When I discovered our monthly genre-hopping feature was the day after Valentine’s, my thoughts turned naturally to romance. Edith/Maddie suggested Jenn McKinlay and I jumped at the chance. Jenn has one foot firmly in the rom-com world, while the other remains firmly in cozy mystery–very much a part of our Wickeds’ world. I couldn’t wait to ask her about that.
Jenn agreed, and is generously offering to giveaway a signed copy of her just released cozy mystery, Fatal First Edition, book 14 in her Library Lover’s Mystery series, to one lucky commenter below.
Our conversation follows below.
Barb: Hi Jenn! So great to have you here. What is a rom-com? How do you describe the characteristics of the genre?
Jenn: Thanks so much for inviting me to the Wickeds. Rom-com is a romantic comedy mashup. So it’s a romance but funny! The characteristics are a meet-cute (think when Sally gave Harry a ride to NYC and they were horrifically incompatible). After that, it’s usually a trope like enemies to lovers or friends to lovers that drives the plot to the HEA (happily ever after) which is an unspoken guarantee between the author and the reader. If one of the main love interests dies or they don’t end up together, that is NOT a rom-com.
Barb: You started off writing rom-coms then moved to mystery. In your bio you say, “I learned that I was not a romance writer so much as a mystery writer. I’m just better at killing people than I am at making them fall in love.” What shifted that enabled you to return to rom-coms, happily and successfully this time? What did you learn about writing about love?
Jenn: I think I was too young to write romcoms when I first started. I hadn’t even had my own happily ever after so I was writing from inexperience. The truth is mysteries are easier because a dead body really a plot along but a romance has to have authentic emotional angst and growth, which is not intuitive for me as I prefer to crack and joke and move on, in fiction and in life.
Barb: Even while writing rom-coms, you’ve kept on writing your mystery series. In fact, Fatal First Edition, the fourteenth book in your Library Lover’s Mystery series came out just two days ago. Is your process different for writing a mystery versus a rom-com? Do you use the same approach?
Jenn: Same approach! I’m a plotter so I work off a ten-page outline for every book, no matter the genre. Although recently, I neglected to finish the outline and I had to seat of the pants write the second half of the book. It was actually a heck of a ride and not having a plot set up, I didn’t know who the killer was and was able to add some unexpected plot twists. So, I might start writing half outlines. We’ll see. I have come to realize the process is a constantly evolving thing.
Barb: Your books take place in a series of swoon-worthy settings—Martha’s Vineyard, Sussex, Ireland, Paris—as well as richly-detailed fictional towns. How do you choose your settings? What’s the difference between writing about a real place and a fictional setting?
Jenn: I choose my settings by thinking of a place I’d like to go. LOL. I have planned many a vacation around my books. Paris is Always as Good Idea was the easiest because I’d already been to two of the places (Ireland and Italy) and only had to shoehorn in a trip to Paris (hardship, I know). The upcoming Love at First Book is set completely in Ireland so it required a trip back because I needed to DRIVE the Ring of Kerry. Yes, there was a moment I was certain I would get my travel companions and myself killed but I managed it and it became a fun scene in the book!
I’ve only made up a few settings for the books because I feel like a real place gives the book more heft. I live in Scottsdale, where I set the Cupcake Bakery Mysteries and I get a lot of readers who read the series specifically to visit a place they’ve been to before. I think writing a fictional place, which I did for the Library Lover’s mysteries makes it a bit easier. I chose to make that setting fictional because I knew if I used the real location Stony Creek, CT (I call it Briar Creek) all of the persnickety historians would call me out if I took fictional license with the local history. Scottsdale (1894) is centuries younger than Stony Creek (1685) which does make it easier.
Barb: Right. And the people complaining about one way streets going in the wrong direction or it’s a stop sign, not a traffic light. What do you see when you look up from your writing place?
Jenn: I write in two spaces. The kitchen table which looks out onto the backyard where my lemon tree is fully loaded at the moment and I can watch my dogs playing. And the second is my office which overlooks the front yard, which is desert landscaped with loads of cactus and agave, and I have a bird feeder hanging in the window to invite the rogue flock of lovebirds that live in our neighborhood. The cats and I both enjoy watching them!
Barb: What are you working on now?
I am currently writing proposals and working on a brand new project called Books of Dubious Origin in the cozy fantasy genre which I’m very excited about. The goal is to write a mystery, a rom-com, and a fantasy book every year. We’ll see if I can pull it off!
Barb: Books of Dubious Origin! I would definitely read that.
Readers: Will you follow a favorite author into a new genre? What if it’s one you haven’t read or haven’t resonated with before? Leave a comment or just say “hi” to be eligible to win a signed copy of Fatal First Edition.
About Jenn McKinlay
Jenn is the New York Times, USA Today, and Publisher’s Weekly bestselling author of several mystery and romance series. She is also the winner of the RT Reviewer’s Choice Award for romantic comedy and the Fresh Fiction award for best cozy mystery. A TEDx speaker, she is always happy to talk books, writing, reading, and the creative process to anyone who cares to listen. She lives in sunny Arizona in a house that is overrun with books, pets, and her husband’s guitars.
About Fatal First Edition
People are dying to get their hands on a rare, valuable book in the newest Library Lover’s Mystery from the New York Times bestselling author of The Plot and the Pendulum.
Briar Creek Library director Lindsey Norris and her husband, Sully, are at a popular library conference in Chicago to hear book restoration specialist Brooklyn Wainwright give a keynote address. After the lecture, Lindsey looks under her seat and finds a tote bag containing a first edition of Patricia Highsmith’s Strangers on a Train, inscribed to Alfred Hitchcock. Brooklyn determines the novel is one of a kind and quite valuable, so Lindsey and Sully return the book to the conference director, not wanting to stir up any trouble.
But just hours after the pair boards the train back to Connecticut, rumors that the Highsmith novel has gone missing buzz amongst the passengers, and they soon find the conference director murdered in his private compartment. And worse—the murderer planted the book in Lindsey and Sully’s room next door, making them prime suspects. Now, they must uncover the murderer and bring them to the end of their line, before they find themselves booked for a crime they didn’t commit.
Featuring a cameo by a beloved character from the New York Times bestselling author Kate Carlisle’s Bibliophile series!
The Wickeds 
Welcome to the blog Jenn! I love your rom-coms, and I’m glad you agreed to come over and talk about them here. -Edith
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Hi, Edith! Thanks so much! I love all of the Wickeds – such a talented group!
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Would I follow an author to a different genre? Well, that’s an answer that comes with a qualifier.
I would follow an author I love to a different genre BUT it has to be a genre that I like.
Sadly, it seems unlikely that I would follow Jenn from mysteries to rom-com though. Not because I doubt her ability to turn out a great read regardless of what genre she’s writing though. Rather, as anyone who has known me for any length of time can attest, I’m not exactly the warm and fuzzy romantic guy the ladies are looking for. HA.
Romance in a murder mystery series is far easier to find yourself involved in for me because it is a sideplot. Just when it might become annoying it’s time to get back to the hunt for the killer of that dead body in the beginning of the book.
Light science fiction or fantasy I could see giving a beloved author a shot to follow in a genre hop but romance, highly unlikely.
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Then you’ll have to follow me when I dive into cozy fantasy, Jay! No romance but a mystery tucked into a low stakes fantasy – it’s going to be a blast (I hope!)!
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I haven’t read any of Jenn books yet.
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It’s never too late to start 🙂
—Jenn
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Love Jenn’s cozy mysteries!
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Thank you!
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Yes, I would most definitely favorite author into a new genre – as long as it is a clean read. I will admit that I’m not a fan of sci-fi or fantasy, but even then I would give it a try I so believe. It’s fun sometimes to step out of our comfort zone. What better way to do it than with an author that you love and whose books you have already explored. Since I LOVE Jenn McKinlay’s books, I say lead away!
Thank you for the fabulous chance to win a signed copy of FATAL FIRST EDITION! I would love the opportunity to read and review this book on my TBR list.
2clowns at arkansas dot net
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Hi, Jenn! Congrats again on the new release.
I’d follow an author I like into a new genre – at least for one book to see if it resonates with me.
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Welcome back, Jenn! I love your rom-coms and I know how hard they are to write–having an unsold one lying about! Books of Dubious Origins is such a fabulous title. I can’t wait to read it too!
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It’s wonderful to see you on the blog today, Jenn! I love the idea of the Books of Dubious Origin series. Your ability to move into different genre inspires. I do love a good rom-com, especially these days. Congratulations on the books this year, and fingers crossed for the series!
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I would definitely follow an author I enjoy reading into a new genre. This would provide me with pleasure and enjoyment and allow me a new experience.
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Hello. Great author. Will look forward to these new titles.
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It’s interesting that you live in Scottsdale. We love the Phoenix area and with the exception of a few years wintering other places, we have spent 6-7 weeks each year enjoying hiking in the desert and exploring the area. We love all the celebrations, especially the Scottsdale Parade with all the horses. We like riding horses at the Koli Center on the Pima Reservation. We also like The Changing Hands Bookstore and The Poisoned Pen.
Wishing you happy moments writing!
Muriel Logan
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Will follow an author I like and read her new genre
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I will follow a favorite when they go into a new genre.
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I LOVE several of your series so I would definitely try it but I like Fantasy so I’m sure I’ll enjoy it very much!
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Congrats on the new release. I love this series and I’m very excited to read Fatal First Edition! Khpinelake (at) gmail (dot) com
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I would definitely read any book from a favorite author. I was already a fan of the cupcake series, when I read the Maine romance series.
Like any book, if the description sounds good, I am in.
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Some authors have led me from my beloved cozies into some paranormal and romance books that I wouldn’t have read otherwise. ckmbeg (at) gmail (dot) com
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I just started reading Jenn’s books last year and I am hooked. I’m knee deep in Robbie’s restaurant and up in the stacks in Lindsey’s library. Thanks for sharing your talents.
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Jenn’s books are delightful and special. I would be extremely interested in reading a new genre from an author whose books I enjoy greatly.
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Hard to say. I often pick up new series by a favorite author within the same genre. And there’s several cozy mystery writers who also write suspense/thriller which I enjoy. Romance honestly isn’t my favorite genre- maybe because romance in my own life is nonexistent, plus there’s some books where the romance feels unrealistic, with all the love triangles and whatnot. It would really have to depend on the book. I did read one of Jenn’s romances out of curiosity and yes, romance is the forefront, but there was also a little mystery, humor, a good story behind it so that made a different to me and I did enjoy it. I don’t know that I’ll ever be a romance reader but I can appreciate any good story.
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I would follow a writer to a new genre – depending
on what it is. Going from a cozy to biography
would cause me to drop out. Can’t wait for the
new book – hope I win this copy. thanks.
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Congrats on the new release! I will definitely follow an author to a new genre. I adore your books! Thank you for the chance!
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Yes, I would (and have) followed a favorite author into a new genre – even if it’s something I normally don’t enjoy. I’ve never been disappointed. I think when you really connect with an author’s writing, it’s just as much about his or her talent of writing as it is about the story. aprilbluetx at yahoo dot com
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I enjoy reading several of your series and can’t wait for the next ones to come out so I would definitely try. I really like the Fantasy genre so I’m sure I’ll LOVE it!
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Welcome Jenn❣️ I love your mystery books, so I will read other genres that you write. My favorite series is your cupcake series. They are good for my soul as well as for my health…since laughter is the best medicine by Reader’s Digest 🤣 Thank you for sharing your writing talents with us readers. Luis at ole dot travel
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Yes, I have followed an author into a new genre. It turned out just fine!
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Congratulations on your latest, Jenn!
I will definitely follow a writer from genre to genre. I’ve rarely been disappointed. And I will follow Jenn right into Books of Dubious Origin!
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Where they lead, I will follow… for a few chapters or so. From there, I only keep going if I’m liking the ride.
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I would follow a favorite author to a new genre, depending on the genre. No Sci-Fi or horror, but I’d probably try anything else. Thank you for the chance. I do love Brooklyn’s stories.
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I would follow an author to a new genre. It’s always interesting to see authors flex their writing muscles by trying something new. Thanks for the chance!
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I adore the Library Lover’s series and all of Jenn’s books. So yes, I definitely will follow an author I like into a new or different genre. Alexander McCall Smith comes to mind as an author whose work covers multiple genres. I’d read something by him even it was text scrawled on a wall! Thanks for the chance to be entered in the contest — can’t wait to read the new book!
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It depends on the genre if I will follow the author or not. I love Jenn’s mysteries, but I haven’t followed her to the romcom genre. However, that fantasy book sounds like something I would pick up. Not that I read much fantasy, but I do enjoy the genre in movies and TV shows.
(No need to enter me in the giveaway. I’ve already read and enjoyed this book.)
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When one hasn’t won any books (except Ebooks) for years, one tends to not bother. Oftentimes contest announcements arrive in the feed too late or not at all.
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Hi, Wickeds and Readers, it’s Jenn.
I’ve been trying to reply to comments but WordPress is being salty! 😦
I am reading all the comments, however, and am just delighted at the willingness of readers to try new things. I’m a genre girl (all genres) myself but I have discovered a few literary works lately that I’ve really enjoyed. I suppose a great book is just a great book, regardless of genre. Happy Reading!
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Thanks for hosting me, Wickeds. Wonderful to see you all!
–Jenn
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Can’t wait to read this one!
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I would definitely follow an author I like to a new genre, might even try a genre I don’t usually read. Your books sound interesting, especially the library series! I’ll definitely give your books a try.
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I would follow an author I really like to another genre definitely.
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I think if I am a huge fan of the author I would be willing to give her books from another genre a try. I have really been meaning to try Jenn’s romances as I absolutely love her cozies!
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I would definitely read an author’s book in a different genre.
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I like a bit of spice and mystery. Sounds great.
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I would definitely follow a favorite author, like Jenn, to a new genre. I’ve enjoyed all of her books that I’ve read. I’m looking forward to reading her new series.
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Having read almost all of Jenn’s books, I can honestly say I will try at least one book in just about any genre she chooses to try out. Books of Dubious Origin sounds intriguing. Love the title. Just hard to think there will only be one new cozy a year, that means three years between visits with favorite characters like Lindsey, Sully, Mel, Angie, Scarlett and Harrison., yikes! I know, authors need to stretch! Thanks for the chance to win the new Library Lovers! makennedyinaz at hotmail dot com
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I absolutely love Jenn’s books and have read so many with many more to read. And a crossover with my favorite characters Derek Stone and Brooklyn Wainwright are never to be missed. I love the hat shop mysteries, the cupcake mysteries, the library lover’s mysteries, and her standalones like Paris is Always a Good Idea are fantastic. I would love to win this, and I do follow my favorite authors to other genres.
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I would probably try once, maybe twice, before deciding on whether to try a different genre, unless it is horror or sci-fi. I definitely enjoy two of Jenn’s current series, and one prior series! Congratulations, Jenn, and good luck with your new series endeavor! You will do well with any that you try! jeaniedannheim(at) ymail (dot)com
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I would probably try once, maybe twice, before deciding on whether to try a different genre, unless it is horror or sci-fi. I definitely enjoy two of Jenn’s current series, and one prior series! Congratulations, Jenn, and good luck with your new series endeavor! You will do well with any that you try! jeaniedannheim (at) ymail(dot)com
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Oh,, how fun to have a cameo by Brooklyn Wainwright! I like reading many different kinds of books and enjoy reading authors who write in different genres.
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Yes, I have followed authors from fiction to non-fiction, mysteries to romance. Thank you for sharing. God bless you.
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Yes, I have done so in the past and I have no problem doing so again. I love romance as well as mysteries, so it is not a stretch for me to read rom coms at all.
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I read across many genres and would happily read anything Jenn writes.
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