Author Spotlight: Benjamin Bradley

Benjamin Bradley is the author of Merry Crisis, a cozy holiday mystery about family, secrets, and Christmas traditions. It follows an unlikely group of sleuths as they solve a festive mystery in their small New Jersey town.

Cozy Crime Reads Interview with Benjamin Bradley

What attracted you to the cozy mystery genre?

To date, my published mystery novels have been more in the "traditional" subgenre of mysteries, which often involve gritty characters, dark circumstances, and the works. As much as I love writing those types of books, I've always loved reading lighter mysteries, particularly those by Ellery Adams, Richard Osman, Janice Hallett, and Benjamin Stevenson. So, I wanted to channel my writing into something I'd love to read—and hope readers respond.

What are a few of the essential elements that make a cozy stand out to you as a reader?

Food and drink—I adore the way that cozy mysteries lean into vivid descriptions of what the sleuths are eating and drinking and how it somehow makes my stomach grumble each time. I wish other genres did more of this!

What inspired your first cozy mystery?

I'm lucky to share a love of reading mysteries with my family, and it's my favorite way to learn about new books or authors. This cozy mystery actually grew out of an idea my brother said jokingly one Christmas, mentioning the premise might make for a good holiday mystery. The more I thought about it, I agreed, and I wanted to see if I could write the story he envisioned and surprise him with it. So this is in a way a Christmas gift to my brother (which he wanted to see out in the world!).

How do you research and create the "cozy" elements in your books, like the settings and community?

In MERRY CRISIS, I based the fictional town of Parsnip, NJ on the town where I grew up (Parsippany, NJ). I wanted to set the story in New Jersey because I spent so many important Christmases of my life there and wanted to share that warmth with readers. So, much of the structural setting (street names, etc.) came from a real place. The sense of community is so important in a cozy, so I did a lot of research and reading on what 55+ communities are like, including driving and running through a few where I live now in Raleigh, NC. I noticed a lot of people out taking walks, friendly chats at the communal mailbox, and a perfect setting for a cozy mystery.

What is one key step in your writing process that helps you transform an idea into a finished book?

Michael Connelly, prolific and legendary author of the Bosch and Lincoln Lawyer series, once told me that his "secret" was writing at least 15 minutes each day, just to keep the story fresh and in your mind. I've found that to be a key to crossing the finish line with a story idea -- keep going. You often need to put your blinders on and power through, but revision is a wonderful tool to have in your pocket. On top of that, I do everything I can to remind myself how much of a privilege it is that I get to write books that people read. That'll always blow my mind, no matter how many books I write. So I channel that and try to have some fun along the way.

What advice would you give aspiring cozy mystery authors who want to start writing their first novel?

Start small and keep going. I like to think of writing as granularly as possible. Write a word, then a sentence, then a paragraph, then a page. That's how every book in the world was created. Some days all you have to add is a word. That's still progress. And then, once you get going a bit, just keep your foot on the gas. The world will give you a thousand excuses to quit or do something else, but finishing that first draft is so important. From there? The sky's the limit.

How can readers connect with you online?

I'm most active on Instagram (www.instagram.com/benjaminbradleywrites) and still growing a presence on Facebook (www.facebook.com/benjaminbradleybooks). I also have a monthly newsletter and a website where folks can reach out. More information can be found at benjaminbradleywrites.com.