by Julie, what season is it? in Somerville
I am beyond thrilled to help Jennifer J. Chow celebrate the launch of her new Magical Fortune Cookie series. Welcome, Jen!
The Enchantment of Magical Cozies
By Jennifer J. Chow
When I decided to marry magic with mystery in my newest series, I was in for a treat. And not only because the Magical Fortune Cookie series centers around a delightful bakery carrying Chinese pastries.
Well, food has been shown to give you endorphins and boost your mood. Cacao, a fine example, also helps with the release of serotonin, the “happy” chemical—thanks, chocolate! In Ill-Fated Fortune, though, the enchanted baked goods produce magical joy.
Ever since reading Aimee Bender’s The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake, I’ve been intrigued by magical realism and food. In my novel, I decided that the handmade fortune cookies baked by my protagonist, Felicity, would not only bring happiness, but the messages inside them would also predict the future.
I didn’t stop at just magical people. Everyone loves a cozy mystery with a pet, right? (Have you noticed how many cozies have cats on their covers?) I gave Felicity a pet bunny who can help my main character understand her magic better. Whiskers isn’t a typical rabbit; she came straight from the moon. Yep, in Chinese mythology, we have a bunny in the moon instead of a man. I actually share a condensed version of the myth in my novel.
On my shelf, I have books about mythology. My fascination with the subject began when, as a kid, I borrowed a book about Greek gods. Happily, my editor also requested I add my own folklore behind Felicity’s magic.
The origin story of Felicity’s power is now one of my favorite passages in the novel. I’m grateful I got to write Ill-Fated Fortune. From charmed food to fantastical pets to supernatural origin stories, I’ve loved diving into the realm of magical cozy mysteries.
What magical books (or books that have felt like magic) have you read?
BIO:
Jennifer J. Chow writes cozies filled with hope and heritage. She is an Agatha, Anthony, and Lefty Award-nominated author. Her newest series is the Magical Fortune Cookie mysteries; the first book is Ill-Fated Fortune (February 2024). Jennifer’s previous series is the L.A. Night Market Mysteries. Death by Bubble Tea was reviewed by the New York Times, featured in Woman’s World, and hit the SoCal Indie Bestseller List. Jennifer currently serves as Immediate Past President on the board of Sisters in Crime and blogs at chicksonthecase.com. She is an active member of Crime Writers of Color and Mystery Writers of America.
WEBSITE: JenniferJChow.com.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Felicity Jin grew up literally hanging onto Mom’s apron strings in their magical bakery in the quaint town of Pixie, California. Her mother’s enchanted baked goods, including puffy pineapple buns and creamy egg tarts, bring instant joy to all who consume them. Felicity has always been hesitant in the kitchen herself after many failed attempts, but a takeout meal gone wrong inspires her to craft some
handmade fortune cookies.
They become so popular that Felicity runs out of generic fortunes and starts making her own personalized predictions. When one customer’s ill-fated fortune results in his murder, Felicity’s suspiciously specific fortune has the police focusing on her as the main culprit. Now Felicity must find a way to turn her luck around and get cleared from suspicion.
BUY LINK:
SOCIAL MEDIA:
Facebook, Instagram/Threads: @JenJChow
Congrats on the new series, Jen, which sounds delightful! I never knew that about the bunny in the moon. Our own Cat Conte writes the Full Moon Mysteries with a crystal shop protag who can work magic, and it’s also a delightful series.
Where in California do you imagine Pixie to be?
Thanks, Edith! I was just talking to Liz the other day about magical books…
Pixie is somewhere near Fresno, and its name is a little spin on Pixley, CA.
Just preordered this! Sounds delicious!
Thank you, Janet–I appreciate it! Hope you enjoy a taste of magic in its pages!
Congratulations on the new series, Jen. A bunny in the moon – love it!
Thank you so much, Liz! Bunnies (mythological or otherwise) are delightful!
“Ill-Fated Fortune” sounds amazing! I can’t wait to explore this series which sounds wonderful. After all, who can’t use a little magic in their lives? Love that the critter is a bunny too.
2clowns at arkansas dot net
I agree, Kay. We all need a sparkle of magic in our lives!
Welcome back and congratulations on the new series! I can’t wait to read it!
Thanks, Sherry! I always appreciate your encouragement and support!
Welcome back to the Wickeds, Jen! I LOVE the idea of fortunes in fortune coolies that predict the future. Can’t wait to read Ill-Fated Fortune.
Aww, thanks, Barb! 🙂
I love the idea of magical fortune cookies, Jen! Can’t wait to read this! When I think of magical realism and food, my mouth waters remembering the enchanting book (and movie) Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel. Set in early twentieth century Mexico, this book delivers recipes, sensuality, humor, and family drama.
Totally, Delia! I didn’t watch the movie, but I read the book. (Also love that it has so many recipes in it!)
So happy to be back here! Special thanks to Julie for hosting! (I’m with you–what season is it? And I can’t believe it’s mid-Feb already!)
Magical fortune cookies sound wonderful – as does a bunny in the moon. aprilbluetx at yahoo dot com
Thank you, April!
How thrilling to have a new series by you, Jennifer ❣️ I have so enjoyed reading and reviewing your previous books. This one will literally be “magic”. I have read some books with some magic or paranormal elements by Sophie Love, for instance, and I loved them. I recently read/reviewed THE BOOK OF DOORS by Gareth Brown. I loved the writing style and it was wonderful at first, but then it quickly became too dark and evil, and with very descriptive gory details. I still have it 4 stars because the writing was excellent. I won’t be reading any similar books, which deviate from the cozies I love to read. Your mentioning a magic bunny already makes me really want to read it. Congratulations. Luis at ole dot travel
Thank you so much, Luis! And *hoppy* reading! (Sorry, I couldn’t resist.)
Congrats on the new series!
I tend to avoid magic in the books I read, but I do love Sabrina the Teenage Witch. (The 90’s sitcom version, not the darker Netflix version.)
Thanks, Mark!
Yay for sitcoms! I remember watching reruns of Bewitched…
I love the bunny in the moon – and I feel a connection to it. I was born in the year of the (bunny) rabbit in July, so Cancer, a moon sign. I think that makes me a moon bunny!
I’ve loved books that include mythology &/or magic as far back as I can remember. My Aunt Lee owned a book store and gave me some gorgeously illustrated books of Greek & Roman myths when I was pretty young. I’ve read myths of other countries over the years, most recently Norse Myths by Neil Gaiman. Fantasy is another genre I’ve read for many years. As a teenager I read Mary Stewart and T. H. White on King Arthur as well as The Lord of the Rings. In recent years I discovered magical cozy mysteries including the Three Tomes Bookshop series by Colleen Gleason and The Vampire Knitting Club series by Nancy Warren. I’m definitely looking forward to your new series!
Fascinating to learn about your reading list, Judith! So kind of your Aunt Lee to give you those beautiful books and start you off. (I think Neil Gaiman is a fabulous writer.) And thank you about the new series!
I preordered the book and can’t wait for it to come out. I like three cozies with magic in them–Juliet Blackwell’s A Witchcraft Mystery, Ellery Adams A Charmed Pie Shoppe Mystery and Sofie Kelly’s Magical Cats. Yours will offer a new perspective with a bunny in it.
I love cozies with a bit of magic. Two series by Ellery Adam’s come to mind immediately: The Secret, Book, and Scone Society, and the Storyton Hall series. There are many others but I’m terrible at remembering titles.
Congrats! Your series sounds delightful!