What childhood flavors bring back the magic of the holidays? Our authors share heartwarming memories of festive dishes and drinks they miss, from grandmother’s seven-layer spice cake to an unforgettable eggnog. Take a stroll down memory lane with us—and don’t forget to share your own nostalgic holiday favorites!

For this month’s Authors on the Bench post, we asked our writers what they’re thankful for during this Thanksgiving holiday season.

Fall is closing in, and our characters are looking for to the new season. Read on to find out what they love most about fall.

Authors often face the challenge of keeping their books fresh and exciting for readers. It’s about balancing their unique voice with new ideas and storytelling techniques. As trends and reader preferences shift, writers need to adapt without losing what makes their work special. For this month’s Authors on the Bench post, we’re tackling this subject.

This month On the Bench, we’re talking about the age-old question of writing technique. There’s no right and there’s no wrong, but there is different. And we’ve got that covered. Check out this month’s On the Bench interviews with our authors.

Cozy mysteries are known for their lack of graphic violence and explicit content. In this month’s Authors on the Bench post, our authors weigh in on how we keep the stakes high and the story engaging without relying on these elements.

In this month’s edition of Authors on the. Bench, we’re diving deep into the crazy world of developing fictional characters. You might be surprised by some of our authors answers to the questions of how we develop our characters and if they’re drawn  from people we know and whether they are entirely fictional.

This month’s Authors on the Bench question is about real-life amateur sleuthing. We’re all weighing in on the question—given that you’ve spent years writing about amateurs solving crimes, how do you think you’d do investigating a murder…or would you leave that to the pros?

This month on the bench, we’re talking character envy. That’s right, we’re revealing what special skill or characteristic our sleuths have that we wish we did, too. Find out in this month’s Authors on the Bench post!

Cozy mysteries are a popular subgenre, and readers have more of a choice than ever when it comes to buying books. What do you think makes your cozy mystery series unique and appealing to readers?

Our question of the month has to do with feedback from readers and how we incorporate that into our writing. We’re all aware that cozy mystery fans are often very engaged with the genre, so this month, we’re all answering that big question, how do we incorporate reader feedback?

Whether you’re a reader or a writer, you’re probably influenced by TV shows or movies and the soundtrack that goes with it. Of course, once there is a movie, there’s no question about a character’s theme song. But today, we’re all weighing in on what the theme song would be for our characters.

As authors we’re pretty much forced into a high-tech existence, what with computers and email and Zoom presentations and so on. When you need an escape, what low-tech games or activities do you and your family enjoy?

Everyone knows that Thanksgiving means leftovers! What is your favorite leftover (or created from leftovers) post-Turkey Day dish?

It’s September, the traditional beginning of a new school year. Do you have a grade school memory that still lingers with you after all this time?

It’s deadline time, it’s midnight, and your stomach is growling. What snack do you eat when you need a bit of energy to power on through, especially when you know no one is watching?

You must be made of stern stuff not to get a bit misty-eyed at some of the heart-tugging commercials on TV these days. What past or recent commercial (happy or sad) is guaranteed to “get you in the feels” every time it comes on?

It’s happened to us all. We try to do someone a favor, and it backfires (sometimes spectacularly). What good turn have you done for a person (or has someone done for you) that didn’t work out quite as planned? Find out what our authors have to say as they weigh in this month on the issue of favors.