Keeping It Cozy While Using Paranormal Elements

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Keeping It Cozy While Using Paranormal Elements

by Jenna Maeson

The paranormal is a big deal in books right now. Like a really big deal. And it seems to be infiltrating all genres, even the ones that don’t usually include paranormal elements, like cozy mysteries. I write cozy mysteries with semi-paranormal elements, as in my main character can hear the thoughts of animals and her mom is a psychic. But how do you include these types of things while still keeping the core of the cozy mystery – not gory, not super scary, etc.

How to Keep The Paranormal Cozy

The best way I can think to describe it is to make sure the paranormal elements are cozy too. Let me explain. It really comes down to making the paranormal accessible to everyone without going too far to one end of the scale or the other. People are not coming to cozy mysteries looking for exorcisms, possessions, violent spirits – they want something easy, comfortable.

You need to write your paranormal elements in a way that it has the potential to appeal to everyone -even those most opposed to the paranormal. Granted there will be some people who are uncomfortable with any paranormal elements in their books at all, and that’s fine. But for those who maybe don’t lean towards the paranormal naturally when the choose their next read, it needs to feel safe, not scary. People have a wide variety of view on the paranormal these days so your best bet is to make anything paranormal in a cozy mystery fun, interesting, and low key. “Cute” if you will. Think Casper the friendly ghost level.

Keep it “Cute”

Whatever paranormal elements you add can bring in humor and mischief and maybe a little bit of spooky but don’t push it too far beyond that. Keep it very tied to the story – a ghost that lives in an old bookshop, spells for good luck or falling in love. In my stories, my main character can hear animal’s thoughts. While that is unusual for sure, it shouldn’t feel scary or threating to anyone picking up my book, whether they are fans of the paranormal or not.

Now, with my main character’s mom who is psychic, it becomes slightly more tricky. She does at time bring in foreboding and spooky elements, but at the most they are setting up or hinting at things in the mystery. They are never too dark, or even too specific, just references to a “dark energy” or being careful who you trust. All of this to say, including the paranormal in a cozy mystery can add a new energy and level of intrigue, but when you are including these elements you need to keep in mind the elements of a cozy mystery and what cozy mystery readers are wanting from their books and not stray far beyond those parameters.

About Jenna Maeson: Jenna Maeson has been writing stories since before she could write words. She knew from an early age the writing stories was her goal in life – to make people laugh, dream, and wonder. She currently has a self-published series of cozy mysteries on Amazon called Tails of Trouble, that follows Olivia Morgan and her canine sidekick, Elmer through a host of intriguing small town mysteries. Aside from being a write, Jenna is also a mom to one human child and three four-legged children, a wife, and entrepreneur, and a full-time corporate training designer.