I have an old Chinese proverb for you. The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now. Well, just over a year ago I started a new project and I am so excited to be sharing my fruits!
I’ve been a writer for a long time. A few years ago I was churning out a romance novel every three months, engaging with my readers on social media, and making a reasonable income. So I quit my lovely reception job, and… quickly suffered from creative burnout. I do love romance, but my heart just wasn’t in the steamy billionaire alpha romance genre! My creativity broke and I stopped writing.
I got my old job back, and decided to just read for a while. I re-read all the books of my favourite author, humorous fantasy writer Terry Pratchett, as well as all the books of my second-favourite author, the queen of crime, Agatha Christie. And soon, back behind my reception desk, I started to feel inspired to write for fun. I had a brainwave: I could write my own murder mysteries, yes! My new year’s resolution for January 2020 was to finish one cozy mystery by the end of the year.
But, as we all know too well, 2020 had other plans for all of us. Before I was able to get too excited about my new project, I was put on furlough. Being a creative person, I know myself to sometimes have volatile mental health. There was no way I could sit around worrying about whether I’d even have a job to go back to. So, to protect my mental health, I decided I’d better embark on writing my new cozy mystery series. I did some research into the market, and discovered that paranormal cozy mystery, especially featuring witches, were popular. Wow, I could combine my love of Terry Pratchett and Agatha Christie. Unlike steamy billionaire romance, this was my perfect genre!
I was so fortunate to keep my job and return to work in June 2020. But then of course, everyone else was working from home, so the building was empty—it was a perfect time to write. And by then I was already on book two! The cozy mystery genre suits me and my quintessentially Englishness. As you know, they tend to be set in a village—mine is Maiden-Upon-Avon—they feature an amateur sleuth—mine is novice witch Evelyn Eldritch. And there’s sometimes a little bit of romance—my swoonsome detective inspector is gorgeous. And they are always light-hearted, so I get to employ my British sense of humour.
Now for my fruits. To protect my mental health during the year of 2020, I wrote four novels and two novellas of my English Village Witch Cozy series. And I loved it! No burnout here.
I’m compelled to write fiction. I can’t help it—I would be writing whether or not I was publishing. Also, I love my reception job. I love welcoming people into the building, having a chat, and helping with anything I can.
I’m not interested in leaving my day job this time. I would just like for readers to enjoy taking the phone off the hook of life and holiday from reality in Maiden-Upon-Avon with Evelyn. I want readers to enjoy the beautiful English countryside, and feel as content as I feel when I’m writing the books.
For as long as I enjoy writing these books, I’ll keep going. Naturally, there have been times when I’ve needed to stop and just binge on Netflix, and these days I always listen to what I need. I can enjoy writing, and enjoy sharing my writing, whilst protecting my mental health, instead of burning it out. So if there’s something you’d like to try, start it, but do it gently—and who knows, maybe in a year from now, you’ll also be reaping the fruits of your labour of love!
An English Village Witch Cozy Mystery: Book 1
Publication Date: February 24, 2021
In a flash, she had magic. Can she use it to solve a mysterious death in her family?
Climbing a tree in a thunderstorm was always going to be a stupid idea, but when Evelyn Eldritch is struck by lightning, her magical powers are switched on. And she didn’t even know she was a witch!
When Evelyn learns that her biological mother has died under suspicious circumstances, she makes a journey to the quaint village of Maiden-Upon-Avon, where the residents consist of werewolves, witches, vampires and one annoyingly handsome-yet-gruff policeman. But who should she suspect? Who can she trust?
And if juggling her magical training, her mother’s café, and the town’s eccentric residents wasn’t enough, another body turning up at the local cricket match shows she’s definitely in well over her pointed hat…
Murder at Magic Cakes Café is the first book in the adorable English Village Witch Cozy series, set in the beautiful English countryside. If you love plucky heroines, small-town whodunits, and a touch of retro nostalgia, then you’ll love Rosie Reed’s fun and flirty tale.
Buy Murder at Magic Cakes Café today. It’s simply electrifying!
Note from the author: Writing this series kept me sane during the very strange year of 2020. I do hope you’ll enjoy escaping into the beautiful surroundings of Maiden-Upon-Avon and having some fun with Evelyn and all the other magical beings who live there! Each book is set in a different season of the magical year—beginning with spring in Book One. You can enjoy a gentle journey around the village, whilst Evelyn tries to solve the murder. So, treat yourself now by taking the phone off the hook of life, and soaking awhile in the bathtub of the English countryside!
If you sign up for Rosie’s newsletter today, you can download bonus FREE novella Merrie May Mayhem straight away! Just type this code into your web address bar: bit.ly/Rosiereed
I love writing, daydreaming, and creating stories. I often write for fun, even when I’m not planning on publishing. But it’s also wonderful to share my stories with you!
I’m a massive Agatha Christie and Terry Pratchett fan, so writing paranormal mystery comes instinctively! I love the understated gentle charm of cozies, and it’s always such a pleasure to spend time in the company of the wonderful sleuths and magical characters that my fellow authors create.
Writing the English Village Witch Cozy series helped to keep me sane during the very strange year of 2020. Evelyn and Alex have done a tremendous job of protecting my mental health, and it’s my pleasure to share this comfort with you.
I do hope you’ll enjoy escaping into the beautiful surroundings of Maiden-Upon-Avon, and having some fun with Evelyn and all the other magical beings who live there! So treat yourself now by taking the phone off the hook of life, and soaking in the bathtub of the English countryside for a while!
August 17 – Mysteries with Character – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
August 17 – Elizabeth McKenna – Author – SPOTLIGHT
August 18 – Novels Alive – GUEST POST
August 18 – Literary Gold – SPOTLIGHT, EXCERPT
August 19 – Angel’s Guilty Pleasures – SPOTLIGHT
August 19 – Baroness’ Book Trove – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
August 20 – I’m All About Books – SPOTLIGHT
August 20 – Laura’s Interests – SPOTLIGHT
August 21 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT
August 21 – #BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee Blog – SPOTLIGHT
August 22 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW, AUTHOR INTERVIEW
August 22 – Eskimo Princess Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
August 23 – Read Your Writes Book Reviews – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
August 23 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT
August 24 – Reading Is My SuperPower – GUEST POST
August 24 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – SPOTLIGHT
August 25 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – REVIEW, EXCERPT
August 26 – Novels Alive – REVIEW
August 27 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST
August 27 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
August 28 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT, EXCERPT
August 29 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT
August 29 – I Read What You Write – GUEST POST
August 30 – BookishKelly2020 – SPOTLIGHT
August 30 – ebook addicts – REVIEW
Thank you so much for featuring me on your wonderful blog Dayna!
You’re most welcome, Rosie!
[…] – AUTHOR INTERVIEW August 17 – Elizabeth McKenna – Author – SPOTLIGHT August 18 – Novels Alive – GUEST POST August 18 – Literary Gold – SPOTLIGHT, EXCERPT August 19 – Angel’s […]