Author Spotlight: Millie Parker
Author of Like Cats and Dogs
Millie Parker is the author of the Board Game Mystery Series. The series was inspired by a lifetime of crazy family game nights. Millie even designed a fun board game called Like Cats and Dogs to accompany the first book in the series, also named Like Cats and Dogs.
Cozy Crime Reads Interview with Millie Parker
What attracted you to the cozy mystery genre?
I love that the cozy community has an insatiable appetite for mysteries with a dash of romance. The curiosity, quick wit, and impressive deduction skills of the readers make it a fun genre to write for, and their support is truly like a cozy embrace.
What are a few of the essential elements that make a cozy stand out to you as a reader?
I love how each series has a niche. It may have something to do with the town, the theme, a business, or a hobby, but that unique niche makes a cozy special and fun. The elements I want to see in every cozy, besides a great mystery, are a fun cast of characters, strong relationships, and a good love story.
Do you have a favorite amateur sleuth?
I didn’t grow up reading a lot of Nancy Drew and I don’t binge watch Murder, She Wrote like a lot of cozy mystery authors. I kind of wish I did. But I think my less cultured, truthful answer would have to be Amy Winslow from Hallmark’s Mystery 101.
What inspired your first cozy mystery?
I designed a board game and had an idea to write a book featuring the game. In swapping book recommendations with my mom, I came to really enjoy the genre and wanted to write something that I knew she would love.
How do you research and create the "cozy" elements in your books, like the settings and community?
Like I mentioned earlier, I had already had the idea to build the theme around my board game, so I just had to research board game convention and draw up the perfect cast to fill the necessary roles, making the large convention feel like a cozy community.
How can readers connect with you online?
On Instagram @millieparkerwrites or on my website, millieparker.com
