From Across State Lines with Jennifer J. Chow!

PA Cozy Mystery Writers
Jun 10
3 min read

From Across State Lines Blog Promo Image - Jennifer J. Chow

Please give a warm welcome to Jennifer from California…

Jennifer J. Chow writes cozies filled with hope and heritage. She’s been a finalist for the Agatha, Anthony, Lefty, and Lilian Jackson Braun Memorial Award. Her newest series is the Magical Fortune Cookie mysteries; the first book is Ill-Fated Fortune, which Booklist stated “will appeal to fans of Jenn McKinlay, Eve Calder, or Joanne Fluke.” The second book, Star-Crossed Egg Tarts, garnered this praise from Kirkus Reviews: “Good things lie ahead in this series.” Her other books include the “L.A. Night Market Mysteries” and the “Sassy Cat Mysteries.” Jennifer served as a past president on the board of Sisters in Crime and blogs at chicksonthecase.com. She is an active member of Crime Writers of Color and Mystery Writers of America.

Favorite Holiday: I love Lunar New Year because we always get together with family—the more, the merrier! It’s also a great chance to check out festive celebrations in the area.

How does your main character differ from you/is similar to you?

Like Felicity, I’m also Chinese American. Plus, I’ve had my share of baking fails. We didn’t have a bakeshop, but my family did own a Chinese restaurant. And though I eventually learned to bake yummy treats, mine aren’t enchanted.

Is your book set in the same state that you live in? (please describe the setting)

Yes. The entire Magical Fortune Cookie series is set in California and serves as a love letter to my hometown. While Pixie is a fictional small town in the San Joaquin Valley of Central California, it is situated near real-life Fresno. In fact, I’ll often add Easter eggs of actual Fresno venues in my series.

Introduce us to one of the animals in your story.

Whiskers is the main pet in my story; the magical bunny descended from the moon (see: Chinese mythology) to help Felicity deepen her magical abilities.

Favorite Snack: I love a mug of steaming jasmine tea. If I want to feel decadent, I’ll add a fun food like matcha cookies to the mix.

Tell-Tale Treats: A Magical Fortune Cookie Mystery #3

A Little Bit About the Book:

Is Felicity to blame when a hotel guest drowns after eating her enchanted cookies? Felicity Jin returns in the third installment of the Magical Fortune Cookie series.

A group of high school alumnae reunite years later and reserve rooms at Pixie Inn for an extended retreat. As part of their pampering package, Felicity delivers a scrumptious assortment of enchanted pastries, including her new almond cookies.

But the queen bee of the group is soon found dead in her bathroom, drowned in the tub, and she recently sampled the delicious baked goods. Could Felicity’s almond cookies have set off a fatal nut allergy? The enchanted pastries are supposed to bring joy, not sorrow—and certainly not death.

Boyfriend, Kelvin Love, is eager to assist, although odd things have been happening to his senses ever since he baked with Felicity. Will his extra sensitivity help or hinder the investigation? Plus, special bunny Whiskers lends a magical paw to the detecting since Felicity can’t and won’t relax until she restores both order and magic to her world.