A Wicked Welcome to Jennifer J. Chow

by Julie, what season is it? in Somerville

I am beyond thrilled to help Jennifer J. Chow celebrate the launch of her new Magical Fortune Cookie series. Welcome, Jen!

The Enchantment of Magical Cozies
By Jennifer J. Chow

When I decided to marry magic with mystery in my newest series, I was in for a treat. And not only because the Magical Fortune Cookie series centers around a delightful bakery carrying Chinese pastries.

Well, food has been shown to give you endorphins and boost your mood. Cacao, a fine example, also helps with the release of serotonin, the “happy” chemical—thanks, chocolate! In Ill-Fated Fortune, though, the enchanted baked goods produce magical joy.

Ever since reading Aimee Bender’s The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake, I’ve been intrigued by magical realism and food. In my novel, I decided that the handmade fortune cookies baked by my protagonist, Felicity, would not only bring happiness, but the messages inside them would also predict the future.

I didn’t stop at just magical people. Everyone loves a cozy mystery with a pet, right? (Have you noticed how many cozies have cats on their covers?) I gave Felicity a pet bunny who can help my main character understand her magic better. Whiskers isn’t a typical rabbit; she came straight from the moon. Yep, in Chinese mythology, we have a bunny in the moon instead of a man. I actually share a condensed version of the myth in my novel.

On my shelf, I have books about mythology. My fascination with the subject began when, as a kid, I borrowed a book about Greek gods. Happily, my editor also requested I add my own folklore behind Felicity’s magic.

The origin story of Felicity’s power is now one of my favorite passages in the novel. I’m grateful I got to write Ill-Fated Fortune. From charmed food to fantastical pets to supernatural origin stories, I’ve loved diving into the realm of magical cozy mysteries.

What magical books (or books that have felt like magic) have you read?

BIO:

Jennifer J. Chow writes cozies filled with hope and heritage. She is an Agatha, Anthony, and Lefty Award-nominated author. Her newest series is the Magical Fortune Cookie mysteries; the first book is Ill-Fated Fortune (February 2024). Jennifer’s previous series is the L.A. Night Market Mysteries. Death by Bubble Tea was reviewed by the New York Times, featured in Woman’s World, and hit the SoCal Indie Bestseller List. Jennifer currently serves as Immediate Past President on the board of Sisters in Crime and blogs at chicksonthecase.com. She is an active member of Crime Writers of Color and Mystery Writers of America.

WEBSITE: JenniferJChow.com.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Felicity Jin grew up literally hanging onto Mom’s apron strings in their magical bakery in the quaint town of Pixie, California. Her mother’s enchanted baked goods, including puffy pineapple buns and creamy egg tarts, bring instant joy to all who consume them. Felicity has always been hesitant in the kitchen herself after many failed attempts, but a takeout meal gone wrong inspires her to craft some
handmade fortune cookies.

They become so popular that Felicity runs out of generic fortunes and starts making her own personalized predictions. When one customer’s ill-fated fortune results in his murder, Felicity’s suspiciously specific fortune has the police focusing on her as the main culprit. Now Felicity must find a way to turn her luck around and get cleared from suspicion.

BUY LINK:

Ill-Fated Fortune

SOCIAL MEDIA:

Facebook, Instagram/Threads: @JenJChow