J Penner spins cozy fantasy stories featuring humans, elves, orcs, dwarves, and more. She refers to herself as "baking magic into every page" and teases us with mouth-watering descriptions of baked goods in A Fellowship of Bakers & Magic, the first novel in her Adenashire cozy fantasy series.

Originally self-published, Poisoned Pen Press picked up the Adenashire series. Four books are already published in the series, and a fifth will be published soon. J Penner shares about her journey to trad publishing, the mental health arcs she included for her characters, and how writing out of order helps her when she's drafting a manuscript. She also shares a few teasers about what to expect in book 5! 

To learn more about J Penner and her books, and check out some special recipes, visit her website https://jpennerauthor.com or follow her on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/jpennerauthor/

J Penner - A Fellowship of Bakers and Magic

A dash of mystery, a sparkle of magic, and all things cozy! Elle interviews fellow cozy authors in this new podcast from Authors on the Air.

Today on the podcast, meet Casey Blair, author of the Tea Princess Chronicles, Sundered Realms, Diamond Universe, and–drumroll please–the recently-released Sage’s Sanctuary series! Elle and Casey discuss serialized stories and Kickstarter campaigns, world-building, being the art director for your book, and of course, the promise of cozy stories. Enjoy!

Casey Blair’s Bio:
Casey Blair is a bestselling author of hopeful fantasy novels about ambitious women who dare, including the Tea Princess Chronicles, Sundered Realms, and Diamond Universe: Sierra Walker series. Her own adventures have included teaching English in rural Japan, taking a train to Tibet, rappelling down waterfalls in Costa Rica, and practicing capoeira. She now lives in the Pacific Northwest and can be found dancing spontaneously, exploring forests around the world, or trapped under a cat.

Find Casey’s Website and Books Here:
https://caseyblair.com/ 

~~~

Elle Hartford’s Bio:
Elle Hartford writes cozy mystery with a fairy tale twist. The award-winning first book in her Alchemical Tales series, Beauty and the Alchemist, finds amateur sleuth Red mixed up with murderous beasts and moody beauties, and a set of missing books besides! 

Elle has also written two spin-off series, the cozy fantasy-goes-to-the-beach Marine Magic series as well as Pomegranate Cafe Romance. For other writers and authors looking into “wide” indie publishing, Elle offers coaching as well as the Beyond Writing blog (ellehartford.substack.com) with how-tos and resources.

Find Elle Hartford Online:
https://ellehartford.com/ 

Casey Blair ~ Tea Princess and Sage's Sanctuary ~ Cozy Alchemy Ep. 3!

A dash of mystery, a sparkle of magic, and all things cozy! Elle interviews fellow cozy authors in this new podcast from Authors on the Air.

Today on the podcast, meet A. R. Capetta, author of Costumes for Time Travelers and many other fun, fantastical books! Elle and A. R. discuss time and productivity (of course), cozy fantasy as a perspective break, and keeping the joy in your writing practice. Happy listening!

A. R. Capetta’s Bio:
A. R. Capetta is an award-winning and bestselling author of wild magic. A.R.’s next release is Costumes for Time Travelers, a cozy romantic fantasy coming May 2025 from Candlewick Press. Other magic-infused novels include The Lost Coast, The Brilliant Death, Lambda Award winner The Heartbreak Bakery, and the national bestseller Once & Future co-authored with spouse Cory McCarthy. A. R.’s short fiction has appeared in The Best American Science Fiction and Fantasy and The Year’s Best Dark Fantasy & Horror. For young readers, A. R. pens the Hocus and Pocus series.

Find A. R.’s Website and Books Here:
https://onceandfuturestories.com/ 

~~~

Elle Hartford’s Bio:
Elle Hartford writes cozy mystery with a fairy tale twist. The award-winning first book in her Alchemical Tales series, Beauty and the Alchemist, finds amateur sleuth Red mixed up with murderous beasts and moody beauties, and a set of missing books besides! 

Elle has also written two spin-off series, the cozy fantasy-goes-to-the-beach Marine Magic series as well as Pomegranate Cafe Romance. For other writers and authors looking into “wide” indie publishing, Elle offers coaching as well as the Beyond Writing blog (ellehartford.substack.com) with how-tos and resources.

Find Elle Hartford Online:
https://ellehartford.com/ 

A. R. Capetta ~ Costumes for Time Travelers ~ Cozy Alchemy Ep. 4

A dash of mystery, a sparkle of magic, and all things cozy! Elle interviews fellow cozy authors in this bookish podcast from Authors on the Air.

Today on the podcast, meet Rachael Herron, author of the upcoming The Seven Miracles of Beatrix Holland and many other great books, both fiction and memoir! Elle and Rachael discuss literally-found family, using tarot for inspiration, and the balance of being highly organized vs. trusting intuition. Enjoy!

Rachael Herron’s Bio:
Rachael Herron is the internationally bestselling author of more than two dozen books, including thrillers (under R.H. Herron), mainstream fiction, feminist romance, memoir, and nonfiction about writing. She received her MFA in writing from Mills College, Oakland, and she’s taught writing extension workshops at both UC Berkeley and Stanford. A dual New Zealand and American citizen, she lives in Wellington, New Zealand with her banjo-playing wife and brick-eating dog.

Find Rachael’s Website and Books Here:
https://rachaelherron.com/ 

And Find Rachael’s Podcast Here:
https://rachaelherron.com/category/podcast/ 

~~~

Elle Hartford’s Bio:
Elle Hartford writes cozy mystery with a fairy tale twist. The award-winning first book in her Alchemical Tales series, Beauty and the Alchemist, finds amateur sleuth Red mixed up with murderous beasts and moody beauties, and a set of missing books besides! 

Elle has also written two spin-off series, the cozy fantasy-goes-to-the-beach Marine Magic series as well as Pomegranate Cafe Romance. For other writers and authors looking into “wide” indie publishing, Elle offers coaching as well as the Beyond Writing blog (ellehartford.substack.com) with how-tos and resources.

Find Elle Hartford Online:
https://ellehartford.com/ 

Rachael Herron ~ The Seven Miracles of Beatrix Holland ~ Cozy Alchemy Ep. 5

A dash of mystery, a sparkle of magic, and all things cozy! Elle interviews fellow cozy authors in this bookish podcast from Authors on the Air.

Today on the podcast, meet Leah Cutter, author of magical cozy mystery like The Water Witch mysteries and delicious cozy fantasy like the Ice Elf series–and many other books besides! Elle and Leah talk about Leah’s writing process, water magic, quirky characters, and the joy of discovering a new world. Happy listening!

Leah’s Bio:
Leah Cutter writes page-turning, wildly imaginative fiction set in exotic locations such as a magical New Orleans, the ancient Orient, Hungary, the Oregon coast, rural Kentucky, Seattle, Minneapolis, and many others.

She writes fantasy, mystery, science fiction, literary, and horror fiction. Her short fiction has been published in magazines like Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine and Talebones, anthologies like Fiction River, and on the web. Her long fiction has been published both by New York publishers as well as small presses.

Find Leah’s Website and Books Here:
https://www.leahcutter.com/

~~~

Elle Hartford’s Bio:
Elle Hartford writes cozy mystery with a fairy tale twist. The award-winning first book in her Alchemical Tales series, Beauty and the Alchemist, finds amateur sleuth Red mixed up with murderous beasts and moody beauties, and a set of missing books besides! 

Elle has also written two spin-off series, the cozy fantasy-goes-to-the-beach Marine Magic series as well as Pomegranate Cafe Romance. For other writers and authors looking into “wide” indie publishing, Elle offers coaching as well as the Beyond Writing blog (ellehartford.substack.com) with how-tos and resources.

Find Elle Online:
https://ellehartford.com/ 

Leah Cutter ~ Water Witches and Ice Elves ~ Cozy Alchemy Ep. 6

Talking Beasts & Cozy Fantasy: Elle Hartford’s Enchanted World

What happens when you mix a talking otter, magical beasts, porpoises who need saving and a dash of mystery? You get Elle Hartford’s enchanting How to Treat Talking Beasts.
In this episode, Elle joins me to dive into the world of Sunlit Haven—a marine biologist and animal rescuer whose sanctuary becomes the center of magical (and sometimes mischievous) attention. Sunlit’s journey is one of courage, friendship, and learning to find her voice.

Elle shares the inspiration behind her delightful mix of animal care and cozy mystery, the challenges of writing whimsical worlds that feel real, and why readers are falling in love with the Marine Sanctuary family.

Plus, we had a special guest appearance with Elle’s turtle, William! 
If you adore books with heart, humor, and plenty of magic, you won’t want to miss this conversation.

To learn more about Elle, visit: ellehartford.com
For more about my K-9 books, visit: kathleendonnelly.com
Sit. Stay. Read. is a proud part of the Authors on the Air Global Network.

Elle Hartford, How To Treat Talking Beasts, Ep. 11

A dash of mystery, a sparkle of magic, and all things cozy! Elle interviews fellow cozy authors in this bookish podcast from Authors on the Air.

Today on the podcast, meet Lucy Jane Wood, author of Rewitched and Uncharmed! Elle and Lucy talk about magic systems, pineapple on pizza, healing through our characters, and the big warm hug that is cozy fantasy. Enjoy!


Lucy’s Bio:
Oh, hey! I’m Lucy, author of Rewitched, Uncharmed, and perhaps some other mysterious, magical projects bubbling away in the background. I’m originally from the Wirral, UK, but these days you’ll find me living in London, giant coffee in hand, probably being headbutted by my cat.

Rewitched and Uncharmed were both written to be cosy, comforting, joyful books that envoke the 90s witches I loved so much growing up. They’re soft, kind stories (full of absolutely terrible jokes) to lead you by the hand into spooky season and rewind your mind back to a precious, nostalgic time. 

Find Lucy’s Website and Books Here:
https://www.lucyjanewood.co.uk/books 


~~~

Elle Hartford’s Bio:
Elle Hartford writes cozy mystery with a fairy tale twist. The award-winning first book in her Alchemical Tales series, Beauty and the Alchemist, finds amateur sleuth Red mixed up with murderous beasts and moody beauties, and a set of missing books besides! 

Elle has also written two spin-off series, the cozy fantasy-goes-to-the-beach Marine Magic series as well as Pomegranate Cafe Romance. For other writers and authors looking into “wide” indie publishing, Elle offers coaching as well as the Beyond Writing blog (ellehartford.substack.com) with how-tos and resources.

Find Elle Online:
https://ellehartford.com/ 

Lucy Jane Wood ~ Uncharmed ~ Cozy Alchemy Ep. 9

A dash of mystery, a sparkle of magic, and all things cozy! Elle interviews fellow cozy authors in this bookish podcast from Authors on the Air.

Today on the podcast, meet Jenn McKinlay, author of Witches of Dubious Origin--and more! Elle and Jenn talk creative brainstorming, how to keep a story interesting, the delights of cozy genres, and more. Happy listening!


Jenn’s Bio:
Jenn is the New York Times, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly bestselling author of several mystery and romance series. She is also the winner of the RT Reviewers’ Choice Award for romantic comedy and the Fresh Fiction award for best cozy mystery. A TEDx speaker, she is always happy to talk books, writing, reading, and the creative process to anyone who cares to listen. She lives in sunny Arizona in a house that is overrun with books, pets, and her husband’s guitars.


Find Jenn’s Website and Books Here:
https://jennmckinlay.com/ 


~~~

Elle Hartford’s Bio:
Elle Hartford writes cozy mystery with a fairy tale twist. The award-winning first book in her Alchemical Tales series, Beauty and the Alchemist, finds amateur sleuth Red mixed up with murderous beasts and moody beauties, and a set of missing books besides! 

Elle has also written two spin-off series, the cozy fantasy-goes-to-the-beach Marine Magic series as well as Pomegranate Cafe Romance. For other writers and authors looking into “wide” indie publishing, Elle offers coaching as well as the Beyond Writing blog (ellehartford.substack.com) with how-tos and resources.

Find Elle Online:
https://ellehartford.com/

Jenn McKinlay ~ Witches of Dubious Origin ~ Cozy Alchemy Ep. 10

A dash of mystery, a sparkle of magic, and all things cozy! Elle interviews fellow cozy authors in this bookish podcast from Authors on the Air.

Today on the podcast, meet Travis Baldree, author of the upcoming cozy fantasy novel Brigands and Breadknives--and more! Elle and Travis talk about the roots of the genre, the magic of mundane life, the importance of community, and more. Enjoy!


Travis’s Bio:
I love stories, and I love telling them. I’m the author of Legends & Lattes, a low-stakes cozy fantasy novel. I’m a narrator too, and I’ve loved the art since I first heard Frank Muller’s legendary work. I’ve lent my voice to hundreds of books (including my own). I live in the Pacific Northwest, and I get up every morning excited and grateful to do this job.

Find Travis’s Website and Books Here:
https://www.travisbaldree.com/books 


~~~

Elle Hartford’s Bio:
Elle Hartford writes cozy mystery with a fairy tale twist. The award-winning first book in her Alchemical Tales series, Beauty and the Alchemist, finds amateur sleuth Red mixed up with murderous beasts and moody beauties, and a set of missing books besides! 

Elle has also written two spin-off series, the cozy fantasy-goes-to-the-beach Marine Magic series as well as Pomegranate Cafe Romance. For other writers and authors looking into “wide” indie publishing, Elle offers coaching as well as the Beyond Writing blog (ellehartford.substack.com) with how-tos and resources.

Find Elle Online:
https://ellehartford.com/ 

Travis Baldree ~ Brigands and Breadknives ~ Cozy Alchemy Ep. 11

A dash of mystery, a sparkle of magic, and all things cozy! Elle interviews fellow cozy authors in this bookish podcast from Authors on the Air.

Today on the podcast, meet Emily Krempholtz, author of the upcoming cozy fantasy romance Violet Thistlewaite is Not a Villain Anymore! Elle and Emily talk about redemption arcs, the joy of side characters, the ultimate scrapbook of stories, and more. Happy listening!


Emily’s Bio:
Emily Krempholtz is an author, editor, book coach, ghostwriter, and storyteller. When she’s not writing, Emily loves to hike, travel, ride horses, bake bread, decorate cakes, play board games, and drink more tea than is probably healthy. She reads just about as many fantasy and romance novels as she can get her hands on, and spends a lot of time camped out in her neighborhood cafes, writing.

Emily lives in sunny Colorado, where you can usually find her in the mountains—either hiking (and pretending to be a character in a novel) or curled up in a hammock with a good book (and also pretending to be a character in a novel). She’s on a lifelong quest to discover the magic in the world, and has a sneaking suspicion that the written word is where she’ll find it.


Find Emily’s Website and Books Here:
https://emilykrempholtz.com/ 

~~~

Elle Hartford’s Bio:
Elle Hartford writes cozy mystery with a fairy tale twist. The award-winning first book in her Alchemical Tales series, Beauty and the Alchemist, finds amateur sleuth Red mixed up with murderous beasts and moody beauties, and a set of missing books besides! 

Elle has also written two spin-off series, the cozy fantasy-goes-to-the-beach Marine Magic series as well as Pomegranate Cafe Romance. For other writers and authors looking into “wide” indie publishing, Elle offers coaching as well as the Beyond Writing blog (ellehartford.substack.com) with how-tos and resources.

Find Elle Online:
https://ellehartford.com

Emily Krempholtz ~ Violet Thistlewaite is Not a Villain Anymore ~ Cozy Alchemy Ep. 15

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New tracks tagged #cozy fantasy