Amazon Bestselling Author Sharon Michaels shares her five favorite affirmations for authors, writers and bloggers.
I keep these affirmations in front of me and read them daily – sometimes several times a day.
What would you add?
Please share your thoughts in the comments below.
Happy writing!
You can find fun books to read on this page:
https://sharonmichaelsauthor.com/cozy-fiction/
Copyright © 2022 – SharonMichaels.com – All Rights Reserved
How about:
– A setting that’s far from city life; typically, along or near the coast
– Small town characters who are easy to relate to
– A protagonist who makes friends easily but is also independent
– Solving local crimes
– A quiet, laid-back tone that allows readers to take it slow – not too fast paced or confusing
I discovered cozies about ten years ago and it quickly became my favorite genre for a relaxing read. Six years ago, I published my first cozy mystery, The Prickly Pear Murder staring Oscar the Doxie Detective. I’ve been writing and publishing them ever since.
A cozy mystery is a fast-paced book genre set in a small town or city where the main character is mysteriously drawn into events they don’t understand.
The goal of most cozy mysteries is to keep the reader guessing as to what will happen next.
Cozy mysteries are usually read for entertainment, with characters who make the reader feel like you could be friends with them. It is a great way to spend some time by yourself reading a book that isn’t too serious yet still keeps you interested.
There are many different things that can lead to an atmosphere of mystery in a book, including detective work, possible supernatural occurrences, and documents that have been lost or have been misfiled.
Most cozy mysteries feature an amateur sleuth as the main character and the focus of each book/story. Cozies also feature many other characters – including other police officers, private investigators, lawyers, doctors, professors and more – who help out with the investigation.
There are some cozy mysteries where the amateur sleuth is the only character involved in the case; however, these books tend to have a different feel than traditional cozy mysteries.
the best part of reading a cozy mystery is the combination of the entertainment and relaxation factors. The story keeps me guessing, but it is not an on the edge of your seat scary.
I write what I like to read, and that’s a fun mystery with lots of twists and turns and a surprise ending.
Please share your thoughts in the comments below.
Happy reading!
You can find fun books to read on this page:
https://sharonmichaelsauthor.com/cozy-fiction/
Copyright © 2022 – SharonMichaels.com – All Rights Reserved
Witch’s Creek is a paranormal cozy mystery series without a murder. This series has suspense and a “what’s going on here” factor. The mystery in each book is more about finding answers than finding dead bodies. Both stories will have you cheering for the mature main characters and their later in life romance. These stories make fun reading on a cozy Fall evening.
You can find fun books to read on this page:
https://sharonmichaelsauthor.com/cozy-fiction/
Copyright © 2022 – SharonMichaels.com – All Rights Reserved
Are you a bookworm like me?
If yes, then chances are you’ve considered writing a book review or two on Amazon, BookBub or Goodreads.
And why not?
A well written book review can be great way to share your thoughts with potential readers and, potentially boost the visibility of that book you’ve enjoyed. Writing a book review for Amazon, BookBub or Goodreads is fairly easy. All you need is an account with the reviewing sites and a few minutes to compose your thoughts.
The best reviews are helpful to both the author and potential readers.
Please though, take into consideration that most authors have put their heart and soul into the words written on those pages. It is important to be both honest and thoughtful.
If you had some “general” issues with the book, mention them. I’m a believer in keeping reviews positive. A site like Amazon is not the place to air your grievances with an author or the book. Instead, go to the author’s website and contact them directly.
Reviews do not have to be long or detailed book reports. They do though have to be readable and convey your message clearly. All and all, a couple of sentences may be enough to get your point across.
A brief summary of the book is fine, but please don’t give away too much of the plot, the ending, or any surprises the author may have sprinkled in. After all, it’s not fair to spoil the fun for future readers.
Readers want to know your opinion of the book. Again, keep the comments concise and to the point. Would you recommend this book to others? Was there anything you found particularly interesting or intriguing?
When you’ve finished writing the review, take a minute to proofread what you’ve written. Does it read well? Does it convey your thoughts clearly? Are there any misspelled or missing words, etc.?
You are able to rate a book with stars on Amazon and Goodreads. On those sites, five stars is the highest rating, one star the lowest. Ratings are extremely important, so think carefully before you rate. Those stars can make a huge difference to an author and a potential reader.
Bottom line: Be honest. Book reviews help book sales. Be thoughtful. Someone looking to buy a new book may very well decide to purchase or not to purchase a book based on your review and rating. Be kind. They mean the world to every author – they mean the world to me.
Please share your thoughts in the comments below.
Happy reviewing!
You can find fun books to read on this page:
https://sharonmichaelsauthor.com/cozy-fiction/
Copyright © 2022 – SharonMichaels.com – All Rights Reserved
A behind the scenes look at the two main characters in the Paul Madison PI cozy mystery series.
You know about “insta-love” romances, right? The type of romance where two people look into each other’s eyes and fall instantly in love. Insta-love can happen in a cozy mystery series too. As an author, I wanted to capture that instant attraction between Paul Madison and Kathleen O’Brien and also give their romance the solid foundation it needed to carry them through the emotional twists and turns of Paul Madison PI cozy mystery series.
During the hospital scene in the first book, Paul Madison P.I., in walked a beautiful, red-haired, green eyed, young doctor who literally took Paul’s breath away. So began the insta-love story between two of the main characters.
A tall, handsome, idealistic, determined, private investigator. Paul wants to right the wrongs and make his part of the world a safer place. Paul’s character is more emotional than practical when it comes to dealing with the crime boss in the series. He thinks with his heart first and his private investigator common sense second. Paul cares deeply for those he loves and that can cloud his better judgment.
A tall, beautiful, smart, independent, medical doctor. Kathleen finds herself walking in her murdered medical examiner father’s footsteps. Dr. O’Brien’s goal is to find answers and make sure justice is served. Kathleen is the more practical of the two characters. She wants to analyze all the pros and cons before taking action, especially when it involves risking their safety.
Paul’s Grandfather was shot and killed, as was Kathleen’s father, they believe, by the same person. The physical attraction between the two is intense. The respect each has for one another is apparent. But the need to make peace with the past is the key motivator keeping this dynamic couple together and moving forward.
Paul and Kathleen are the ultimate power couple. Both powerful in their feelings for one another and powerful in their determination to bring the bad guys/gals to justice.
The characters of Paul and Kathleen were introduced in Book 2, The Couponer’s Club Murder, in the Oscar the Doxie Detective series.
The Paul Madison books became the prequel to the Oscar series. With that in mind, I basically had a blueprint for what needed to be written in this new Chicago based private investigator series. I also knew how the Paul Madison series had to end before I even wrote the first word. From that aspect, I wanted to make all the characters come alive on the pages so the readers would feel the deep-rooted emotions that seemed to be steering their adult lives.
After writing this cozy mystery series about Paul Madison and Kathleen (Katie) O’Brien, they have become two of my most favorite characters ever!
You can find the Paul Madison PI cozy mystery series on Amazon in Paperback – Kindle – Kindle Unlimited
Start reading about Paul and Kathleen here:
Amazon bestselling author Sharon Michaels loves writing cozy mysteries filled with suspense, mature characters, smart animals, a bit of paranormal and, later in life romance. Her short reads are sweet, clean, and fun.
You can find a list of Sharon’s short, sweet cozy books on this page:
https://sharonmichaelsauthor.com/cozy-fiction/
Copyright © 2022 – SharonMichaels.com – All Rights Reserved
