined to keep a secret.

Is Ivy Kelly’s new employer a possible love interest or a stone-cold killer? When her past collides with her present, Ivy must risk everything to uncover the secrets of Balefire Bay. Join Ivy on this thrilling journey and find out who she really is and why she is hiding.

I loved plotting the story with my kid’s help. I also love the characters and the small town they live in. I carefully planned this murder mystery along with all the red herrings involved. I promised myself I would stick to the plot. Then, a little over halfway through the book, some of the characters took on a life of their own. I love it when that happens. It’s a plot twist for the writer.

I had so much fun writing Booked for Murder with the help of my Cozy Mysteries by the Sea Newsletter family. They sent in title ideas based on the blurb. We had a vote and they picked the title. I shared 3 cover options with them and over 450 readers voted, and picked a favorite and gave me priceless feedback!

The Quickie 5

• FAVOURITE FOOD: Thai Salad Rolls with Peanut Sauce
• BEVERAGE OF CHOICE: Cacao with vegan cream or water
• MOST PRIZED POSSESSION: Do children count? Our family beach house, Lassie Hame.
• FAVOURITE SEASON? I love them all! But if I had to pick one, I would choose summer
• FAVOURITE VACATION SPOT? Our family beach house or any place by the sea.

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To keep up to date with Shannon Symonds online, you can connect with her on:

AUTHOR WEBSITE | BOOKS WEBSITE | AUTHOR INSTAGRAM | BOOKS INSTAGRAM

PERSONAL FACEBOOK | AUTHOR FACEBOOK PAGE | GOODREADS | BOOKBUB

YOUTUBE | TIKTOK | AMAZON | TWITTER