Interview with cosy mystery writer Debbie Young
“Cosy mysteries are an antidote to the strains of modern life”
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Episode 71 – Debbie Young – Show Notes
- Short novels are her favourite form
- Journalistic background but mainly a pantser
- Writes a chapter a day in the writing phase
- Doesn’t always write every day. Needs to recharge the batteries and think
- Themes of celebrating community and nurturing understanding between people
- The mystery provides the framework to flesh out with characters and comedy
- Based on her real village life and her community
- Closed communities in a mystery; village and classic English boarding school
- Cosy mystery popularity – an antidote to modern life, resolution and happy ever after
- Writing without stopping – experiment with the next novel with a little light editing to begin each writing session
- Different technologies for writing – Word, using Scrivener for plotting, writing by hand with a fountain pen
- Touch typing
- Agatha Christie, Dorothy L Sayers
- Sophie Sayers mysteries are not always murder stories and veer more to romantic and situational comedy.
- Experimenting with crossing over between the Sayers and St.Brides series and writing more novellas
“I’m an organised pantser.”
“Sometimes I feel I’m writing situation comedy sketches.”