tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6507548911400837437.post7863813465224618364..comments2024-03-21T03:22:46.645-06:00Comments on My Story, My Way ~ An Indie Adventure: Cozy Mystery Week ~ Paty Jager on Location, Location, Location for a Cozy MysteryLeslie Ann aka LAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15584041234338927880noreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6507548911400837437.post-41750211050993390662017-04-06T17:15:34.785-06:002017-04-06T17:15:34.785-06:00Hi Mary,
An amateur sleuth makes it easier to put ...Hi Mary,<br />An amateur sleuth makes it easier to put myself in her shoes when making decisions. And it's fun! Thanks for stopping in and commenting!Paty Jagerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03257614436422105729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6507548911400837437.post-73420264173017658142017-04-06T17:08:30.988-06:002017-04-06T17:08:30.988-06:00Thanks for the helpful information writing cozy my...Thanks for the helpful information writing cozy mysteries. With so much information available to police today, I love the idea of using an amateur. maryhagenauthorrommance.comhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16509280495290878266noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6507548911400837437.post-46590354768695401602017-04-05T21:40:12.393-06:002017-04-05T21:40:12.393-06:00Hi Lois, I have a map of my town, ski resort, coun...Hi Lois, I have a map of my town, ski resort, county, and mountain that I drew so I can keep things straight. I did that because it was easier than finding a place that worked for my story. Though the stories set in the reservation are set in a real place and I have to stay on my toes with those. And my Shandra books are more amateur sleuth than cozy as well. Sounds like you know exactly what you want need to make your stories shine. Thanks for stopping by. Paty Jagerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03257614436422105729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6507548911400837437.post-91533716036018022532017-04-05T21:36:33.011-06:002017-04-05T21:36:33.011-06:00Hi Dena, I'm glad the information is helpful a...Hi Dena, I'm glad the information is helpful and you found it in other mediums. Thanks for stopping by. Paty Jagerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03257614436422105729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6507548911400837437.post-22522945520118670222017-04-05T21:34:59.312-06:002017-04-05T21:34:59.312-06:00It sounds like a good place. You can have a group ...It sounds like a good place. You can have a group of people who are secondary characters from the community.Paty Jagerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03257614436422105729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6507548911400837437.post-61010996150157268412017-04-05T21:05:40.659-06:002017-04-05T21:05:40.659-06:00I set my books in actual towns and cities I know w...I set my books in actual towns and cities I know well. I find it much easier to remember where things are located that way and don't have to reinvent the wheel. I also find that readers love to identify with places they've been to. I don't set my books in small towns. They take place in cities and the surrounding suburbs, but my books are more amateur sleuth than cozy.Lois Winstonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01866423986250423199noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6507548911400837437.post-77773702931948497182017-04-05T17:35:26.759-06:002017-04-05T17:35:26.759-06:00Paty, thanks for educating me about these aspects ...Paty, thanks for educating me about these aspects of cozy mystery. As I read your article I started to mentally scroll through the mysteries that worked well, whether written or on the movie screen, and they all had the elements you talked about in your post!Dena Nethertonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08263377086807518469noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6507548911400837437.post-79270035799005651792017-04-05T17:00:18.388-06:002017-04-05T17:00:18.388-06:00So you all, my cozy series is going to be set in a...So you all, my cozy series is going to be set in a "mythical" ski town in Colorado. Wealthy like Aspen, cozy like Breckenridge. Wealthy, b/c my heroine is a jeweler, as I once was and Breckenridge b/c cozy is the sense I want and will add conflict b/c of .... well, I'm not going to tell you all just yet.<br /><br />What do you think? Leslie Ann aka LAhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15584041234338927880noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6507548911400837437.post-20627058545813868852017-04-05T16:58:03.880-06:002017-04-05T16:58:03.880-06:00Thanks, Audra. This has been so much fun and more ...Thanks, Audra. This has been so much fun and more to come. I'm learning tons of information and reading the books have been a blast. Leslie Ann aka LAhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15584041234338927880noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6507548911400837437.post-74230519309788167412017-04-05T16:28:38.276-06:002017-04-05T16:28:38.276-06:00Hi Diana, Thank you for stopping in! I'm glad ...Hi Diana, Thank you for stopping in! I'm glad you learned a bit about my books and process. Paty Jagerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03257614436422105729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6507548911400837437.post-87543159890443884272017-04-05T16:27:54.395-06:002017-04-05T16:27:54.395-06:00HI Audra, I'm glad you enjoyed my process. I a...HI Audra, I'm glad you enjoyed my process. I agree. Location can make the book. Thanks for stopping by!Paty Jagerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03257614436422105729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6507548911400837437.post-76775102785989360672017-04-05T16:26:54.567-06:002017-04-05T16:26:54.567-06:00Marilyn, I'm glad my information is helpful to...Marilyn, I'm glad my information is helpful to others. Paty Jagerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03257614436422105729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6507548911400837437.post-85937884413682923212017-04-05T15:08:08.780-06:002017-04-05T15:08:08.780-06:00Great post Paty! I enjoyed learning about how and ...Great post Paty! I enjoyed learning about how and why you use the locations you do in your stories.Diana McCollumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14827594305973746696noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6507548911400837437.post-27784378704120497162017-04-05T14:51:39.386-06:002017-04-05T14:51:39.386-06:00Leslie, this is a great week you've arranged t...Leslie, this is a great week you've arranged to showcase the building of a cozy mystery. Thank you for having these great authors share their words (and works).Audra Hardershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04337209458836768909noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6507548911400837437.post-55263200189896052042017-04-05T14:50:31.995-06:002017-04-05T14:50:31.995-06:00Hi Paty,
I love seeing how you piece together your...Hi Paty,<br />I love seeing how you piece together your mysteries. Location makes or breaks books, IMO. I love how setting becomes a character in the book...especially a cozy! Thanks for sharing with us.<br /><br />Audra Hardershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04337209458836768909noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6507548911400837437.post-17456433121382956682017-04-05T13:55:24.882-06:002017-04-05T13:55:24.882-06:00Paty, thanks for the helpful information about set...Paty, thanks for the helpful information about settings for cozies. Long live the small village, island resort, manor house, and all matter of intimate settings where crime is solved. Cheers marilyn leachhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01474270484117099359noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6507548911400837437.post-12728281328164749572017-04-05T12:34:21.169-06:002017-04-05T12:34:21.169-06:00Leslie, I don't mention the population. I show...Leslie, I don't mention the population. I show it by the three man police force, the diner where all the locals meet, the two gas station/mini-marts. One grocery store, small medical clinic with only one doctor. How the town does events to help bring in tourists and revenue. Paty Jagerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03257614436422105729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6507548911400837437.post-28296087126661043382017-04-05T12:31:48.136-06:002017-04-05T12:31:48.136-06:00JQ, I also grew up in a small community. The town ...JQ, I also grew up in a small community. The town where I lived was 200 people the town where I went to school was 1600. We didn't skip school because someone would see you and tell your parents. Your book sounds interesting. One of my reoccurring secondary characters is the son of the funeral home director. He helps his father, drives the ambulance and is part of the search and rescue team. Paty Jagerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03257614436422105729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6507548911400837437.post-55429015522210659772017-04-05T11:50:31.498-06:002017-04-05T11:50:31.498-06:00Paty, You mention that smaller towns with a captiv...Paty, You mention that smaller towns with a captive audience work better for cozy mysteries. Do you ever mention the population of your towns, or just use descriptive words to indicate size?Leslie Ann aka LAhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15584041234338927880noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6507548911400837437.post-82105595377056634542017-04-05T11:30:26.109-06:002017-04-05T11:30:26.109-06:00I'm from a small town, so I enjoy stories set ...I'm from a small town, so I enjoy stories set in such a location. No wonder I like to read and write cozies. My latest mystery is set in a funeral home and the funeral director's daughter is the main character. Thanks for sharing your book free. I'm not familiar with the setting, so I am looking forward to reading it. Best wishes with your next writing project!<br /><a href="http://jqrose.com" rel="nofollow">JQ Rose</a>J.Q. Rosehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04710790553616621103noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6507548911400837437.post-36173753233519516372017-04-05T10:48:16.519-06:002017-04-05T10:48:16.519-06:00Thanks, Leslie! LOL! I'm glad I could join all...Thanks, Leslie! LOL! I'm glad I could join all these wonderful mystery writers this week. It's been fun and enlightening. Paty Jagerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03257614436422105729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6507548911400837437.post-26745706487802536732017-04-05T10:27:48.932-06:002017-04-05T10:27:48.932-06:00Paty, this is a great article on helping a writer ...Paty, this is a great article on helping a writer and reader get clued in (sorry couldn't resist that pun) to why location plays such an important role in the story. I loved your Huckleberry Mountain for Shandra, it grounded her, added context to her character. <br /><br />So glad you're here for Cozy Mystery Week. <br />Hugs<br />Leslie Ann w/a L.A. SartorLeslie Ann aka LAhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15584041234338927880noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6507548911400837437.post-52980907773601139362017-04-05T10:11:28.518-06:002017-04-05T10:11:28.518-06:00Hi Nancy, Thank you. The reason so many people lov...Hi Nancy, Thank you. The reason so many people love cozy mysteries is because they can relate to the small communities and the characters. The books on the reservation take on their own feel. As it should be, given it is a different setting from Huckleberry Mountain. Paty Jagerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03257614436422105729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6507548911400837437.post-26746838610157524432017-04-05T10:08:45.134-06:002017-04-05T10:08:45.134-06:00Hi Kathy, My dad talks about Anacortes a lot. He l...Hi Kathy, My dad talks about Anacortes a lot. He lived a couple years up in that area when his dad and uncle worked in the ship yards during the war. I agree setting can become a character. Thanks for being part of this week.Paty Jagerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03257614436422105729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6507548911400837437.post-29511467144585542017-04-05T07:28:26.950-06:002017-04-05T07:28:26.950-06:00Paty, I love the way you explained why small towns...Paty, I love the way you explained why small towns/ villages are such good settings for cozies! I really get into Pacific Northwest settings, and I love that you set parts of your books on a reservation, too! Thanks for a great post!<br /><br />Light,<br />Nancy<br /><br />Nancy Khttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13575462504162733088noreply@blogger.com