Stephen Bentley, who writes cozy mysteries as KJ Cornwall, joins us for this week’s The Cozy 52 interview. Read on to find out more about his true crime books, his past careers, and what inspired him to start writing his own cozy mystery series.
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 Stephen Bentley, aka KJ Cornwall
NAME: Stephen Bentley but writes cozy mysteries as KJ Cornwall
LIST ALL YOUR COZY MYSTERY SERIES: Murder at the Vicarage is the first book in the Jessie Harper Paranormal Cozy Mystery series. It is on pre-order with a release date of 31/08/2023.
HOW ARE YOUR COZY MYSTERIES PUBLISHED? Independently published.
The Q&A
TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOURSELF
I’m a bestselling author of true crime undercover cop books and a former British police Detective Sergeant, pioneering Operation Julie undercover detective, and barrister. I now write in the true crime and crime fiction genres and contribute occasionally to Huffington Post UK on undercover policing, and mental health issues.
I am possibly best known for my bestselling Operation Julie memoir and as co-author of another bestseller, Operation George: A Gripping True Crime Story of an Audacious Undercover Sting.
I also write crime fiction in my Steve Regan Undercover Cop Thrillers and Detective Matt Deal Thrillers series.
Together with Dominic Smith, another former undercover cop, I also write under the pen name of David Le Courageux in the Undercover Legends series.
KJ Cornwall is my pen name for writing the Jessie Harper Paranormal Cozy Mystery series.
LIST THREE FUN FACTS ABOUT YOURSELF THAT WE WOULDN’T READ IN YOUR ‘OFFICIAL’ BIO.
- As a five-year old my teacher asked the class how many seasons there were. My hand shot up and I answered, “Two, miss.” “Which two?” She said, looking puzzled. I said, “Football and cricket seasons.” I could not understand why the teacher and whole class went into fits of laughter.
- Tim Witherspoon, the former heavyweight boxing world champion, and I enjoyed a late-night drinking session swapping jokes and stories.
- I must be a doppelganger as once in Las Vegas a guy approached me and seriously thought I was some famous comedian, and the same thing happened in Toronto, but this time the guy was convinced I was Wayne Gretzky, the ice hockey player.
WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO START WRITING? WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO WRITE COZY MYSTERIES?
My undercover cop experiences deserved telling and I had the story in my head for years but then in 2015 my wife encouraged me to write and finish it. I did.
After that, I started writing gritty, hard-boiled, fast-paced crime fiction thrillers. Over time, I became interested in other forms of crime fiction, other subgenres if you like, and I was attracted to cozy mysteries particularly after reading Richard Osman’s The Thursday Murder Club. The genre was fresh to me, funny, lots of quirky characters and of course, who doesn’t love a good whodunit.
WHAT SUBGENRE(S) OR THEMES OF COZY MYSTERIES DO YOU WRITE?
Khan the talking cat is a major character in my series, so pets. But because he talks, there’s a dash of paranormal.
TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOUR COZY MYSTERY SERIES. WHAT INSPIRES YOUR SERIES?
The city of Liverpool in England is one I know well having been raised there. It has so much interesting history behind it and the series is set in the 1930s, a between the war’s era marked by the Great Depression that I find fascinating.
WHY DO YOU THINK PEOPLE LOVE TO READ COZY MYSTERIES?
Good, clean fun. The genre is an antidote to the ills of the real world.
ASIDE FROM BEING AN AUTHOR, ARE YOU INVOLVED IN THE COZY COMMUNITY IN ANY OTHER WAY?
No, owing to lack of time, sorry.
WHO ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVOURITE WRITERS?
Agatha Christie, Nina Harrington, Richard Osman, and in the thrillers – Michael Connelly and Steve Kavanagh.
IF YOU WERE MAROONED ON A DESERTED ISLAND, WHAT 3 BOOKS WOULD YOU WANT WITH YOU?
The Holy Bible, Any of Richard Osman’s Thursday Club series except the first, and War and Peace (maybe I will get to the end).
DO YOU HAVE ANY PROJECTS COMING UP THAT YOU’D LIKE TO SHARE WITH US?
The rest of the Jessie Harper series and sequels to two of my thriller series.
The Quickie 5
- FAVOURITE FOOD: ice cream
- BEVERAGE OF CHOICE: beer
- MOST PRIZED POSSESSION: A scrapbook full of memories from my undercover cop days
- SUMMER OR WINTER? Winter
- FAVOURITE VACATION SPOT? Florida
To keep up to date with Stephen Bentley/KJ Cornwall online, you can connect with him on:
AMAZON – KJ CORNWALL | AMAZON – STEPHEN BENTLEY | FACEBOOK – JESSICA HARPER SERIES
KJ CORNWALL – a link to the Jessie Harper cozy series, book 1, & a free introductory book to the series.
I should thank you, Stephanie, what a wonderful job you do in promoting cozy authors especially those new to the genre, like me.
It’s my pleasure Stephen! I definitely have your book on my TBR list and will be sure to include it in my monthly new release post later when it’s about to come out!