Hello everyone.
On my blog today, I am welcoming guest author, Anna St. John, author of her cozy mystery, "Clocked Out". Find out more about the author and her book at:
Author Links Website
Purchase Link – Amazon
What an adorable cover! Take it away Anna.
~Michelle, Reading Authors Network
Inspiration in a Pickle Jar?
By Anna St. John
Frequently I’m asked where I find inspiration as an author. The
answer is a simple one: I write about familiar subjects, or topics
that interest me. Every day, I search for inspiration for the next
chapter, or the next book. It would be so nice if we could
purchase it in a jar off the grocery shelf whenever we needed it.
Because I grew up during the days when exercise consisted of
“jumping jacks” and water came from the faucet (free), I am
fascinated by the complexities of today’s society. Who knew we
needed “goat yoga” classes and bottled water in every
backpack? And don’t even get me started on coffee shops where
you can order an oat milk pumpkin spice latte. All of these
things inspire me to write about them.
I once took a picture of a jar of pickles at a farmer’s market in
Oregon, because I thought it might be perfect in a future cozy
mystery. The sales message on the jar proclaimed: “Dill Death
Do Us Part.” Can we think of this as “pickled” inspiration?
It takes time to research and write a book. One way to assure the
story connects with a reader is to keep it authentic, with details
that ring true. So, when I decided to write cozy mysteries, I
thought first about some of the things I enjoy most in my
everyday life – where I live in a small town, play a friendly
game of mahjong each week, and own an Old English sheepdog.
It wasn’t a stretch to imagine a cozy mystery with an amateur
sleuth who owned a fluffy dog and joined a group of friends for
mahjong on Wednesdays.
Then I thought of Nancy Drew’s roadster and chose a little red
convertible for my sleuth, Josie Posey, to drive. The car is
important because it makes a statement about Josie’s desire to
stay young and active, in defiance of her recent retirement. And,
while you might also find a vintage red convertible in my garage
at home, Josie’s is much newer – with all the modern features,
like seatbelts and a radio.
Once I had the setting and the primary characters in my mind,
the similarities between real life and the fictional world came to
an end. Nothing in my past could have prepares me to choose a
victim or devise a murder weapon. For those important aspects,
I was free to imagine all kinds of possibilities.
Here are some of the small things that inspired the Josie Posey
series:
1. Ballet. I’ve always loved ballet and thought it offered an
opportunity to bring something exotic into the little
village -- including a beautiful dancer with a mysterious
past, a former dance partner, and her overbearing
husband. The friction between the ex-partner and the
current husband provided an interesting situation for
book one, Doomed by Blooms.
2. Naked Ladies. These flowers bloom in our yard every
summer. They inspired me to consider how similar they
are to a dancer, with a slender stem and a tutu of
blossoms. I thought they would be a natural compliment
to the story – particularly when my research indicated
the blooms could be poisonous.
3. Clocks. While I knew nothing about how to build a
clock, I was fascinated with time as a topic. I hoped
readers might find it interesting, as well. After a little
research, I was inspired to use the world of luxury watch
manufacturers as a central theme for book two in the
series, Clocked Out.
4. Blacksmith Shop. Near our local library, I noticed a
working blacksmith shop where “metal artisans” created
all kinds of interesting tools. Their dedication inspired
me to create my own blacksmith shop in the Josie Posey
series.
Because we are encouraged to “write what we know,” authors
generally draw from their own person experiences and
preferences for inspiration. I am convinced this is why so many
of us include bookstores and libraries as locations, and dogs and
cats as characters.
Regardless of where we find inspiration, authors work hard to
entertain their readers. To me, the best ideas are the ones that
are simple, but memorable. I want the details of the story to
create an emotional connection between my readers and the
story. I hope readers will fall in love with the characters, root for
them to succeed, and celebrate with them when they do – and
perhaps find a little inspiration of their own, in the process.
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