Readers generally enjoy having animals included in their fiction, and cozy mystery readers are no exception, many almost requiring an animal in their books. For authors, adding a dog or a cat to their cast is fairly simple as well as enjoyable, since many of us have or have had pets. Writing about them therefore comes easily as we know how they behave, and we have plenty of fun memories to draw on.
But how many authors have had fun times with an alpaca? Certainly not me when I began writing the Craft Fair Knitters Mysteries. So why did I choose adding an alpaca?
It was a gradual but straight-lined decision. My main character, Lia, is a knitter, one who became proficient enough to sell her knitted items at a craft fair. Knitters tend to have favorite yarns, and Lia’s is the kind spun from alpaca fibers. I’ll let Lia tell you in the books about her many reasons for loving that yarn, but her favorite source for alpaca yarn wasn’t a yarn shop. It was an alpaca farm. Never having visited an alpaca farm myself, I needed to find one so that I could present it correctly to my readers.
Luckily for me, I found one within driving distance of my home and was able to set up an appointment. What an experience!
I had headed out with minimal expectations. I’d look around, take photos, learn about the care and feeding of the animals and the process of turning their fleece into yarn. I planned only a scene or two which would show how much Lia valued the yarn, so I was sure I could gather what I needed fairly quickly. It happened to be drizzly on the day of my appointment, which reinforced my plan for a quick visit.
That was until I met the alpacas. Those shoulder-high fuzzy creatures were adorable! Used to having visitors, they loved being petted and nudged each other aside to get closer, just like big puppies. I couldn’t believe how sweet they were. I had to give them a larger role in Lia’s life. But how?
Lia certainly couldn’t adopt an alpaca and keep it in her back yard Alpacas are herd animals and thrive in groups. My solution was Lia’s daughter, Hayley, who took a job at the alpaca farm as a marketer and event planner. Many more scenes could be worked in naturally with that connection as the plot involved Hayley helping Lia with the murder investigation. Perfect!
Where there’s a will, there’s often a way. I got my lovable animal into the stories, and Lia didn’t have to worry about caring for a large pet. On top of that, I have three beautiful book covers with an adorable animal pictured as well as several knitted pieces and, of course, hints of murder. Ideal for a cozy mystery and for any reader who enjoys knitting and animals. At least that’s my opinion, and I could, I admit, be biased.
Then again…oh, by the way! Did I mention Lia also has a cat?
A Craft Fair Knitters Mystery # 3
For once things seem to be running smoothly for knitting enthusiast Lia Geiger. Her daughter is living on her own and happy with her new job on the alpaca farm. Plus, Lia and her Ninth Street Knitters have been knitting for the Civil War reenactment being held on the grounds next to the Crandalsburg Craft Fair. It’s all fun and battle games until one of the “injured soldiers” turns out to be the very real victim of a murder, and Lia’s friend and neighbor falls under deep suspicion.
Suddenly, the good folks of Crandalsburg are spinning all kinds of yarns and pointing fingers at one another. Lucky for Lia, she has the combined wits of the Ninth Street Knitters to help her ply the truth from this crafty killer.
Mystery Amateur Sleuth [Berkley, On Sale: December 6, 2022, Mass Market Paperback / e-Book, ISBN: 9780593101728 / eISBN: 9780593101735]
Emmie Caldwell is the national bestselling author of the Keepsake Cove Mysteries, the Pickled and Preserved Mysteries, the Craft Corner Mysteries, and the Maggie Olenski Mysteries, written under the name Mary Ellen Hughes. A native of Wisconsin, she's lived most of her adult life in Maryland, which has inspired many of her stories.
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