Location, Location, Location!

[image error][image error] I’ve always been a fan of cozy mysteries. I think one of the reasons is location. Is location in a cozy important?  Definitely. Most cozies take place in a small town.  A small town is, well, cozy. People are familiar, there’s a sense of belonging and caring, and of looking out for one another. Family and friends are right up there with apple pie, ice cream, and the American flag fluttering in the summer breeze. Of course, there’s not a lot of anonymity in a small town, which can either be awful or awesome. Then, there’s the issue of everyone knowing what everyone else is doing, from the mundane to the most personal details, which isn’t as bad as it sounds. It can actually be a plus when you’ve got a murder to solve. A small town creates an intimacy between readers and  the characters; characters become friends you care about and can relate to. You feel as if you could move in next door to them and be right at home.

I set my Bread and Batter cozy mystery series in the fictional town of Destiny in upstate New York. It’s a small town with cobbled side streets and Victorian homes on Destiny Lake. It’s modeled after a couple of towns along Seneca Lake in the Finger Lakes. Why there? My mother and father are from there. I was born about  fifty miles away. I didn’t grow up anywhere near the towns after which I modeled Destiny, but whenever I visit I feel a strong connection. I have lovely memories of visiting family there. There was no where else I wanted to place my cozy mystery series. It just felt right.

I’m eager to introduce Destiny, and its residents to readers in November 2015. I think you’ll agree that Destiny is the perfect cozy mystery location, and its residents funny, quirky, and loveable! I’d love to hear from readers and writers on what you think is the perfect cozy mystery town.