Cozy Up With Kathy: Alone with a Tasman Tiger

Sunday, November 3, 2024

Alone with a Tasman Tiger - An Interview & Giveaway

I'm pleased to welcome Jane Ellyson to Cozy Up With Kathy today. Jane writes the Chic Charlie Mystery series. Alone with a Tasman Tiger is the second book in the series.

Kathy: In Alone with a Tasman Tiger six contestants battle it out to win $250,000 in the Tasmanian wilderness. Would you ever try such a competition?

JE: I’m not sure. Probably not under the rules of the competition outlined in Alone. I’m not a good at fishing or hunting and wouldn’t sleep hearing all the bumps in the night. I’m also spooked by snakes. But in my dreams, I’d like to try – after I’d completed a bush craft course

Kathy: The second Australian Cozy Mystery takes place is Brisbane, Sydney, Tasmania, and London. If you had a choice to live in one of these places which would you pick?

JE: I have lived in Brisbane, Sydney and London and enjoyed the experience in each city. Living in a small country town in Tassie would give me the being in the country experience, without the exposure to the cold and the local wildlife.

Kathy: What makes Tasmania the perfect location for a mystery?

JE: Because there are parts that are wild and inaccessible. It feels remote, hanging below mainland Australia.

Kathy: Australian Cozies tend to be less "cozy" than US cozies. Can you speak to this?

JE: Great question.

Cozy mysteries, in the U.S. and Australia, have a lot in common due to the genre’s typical defining features, but there are some differences shaped by each country’s unique culture and setting.

Let’s start by looking at the characteristics that are the same.

1. Amateur Sleuths:

Both U.S. and Australian cozy mysteries tend to feature amateur detectives—ordinary people, often women, who have an unusual knack for solving crimes.

2. Small-Town or Close-Knit Communities:

Cozy mysteries often take place in small, picturesque towns where everyone knows everyone. This holds true for both U.S. and Australian settings, with tight-knit communities playing a role in the charm and atmosphere of the stories. In Alone we had Galina and Charlotte working together to find Seb in stop the spies. Most of their sleuthing happens in and around Hobart, which is the capital of Tasmania.

3. Non-Graphic Violence:

In both countries, cozy mysteries generally avoid graphic depictions of violence or gore. Makes them a safe read. The focus is on the puzzle-solving aspect of the mystery rather than on action or intense crime drama. I personally abhor violence – and my female characters always use wit, boldness, tenacity and creativity rather than ‘muscles’ and guns to solve the mystery, find the missing person or get the villain.

4. Light, Often Humorous Tone:

The tone of cozy mysteries in both the U.S. and Australia tends to be light-hearted, often with a sense of humor, even if the subject matter is serious. The genre is meant to entertain without causing too much distress or tension.

5. Quirky Characters:

Both regions, US and Australia, feature quirky, eccentric characters who add charm and uniqueness to the stories. We have Galina, who’s a survivalist and a drummer. Each of the characters in the survival competition have a unique cultural heritage, profession, motivation for entering the survival competition and back story.

So the differences: I’ve picked four. Let’s start with setting and landscape.

1. Setting and Landscape:

o U.S. Cozies: U.S. cozy mysteries are often set in quaint, New England-style towns or idyllic countryside locations. Coastal villages, suburban enclaves, or towns with historical charm are popular. The settings tend to be stereotypically “Americana,” with bakeries, bookshops, and local diners as key locations.

o Australian Cozies: Australian cozy mysteries may take place in small rural towns or coastal communities, but the landscape feels distinctively Australian. There might be mentions of the outback, unique Australian wildlife, and flora, or characters might live near the bush or beach. Australian slang and cultural references often pepper the dialogue, adding a local flavor. I actually toned down some of the Australiaisms in the language as my non-Australian friends said they didn’t understand what the expression meant. For example ‘You Beauty’

2. Cultural References:

o U.S. Cozies: These often include references to American holidays like Thanksgiving or Fourth of July, or aspects of daily life such as baseball, apple pie, or local community fairs.

o Australian Cozies: In Australian cozies, you might find references to Australian-specific traditions, like Anzac Day, BBQ culture, or a focus on more laid-back Australian attitudes. The lifestyle portrayed in Australian cozies tends to feel a bit more outdoorsy or tied to nature in a different way than in U.S. versions.

3. Language and Slang:

The language in U.S. and Australian cozy mysteries differs, not just in accent but in slang and idiomatic expressions. Australian cozy mysteries often feature Australian English, with words and phrases like “mate,” “arvo” (afternoon), “brekkie” (breakfast), or “g'day.” U.S. cozies would use American English expressions and dialects, reflective of different regions.

4. Sense of Humor:

While humor is a common feature in cozies from both countries, Australian cozy mysteries may have a more sardonic or dry sense of humor, reflecting Australian cultural attitudes. Reference and jokes are made about Sebastian hanging out with a Tasmanian Tiger which is a creature of great interest to many Australians as it is assumed to be extinct. (This of course links to the title of my novel, Alone with a Tasman Tiger. U.S. cozies might lean more toward wholesome or quirky humor, though this depends on the author.

Kathy: What first drew you to mysteries?

JE: I love reading mysteries. I love the gentle dropping of clues by the author and take great delight in spotting the villain before the ‘big reveal’. Having said that, I love it when there is an unexpected twist at the end. I’ll then read the book again to admire the author’s cleverness.

Kathy: Do you write in any other genres?

JE: Under my own name I write business books and travel memoirs, sometimes with my husband. My first novel was romantic suspense. It was a real emotional rollercoaster ride. Love, loss and finding a way back home. It became the first book in the Northern Rivers Series. My writing evolved to action/adventure in some of the places I’ve lived and travelled to, like France, Italy, London, Thailand, Burma and Australia with romance as a sub-plot.

Kathy: Tell us about your series.

JE: The tag line for the Northern Rivers series is Choices, Chaos and Coming home. My protagonist is Charlotte Wyatt who inadvertently gets herself into tricky situations because of the choices she makes. Several of the stories in the series such as Roman Roulette, Missing in Myanmar, and Nonsense in the North are about her search for someone, who has gone missing, and then she needs to apply creativity to rescue them. The first book in my latest series called ‘Chic Charlie’ is the story of the runup and big day itself for her wedding to Scott. Chic Charlie is the name of her fashion design studio. She is creating her own wedding dress, and also all the outfits for an arranged Indian wedding, when the bride goes missing.

Kathy: Do you have a favorite character? If so, who and why?

JE: I fall a little bit in love with all of my characters.

Kathy: Did you have a specific inspiration for your series?

JE: For Alone with a Tasman Tiger, it was various Survivor and ‘Alone’ TV series. I also read a few books like Stranded by Sarah Goodwin.

I’ve also been intrigued by the Sydney to Hobart yacht race. It’s a very demanding offshore sailing race in which yachts can sink and sailors die. I had to read a lot of sailing books to write this section of the book

Kathy: What made you decide to publish your work?

JE: I was writing long before I was publishing. I would write stories for my nieces and nephews, using postcards and scrap books. Out of love.

I had my first novel rejected by Mills and Boon – as it was not light enough for their typical reader. It was shoved in a drawer.

When I learnt how to independently publish, I pulled it out of the drawer – published and kept going. I’ve currently written 12 books across four genres.

Kathy: If you could have a dinner party and invite 4 authors, living or dead, in any genre, who would you invite?

JE: Julia Quinn – Author of Bridgerton. (I’ve heard her speak. She’s very funny)

Trevor Noah – Author of Born a Crime. My favourite memoir so far

Michale Robotham – Author of great mysteries

Kathy: What are you currently reading?

JE: Recently finished,

‘Bruny’ by Heather Rose which was a fantastic geo-political/family mystery/thriller about the destruction of a bridge in Tasmania. The characters and their back stories are delightfully described. And there’s a slow-build romance.

‘We are the Stars’ by Gina Chick. It’s a memoir written by the first woman to win ‘Alone’ in Australia. It was watching her, which was part of the inspiration for my writing an alternate version of the competition. She’s had such an interesting and at times difficult life.

Currently listening to The Covenant of Water, which was recommended to me by a member of my book club. It’s a multi-generational story about a family in India. Beautifully written. Love the observations about the small things.

Kathy: Will you share any of your hobbies or interests with us?

JE: Reading. Travelling, and travelling on a bicycle when possible. My husband and I are joining a few friends in the new year to ride from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai in Thailand.

Kathy: Name 4 items you always have in your fridge or pantry.

JE: Avocado. (My British husband calls this my Australian obsession).

Cheese. (A habit I picked up living in France for ten years)

Cashew and macadamia nuts mix. (My favourite snack)

Kathy: Do you have plans for future books either in your current series or a new series?

JE: I’m in the thinking and dreaming phase. I’ve been encourage to write Galina’s next adventure, which will probably happen in France and Estonia. I’ve not been to Estonia, so I’m thinking about a research trip.

Kathy: What's your favorite thing about being an author?

JE: It’s another world. I control it all I can make things happen. I can play our scenarios that scare me, but for which the heroine is successful. I love doing this. It’s empowering

As an Indie author, I can write what I want, get a cover designed that I love, set my pricing. Control the whole process.

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Alone with a Tasman Tiger (Chic Charlie) by Jane Ellyson

About Alone with a Tasman Tiger

Alone with a Tasman Tiger (Chic Charlie)
Australian Cozy Mystery 2nd in Series
Settings – Brisbane, Sydney, Tasmania and London
Publisher: ‎ Stanley Press (September 23, 2024)
Paperback: ‎ 398 pages

A high stakes race. A missing friend and a search for the impossible.

In the Tasmanian wilderness six contestants battle it out to win $250,000. Only five finish.

In Bass Strait the Blue Gazelle yacht tackles fierce winds, huge waves and a phantom vessel, in its race to win the Tattersall Cup.

In London a fashion designer learns about a Belarussian scientist, possibly involved with a deadly technology.

In Hobart a search party is launched for a missing sailor.

At the centre of investigations are two feisty sleuths, Galina Ivanov and Charlotte Harmon, who are looking for clues which could save their partners and stop the spread of a devastating weapon.

Can they find them before all hope is lost?

About Jane Ellyson

Jane Ellyson has written six novels across the action, adventure and romance genres. Having lived in Europe and Asia, in addition to her native Australia, her stories frequently visit beautiful locations. She currently lives at Possum Creek, just out of Bangalow in northern New South Wales, Australia – well she would if she was real – rather than being the pen name of someone who would prefer to remain anonymous.

Previous novels include: