Interview with Cozy Mystery Writer Mary Feliz by James Cudney
The life of a writer is often sedentary, but I try to visit with these neighbors every day for a walk at low tide.
This interview first appeared on June 15, 2020 on the blog page This is My Truth Now by James Cudney
What are your real, author, and/or pen names?
Mary Feliz is my real name and the name I use for my books.
What is your location?
Watsonville, CA on Monterey Bay
How long have you been published? What titles and/or series have you published and with which publisher?
My first book in the Maggie McDonald Mystery series was published July, 2016 by Kensington Lyrical. While I have the utmost respect for self-published authors who have to master so many different skills, I feel fortunate that all I need to do is write and help market my books. The series is:
Address to Die For 2016
Scheduled to Death 2017
Dead Storage 2017
Disorderly Conduct 2018
Cliff Hanger 2019
Snowed Under June 7, 2020
Tell us a little bit about your books including the genres. If you write a series, please share all past books, any upcoming releases.
Snowed Under releases June 7, 2020.
All my books are marketed as cozy mysteries and meet the criteria of minimal “on-screen” violence, torture, sex, or swearing. And they share many of the cozy tropes, including an amateur detective with a connection to law enforcement, a close-knit community, recurring animal characters, and light humor. However, my books also depart from the stereotypical cozy. Some of the characters are quirky, but not relentlessly so. There are moments of significantly increased tension, fear, and risk. Those who are killed aren’t all bad guys. The community suffers the loss of the deceased person and must solve the mystery in order to heal and move on. And each of my books touches on a social issue that is front and center in real-life California.
I use the social issues for several reasons. First, I think California is often portrayed as ditsy and shallow or as rich and frivolous. Mostly we’re ordinary working people trying to get the job done and spend time with my families. But we’re not immune to problems, either, ones we struggle to solve. And those problems often have an enormous impact on the most vulnerable people and create conflict. Conflict is the key to any mystery. Without extreme conflict that leaves someone with few options, few people would resort to murder.
I totally yield to Kensington’s wisdom in marketing my books as cozies, but if I were to try to pin them to a specific subgenre, I’d put them on the line between cozy and traditional. I’m a huge fan of Louise Penny, and while my books are lighter than hers, I think they have a similar mix of issues, quirky characters, and real-life drama. (I hope they’re at least half as good as hers!)
What type of reader are you hoping to attract? Who do you believe would be most interested in reading your books?
Most of my die-hard fans also read other cozies that edge toward traditional. They are fond of authors like Louise Penny, Leslie Karst, Ellen Byron, Julia Spenser-Fleming.
What advice would you give other authors or those still trying to get published?
Keep going. The only difference between published authors and unpublished authors is that the published authors were too stubborn to quit. That’s the bumper sticker version of my advice. Dig a little deeper and you’ll see that those same stubborn published authors continue learning, working hard, honing their craft, and gobbling up advice. They often work with experienced developmental editors to nudge their books over the last hurdles. And they hang onto that dream of being published.
Do you belong to any writing groups? Which ones?
I think writing groups are essential to writers. No matter what career stage you face, you need help and support from other writers. And we need to help others. Much of our knowledge is hard-won. It’s important to help others to remind ourselves how far we’ve come and give back to the communities that helped us so that others will realize their dreams. I belong to Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime (National, as well as four chapters), California Writers Club, Cozy Mystery Crew and Santa Cruz Women of Mystery. I’ve volunteered quite a bit with most of those groups and always get out more than I put in.
What are your hobbies and interests besides writing?
I’m a certified California Naturalist and revel in the natural world. I hike, quilt, and swim. Most recently, I’ve been sewing masks for neighbors, friends, and family who don’t sew.
Some authors like to make an argument or address an issue when they write. Is there an issue that you’re addressing with your book? If so, what is it?
I do this in all my books, because it’s a great way to bring many layers of conflict into a story. I stay far away from telling readers what think the solutions to the issues are. If I had all the answers, I’d be working in those fields, not writing. In Snowed Under, I touch lightly on issues of smuggling and human trafficking.
What’s the craziest/funniest/most enjoyable thing you’ve ever done in the name of research?
I think a lot of people are astonished by how much I know about illegally growing marijuana on public lands. It’s a huge and fascinating environmental and public safety issue. I dug deep when researching background material for Disorderly Conduct. I often hike in county, state, and national parks, and now can’t do so without looking for the signs of illegal “gardens.”
What do you like about writing in your genre?
Seriously? I have to say it’s not having to write sex scenes. I’m so afraid of getting so lost in the moment that I’ll end up with too many arms and legs. That would kind of spoil the mood. Somethings are better experienced first-hand than written about. Sex is one of them. Murder is not. But I also love the fact that cozies and traditional mysteries resolve all conflict in the end. The bad guys get what’s coming to them. The scars in the social fabric are healed. It’s satisfying. How I wish we could do that in real life.
Do you work from an outline or plot or do you just see where the characters take you?
An outline, but I revise the outline frequently as I go forward. My secondary characters have a way of running off with the plot. I always let them. If it works, it stays. If they do a fantastic job, they often end up taking a starring role in the next book.
Do you think that the cover plays an important part in someone buying your book(s)? Who designs your book covers?
Definitely. A strong professional cover signals so much to readers. I leave all that to the artists at Kensington and their Lyrical Press imprint. And they do a fantastic job. (The German shepherd, Mozart, has been in most of the books and is thrilled to have finally made it to the cover in the sixth book, where he shares the spotlight with perennial star Belle, the golden retriever. My only real complaint about the covers (and it’s minor) is that sometimes Belle looks more like a yellow Labrador retriever than a golden.
What is the one thing you would like your readers to know about you? Do you have anything specific you would like to say to your readers?
I still can’t quite believe I’m a published writer with books in libraries and bookstores. It’s such an honor to know that people read and enjoy my books.
Who are your own least and favorite characters?
There are definitely characters that I find annoying or hateful, but those are fun to write. Cathartic. But my favorite characters are definitely the animals. One of my editors keeps reminding me that I’m writing mysteries, not dog stories. But then I remind her that all the animals serve an important purpose. I can reveal so many nuanced details about a character, good or bad, by the way in which they act when they’re near an animal.