Skip to main content

The Case for Doing Silly, Frivolous Things, especially If They Involve Books

     There’s a quiet kind of magic in doing things that serve absolutely no useful purpose — other than making your heart ridiculously happy.

As cozy mystery readers, we already understand this better than most. We willingly step into fictional towns where everyone knows your name, the tea is always hot, the cats are unusually intelligent, and the biggest problem of the day is usually solved by page 312.

And honestly? That’s not frivolous. That’s survival.

Reading one more chapter when you should be doing something else.
Lighting a candle before you open a book.
Rereading a favorite mystery because you already know it will make you feel safe, comforted, and quietly delighted.

None of these things are “productive” in the traditional sense.
But they are restorative. They remind us who we are when the world feels too loud.

Joy doesn’t need to justify itself.
It doesn’t need a moral lesson or a measurable outcome.
Sometimes joy exists simply because it should.

So today, I hope you do the silly thing.
The cozy thing.
The thing that makes your heart feel like it’s wrapped in a soft blanket.

Read the mystery.
Sip the tea.
Let yourself be happy — on purpose.

Remember this.
Every single day. 🫖
📚✨

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

The Absolute Madness of Naming Characters

  Let’s talk about one of the most ridiculous struggles of writing a book. No, I’m not talking about the part where you stare at the blinking cursor like it personally insulted your ancestors. I’m talking about naming characters. It should be easy, right? Just slap a name on them and move on? Oh, my sweet summer child. If only. See, naming a character is like naming your kid—except worse, because nobody is going to complain if your kid and their cousin both end up being named Liam. But if your main villain is named Liam and you accidentally give the quirky coffee shop owner in book three the same name? Cue the existential crisis. Let’s walk through the madness. The Overthinking Spiral of Doom You start writing, and there’s that moment: your brand-new character walks onto the page, full of potential. All they need is a name. A simple name. Something strong, something fitting, something— Oh no. Nothing sounds right. This one is too complicated. That one is too simple. ...

Stories Are Everywhere: The Writer’s Endless Inspiration

As a writer, one of the most common questions I’m asked is, “How do you come up with your stories?” It’s a question that often makes me smile because the answer is as simple as it is profound: stories are everywhere. Inspiration doesn’t always strike in grand, dramatic moments. More often than not, it emerges quietly, weaving its way into the fabric of everyday life. Conversations with friends, the sights and sounds of a bustling city, or even the stillness of a room can spark the seed of an idea. Writers aren’t just storytellers; we’re observers, collecting fragments of life and spinning them into tales. Let me share a recent example of how a simple evening turned into the genesis of a new story idea. Over two perfectly crafted negronis, I was discussing the schedule for an upcoming event with a friend. Their house, a treasure trove of artwork, surrounded us. Every piece of art seemed to hum with a story of its own. Midway through the second drink, I remarked, “One day, someb...

DIY Audiobook. A bit of equipment, good advice and lots of patience

I want to create an Audiobook - should I?  Ever since the release of book one in the "Cannabis Preacher" series of thrillers, that question has been on my mind.  The "Cannabis Preacher" books were quite long. To produce an audiobook from each of the four, including voice actors and audio production with a turn key service, I was looking at around $15,000 per book. Financially, that was a non-starter for me at the time. That amount represented a LOT of books and audiobooks to sell to recover the investment, and I shelved my plan again.  With the popularity of the "Magical Papillon" cozy mystery series, I found myself coming back to the growing popularity of audiobooks. I knew that audiobooks could reach a wider audience and catered to busy readers who prefer listening while multitasking. The idea of bringing my characters to life through narration excited me, as it offered a new dimension to my storytelling.  The cozy mysteries were only 60-65,000...