WHY COZY MYSTERIES MATTER

I don’t know about you, but I could use a break.

Whether that means sitting on a beach with my toes in the warm sand and a cold drink, or snuggling into a little reading nook by the fireplace on a stormy day, an escape from reality sounds pretty good sometimes.

And that’s one of the reasons I think cozy mysteries matter. They give us a much-deserved vacation from things that maybe aren’t very fun to deal with.

I know there are people who pooh-pooh the idea of escaping through fiction, but I disagree. Sometimes, the endless grind of reality can be daunting. Things like fear for our loved ones, loneliness, a seeming barrage of troubling news, or concerns about day-to-day life can be painful and exhausting.

Cozies are a great way to get away from stuff like that, even if it is just for a few hours.

Escapism isn’t a bad thing, just as a relaxing vacation isn’t a bad thing! I love the term ‘losing oneself in a book’ because if we are sucked into a great story, it does feel like we lose ourselves and our troubles for a while, doesn’t it? Characters who started out as only figments of an author’s imagination suddenly become real and important to readers. The stories of their love lives and exciting adventures can take us on a journey into new dangers or high drama. The things they go through can entertain or teach us in all sorts of ways we may not have encountered before, and that’s a lovely way to slip into a different world.

So many of the cozy mysteries I read, whether charmingly traditional or full of ghosts and paranormal encounters, are a wonderful escape because the characters are so interesting! I often have elements of my past experiences and favorite people in many of my characters, because I love those little details that make imaginary people suddenly come alive when I describe them well. The emotions and adventures of those characters can reflect so much of our own lives.

Or maybe I just want a magical talking cat, or to have my own bakery! ????

So, I guess what I want to say is this:

Go find your cozy adventure, and revel in it! Laugh at the gassy dog, be shocked by horrifying twists, drool over cupcake recipes, travel to foreign lands, and wish you had magic powers of your own. Your well-deserved vacation is waiting for you, along with new and unmet friends, inside the pages of your next cozy mystery.

And thank you for choosing our stories to take you on your mental vacation. I hope you have a wonderful time!