J.C. Kenney Brings Heart, Humor, and Whodunnits to Life in Every Page

PHOTO: Author J.C. Kenney at home in Indianapolis, where he crafts his signature blend of cozy crime, quirky characters, and heartfelt storytelling.

Cozy Crimes, Quirky Characters, And Creative Sparks

J.C. Kenney discusses his unique mystery settings, eccentric characters, creative process, love for music and racing, and the supportive community that fuels his writing and award-winning cozy mystery series.

J.C. Kenney writes the kind of mysteries that remind readers why they fell in love with the genre in the first place—stories filled with heart, humor, and just the right amount of mayhem. Whether you’re wandering through the charming artists’ village of Rushing Creek in The Allie Cobb Mysteries, flipping vinyls in a record store with The Darcy Gaughan Mysteries, or wrangling wild animals in the Florida Panhandle alongside Elmo Simpson, Kenney’s books transport you to vibrant worlds filled with quirky characters and unforgettable settings.

A true craftsman of the cozy mystery, Kenney has carved out a distinctive voice that balances lighthearted eccentricity with the emotional resonance of community and family. His work is not only beloved by readers but recognized by the industry—most recently with Panic in the Panhandle earning a spot among the Ten Best Cozy Mysteries of 2024. Beyond the page, Kenney continues to celebrate the writing community through his engaging webcasts, The Bookish Hour and A Bookish Moment, showing the same warmth and curiosity that infuse his fiction.

We’re thrilled to feature this interview with J.C. Kenney, where he opens up about his creative process, the inspirations behind his delightfully oddball characters, and how his love for music, racing, and storytelling collide in the most unexpected—and entertaining—ways.

Kenney is a master of the cozy mystery, blending charm, wit, and heart into stories that keep readers coming back.

What inspired you to create mysteries set in such unique and unusual settings?

I wanted to come up with locations that I would want to visit. For my Allie Cobb Mysteries, Rushing Creek is a quaint artists village with lots of fantastic shops and great restaurants. The Darcy Gaughan Mysteries are based in an independent record store. I love music and could hang out in a record store all day long. Paradise Springs, home for my Elmo Simpson Mysteries, is in the Florida Panhandle. It’s an area my family visits often on vacation, so I thought what better place to set my latest series.

How do you come up with the quirky and oddball characters that populate your stories?

In real life, the State of Florida is known for being home to extremely colorful characters who do outrageous things. Do an internet search on “Florida Man” and you’ll find out what I mean. With that in mind, I decided to write stories where there were no rules. Nothing would be over the top. That made it easy to have a character who may, or may not, be a vampire. Or to have a gator rancher who loves classic romantic cinema. I figure if the characters and settings make me laugh, then they’ll make readers laugh.

“I wanted to come up with locations that I would want to visit.” — J.C. Kenney

Can you share a bit about your writing process when starting a new series like the Elmo Simpson Mysteries?

Absolutely! Once I have a new setting figured out, the next that comes is the inciting event, or what I refer to as the “story nugget.” It’s the incident that puts things in motion. Since I write whodunnits, the story nugget boils down to someone was murdered in some unusual fashion. The next component becomes my main character, the amateur sleuth. I want this person to have a “day job” that’s out or the ordinary, like Elmo’s gig as a wild animal removal specialist.

Those first parts are fun. The next ones are more challenging. I need to figure out an interesting plot, supporting characters readers will care about, and details that will make the setting believable. When all those pieces are in place, I’m finally ready to start writing a story. It takes a bit of planning but it’s also great fun since I’m getting to make stuff up with few, if any, rules.

How has co-hosting The Bookish Hour and A Bookish Moment influenced your perspective as an author?

My Bookish Time partner-in-crime, Sarah E. Burr, and I tell our guests that we’re readers and fans every bit as much as we’re authors. It’s important to us to celebrate those taking the time to visit with us. Writing can be hard and lonely, so getting to spend thirty minutes or an hour with someone talking about their work is great fun. It’s also a continual morale boost. I end every show in a great mood. That’s the power of the shows. Writing is a community, and we need to celebrate that community whenever we can.

What role does your love for IndyCar racing and music play in your writing, if any?

Before I started writing whodunnits, I wrote sweet sports romance. One of the books I wrote was based on the IndyCar series. Music plays an integral part in all my books, especially my Darcy Gaughan Mysteries, since they’re based in a record store. It’s a way to share my love for music and spotlight my favorite artists like Jimmy Buffett, Michael Franti & Spearhead, and Grace Potter. It’s also a way to learn about artists who are new to me like Thundercat and Becky G.

“It takes a bit of planning but it’s also great fun since I’m getting to make stuff up with few, if any, rules.” — J.C. Kenney

“Panic in the Panhandle” was named one of the Ten Best Cozy Mysteries of 2024 — what was the journey like getting that recognition?

Oh, wow. It was a total surprise. CozyMystery.com is the site that presented me with that honor. It’s a place where readers can find vast amounts of information about cozy authors, novels, and topics specific to the genre. The folks who run the site are true subject matter experts. Their criteria for Ten Best include review numbers from Goodreads, including both number of reviews and rating, along with the site’s own review of the novel. It’s an objective process and I will treasure the designation for as long as I live.

In your Allie Cobb Mysteries, family and community seem to play big roles. How important are these themes to you personally?

I think they’re both vitally important. When I started writing, my wife and kids were extremely supportive, and that belief is still there. Their belief in me is worth all the money in the world. As far as community goes, I wouldn’t still be doing this if not for my network of writer friends and allies. When one of us succeeds, we all succeed. I truly believe that.

Which character you’ve created do you feel most connected to and why?

It would probably be Elmo Simpson. We’re both cat dads who love the beach and enjoy an Irish whiskey on the rocks. He’s also quick to admit that he’s far from the smartest person in the room. I’ve long believed in the importance of surrounding yourself with people who are smarter than I am. I think we both believe that the world can be a better place if we work together. I just wish my bank account was as flush as his is.

“Music plays an integral part in all my books.” — J.C. Kenney

What are some of the biggest challenges you face when writing cozy mysteries, and how do you overcome them?

The first thing is keeping the number of murders plausible within the realm of cozy mysteries. Cozy readers get it that a small community is going to have an inordinately high homicide rate. As a cozy writer, I am thankful for that. What I try to do then, is add a touch of realism when I can. For example, my sleuths struggle with the anxiety that would come with investigating something as heavy as murder. The next challenge is coming up with unique methods of “offing” my victims.

What advice would you give to aspiring authors hoping to build a successful mystery series?

Your supporting characters are always important, but even more so in a series. Readers will often become fans of a sidekick as a series progresses. It can also be helpful to have storylines that develop over the course of the series. For example, Elmo’s relationship with Nic and his changing business interests. Lastly, develop a series reference book and keep it current. You never know when someone in book 1 will turn up again and you need to know what they look like or what they do.