Lina Hansen joins us for this week’s The Cozy 52 interview. Read on to find out what inspires her cozy mystery books, what she does in her spare time, and how she gets involved in the cozy mystery 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 Lina Hansen
NAME: Lina Hansen
LIST ALL YOUR COZY MYSTERY SERIES:
- The Magical Misfits series
- The LiteraTours cozy mysteries
- coming soon, i.e. later this year, the Da Vinci mysteries.
HOW ARE YOUR COZY MYSTERIES PUBLISHED? I’m a hybrid (mongrel?) author – Trad publishing for the Magical Misfits, YONDER (an online platform) for the LiteraTours mysteries, and self-publishing for the Da Vinci mysteries.
The Q&A
TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOURSELF
Hm, I’d say I’m a highly creative person. I paint, I cook (see below). I also genuinely like people. Writing can be a bit lonely, so I make sure to have guests around, go out a lot etc. For the same reason, I have a number of voluntary jobs, and am training to be a coach. I’ve stopped working as a communication specialist; I was very lucky there to get out of the daily job treadmill early, and I’m now a full-time writer and editor.
LIST THREE FUN FACTS ABOUT YOURSELF THAT WE WOULDN’T READ IN YOUR ‘OFFICIAL’ BIO.
I didn’t mention it in the bio, but from my novels you can easily glean that I’m a total foodie. I love cooking (and eating). And drinking wine. We’re even members in the local vineyard. To compensate, I walk a lot and visit the gym three times a week. That also comes in handy when I get stuck somewhere with my novels. Recently, I had an absolute cool plot idea while working out on the stepper… Travelling is another hobby, and it shows in the books. Cozies are typically set in small communities (with an amazing body count…). That can be a bit limiting, and in the LiteraTours or the Da Vinci mysteries my protagonists therefore get to travel and explore new settings.
WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO START WRITING? WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO WRITE COZY MYSTERIES?
I’m a voracious reader. Seriously, that’s how it all started. I can easily read a book a day if I have the time. And with that, I mean a full novel (perhaps not Tolkien…). I adore mysteries, especially if there’s a paranormal element in them. Historical mysteries are fun as well. At some point, I ran out of reading matter, and that gave me the idea to start on my own novels. Ten years and seventeen books later (not all of them published!) it’s all coming together. Cozies I like best because they’re not gory or nasty. I find the world nasty enough, I don’t want total reality in my stories.
WHAT SUBGENRE(S) OR THEMES OF COZY MYSTERIES DO YOU WRITE?
I write paranormal cozy mysteries (Magical Misfits) or paranormal cozy mystery adventures (the Da Vincis and LiteraTours). The difference between them is in the pacing—adventures are a lot faster, with more action. In the Misfits, the focus is on good old-fashioned sleuthing. And some romance. And…
TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOUR COZY MYSTERY SERIES. WHAT INSPIRES YOUR SERIES?
I’m intrigued by the idea of having a touch of magic in our world; that theme runs through everything I write. Travelling then provides inspirations for the various series. My reading habits also play a role.. The Magical Misfits, for example, are based on a book about the witch hunts I read as a teenager. It sparked off a lot of interest in those dark times (Don’t worry, the Misfits are light-hearted and full of humor!)
WHY DO YOU THINK PEOPLE LOVE TO READ COZY MYSTERIES?
Solving puzzles is quintessentially human. We’re a very curious species. Cozy mysteries have the added advantage that they’re “safe”—no gore, no excessive swearing, no steamy sex (some people might not see that as an advantage..) and so on. Cozies provide great escapes, and I think that’s super important.
ASIDE FROM BEING AN AUTHOR, ARE YOU INVOLVED IN THE COZY COMMUNITY IN ANY OTHER WAY?
I’m very active in the writing community, I’m an editor and critique partner, and I’m an admin in an author chat group and the Scribblers’ Society Critique Group. I participate in various Facebook groups, though most of my author friends write something other than cozies. That’s fine – it gives me insights into other genres, which I mostly also read. And even some I would never read, like Young Adult.
WHO ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVOURITE WRITERS?
All the “Grande Dames” of crime fiction, naturally, but also “newer” writers like Rhys Bowen, Cynthia Harrod-Eagles, Georgette Heyer, Lindsay Burroker, Lindsey Davies, Carola Dunn, Ilona Andrews, Lucinda Brant, Martin Walker, Anne MacGaffrey, Debora Geary, I have to stop here, this list is going to be endless.
IF YOU WERE MAROONED ON A DESERTED ISLAND, WHAT 3 BOOKS WOULD YOU WANT WITH YOU?
How to cook with coconuts, How to build boats from palm trees and The Complete works of Sherlock Holmes.
DO YOU HAVE ANY PROJECTS COMING UP THAT YOU’D LIKE TO SHARE WITH US?
I’m totally excited about the Da Vinci mysteries. A dark witch, an art thief, and an invisible killer. What can go wrong?
The Quickie 5
- FAVOURITE FOOD: Lamb with rosemary potatoes and my take on mint sauce.
- BEVERAGE OF CHOICE: Malbec
- MOST PRIZED POSSESSION: Tons of books
- FAVOURITE SEASON? Spring, when light returns to the world.
- FAVOURITE VACATION SPOT? You’re asking me to choose one? Impossible. Oh, allright. Golfe du Morbihan, France.
To keep up to date with Lina Hansen online, you can connect with her on:
WEBSITE | TWITTER | FACEBOOK | GOODREADS | BOOKBUB
