Ask the Author: Kathy Manos Penn
Answered Questions (9)
Kathy Manos Penn
Yes! And in Large Print paperback too! Usually, Amazon releases the paperback a few days ahead of the ebook, so if you're eager (and I hope you are), try checking Amazon over Labor Day weekend to see whether it's live!
Thanks for asking, Kathleen!
Thanks for asking, Kathleen!
Kathy Manos Penn
Ooh! I would love to discover how my Greek grandfather made his way to the US in the midst of WWI. I could craft a plot that involved traveling to Greece to the village he allegedly hailed from, searching church records for his birth info and stumbling across some intriguing family secret!
BTW, he immediately joined the army when he disembarked and was sent to the Argonne.
BTW, he immediately joined the army when he disembarked and was sent to the Argonne.
Kathy Manos Penn
That's a hard one! I can be driving down the road and an idea pops into my head, or reading the paper or a book, and think "that's a good name for a character."
The fictional Cotswold village in my books was inspired by a 2018 trip to the area. I had taken lots of notes so I could write a newspaper column about the trip, and those notes drove my internet research.
So far, I've been fortunate, and things continue to POP!
The fictional Cotswold village in my books was inspired by a 2018 trip to the area. I had taken lots of notes so I could write a newspaper column about the trip, and those notes drove my internet research.
So far, I've been fortunate, and things continue to POP!
Kathy Manos Penn
When I answered this questions years ago, it was St. Denis, France, the fictional village where Chief of Police Bruno lives and works in Martin Walker's marvelous series.
Now that I've created the village of Astonbury as the setting for my cozy mysteries, that's where I want to be. I'd do everything my character Leta does--walk Dickens to visit the donkeys, go to yoga class on High Street and from there to Toby's Tearoom. I'd be a regular at the Book Nook too!
Now that I've created the village of Astonbury as the setting for my cozy mysteries, that's where I want to be. I'd do everything my character Leta does--walk Dickens to visit the donkeys, go to yoga class on High Street and from there to Toby's Tearoom. I'd be a regular at the Book Nook too!
Kathy Manos Penn
Because I am strangely unable to write a detailed outline, I encounter writer's block about midway through my books. Sometimes I wake up the next day with a way through the muddle. Sometimes, I get an idea as I's walking the dog. Other times I go back to the beginning and read through my draft.
Yes, I always worry I won't get beyond the block, but I know I will eventually.
Yes, I always worry I won't get beyond the block, but I know I will eventually.
Kathy Manos Penn
I'm fond of calling myself a word nerd, and I get a kick out of crafting a well-written sentence or entire story that folks can understand and enjoy.
And, I am delighted when I hear from newspaper readers that they look forward to the paper so they can check out my column.
Now that I'm writing cozy mysteries, I love the effusive reviews! I love seeing that what I set out to convey in my characters came across loud and clear. And, yes, I'm always a tiny bit afraid that someone won't like what I write, but hopefully the opinions of those who do like it will outweigh that of those who don't!!
I feel fortunate not only to have found my passion but also to have built a following!
And, I am delighted when I hear from newspaper readers that they look forward to the paper so they can check out my column.
Now that I'm writing cozy mysteries, I love the effusive reviews! I love seeing that what I set out to convey in my characters came across loud and clear. And, yes, I'm always a tiny bit afraid that someone won't like what I write, but hopefully the opinions of those who do like it will outweigh that of those who don't!!
I feel fortunate not only to have found my passion but also to have built a following!
Kathy Manos Penn
Write every day and write whatever works for you. I've journaled, blogged, and written columns. When someone suggested I write a cozy mystery, I was flummoxed (yes I'm a word nerd). Still, I went for it and have loved every minute of it. I have two bits of advice:
1. "Write, write, and write some more!"
2. I strongly believe the adage to "write what you know." My characters are inspired by people I know, and I've visited the Cotswolds where my books are set. I have loads of fun seeing the people and places come alive.
1. "Write, write, and write some more!"
2. I strongly believe the adage to "write what you know." My characters are inspired by people I know, and I've visited the Cotswolds where my books are set. I have loads of fun seeing the people and places come alive.
Kathy Manos Penn
I'm 2/3 of the way through book III in my series, and hope to release it by November 2020. Leta has just returned from a Thanksgiving trip back to the States and is planning her first Christmas in her schoolhoue cottage--until, of course, a dead body enters the picture!
Kathy Manos Penn
I wanted to set the story in October. Perhaps because I regularly go to fall festivals here in Atlanta, I had to have one in Astonbury. And I wanted my amateur sleuths to visit Dartmouth and Totnes during their investigation, because I'd visited there and enjoyed it so much.
And fairy hair? It became a big part of the book because I have fairy hair and love it! And if you want to know what that is, well, you may need to check out Pumpkins, Paws & Murder!
And fairy hair? It became a big part of the book because I have fairy hair and love it! And if you want to know what that is, well, you may need to check out Pumpkins, Paws & Murder!
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