Cozy Mystery Author Interview: Daphne McLean

Today, I’m featuring an interview with Daphne McLean, the author of the Jennifer Temple cozy mystery series. After reading her Amazon bio, I can tell that she’s someone I would like to hang out with. After all, she lists French fries, chocolate, and snarky coffee mugs as some of her likes. Right up my alley!

Grab a snarky coffee mug of your own, fill it up with your favorite beverage, and sit back and read what Daphne has to say about writing, penguins, and cookies.

1 – What inspired you to write your books?

I began by writing children’s picture books. I have two little ones at home, and I read to them often. I published the book on my own, and it ignited a passion for writing and publishing that I didn’t even know I had! The premise of my story, Red Picket Fences, was thought of during one of the many late night feedings that I had with my first son. The story just marinated in my mind for a few years. I finally was able to organize my thoughts and get the story out last summer, Which is 5 years after the story seedling was planted.

2 – What’s your favorite thing about cozy mysteries?

I’m really into true crime. However, those stories can be very heavy at times. Cozy mysteries provide me with what I like to call “murder lite” I get my fill of intrigue and crime without all of the heavy emotions. I also love that many of them are set in small tight-knit communities. I live in a lovely little community that I’m grateful for, and so I love seeing that played out in the stories I read as well.

3 – Do you have any writing rituals?

I do! I always need a candle burning and a drink of some sort. Right now, it’s iced tea. I also like to create a visual board to plot.

4 – What’s more important – character or plot?

Character. You can have a plot that’s well paced, well thought out, and with no loopholes and that won’t matter if the readers cannot connect with the main character.  I’ve had people tell me they couldn’t continue with a book before because they found the MC very unlikeable. Sneak in a couple of quirky but lovable supporting cast members and they might even forgive a plot hole or two.

5 – What do you like best about being an author? What do you like the least?

As a stay-at-home mom of two little ones, the little time I get to myself every now and then is very important to me. I value it, and use it wisely. I’ve had a few readers who are also mothers say that I’ve given them time to relax and escape or they used their precious time alone to read my book, it sends me over the moon.

I’ll be honest, what I like least about being a writer is marketing my book. However, it’s a necessary evil. If I could just write and write and hand things off to be polished, published and pushed into the hands of readers, I would be a happy woman.

6 – What’s your favorite cookie? If you don’t like cookies, what’s wrong with you? Oops, sorry, scratch that. My follow-up question was meant to be far more polite – “Why don’t you like cookies?” 

Hands down a plain soft chocolate chip cookie. I’m typing in a coffee shop near cookies, and now I must buy one.

7 – A penguin walks through your front door wearing a sombrero. What does he say and why did he come visit you?  

He followed me all the way home from the party last night to give me my sombrero back.

8 – What else would you like us to know about you?

I’m just a typical mom, who is turning her passion for writing into a career. Much like my MC, Jennifer Temple, I also keep chickens. Aside from that and our love of true crime, that’s where our similarities end. I love to cook, and would never stake out a rumored mobster!

Get Daphne’s Books

Pick up a copy of Red Picket Fences – the first book in the Jennifer Temple cozy mystery series – on Amazon.

 

Connect with Daphne

You can connect with Daphne at Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Website

 

 

 

Thanks so much for being on the blog, Daphne! I love the fact that you keep chickens – very cool. You also have excellent taste in cookies. I’ve never met a soft chocolate chip cookie that I didn’t like.