Friday, July 25, 2014

Cozy is the Word

I’ve finally found out how this novel of mine should be classified. Before, when asked what I was working on, I said simply, “It’s a mystery.” Now, I know better. I know more. It’s a cozy mystery.

I discovered my category while looking up definitions for the kind of work agents were requesting and found a list of classifications in mystery fiction. And there it was—cozy.

According to Wikipedia, the cozy mystery is a subgenre of crime fiction with the following aspects:

·        “Sex and violence is downplayed or treated humorously.”  

That’s me.

·        “The crime and detection take place in a small, socially intimate community.”

That’s me.

·        “The detectives in such stories are nearly always amateurs.”

That’s me.

·        “The emphasis is placed on puzzle-solving over suspense.”

That’s me.

·        “Focus on hobbies or occupations are all frequent elements of cozy mysteries.”

That’s me.

·        “Must like cats and dogs.”

Okay, it didn’t actually say that, but it could have. It’s still me.

Now that I know my niche and its proper title, I have to admit—I’m comfy with cozies.

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