Suzanne Bolden joins us for this week’s The Cozy 52 interview. Learn more about Suzanne’s current series, her upcoming projects, and her (very practical) desert island reading choices!
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 Suzanne Bolden
NAME: Suzanne Bolden
LIST ALL YOUR COZY MYSTERY SERIES: Parker Photography Cozy Mystery
HOW ARE YOUR COZY MYSTERIES PUBLISHED? Self-published under my own imprint Laughing Deer Press.
The Q&A
TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOURSELF
I was raised in the countryside of central Wisconsin, where my family owned a dairy farm. But I always had an itch to travel and experience different places so when I was able, I moved to Denver, then to California where I met my husband. We moved to the suburbs of Chicago to raise our family. I’ve returned to Wisconsin after my official retirement but to this day get itchy feet and love a road trip. I’m a widow, and am blessed to be a mother and grandmother, a sister and an aunt…plus even a step great-grandmother!
LIST THREE FUN FACTS ABOUT YOURSELF THAT WE WOULDN’T READ IN YOUR ‘OFFICIAL’ BIO.
- I designed and made custom figure skating costumes
- I went to one room schools until fifth grade, including walking a mile each way
- I’m a salt-aholic…the struggle to cut back is real LOL.
WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO START WRITING? WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO WRITE COZY MYSTERIES?
Under my name, Brenda Felber, I published my first middle-grade mystery in 2015. My inspiration for that series came from the joy of traveling with my two oldest grandchildren. I wanted to show them every state in the US, but they grew up on me. My solution was to write stories from different states across our country…and thus was born my Pameroy Mystery Series. That series proved so much fun to write that I decided I wanted to write more complex mysteries for adults. The television series Murder She Wrote was always a favorite of mine so I felt the cozy mystery format would a good fit. It’s a joy writing about a sleuth you’d like to have as a friend and murders without a mess.
WHAT SUBGENRE(S) OR THEMES OF COZY MYSTERIES DO YOU WRITE?
My main subgenre would be amateur female sleuth. The pets genre also applies as Jackie Parker’s dog Libby helps with finding clues and is always a comforting companion for her.
TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOUR COZY MYSTERY SERIES. WHAT INSPIRES YOUR SERIES?
The location of my Parker Photography Series is the state I live in, Wisconsin. The setting is small river town in the Driftless Region of southwestern Wisconsin. The Driftless is a beautiful area with soft rolling hills, dense forests, and small farms. I have always had a passion for photography and that is my protagonist’s profession. I would have loved to have a job like she did, traveling the world to do photo shoots. Jackie is a Baby Boomer like me, but she is not quite ready to completely retire so she takes over the family photography business in Harmony.
WHY DO YOU THINK PEOPLE LOVE TO READ COZY MYSTERIES?
Probably the same as I do! To escape into a world where you know there will be a murder mystery to solve with characters you are eager to see again in the next book in the series.
ASIDE FROM BEING AN AUTHOR, ARE YOU INVOLVED IN THE COZY COMMUNITY IN ANY OTHER WAY?
I’m only a participant, not the person in charge, of some FB groups. I have great admiration for those who offer cozy authors opportunities to share our stories, like Book Frolic and Cozy Mystery Village!
WHO ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVOURITE WRITERS?
Outside of cozy mystery authors, I’ve had wide range of favorites in my lifetime…Dean Koontz and Stephen King…Edward Rutherford, James Michener, and Jean Auel…Mary Higgins Clark and Sue Grafton…
IF YOU WERE MAROONED ON A DESERTED ISLAND, WHAT 3 BOOKS WOULD YOU WANT WITH YOU?
Oh boy, I think the practical side of me would want books on how to identify edible and medicinal plants, how to capture animals, insects, and seafood to eat, and how to build a structure that holds up to the weather…LOL
DO YOU HAVE ANY PROJECTS COMING UP THAT YOU’D LIKE TO SHARE WITH US?
I do! There are two more series in the works. Katie Murphy Cozy Mystery is a spinoff of characters from my current series, but they live in Florida. Sew-Sew Murder Mystery Series is a small-town series with the main character owning a sewing shop, which is something I could have pictured myself doing! My middle grade mystery series continues with Hidden Tunnel set in Colorado being published this fall.
The Quickie 5
- FAVOURITE FOOD: Cheese…the Wisconsin in me
- BEVERAGE OF CHOICE: Coffee…but to go with a pizza, a good cold beer!
- MOST PRIZED POSSESSION: Family photographs
- SUMMER OR WINTER? Hard to choose but a bit of both. My summers in Wisconsin, and my winters in Arizona.
- FAVOURITE VACATION SPOT? Our national and state parks.
To keep up to date with Suzanne Bolden online, you can connect with her on:
WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | AMAZON | NEWSLETTER
Thank you so much for including my interview on your website. You are a tireless advocate for cozy mystery readers by bringing them tons of info on authors and books. Appreciate all that you do and I hope your own home renovation is going great!
It’s my pleasure – thank you so much for your time Suzanne! I loved meeting you and hearing more about your books and your writing!