Author Spotlight: Kathleen Bailey

Author of the Award-winning Olivia Penn Mystery Series

Kathleen Bailey is the author of the Olivia Penn Mysteries. WHERE THE LIGHT SHINES THROUGH is the first book in the series. Image credit: Kathleen Bailey.

Kathleen Bailey is the author of the award-winning Olivia Penn Mystery Series. This fast-paced, heartwarming cozy mystery series is set in Apple Station, a town brimming with charming characters and small-town intrigue. The series protagonist is Olivia Penn, a clever advice columnist with a knack for solving mysteries.

Cozy Crime Reads Interview with Kathleen Bailey

What attracted you to the cozy mystery genre?

I’ve always loved mysteries and puzzles, whether in books, on TV, or in games. The cozy mystery genre brings together all the story elements I most enjoy: amateur sleuths, the heroine’s journey, intriguing whodunits, friendship, heart, humor, justice, a strong cast of characters, and a touch of romance. It suits my voice and feels true to the spirit of the stories I love to tell.

What essential elements make a cozy stand out to you as a reader?

A brave, curious, and clever protagonist always stands out to me. I’m drawn to characters with depth who grow and evolve throughout a series. A strong supporting cast and a mystery that keeps me guessing are also essential. I especially enjoy cozies with plenty of action, where the stakes are high, and the main character is someone I’d admire and want as a friend.

Do you have a favorite amateur sleuth?

Of course, I’m partial to my own, Olivia Penn. But when it comes to other sleuths, a few stand out. While she may not be a traditional amateur in the cozy sense, Zoe Chambers from Annette Dashofy’s Zoe Chambers Mystery Series is one of my favorites, as is Flora Steele from Merryn Allingham’s Flora Steele Mystery Series. On the TV side, I enjoy Eliza Scarlet from Miss Scarlet and Richard Castle from Castle.

What inspired you to write your first cozy mystery?

When I started out, I knew I wanted to write cozies, and I thought about the character Nancy Drew. Many mystery authors and readers cite her as an early influence, and I imagined what she might’ve been like as an adult. She would be strong, independent, and capable. When faced with challenges, she would meet them head on and grow from the experiences. That’s the kind of character I wanted to create with Olivia Penn.

The first four books in the Olivia Penn Mystery Series

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

I’ve spent my whole life in or around the part of Virginia where my books are set. Virginia is a diverse state that stretches from the coast to the mountains, and it’s home to many rural areas filled with small towns. I based the fictional town of Apple Station on several of these communities I’ve visited often. Virginia also experiences four true seasons, and I love weaving the sights, sounds, and smells of each one into the stories.

The community in my books is shaped by the personalities of people I’ve met throughout my life. There’s never a direct one-to-one match, but some characters feel more personal than others. That’s especially true of Olivia’s relationship with her father, which reflects the bond I shared with my own dad.

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

I’m an upfront plotter, so before I begin the first draft, I’ve already written an extensive outline of the story. This helps ensure that every scene earns its place and that clues and red herrings are planted with pacing in mind. Seeing the full story from the beginning not only strengthens the character arc but also helps me carry the theme consistently throughout.

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

Be patient with yourself and with the process. Stories evolve, deepen, and take shape through drafting, revising, and editing. A potter doesn’t place a lump of clay on the wheel, give it a few spins, and expect a vase to suddenly appear. The clay goes around again and again, gradually being shaped into what it’s meant to become.

In the same way, most novels, whether it’s your first or your twentieth, start as a blob of clay. As the writer, you need the patience to sit with that story, knowing the first draft probably won’t match the vision in your mind. Stick with it, trust the process, and give the story time to take shape in your hands.

How can readers connect with you online?

Readers can find me on my website at kathleenbaileyauthor.com.

I’m on Instagram @cozycrimewriter.

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Kathleen Bailey Cozy Mystery Bookshelf

Use the arrows on either side of the images below to see the books in the Olivia Penn Mystery Series by Kathleen Bailey. Click on the images to see the books on Amazon.