Elizabeth Pantley | Updates

I interviewed Beth Dolgner, a cozy mystery author. Read it and see a picture of her “poison garden dress"!

Elizabeth Pantley — Mon, 13 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

If you had to define your books in ten separate words, what would they be?

Escape, Fun, Cozy, Spooky, Whimsical, Paranormal, Magical, Welcoming, Safe, Kind.

Have any of your scenes made you cry?

One of the ongoing storylines in my Eternal Rest Bed and Breakfast paranormal cozy mysteries is that my main character, Emily, lost her husband in a car accident that happened under odd circumstances. Emily has always wanted answers about what really happened, and she’s convinced Scott’s ghost should be around, even though she’s never gotten proof of it. In book seven, Quiet Nights, Emily gets all those answers as well as closure. I cried while writing the entire scene, because it was such a moment of release for Emily, even amid her grief.

Which would be your spirit animal?

The most popular character I’ve ever written is Felipe the chupacabra. Felipe is great fun to write, and I love that my readers have embraced him with so much enthusiasm. At a convention a few years ago, I let readers know that anyone who ran up to me and shouted, “Felipe is my spirit animal!” would get a free keychain with him on it. Felipe is smart and rambunctious, and he tends to cause chaos wherever he goes. Does this sound a little like me? Maybe.

Do you have any weird writing habits or quirks?

I like to listen to music when I write, but I absolutely cannot listen to anything with lyrics, because it distracts me from my own words. Now, when I begin writing, I put on music by Midnight Syndicate. It’s spooky atmospheric music, and you’ve likely heard it playing if you’ve ever visited a haunted house attraction. Many haunts license their music to help set the scene.

In fact, in my Nightmare, Arizona series, I describe the background music playing in the entryway of Nightmare Sanctuary Haunted House. It’s my little nod to Midnight Syndicate. Their music is beautiful but spooky, so it’s perfect for writing paranormal cozy mysteries!

Do you ever get angry at a character for doing something you didn’t plan for?

Let’s talk about Carter Lansford. Carter is in my Betty Boo, Ghost Hunter urban fantasy series, and he is a pretentious, spoiled, rich-boy jerk! He’s also the first character who truly came to life in my imagination, doing and saying whatever he wanted, with absolute disregard for my outline.

Carter would say such mean things to my main character, Betty, that I would literally talk back at him as I was typing his dialogue. So, picture me at my computer, shouting, “Seriously, Carter?” while he mouthed off as only he can. I’m happy to say he had a great arc across the four-book series and is now my favorite character I’ve ever written.

Have you ever had a strange/funny/lovely experience with a reader?

I’ve had many, and my readers keep me going when I’m frustrated or burned out. Their comments, support, and kindness are such a joy to me. One of my favorite experiences came from a reader whose friend was undergoing chemo treatments. We arranged for me to send a copy of Homicide at the Haunted House to the friend, who started reading it out loud to the others at chemo with her. I was told they all started to refer to chemo appointments as “book club” because it gave them something to look forward to, despite the circumstances.

You can find links to all of her series below, as well as her website and social media.

Crones of a Feather Paranormal Cozy Mysteries

Eternal Rest Bed and Breakfast Paranormal Cozy Mysteries

Nightmare, Arizona Paranormal Cozy Mysteries

Betty Boo, Ghost Hunter Romantic Urban Fantasy Series

BethDolgner.com
Facebook
Instagram

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How I Choose the Settings for my Books

Elizabeth Pantley — Wed, 1 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

In the Magical Mystery Book Club series, the group gets to travel into mystery books and live the entire experience first-hand. They find the dead body (yeah, some of the members don’t like that part!), they figure out the suspects, and they solve the mystery. Since the club can travel into any book from their cozy mystery library, there are thousands of choices where I can place the setting of these adventures! That’s where my fun begins. They travel to small towns, take voyages on cruise ships, and even go back in time! With all those options, how do I pick the setting? Lots of different aspects lead to the decision.

What comes first, the chicken or the egg?

There are times when a story pops into my head – but it could happen anywhere. I’ll sometimes outline the victim, the murder, and the suspects first, and then decide where in the world they will be. There are times when the plot drives the setting, and others when the setting drives the plot.

Choosing where to place the story.

I always want to have a small, contained environment. Big city murders don’t blend well with my cozies. But there are lots of possibilities for locations! From small towns filled with local charm to cruise ships sailing around Hawaii, I like to place my mysteries in locales where the suspects, villains, and red-herrings can happen naturally among the small population.

Weather, Terrain, and Events Lend Themselves to Locations

Some stories lend themselves to small mid-western towns, and others lead me back in time to days long ago. Once the characters show themselves, I’m able to build a world that suits their needs.

Shifting and Shenanigans finds the group in a small farming town. Vampires and Villains takes the book club on a cruse to Hawaii. Cowboys and Chaos takes them back to the old Wild West. Bakeries and Buffooneries takes place in a charming Hallmark-Channel-worthy small town where everybody knows everybody, and no secret goes untold. These are all fun places to solve a mystery!

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Word Search Puzzle!

Elizabeth Pantley — Sun, 15 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Play here: https://thewordsearch.com/puzzle/9391535/the-magical-cozy-mystery-book-club/

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A Favorite Book Fan Moment

Elizabeth Pantley — Wed, 11 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000

One of the unexpected joys of being an author is finding a fan out there in the world randomly. Not at a conference or a lecture, but when you’re living your everyday life and stumble upon a reader. Here is one of those moments that I’ll always remember.

We were at my son’s baseball game when an officer approached the stands. I was sitting in the front row near the middle, when she walked up to the woman seated at the end.

“I found a wallet in the parking lot,” she said. “I thought it might belong to one of the parents here.”

The officer opened the wallet to look for identification. “It belongs to Robert Pantley,” she said.

“Yep! It’s the coach,” said the parent. “But his wife is right there.” She looked over and called to me, “Elizabeth!”

I walked over and the officer looked me in the eye with an intense stare. “You’re Elizabeth Pantley, the author! Your no-cry sleep book saved my life when my baby was a newborn and I was a sleep-deprived zombie. I still follow your blog. I’m so excited to meet you! Thanks for everything you do.”

The officer sat in the stands with me for a while. I told her all about my fiction series books. We watched my son play baseball and had a great time talking about our families.

P.S. No, that’s not actually me or her in the graphic!

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Read what the Mystery Review Crew says about my NEW RELEASE - Critters & Crimes!

Elizabeth Pantley — Sat, 28 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000

"Surprising twists kept this plot moving along, with heaps of red herrings thrown in. There is gentle humor that springs from the characterizations. The settings are gorgeously described, with plenty of attention to detail, so they can be imagined in the reader’s mind. Pantley does a fine job of making her talking animal creatures so life-like that even readers who don’t normally enjoy magical realism will be swayed."

This was a such a delightful read!

5 stars = "it was amazing”

https://mysteryreviewcrew.com/critters-and-crime-magical-cozy-mystery/

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A quaint riverside town holds many secrets ... and the only ones who’ve seen it all are the critters.

This book club dives (literally!) into the pages of a cozy mystery. The quirky group must solve the mystery to get out of the book. It’s so much fun - you’ll wish you had a book club like this!

In this journey, they choose a book set in a lovely riverside town. They land in a charming neighborhood and find they are part of a local book club. They are having a great time – and then a dead body shows up.

The clues to what happened come to them in a unique way – via the critters in the house.

As usual, the club finds plenty of time to enjoy the unique setting of their journey, as they solve the mystery – one critter at a time.

AMAZON:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FLX616P2

- eBook, paperback, audiobook & Kindle Unlimited.

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Featured Quote

Elizabeth Pantley — Sun, 15 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Click on the picture to see the full image.

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Featured Puzzle

Elizabeth Pantley — Fri, 30 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Check out this scene from my new release: Critters & Crimes!

Click on this link to complete the puzzle online:

https://www.jigsawplanet.com/?rc=play&pid=02acff2a0ee8

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An interview with … ME!

Elizabeth Pantley — Mon, 19 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000

(Originally done by Dollcas at Great Escapes Book Tours.)

Hi Elizabeth. Tell us a little bit about yourself and how you began writing cozy mystery books.

I spent twenty years as a parent educator writing and lecturing about raising babies and young children. When my youngest graduated college, and my first grandchild entered kindergarten I decided to make a leap and write the cozy mystery novel I’d always dreamed of writing. That was years ago. Once I started writing cozy mysteries, I realized how much of a calling it was and the books just flow out of me! And I’ve never had so much fun in my work!

What books/authors have most inspired you?

Oh! There are so many! I find bits of inspiration in almost every book I read. It seems every author has a character, a scene, a word, or an idea that plants a seed. The seeds combine to inspire me as I create new worlds.

What kind of research do you do, and how long do you spend researching before beginning a book?

I write what I know so that my work is authentic. The settings in my series resemble places I know well so that I can describe them in ways that my readers are transported there. Even though I write paranormal fiction, I like there to be a solid foundation of truth and reality. What comes together is a place that feels real, even when talking cats are involved!

Do you ever suffer from Writer’s Block?

I think everyone has moments of blockage. I take advantage of those by catching up on all the other work and household tasks that build up when I’m busy writing. A short break away – whether it’s a few hours or a few days seems to reset my brain.

What advice do you have for someone who would like to become a published writer?

My favorite advice is: If you want to be a writer you must read … and you must write. Read a lot. A whole lot, the more the better. Write a lot. Write afraid. Write nervously. Write uncomfortably. Write poorly. But … WRITE! The more you write, the better you will get.

When you are not writing what do you like to do?

As a mother of four young adults who are all paired up, and a young grandchild as well, a large part of my free time is spent with my family. We hike, play board games, talk, eat, and have many great shared family moments.

If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?

Here’s a secret. I’ve traveled. A lot. I’ve toured my parenting books all over the US, Canada, Australia, even Hong Kong! I’ve traveled with my family around the USA, Canada, Europe, Mexico, and the Caribbean. The one place I love to be most? My very own home! I’d rather be home than travel anywhere else!

What is next on the horizon for you?

I just released book eleven in the Magical Mystery Book Club series: Critters and Crimes. Once that book settles in, I’ll be off to the keyboard once again!

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A Weird Thing Happened on My Walk

Elizabeth Pantley — Sun, 11 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000

I take a daily walk around my neighborhood. I like the fresh air and exercise, and I enjoy looking at the different homes and landscaping. The other day, I saw an old blue car parked on the street. Something about it made me suspicious. I’m not sure whether it was how it was parked, where it was parked, or how it looked. Probably a combination of all that.

Then, I questioned myself. As a writer of mysteries, was I just creating a story over a regular old parked car? I turned around and walked past it again. No. I really did get a feeling that it didn’t belong there.

Luckily, we have a neighborhood watch group. I texted the group and asked if anyone knew about the car. No one did. That ramped up my suspicion. One of my neighbors agreed with me, and he called our local police station with a non-urgent situation.

So, what happened? I bet you want to know. Did the car belong to a random person’s guest, perhaps? Or was it a door-to-door solicitor selling candy bars or magazines? Nope! The police investigated and it turned out to be a group of people caught trespassing in an empty home! The people were arrested, and that old blue car was removed.

Perhaps my fine-tuned mystery author’s spidey-senses work better than I realized.

PS That's not a picture of the actual car....

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Come hang out with 8,300 cozy-lovin' members!

Elizabeth Pantley — Fri, 2 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000

~ Come visit Cozy Town Sleuth! ~

More than 8,300 cozy-lovin' members!

A different author takes over the page every day.
I’m the host every other Thursday - all day long!

Make sure you join the Facebook group. There's always something fun happening!

Click here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/cozytownsleuths

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An Interview with Sebastian

Elizabeth Pantley — Tue, 30 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Hello and welcome, Sebastian! You’re one of the main characters in the Magical Mystery Book Club series. I can tell it is about a book club. What makes this group so different?

Thank you for inviting me. Our book club is unlike any other! First off, we have a private collection of books in a fabulous library that’s hidden away. It has thousands of books – and they are all cozy mysteries, my favorite genre! The crazy thing is that you don’t just read the books . . . you get absorbed into them and live the mystery! You become a character!

Speaking of characters, your book club is full of them!

You can say that again! If only the whole world was this way, we’d have a lot more fun and harmony. In our diverse gang everyone is as different as cheese and puzzles. We’ve got everything from a spunky octogenarian, Zell, to a cool teenager, Forrest, and everything in between. It’s a miracle, but we all get along and work together to solve the mystery.

I heard that it’s imperative that you find out who the killer is in each book.

Whooo baby! That’s the understatement of the year! We think that if we don’t solve the mystery we never get out of the book! In the history of the book club – and it’s a very long one – so far, every club has figured out the mystery and made their way back home. But honestly, Zell, the goofy senior lady, and Frank, our talking library cat, are the only ones who have history with the group, and they are totally unreliable sources of information!

Wait. You have a talking cat?

Hahaha, yep! He not only talks, but he’s a clever, brave, and sort of obnoxious little man. Oh, don’t tell him I said that! We all love him, even though he’s apt to cause a heap of trouble for us along the way.

Thanks for joining me today, Sebastian!

Thank you for having me. Stop by the book club someday – we’re often on a lookout for a new member.

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Seniors Make Great Mystery Book Characters

Elizabeth Pantley — Thu, 11 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000

One of the characters in the Magical Mystery Book Club series is Zelda, Zell to her friends. She’s an octogenarian, and very proud of it. Readers tell me that they love her, and she’s their favorite character in the series. It’s not uncommon to find a senior citizen in a cozy mystery! There are quite a few reasons that they are so popular.

Experience and Wisdom Strengthen the Plot

An older sleuth carries a lifetime of experience that enables them to figure out the nuances of a case. An intelligent twenty-something person may miss something that a senior catches, due to their vast past experiences. “Oh, I remember when…” can be a very useful tool.

Seniors Lose their Filters

Whether it’s intentionally or by accident, seniors often blurt out things they shouldn’t. This makes for some very funny scenes, an intriguing character, and secrets exposed unexpectedly.

They can Get Away with Things

A tiny eighty-year-old woman can play the adorable card and get away with unacceptable behavior that would be nipped in the bud if it were a younger person. A crinkly, dimpled smile framed by a cloud of curly white hair can convince anyone of innocence.

They Give Us Hope

Older characters who are smart, fun, and quirky tell us that age doesn’t mean you have to sit on a rocking chair and knit when you’re a senior citizen. You don’t have to become boring and bland. They demonstrate that no matter what your age, you can have a great time in your life.

They Reflect our Societal Shift

Sixty is the new forty, so they say. Therefore, eighty must be the new sixty, right? In today’s world of superior medical care, healthier personal habits, and the availability of information about how to live a longer, healthier life, you’ll see many seniors out there running marathons, hiking mountains, skiing, and sailing. So why not solving mysteries!

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Featured Puzzle ~~~ Click 'read more' to complete the puzzle!

Elizabeth Pantley — Sat, 15 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Click on this link to complete the puzzle online:

https://www.jigsawplanet.com/?rc=play&pid=1b07660ec654

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Featured Quote

Elizabeth Pantley — Sat, 1 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0000

I hope you had a fun Halloween!

Click on the picture to see the full image.

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Hello, I’m The Witch from Destiny Falls

Elizabeth Pantley — Fri, 24 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000

I’m not always being difficult. Okay, wait a minute. Yes, haha. I am always being difficult. But, ask all you want, I’m not telling you my name. You can call me The Witch, since if I told you my name, I’d be giving away a huge book spoiler. And while I may be difficult, I’m no book spoiler!

That’s what everyone calls me now, anyhow. Just The Witch. You’d think someone would be courteous enough to ask my name, but ohhh, no. Just call her The Witch since she doesn’t have any feelings. Oh, I have feelings alright. And a whole lot of pent-up anger and frustration, I’ll have you know.

I’m stuck in a cave, you see. Being punished for misdeeds from years, and years, and years ago. Totally unfair! I’ve almost escaped several times, but my plots have always been foiled. Lately, it’s that newcomer, Hayden Caldwell. She’s so perky and nosy and annoying. And she’s all chummy with my sister who put me in this miserable cave. Oh, so I suppose I can’t tell you who my sister is either, another huge spoiler.

I can tell you that I’m not going to sit by helplessly and let all these folks from Destiny Falls go on about their business in their happy little Hallmark town. I know better. They have their secrets and their schemes and an assortment of villains wandering around town. I’m not always the bad guy, you know?

And, about this ghost camper guy! Ohhh. He makes me mad, too. Thinks he’s so wise and all-powerful. He’s got his secrets. And when Hayden finds out she’s not going to be happy with him at all. And I’ll just sit back and watch and have a good old laugh.

Excuse me. I need to run off. I have a new minion that I’m training, and I need to make my Costco list so he can start doing my shopping.

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Destiny Falls Mystery and Magic series is available on Amazon.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08MCSN2KD

eBook, Kindle Unlimited, paperback, and audiobook

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Why are Talking Cats so Popular in Cozy Mysteries?

Elizabeth Pantley — Wed, 1 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Many cozy mysteries feature cats that communicate in various ways. Both of my cozy mystery series feature cats that talk. There’s just something very possible about this, isn’t there? Let’s talk about why cats are so suitable as a talking animal in a mystery book.

Cats are mysterious and smart.

They always seem to be watching, processing, and scheming. They are clever animals, and it’s great to be able to tap into that cleverness.

Cats do communicate.

They let you know what they’re thinking. Why not give them a voice?

Cats and the paranormal go together.

Cats have long been associated with magic and witches, so it makes sense that they’d be popular in any paranormal genre.

Cats are inquisitive and stealthy.

The natural personality of a cat is perfectly suited to a mystery story. They can silently observe from the shadows. How much better when they can then report to the sleuth what they’ve seen or heard?

Many people love cats.

It’s common for people to have a strong emotional bond with their pet cat. They are loved and cared for almost as much as a family member. Cat lovers enjoy getting to know felines in a more human way.

Most everyone talks to their cats.

Cats make a great sounding board. They always appear to be listening intently. They are marvelous companions that allow the character in a mystery to talk through their thoughts and speculations about the crime.

Given a voice, cats can be witty and funny.

Cats have a ton of confidence and always seem to feel superior to the humans around them. This leads to a somewhat snarky personality style, which is common in a cozy mystery cat.

Frank from is a clever talking library cat.

The library cat from the Magical Mystery Book Club perfectly fits the role! Here’s a short excerpt:

We heard a snappy beat being tapped out by tiny nails. Zell, being enamored with drumbeats, yanked two decorative stems out of a flower arrangement and began tapping along with the beat. The door swung open and Frank, our bold and over-confident library cat, emerged. He strolled through the room as if on a runway, sauntering to the beat of Zell’s flower-stem rhythm. He ended with a twirl and a bow.

He scanned the room. “Ladies and … umm … gentleman,” he said. “Greetings, salutations, and a great, big howdy-do.”

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Featured Quote

Elizabeth Pantley — Fri, 26 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Is your TBR pile as big as mine? That never stops me from buying books. Yes, I have all these books already ... but THIS shiny new one looks great, too! (Click on the picture to see the whole thing.)

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Word Search Puzzle

Elizabeth Pantley — Mon, 15 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Play here: https://thewordsearch.com/puzzle/8766297/cowboys-and-chaos/

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7 Things that Bookworms Do

Elizabeth Pantley — Thu, 4 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Do you recognize yourself in any (or all!) of these bookworm traits?

Click the photo to see all 7 things!

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Fun Question of the Day

Elizabeth Pantley — Sun, 31 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Have you ever wondered if you should buy more books?
This handy pie chart will give you the answer.

Click on the picture to see where you land.

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Now you know!
I believe it may be time for book shopping.

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