Lucinda Race Blends Cozy Mysteries and Romance with Heart, Hope and Paranormal Charm

Photo: Lucinda Race, surrounded by inspiration, pens heartwarming tales in the hills of western Massachusetts.

Award-Winning Author Shares Her Creative Journey and Inspirations

Lucinda Race discusses her writing process, blending paranormal elements with cozy mysteries, creating relatable characters, and crafting emotionally rich stories inspired by her life and travels.

Lucinda Race’s literary world is a treasure trove of emotion, imagination, and endearing characters that draw readers into heartfelt romances and captivating mysteries. With a talent for crafting tales brimming with intrigue and joy, Lucinda has become a beacon of inspiration in the literary community. Her ability to create small-town settings that feel as familiar as home—yet packed with surprises around every corner—underscores her mastery of storytelling.

Through her beloved McKenna Family Romance series and her uniquely enchanting Paranormal Cozy Nook Bookstore series, Lucinda skillfully fuses the sweetness of clean romance with the thrill of suspenseful murder plots. The charm of her writing lies in her versatility—whether it’s a talking familiar in a cozy mystery or the emotional depth of finding love later in life, Lucinda’s stories appeal to readers of all ages and genres.

As you read this exclusive Novelist Post interview, you’ll glimpse the creative brilliance and personal warmth that make Lucinda Race not only a celebrated author but also a cherished voice in contemporary fiction. From inspiration drawn from her adorable canine companions to her insights on blending emotions and mystery, Lucinda’s journey is as captivating as the books she creates. It’s a privilege to share her thoughts and experiences with our readers, and we think you’ll agree—her stories leave an indelible mark on the heart.

Lucinda Race’s storytelling captivates with warmth, humor, and imaginative tales, making her a cherished voice in romance and cozy mysteries.

Award-Winning Author Shares Her Creative Journey and Inspirations

What inspired you to blend paranormal elements with cozy mysteries in your Book Store Cozy Mystery series?

I love reading paranormal cozy mysteries, and adding those elements gives an author a broader license for creativity.

How do you balance the sweet, clean romance themes with suspenseful murder plots in your writing?

I would like to have anyone at any age read these books so keeping them sweet in the romance department and non-violent despite they’re murder mystery books is the best avenue to success. 

Which of your fictional characters do you personally relate to the most, and why?

Milo, the talking familiar, is fashioned after our former family cat, Mordy. I could always picture Mordy talking in a snarky but loving attitude. 

How does living in western Massachusetts influence the small-town settings in your books?

Small town life means you recognize faces, family names and gasp, “you heard he did what?” kind of thing. Small towns are mini universe until themselves which again adds to the gasp factor in cozy mystery books. 

What challenges have you faced transitioning from nonfiction writing to fiction?

Writing fiction is so much easier. 🙂 I can have characters to what I want, say and act according to my muse. Its a wonderful thing. Non-fiction, is based in facts and its difficult to make technical documents interesting. There’s no room for humor.

How do you develop the emotional depth in your later-in-life romance stories like Lost and Found?

I’m an older woman who has been blessed to experience love a second time. My personal life had “all the feels” and I wanted to bring that to life in my work.

Can you share your process for building series arcs that allow each book to also stand alone?

Elements connect the books as the series, such as family dynamics and the small town the books take place in. However, I try to write a book that has a satisfactory story arc of its own. But, getting to know the other characters provides depth to the reading experience. 

Which book or series was the most fun for you to write and what made it special?

That’s like asking which is my favorite child. They’re all special. For romance, I loved writing Price Family Romance Series. It was a spinoff from Ready to Soar and set in a winery in the Finger Lakes region of New York. My husband and I traveled there with friends and it was so enjoyable, it made the perfect setting for this series. And a new book in that series will be released in 2026. Stella Maxwell is finally getting her happily ever after. 

How do you keep your ideas fresh after writing so many series and standalone novels?

Prior to becoming a full-time writer, I traveled for my day job. Sitting in airports and at conventions I was fortunate to observe people, and I always made up little stories about them, where did they live, family, dating, spouses, career choices, that kind of thing. I let my imagination come out to play and stories simmered. I have a pretty good memory so recall to certain locations, people and emotions come back when I’m ready to write them.

What advice would you give to aspiring authors who want to craft both mystery and romance into their stories?

Don’t let what the rules say you can and can’t do. For a long time I thought I couldn’t write cozy and cross over since I was a romance author. But when I tossed away the rule book my creativity was unleashed. Just write what your muse is urging you to write. I promise, it’s liberating. 

Lucinda Race is a bestselling, award-winning author of contemporary romance, known for crafting heartfelt, small-town stories filled with passion, family ties, slow-burning romance, and happily-ever-after endings.

Breathe is a heartfelt small-town romance where Tessa Price fights to save her family’s winery while clashing—and connecting—with brooding former owner Max Maxwell. Amid vineyards, rivalry, and buried secrets, their slow-burning attraction grows. Will love survive the challenges that threaten to tear them apart, or will it slip away like fine wine?