S.C. Perkins is the next author to join us at The Cozy 52! I’m a huge fan of her Ancestry Detective series (warning: reading her books will make you crave tacos!) and am excited to have her answering my questions today.
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 S.C. Perkins
NAME: S.C. Perkins
LIST ALL YOUR COZY MYSTERY SERIES:
- The Ancestry Detective series: MURDER ONCE REMOVED, LINEAGE MOST LETHAL, and FATAL FAMILY TIES
HOW ARE YOUR COZY MYSTERIES PUBLISHED? Traditionally published from Minotaur Books.
The Q&A
TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOURSELF
I’m S.C. Perkins and I’m the author of the Ancestry Detective mystery series featuring taco-loving genealogist Lucy Lancaster. My books are set in Austin, Texas, where Lucy uses her skills as a genealogist to solve murders from both the past and the present.
LIST THREE FUN FACTS ABOUT YOURSELF THAT WE WOULDN’T READ IN YOUR ‘OFFICIAL’ BIO.
- I’m a trained massage therapist (though I only briefly practiced professionally).
- I love to bake (especially cookies).
- I’m deaf in my left ear (thanks to an insect when I was very young).
WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO WRITE COZY MYSTERIES?
I love cozies and wanted to write them because they’ve got all my favorite things from various other genres I’ve always loved reading:
- mystery (of course),
- a protagonist with an interesting profession that teaches the reader something,
- settings that make you want to visit the town or city,
- a bit of romance to root for and swoon over,
- and a fun cast of secondary characters that gives you some lightness and laughter!
WHAT SUBGENRE(S) OR THEMES OF COZY MYSTERIES DO YOU WRITE?
I don’t know that mine fit into any specific subgenres, but you could potentially put them in the following classes: Southern-set, history-related, and culinary (in that they’re taco-craving inducing and always include a delicious dessert).
TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOUR COZY MYSTERY SERIES. WHAT INSPIRES YOUR SERIES?
My main character is professional genealogist Lucy Lancaster, and she lives and works in Austin, Texas – which is a big city that has a unique vibe and retains some small-town feel. As for what inspires me with my series, I grew up hearing about my ancestry at nearly every turn. Thus, when I was thinking about writing my first cozy series, having my main character be a genealogist was the most natural thing in the world. And being a Texan myself who loves food—and especially Tex-Mex—making Lucy a taco-aholic also came naturally. In Lucy, I get to write about the fascinating world of genealogy, add in lots of history (so much fun!), and think about what taco Lucy will eat next. Dream come true all the way around!
WHY DO YOU THINK PEOPLE LOVE TO READ COZY MYSTERIES?
In my opinion, I think one of the biggest reasons readers love cozy mysteries is because the protagonist is a regular, everyday person who gets to solve crime and right a wrong or two. And who doesn’t dream of that? And add in some lighter themes, romance, and great characters, and you have books that are smart, fun, and help you leave some of the world’s stress behind for a little while.
ASIDE FROM BEING AN AUTHOR, ARE YOU INVOLVED IN THE COZY COMMUNITY IN ANY OTHER WAY?
At the moment, I’m just a writer!
WHO ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVOURITE WRITERS?
There are so many I could name! Here’s just a few of my current favorites, in no particular order: Ellie Alexander, Deanna Raybourn, Frances Brody, Vivien Chien, Carolyn Haines, Jennifer Chow, Susan Elia MacNeal, Donna Andrews, Ashley Weaver, Sherry Harris, Jenn McKinlay, Rhys Bowen, and Sara Rosett.
IF YOU WERE MAROONED ON A DESERTED ISLAND, WHAT 3 BOOKS WOULD YOU WANT WITH YOU?
- The Secret Adversary by Agatha Christie
- All Creatures Great and Small by James Herriot
- The Danger by Dick Francis
DO YOU HAVE ANY NEW OR UPCOMING WRITING PROJECTS THAT YOU’D LIKE TO SHARE WITH US?
I actually will have an exciting announcement coming up soon! It will take me away from Lucy and Austin – hopefully temporarily – and to another setting that’s just as amazing and interesting. And I will be writing it under a new pen name, too, so be sure to keep an eye on my social media for news! (Especially on Instagram, as that’s my best platform.)
The Quickie 5
- FAVOURITE FOOD: Sushi
- BEVERAGE OF CHOICE: Tea
- MOST PRIZED POSSESSION: A set of three paintings created by my godfather
- SUMMER OR WINTER? Summer
- FAVOURITE VACATION SPOT? The beach
To keep up to date with S.C. Perkins online:
WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | TIKTOK
