Meet Hannah Reed and Deb Baker

In honor of the debut of her new mystery series, "BUZZ OFF: A Queen Bee Mystery," I’m thrilled to have as my guest this month author Hannah Reed (aka Deb Baker!) She has graciously agreed to answer a few questions about her writing career and the cozy mystery market!

Sharon: At what age did you know that you wanted to be a writer? Hannah/Deb: I’m a late bloomer and didn’t know what I wanted to be when I grew up until my 40s, when I took a creative writing class and things just clicked. I saw my first mystery in print the year I turned fifty. Sharon: How did you get interested in writing "cozy" mysteries? Hannah/Deb: Actually, I didn’t know I was writing a cozy with MURDER PASSES THE BUCK, which was published under my real name, Deb Baker. The publishing industry decided that for me. At first I thought the term meant high tea and hats with plumes. My story was more about beer and ball caps. But once I understood the definition (no on-stage sex and violence), my stories fit right in as cozies. Sharon: What inspired the "bee" theme of your series? Hannah/Deb: I’ve always been passionate about the natural world, so when my brilliant agent suggested a bee theme, I couldn’t resist exploring. One fascinating trip to the local bee association’s apiary and I was hooked. Sharon: What appealed to you about the genre of cozy mysteries as opposed to hardcore mysteries or suspense stories? Hannah/Deb: I love the relationships between the characters and how those dynamics propel the plot and action. Cozy characters seem so much more genuine and have greater depth. And I don’t usually like unpleasant surprises that come with hardcore mysteries. That said, I still have my share of favorite authors in all the subgenres. Sharon: Your main character is a beekeeper-in-training - where did you gather your inspiration for these characters? Hannah/Deb: I’ve been lucky. My characters walk onto the page very close to fully formed. I don’t question them. All I can say is that nothing I could make up would be half as interesting and entertaining as some of the real characters in my life. Sharon: With more and more series coming out in the cozy genre, do you see the competition for readership becoming more fierce? Hannah/Deb: I’m excited that the genre is finally getting the respect it deserves. We aren’t a jealous and competitive group of writers; in fact, we support each other. And cozy readers are veracious readers. We can’t keep up with the demand! Sharon: The cover art on your books is just gorgeous - very eye- catching! Who does the artwork for each book, and are you consulted as to how it will look? Hannah/Deb: Berkley Prime Crime has been very good to me, and they have the best covers. Before the cover art meeting, the design team asks me for suggestions. I’m not particularly creative when it comes to cover design, so I usually give them a few objects I’d like to see and they take it from there. Cover design is by Judith Lagerman and the cover illustration is by Trish Cramblet. I just had a sneak peek at the cover for MIND YOUR OWN BEESWAX, coming in May. They outdid themselves this time! Sharon: Who are some of your favorite authors? Who inspires you? Hannah/Deb: There are so many! Three that instantly come to mind: Robert B. Parker for his mastery of dialogue, Janet Evanovich for making humor respectable and giving us the Plum family, M. C. Beaton for creating such an unlikeable, yet lovable, character in Agatha Raisin. Sharon: What do you have coming up in the future? Hannah/Deb: MIND YOUR OWN BEESWAXz, book two in the Queen Bee series, will be released on May 3rd. I’m working on book three. And I have an idea for a new series, but I’m too superstitious to reveal it just yet. Sharon: What advise would you have for anyone wanting to break into the "cozy mystery" genre? Hannah/Deb: Look at what the specific publisher wants, read lots of cozies, and offer a unique idea and a fresh voice. Of course, that’s sounds much easier than it really is, but with perseverance and practice, the effort will pay off.

My thanks to Hannah/Deb for stopping by the Cozy Corner this month. For more information on the Queen Bee Mystery series, check out www.queenbeemystery.com

Happy Reading, ya’ll!