Interview: Elizabeth Eagan-Cox, Writer of Cozy Paranormal Novels

August 18, 2009

Hats Off to Elizabeth Eagan-Cox

Viktorya: There are several interesting things that I noticed on your website. One example is this "tea cup" or cozy mystery genre. It kind of reminded me of the Alfred Hitchcock type of stories. Is this a true statement of this type of genre? Please explain.

Elizabeth:The queen and iconic author of the cozy mystery genre is Agatha Christie. Hitchcock is often classified as a mystery writer but I have always thought of his writing to be more in the crime-mystery fiction genre rather than cozy mystery, but this is just my take on it. I think most anyone will vouch for Dame Agatha as the queen of cozies.

In the cozy mystery genre the focus is on character development and plot: not horror, sex or violence. In all aspects of being a cozy mystery:

MYSTERY is the key element and description. Because it is a cozy mystery, it is G-rated, you won't find explicit of graphic language, sex, horror or violence. Another aspect is that the crime, be IT murder or mayhem has already happened but remains unsolved, and then the sleuth discovers it and sets about to solve the mystery of the crime.

The time frame is such that the entire story opens and closes within a few days or no more than a week or so. The plot's location, in which the story takes place, is small in scale...a quaint village or a neighborhood within a larger town/city.

My series is described as a paranormal mystery because within the cozy description, I have ghost characters that are critical to the plots. I treat the ghosts as real characters, not novelties; they have a spectral-driven purpose to moving the story along.
Viktorya: You know, you are absolutely right! My Mom turned me onto Agatha Christie when I was a child. Thanks for bringing her up; I almost forgot about her. I am very interested in your beliefs and how they are implemented in your stories. What exactly are your beliefs? I also noticed you mentioned church on your website. What church do you attend? Please explain your "Celtic" beliefs.

Elizabeth: I am a member of the Episcopal Church, known as Episcopal here in North America and usually called Anglican or Anglican Catholic elsewhere, especially in Ireland and the U.K. This church is the Christian denomination that is Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland and is the guardian of The Book of Kells... a significant and ancient Christian book of Celtic manuscripts, from which so many of the modern and popular Celtic symbols, such as the Celtic Cross and Trinity knot originate from.

The Celtic Cross is the most recognized symbol of this church. The denomination is Catholic in ancient tradition of liturgy and Eucharist services (commonly called as going to communion). In the homeland, the various churches are called: Church of Ireland, Church of Scotland, Church of England and so on. We recognize the Archbishop of Canterbury, England as the highest position to us, he is equivalent to what the Pope in Rome is to Roman Catholics.

The Episcopal Church in the USA pays homage to the Church of Scotland because after the American Revolution, the Church of England would not ordain our priests (they were a wee bit angry with us rebels!). A bishop must ordain our priests, and following the American Revolution, we did not have bishops in the USA. To make a long bit of history short, the Church of Scotland stepped up to the plate and said, send us your priests in training and our bishop will ordain them. And another note, many of the founding fathers and their families were of this church, including George Washington and Thomas Jefferson and Patrick Henry.

In fact, when Patrick Henry gave his famous "give me liberty of give me death" speech it was at a Anglican/Episcopal Church in Virginia. The Anglican/Episcopal church is the church of the founders of Jamestown, VA. My family roots go back to Virgina of the 1600s. Today, still standing and very active is St. Peter' s Parish Church in New Kent County, VA. My Corley family helped to build that church in 1700-1701. I have been there and studied the church vestry records and my family is listed. It is a wonderful old Gothic church filled with mystery and alive with spirit!
Since I have made the point that it is Anglican Catholic/Episcopal church that is guardian over The Book of Kells, then it is easy enough to point out that the Book of Kells pays homage to the ancient nature beliefs of the Celtic people throughout all of Britain. The Celts were/are very
reverent of nature and the presence of God in nature. In many ways people here in the USA have found a connection between Celtic beliefs of honoring nature and God's spirit in nature, as being very similar to the holy beliefs of indigenous tribes, whom I still refer to as American Indians or as the first Americans.

Also, I have noticed that like the Celts, our first Americans pay great respect and honor to those who have gone before, in other words our ancestors' spirit lives on in present time in our own hearts and spirit. BTW... I pronounce "Celtic, Celts" with a hard 'K' sound.

Viktorya: I am a huge lover of the Victorian Era. When you speak of the theme of your stories, I noticed that you speak of the Victorian era (1800's-early 1900's). Is this true of most of your stories? Can you give us an excerpt from a story that clearly includes a setting from this era?

Book 1: A Ghost of a Chance takes place in a grand Victorian mansion, which by the way, the book's cover does show the grand Victorian mansion... and it is real. The mansion on the cover has been officially designated as America's Favorite Victorian. It is the Morey Mansion B&B Inn in Redlands, California. The owner, Janet Cosgrove graciously agreed to let is use a photo of her home for the book's cover.

So about the Victorian era... I have always loved it! When I first went about to write the short story from which book 1 was born, I wanted to have a master magician from the Victorian era, because magic at that time was performed in close quarters and often called parlor magic. It gave me reason to study sleight-of-hand magic, the most prominent type of parlor magic and the type of magic I love. I find it so charming to have 'magic' happen right in front of me and then wonder...Huh? How was that done?

Not all the stories in each consecutive novel refer to a Victorian setting from the past, though each book does have a historic setting for its history, so to speak. Book 2 deals with the 1920s and book 3 is the Old West, very early 1900s. The reason for book 1 to have a Victorian influence is because the master magician from the Victorian period turns out to be a ghost that has a reoccurring role. And not wanting to mislead readers... each book's actual story takes place in present-day, it is the mystery that must be solved that happened so very long ago.

As for an example, the excerpt below, the opening chapter of book 1 sets the tone for the very Victorian Blackthorne House B&B:
"Are you sure this is the correct address?" I questioned, not believing what I was seeing with my own two eyes.

"You asked for 571 Yorba Lugo Road. Blackthorne House, right?" The driver replied.

"Yes, that's it." I paid the fare and stepped out of the taxi to face my new home.

Blackthorne House wasn't a house, per se. It was a mansion done up in the high-Victorian hues of rose, brown and green. I stared up in wonder at the home's intricate gingerbread trim and counted seven gables, four recessed porches, three balconies and one
turret.

"Stop gawking!"

That command scrambled my thoughts. I turned my attention toward the voice to find the familiar figure of Sister Rosario Santiago waving to me from the mansion's front porch. Not one to disregard sage advice, I made haste up the front steps and into the inviting warmth of the front parlor.

"Neither this house nor the cold weather is what I expected to find in San Diego," I remarked as I dropped my luggage and shrugged off my coat.

"I think the chilly wind followed you in from Chicago," Sister Rosario teased.

"Even for February this is unusually cold weather for us. As for Blackthorne House, it is atypical of San Diego architecture. However, it is exemplary of a classic painted lady Victorian house. I'm sure you'll be comfortable here while working on our project."

"House? You mean mansion, don't you?" I teased back. "Does this place come complete with a hidden stairwell and things that go bump in the night?" I was on a roll; "There must be some aura of mystery to this mansion."
What really inspired you to start writing?

Here's a very Celtic answer, and I answered this question when a sibling asked me why I was so passionate and driven to write. I told my sib, I write to quiet the whispers of my ancestors. In Celtic culture this is called Blood Memory. It is the memory of an ancestor's (or plural, more than one ancestor) spirit that is very much a part of our DNA heritage. The famous dance choreographer Martha Graham used this same phrase to describe the inherent talent for dance.

The term "Blood Memory" is fairly common in Celtic culture, though by no means is it (the concept) unique to us, we are just more open to talking about it. It would be fair to say that I am hardwired to express creativity through words.
Viktorya: Wow, now that book would interest me, greatly. What interests you most about your choice of genre? Is there another genre that you like to write? Is fiction all you write?

Elizabeth: I used to write a great deal of creative non-fiction also called popular non-fiction, the lesser-known aspects to a culture, history or social attitudes. The Victorian era was my specialty.

The market became really soft and I needed to stretch, so... many years ago, maybe ten or so, in-between assignments I tried my hand at writing short-story fiction. I tried different genres: Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Horror and Mystery. I liked the mystery genre best and I sold a story to a British magazine, sorry I don't recall the exact name. Anyway, that short story became the seed for book 1 in my novel series: A Ghost of a Chance. I targeted the British market because the story was a cozy mystery...and Ireland and the UK is where cozy mysteries are the most popular. I love a mystery, I guess that is the truest reason for why I write in the genre.

Of the four short stories I first tried my hand with, the fantasy one, is incorporated into the plot of book 2: A Ghost From the Shadows. It is the story called "Old Shoes" written by Hugh MacAodhagain. This is a homage to my ancestors and the Irish clan I am a member of: Clann MacAodhagain of BallyMcEgan in Ireland, where my Irish cousins still reside in the clan's castle: Castle Redwood. Including this story is a wink and a nod to my Irish sense of humor. MacAodhagain is the true Irish spelling of my maiden name: Eagan. In Irish Gaelic, MacAodhagain means "Son of Hugh."

Other than volunteering to write publicity for my church, Trinity Episcopal Church in Redlands, California and the Arrowhead Valley Chapter of Daughters of the American Revolution (I am a D.A.R.), also in Redlands. These days, fiction is pretty much all I write. I did write a short article on Grave Art for a mag, it is on my web site and in the future I may do one or two pieces dealing with the paranormal... which brings me to your next question!

Viktorya: I noticed that paranormal is something you speak of on your site. Have you ever had any paranormal experiences?

The short answer to your questions is YES. However, because the term "paranormal" is a rather broad description I should qualify and simply state that my experience is limited to that of 'spirit visitation' in other words...a ghost and what I call divine intervention. I rarely share the

exact nature of these experiences, though I do believe that in a few of the numerous radio interviews that I have done, the topic has come up in the course of the conversation.

Viktorya: When you emailed me on Associated Content, I noticed that you didn't have any published articles. Are you planning on publishing there? How did you hear about me and find me on Associated Content?

Elizabeth: I do not plan to write or publish for Associated Content. I registered to find you! How did I find you? Your name came up in an Internet search about journalists who interview authors. I found your site on AC and liked what I saw, so I dropped you a line. BTW...I haven't e-mailed anyone else on AC.

I do put in an effort to play the field, so to speak, and touch base with columnists and journalists in different media arenas, however I don't over-market to these areas because I feel it is impersonal. I like to touch base with the media in a, well, personal aspect.

Viktorya: Wow, that is nice to know. Thanks, I appreciate that. What is your most recent work?

Elizabeth: Book 2 in my Shannon Delaney cozy paranormal mystery series just came out in paperback this June; it is called A Ghost From the Shadows. Each book in this series is a stand-alone mystery in and of itself. By the nature of this being a series... aspects to the lead character's personal life, (Shannon Delaney, a young woman, mid-20s, publicity writer who takes on freelance assignments), evolves and continues through the series.

Like layers being pulled away, more aspects of Shannon's personal life are revealed in each book in the series.
And, I just put "The End" on the manuscript for book 3: A Ghost Meets and Angel, is the working title. I still have to fine-tune it and write the back matter notes. Nonetheless, it will be turned into my editor by the time I leave to go on my annual Halloween vacation this year.

Viktorya: Who publishes you and can you share a short version on your first path to getting published?

My book publisher is Write Words, Inc under its two imprints: Cambridge Books for paperback editions and E Books On The Net for e-book editions (all e-book versions). The books are sold everywhere.

Elizabeth: I was first published when I was in sixth grade! I wrote a radio play for a local PBS contest and won. Professionally speaking... I wrote features for magazines such as Cat Fancy and Dog and Kennel (love the pet industry!); a few regular gigs as a columnist and freelanced as a publicity writer.

Writing the soft side of publicity, doing corporate histories for some of America's largest companies: Billabong USA (the extreme sportswear outfitter) Matsushita Avionics, and Fashion 21 (apparel) are just a few of the name brands I have written company histories for. BTW...this type of writing pays exceptionally well and it is a real eye-opener to marketing and writing publicity...excellent background for any writer.

I authored two books: Southern California Miscellany and California Pioneers that were non-fiction on California history...these are now on the back list (way down on the back list), so I do not promote them. The books were the result of columns I wrote for two, now defunct, monthly publications: The FEDCO Store Reporter and the Old California Gazette. I have been writing professionally since 1995. I was first published in the FEDCO Reporter.
　
Viktorya: Do you have a family?

Elizabeth: Yes, I have a family: Married, kids, siblings, both my parents have passed over. My father, who was a leading influence in my creativity, died when I was only 14 years old. He always encouraged me to find an artistic outlet for my creative ideas.

Deliberately, I do not write or speak much about my family, I like to keep my private life, well... private... and I hope others respect my privacy in the same way I respect their privacy.

Yes. Our kids are grown. My husband, Christopher, loves photography the way I love writing. He took the shadow man picture that is used for the cover of book 2. That "pirate's" shadow is actually the larger than life statue of Major General Frederick Steele at the Vicksburg, Mississippi Civil War Battleground and National Park. I wanted an 1800's style pirate for the cover to reflect the story and plot.

Viktorya: I understand about keeping personal things, personal, but can you tell us a little about your home life.

Elizabeth: I reside in Southern California in a wilderness area. There is very little crime of the two-legged variety where I live. Instead, it is the four-legged dangers one must be constantly aware of. This summer we have the rare occurrence of three different cougars (also known as mountain lions) in the neighborhood, at all hours of the day and night. A few days ago a cougar came within a few feet of my open bedroom window... that was more excitement that I care for! It was the cat's deep, throaty growl that got my attention and caused my dog Corley to go berserk. She/Corley was with me, on the bed watching TV. Needless to say, I shut the window, but sleep wasn't easy that night.

There are trade-offs to living in a quiet rural place...all amenities are an hour away (one-way). So on the occasions I do go out for grocery shopping, I make a day of it... dry cleaners, pharmacy, video store, office supplies, you name it, I try to get it all done. Also, we do not have cell service. Phone line and computer are land-lines. And ditto for many other technologies available elsewhere. TV is limited to a one and only cable package...not much variety, very basic cable offerings. Mail is not delivered to the homes, so Uncle Sam provides a free post office box. The post office box address is our only legal address. The good side about having to go pick up mail at a post office is that the postmasters get to know everyone on a first name basis. I'm an avid subscriber to Net Flix.

Viktorya: There are panthers around here, so I can understand that! Please share any sites and other work that you may do.

Elizabeth: My web site www.ElizabethEaganCox.net has info about my latest books, including chapter one excerpts, how to e-mail me, links to buying my books and a list of my past and up-coming Authors Appearances... there's more, so please stop by.

I just finished book 3: A Ghost Meets an Angel and have already begun to spin a tale for book 4. So next year, about this time, I can tell you about book 4!

Viktorya: Hey I am looking forward to it. This has been a pleasure and thanks for allowing me to interview you.