Welcome to The Cozy Sleuth Today we have Beth Farrar here to talk about the books and all things cozy.
Is any of your writing inspired by your actual life?
I’ve been interested in genealogy since I was quite young, when my grandfather gave me a gold signet ring that belonged to his grandmother. When he died, he left me a box of family pictures, some with names attached, others a mystery to solve. I’m also writing my own memoir as I believe very strongly in leaving something for those who come after you. And I’m creating a blog series on my website to help other people who want to write their own stories (every topic works for searching for ancestors as well!)
Any advice for those who want to write their own cozies?
Find an interesting premise. Even though there are tried and true, like crafts and pets, it’s great to find the unusual settings and occupations popping up. And there doesn’t HAVE to be a murder in the story. A lot of readers enjoy compelling mysteries and interesting characters. And lastly, fall in love with your own characters. If you love them, your readers will get that feeling.
Do you have a favorite character?
I do – Shirley! She has grown so much over the various books and it actually surprised me how much I’ve come to care for her. She can be a bit grumpy, but I think she’s come into her own with her landscaping business. And I’m intrigued by Norma, she’s a bit of a dark horse, and I’m not quite sure yet what her actual back story will be!
What Author has most influenced your writing?
There are quite a few. I started with Nancy Drew and Enid Blyton back in the day, and I think Elly Griffiths’ Ruth Galloway series has left a big impression on me. How she manages to create a flawed scenario in Ruth’s relationship, yet have the reader root for her and wish Ruth to have a happy every after ending. And I love the archaeology aspect as well.
If you and your main character sat down for coffee, what kind of drink would she get?
Ellie is not a big coffee drinker, though she will when she’s tired. I think she’d prefer a cup of tea with a touch of milk and sugar, or hot chocolate in the winter. And if there’s a chocolate chip cookie alongside it, she’d be in heaven. She and I share a chocolate addiction!
Or Outside of writing what other hobbies do you have?
I love to do cross-stitch. I need to have something in my hands when watching TV. And I love going on long walks where I live in the country. I take my iPod with me and listen to audiobooks, or go without and listen to the birds. It’s usually on the longer walks, with nothing in my pocket to jot ideas down with, that the best ideas come to me. I’ll often walk the last ten minutes repeating phrases over and over to myself so I don’t forget them!
How can my Snoops and Sleuths follow you?
The best place is my website, bethfarrar.com, which is being updated at the moment, or find me on Facebook at Beth Farrar-Author, and Instragram at bethfarrar8115. I’d love to hear from them! All the books in my Ellie McLellan Genealogy Mystery series can be found at Amazon around the world.
What is one complaint your characters would have about you as an author?
I don’t describe their clothes enough. Especially, Shirley. She likes to look nice but I like to let readers build a picture of the characters in their own minds And perhaps I call them seniors too much. Some of them are okay with it, but Shirley, not so much.