“Cozy” mysteries are one of my favorite genres. Unlike suspense novels, the pace of the action is a little more comfortable, a little less heart-stopping. Jennifer Dodrill grasped this genre very will with her first novel, Birds Alive, and now she’s back with her second one, Where’s the Quetzal ?
Today, we learn more about this author, and her story, again featuring a bird. Read all the way to the end, answer the question, and you could win your own copy of this fun book!
Let’s see what Jennifer has to say today.
Jenny: “Thanks for coming by, Jen. All authors start as readers. Tell us about your favorite authors and what you learned from them.”
Jennifer: “My favorite authors…I have so many! Several are not clean or Christian fiction. One in particular, Greg Iles, is a big favorite. He has persevered through extreme health issues, including the loss of part of his leg and cancer. Fredrik Backman is a new favorite. He struggles with mental health issues, and he’s pretty open about it. His writing reflects his honesty. I love that. Patricia Bradley – well, she’s amazing as a person and a writer! There are so many others!”
Jenny: “And now, you are an author. When did you feel you had ‘arrived’?
Jennifer: ” Gracious, I still don’t feel that way. I’ve had two novels and one novella published. I do think the reality that I’m a published author is setting in, but arrived? Nope, not yet.”
Jenny: “I really enjoyed your first book, centered around a birding club. It looks like this book has something to do with birds, too. What was your inspiration? Did anything that happened in your real life prompt this story?”
Jennifer: ” Where’s the Quetzal is book 2 in my cozy mystery series – The Empty-nesters Cozy Mysteries. My dad loved quetzals, so it was a given that I’d include that bird in one of my cozies. One of the minor characters, Clay, is named after one of my high school English teachers who tragically lost his life in 2024. I wanted to pay homage to him and the influence he had on my life.
Jenny: “I love that you are paying tribute to your dad and your teacher. Every book requires research. What was the most interesting thing you learned while researching this story?”
Jennifer: ” I loved researching this cozy because it features my characters visiting Fort Pickens on Pensacola Beach. Even though I grew up in the area and visited Pickens numerous times, I didn’t know much about the history of the fort. Geronimo was held there for many years, and I was surprised by what I learned about him.”
Jenny:” What is the major takeaway you want your readers to get from this book?”
Jennifer: “The value of true friendship and the worth of a close family. Those are themes that run through the series.”
Jenny: ” I did pick up that message from your first book. Now, just for fun, tell us about some of your favorites.”
Day of the week and Why: ” Friday! My husband will be home all weekend!”
Hot Beverage: “Always black coffee”
Holiday: “Thanksgiving – the one day of the year that I like to cook. ;)”
Genre other than the one you normally write? ” Psychological suspense (I like the twists and turns)”
Jenny: ” Do you have any parting words for our readers?”
Jennifer: ” One thing that’s taken me years to learn is that if I don’t like a book, I don’t finish it. There are too many books in the world to read!”
Jenny: I love to hear you say that. This is a rare occurrence for me, but sometimes I finish from some sort of obligation. Thanks for helping me with that, LOL.
Note to readers: Here’s little more about Jennifer and some links to get in touch with her.
To win a copy of Where’s the Quetzal. Tell us in the comments- Do you have a favorite bird, or one that you love to watch?
What’s your favorite bird? Which one do you love to watch when you get a chance?
Thanks so much for having me on your blog again, Jenny!