Lucinda Race Shares the Heart and Whimsy Behind Her Cozy Mysteries and Romance Novels
PHOTO: Lucinda Race, award-winning author of sweet romances and cozy mysteries, pictured with her loyal canine companions in the hills of western Massachusetts.
Exploring Love Magic And Small Town Secrets
Lucinda Race discusses her journey from nonfiction to fiction, blending romance with cozy mystery, drawing on small-town charm, personal love stories, and a cast of characters inspired by real life.
Lucinda Race has always believed in the magic of a well-told story. From the moment she discovered the comforting charm of cozy mysteries and the emotional pull of heartfelt romance, she knew her life would be shaped by words. While her peers chased more conventional dreams, Lucinda was quietly building a world of fictional families, small towns, and enchanted bookstores—all infused with her signature warmth and wisdom.
A storyteller at heart, Lucinda brings a rare sincerity to her craft. Whether she’s writing about second-chance love or an amateur sleuth with a touch of the paranormal, her characters live and breathe on the page. Her gift lies not only in building engaging plots, but in creating emotional resonance—offering readers both escape and connection. Lost and Found, Ready to Soar, and her delightful Book Store Cozy Mystery series are testaments to a writer who understands that comfort and complexity can—and should—coexist.
Her small-town settings, often inspired by her life in western Massachusetts, shimmer with the kind of detail only lived experience can provide. Her love for animals, family, and the quiet magic of everyday life shines through in every story. There’s a sense that her characters, much like Lucinda herself, have weathered real storms and come out with their hearts intact.
Lucinda’s books are more than just stories—they’re gentle invitations to believe in love, in mystery, and in the joy of a good book on a rainy day.
Lucinda Race writes with heart, imagination, and emotional authenticity, creating uplifting stories that leave readers comforted, intrigued, and always wanting more.
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.
“I love reading paranormal cozy mysteries, and adding those elements gives an author a broader license for creativity.” – Lucinda Race
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. It’s a wonderful thing. Non-fiction is based in facts and it’s difficult to make technical documents interesting. There’s no room for humor.
“I try to write a book that has a satisfactory story arc of its own.” – Lucinda Race
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.
“Writing fiction is so much easier—I can have characters do what I want.” — Lucinda Race
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.
