Welcome to our mini-series on A Warm Mug of Cozy Anthology, which celebrates the writers whose stories are featured in our inaugural volume.
Today, J. Ivanel Johnson is telling us what inspired her story “Winter’s Warmblood.”
As a former competitive 3-Day Event rider and internationally-certified instructor, I have always been interested in the wordplay of names in the equestrian industry, as many have double meanings to do with MURDER or CRIME. (See this article for more information.)
As I’ve also written a Scottish-connected full-length Canadian musical and am lucky enough that my maternal grandfather was born in Aberdeenshire, I was able to work and research in the very county from whence he came. Back in 2009-2010 I, like my Lucy character in “Winter’s Warmblood,” taught riding on a 20,000 acre estate in the beautiful wild Highlands where I also lived in a stone cottage in The Stableyard.
All of the female characters in this short story are based on real-life friends and colleagues there, and one of them specifically asked if she could ‘star’ as the murderess. So this is especially dedicated to Leanne; she’s the type of gal that likes to ‘stirrup’ trouble even more than I do.
I’m thrilled that “Winter’s Warmblood” has found its way to a ‘cozy’ home in this exciting new anthology!
J. Ivanel Johnson is the pen name for an award-winning mystery novelist, playwright and composer living in the Appalachians of New Brunswick, Canada. Now confined to her farm due to progressive (dis)Ability, she once worked as her story’s protagonist did—on a 20,000 acre estate in the Scottish Highlands.
Website: https://mckencroftproducti.wixsite.com/jivanelauthor
Thank you for sending us your story, J.! We know people will love reading it as much as we have.
See you soon for the next instalment in our series.
In the meantime, don’t forget to order your copy of A Warm Mug of Cozy Anthology: Volume 1.
Cendrine & David
