Thinkingdog Publishing

There comes a time in every writer’s life when they sit down with a cup of coffee (or let’s be honest, something stronger) and ask themselves: Why do I do this to myself? I’ve written thrillers. I’ve written romance. I’ve written thrillers again because apparently, I enjoy stress. But no matter where my writing adventures take me, I always— always —come back to cozy mysteries. And you know what? They’re my most successful books, too. So, why cozies? Simple. Have you looked outside lately? The world is one sigh away from an absolute meltdown. I mean, it’s a lot. Every time I scroll the news, I have to resist the urge to grab my dog and escape to a remote island where WiFi doesn’t exist. But instead of moving to the middle of nowhere, I write cozy mysteries. Why? Because I need to believe that somewhere, somehow, a kinder world still exists. A world where people bake pies instead of doom-scrolling. A world where a cup of tea and a bit of small-town gossip can actually solv...

Every morning as I sit down to write, my own Papillon, Blueberry, curls up beside my keyboard. Her expressive eyes follow my fingers as they dance across the keys, almost as if she's reading along. Sometimes I swear she nods in approval when I nail a particularly good plot twist. It's this daily ritual that breathes life into Pixie, the telepathic Papillon in my Magical Papillon Mystery series. In creating Sarah Anderson and her four-legged detective companion, I didn't just want another cute animal sidekick. I wanted to capture that ineffable connection that exists between humans and their beloved pets—the silent understanding, the comfort in shared solitude, and yes, those moments when you'd swear they can read your mind. The Secret Language of Pets in Cozy Mysteries If you've ever found yourself in a quiet room, looking into your pet's eyes and feeling utterly understood, you already know why animals are the perfect addition to cozy mysteries. They witn...

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...