Author Spotlight: Iris March

Iris March is an author who has spent her career in the sustainability field. She writes cozy mysteries with an eco twist. Her cozy mystery series, which contains the award-winning debut mystery Broken Bridge, features Molly Green, a succulent-savvy amateur sleuth who solves mysteries while operating a garden center near the Buckeye Trail in small-town Ohio.

Cozy Crime Reads Interview with Iris March

What attracted you to the cozy mystery genre?

I can't remember a time I didn't love Sherlock Holmes but don't usually enjoy crime thrillers. When I found the cozy mystery genre, I was hooked! I love the not gory or sexy format while solving a crime.

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

I want the main character to be someone I'd want to be friends with. I also want her to be a strong lady who can be a bit of an inspiration to me in some way.

Do you have a favorite amateur sleuth?

I think I will always say the main character of the book I'm in the middle of! That being said, I absolutely adore the Three Dahlia's Mysteries which has three main characters. I also have been recommending How to Solve Your Own Murder all year. I love Whiskers and Words' main character, Lou and also the Secret Bookcase Mysteries' Annie. Too many lovely main characters and books to recommend!

What inspired you to write your first cozy mystery?

I had already written the "story of my heart" book about my sister's journey about having Hodgkin's lymphoma while pregnant with twins (The Story that Made Us Stronger, not exactly a mystery, and all three of them are doing great now). Then I read a cozy mystery that just drove me nuts with the main character, not once, but twice being literally carried away from danger by a dude. I knew I could do better. Like I said, I want a strong female lead who does not need rescuing.

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

I didn't need to do much research for my garden center. There are four near where I live that I visit pretty often. While I was writing my first mystery in the series, I paid attention to how many people were working at once at each garden center and tried to steal peeks into their back rooms. I did call one of the larger garden center chains in my area and talked on the phone with their manager for about an hour but it was right before covid lockdown hit and I never did go and visit them. Also, I love hiking so it was pretty easy for me to make up fake sections of the Buckeye Trail.

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

I am an outliner (some would call me a plotter). I need to know who died, who killed them, who we're going to suspect, some major plot points, and what the big show down at the end will be like before I can start on the first chapter. I outline chapters but they often morph and get longer as I write. My characters always have different conversations than I expected and often surprise me with things they do.

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

First, congrats! Writing a novel is not a small undertaking and will take some time. Don't get discouraged. Set smaller word count goals and be sure you're writing at least a few times a week. It's harder to get back into a story that you haven't been writing for a while.

How can readers connect with you online?

• Iris March Books website

• Instagram

• Facebook

• Goodreads