Sarah Jenkins, Cozy Mystery Writer

Who are you, and what do you do?

I’m Sarah Jenkins, and I write small-town cozy mystery novels involving amateur sleuths, eccentric neighbors, and lots of baked goods. My current series is the Backyard Bakery Mysteries.

Walk us through your writing space and the tools you use. What kind of desk, computer, or notebook are you using right now, and what software or apps do you type into?

I work at a small secretary desk nestled into a sunny bay window in my living room, surrounded by houseplants.

I write on an old 21-inch iMac that is technically ancient but still runs beautifully. I don't use any specialized writing software—just Microsoft Word set to 12-point Times New Roman font.

However, my most important tools are physical. I have a massive corkboard mounted on the wall next to my desk. I use multi-colored index cards and pieces of yarn to map out my clues, suspects, and red herrings. Blue cards are for clues, red cards are for suspects, and yellow cards are for the subplots.

Do you outline your entire story before you start typing, or do you just start writing and make it up as you go along?

I absolutely have to outline because of the mystery mechanics. If you don't plant the clues perfectly, the ending feels unearned. I spend weeks staring at my corkboard rearranging index cards before I ever type "Chapter One."

How is the "writing version" of you different from the person your friends and family see every day?

I am a mother of three and a grandmother, so my daily life is loud, warm, and chaotic. But the writing version of me is a cold-blooded criminal mastermind! My family thinks it’s hilarious that this quiet, baking-obsessed grandmother spends her mornings figuring out creative ways to poison fictional characters with almond extract.

What do you do when you're completely stuck on a page and the words just aren't coming? Do you have a specific trick to reset?

I bake. If a scene isn't coming together, I close the Word document and go make a batch of scones or chocolate chip cookies. Kneading dough or measuring ingredients lets my subconscious mind chew on the plot problem in the background. By the time the kitchen smells good, I usually have the solution.

If money and space were no object, what would your absolute dream writing environment look like?

A beautifully restored historic greenhouse. I’d want half of it filled with tropical plants and flowers, and the other half set up with a comfortable desk, a tea station, and a couple of lazy sleeping cats.