How many of us remember when we were children, telling scary stories at night or listening to a spooky tale that some one else told? It gave us a satisfying case of the shivers. Satisfying only because we knew we were safe but our imaginations went on wild tangents of “what if”? I think that same feeling holds true for those of us who love to read or write a mystery. For the reader, there’s the added bonus of trying to solve the mystery before the author gives the answer. For the writer, there’s the challenge of keeping the reader turning pages to see “who dunnit” without giving away the solution too soon.
I remember my mother telling stories about the ancient graveyard on the farm where she grew up. She and her sisters and brother stayed away from that old place of unknown graves. I’m pretty sure that there were stories a-plenty about spooky noises or sights. What was not factual was made up for by active imaginations.
Then there are the stories of ghost lights. Did people really see them? A cousin of mine was positive that he did. This spooky, round light followed him one night along a lonely country road. He probably established a new speed record as he outran this mysterious glow that bounced along the ground or floated above the bushes.
These are some of the stories which caused me to enjoy writing cozy mysteries. Now, a cozy doesn’t go in for blood and gore. A cozy mystery is rather like the scary tales I heard or told as a child, sitting around the wood-burning stove and listening to the wind moan around the corner of the house. I was safe and snug with my family but what if…oh, my goodness, what if?
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