There was just an intersection of interest in tarot and cozy mysteries… and then there was a cat.
Jane Brookwood – 17 September 2026
The Back Flap
In small-town Pineridge Hollow, Fiona Miller runs a metaphysical gift shop where she reads tarot, sells crystals, mixes tea, and generally minds her own business alongside her cat and familiar Rosie. But when she pulls The Hanged Man tarot card moments before learning her long-lost friend’s son has turned up dead, she vows to uncover the truth. Accident? Suicide? Murder? The town has already decided, but Fiona’s tarot deck isn’t so sure. She follows the cards into buried grudges, old money, and secrets the town spent decades hiding. On top of everything, The Hanged Man keeps making himself known. Can you make sense of The Hanged Man’s meaning?
About the book
What is the book about?
It’s a cozy mystery set in a small town of Pineridge Hollow in the middle of nowhere, USA. Fiona Miller is the owner of The Raven, a metaphysical gift shop that deals in teas, crystals, gifts, and Tarot readings. Armed with nothing but the cards, intuition, and the help of her trusty side-kick and familiar, Rosie the ginger cat, Fiona gets pulled into the investigation of the death of her best friend’s son.
Henry Reynolds Jr. is found hanging at a construction site and while the town is eager to sweep his death under the rug, the cards tell a different story. The Hanged Man tarot card appears right before Fiona learns about his death on the heels of a monster zoomie rampage by Rosie. Fiona must lean on the only tools available to her along with her friends, neighbors, and reluctant Chief of Police to unearth the truth.
When did you start writing the book?
July 31, 2025 – 11:25AM PST
How long did it take you to write it?
I re-wrote it 4 times between July and December of that year. I changed editors and wrote the fifth and near to final version of it in January of 2026 and submitted it to my editor.
Where did you get the idea from?
I can’t say it was any one event that triggered the idea. There was just an intersection of interest in tarot and cozy mysteries… and then there was a cat. Rosie and her brother were rescues adopted as company cats. When he passed, she came home with me and the rest is Pineridge Hollow history.
Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?
The first four versions of the story were a struggle from beginning to end. I’d never written a story before and my only focus was to get words on the page. I also struggled a lot with point of view, hence the theme of this first book. The Hanged Man tarot card is all about perspective and I really think it was a reflection of what was happening in my life and writing.
By the fifth version I’d had an epiphany, if I planned the book beforehand, the writing would be easier and make more sense. I know, groundbreaking right? I went from pushing the characters around the page to allowing them to speak and move about on their own. But I don’t regret those first four versions, they taught me a lot, they’ve become fodder for future writing, and allowed me to explore the characters. I’ve also learned how to be a more efficient and effective writer which satisfies my Japanese/German heritage.
What came easily?
An old acquaintance reached out to me during the third or fourth revision. I hadn’t heard from them in a long time and in rekindling the relationship, it lit the fires of my imagination. I became obsessed with Teddy Swims at the same time and the combination of my overheated imagination and Teddy’s soulful sound gave birth to one of my favorite characters. The relationship went nowhere – given that it lived entirely in my head – but it gave me a tremendous amount of emotion to pour into the book. Even the disappointment made it in there. It was a turning point for me, the point at which I learned how to leave it all on the page. As a result, I will often surprise myself with what surfaces.
Are your characters entirely fictitious or have you borrowed from real world people you know?
They are fictitious but I do have a habit of borrowing from life and fiction. Characters in books, actors, characters on screen, people I know… I just shake them down for spare parts. No one is safe. I’m the Taylor Swift of murders instead of break-ups.
We all know how important it is for writers to read. Are there any particular authors that have influenced how you write and, if so, how have they influenced you?
My first ever cozy series was Lilian Jackson Braun’s Cat Who books – of course. Kao Ko Kung or Koko was my first cat hero – smart cat! Stephen King taught me how to explore the shadow: The Body (Stand By Me), and of course, his classics; Firestarter, Christine, and The Long Walk among many others. I read his book On Writing about ten years ago, it was the first time I considered that maybe I could write a book, I just had to sit down and write, no matter what.
Sidney Sheldon taught me about plotting and pacing at ten-years-old. It was just me, the book, and a flashlight beneath the covers – appreciating a good sex scene. I learned about grandiosity from Tolkien, Jean M. Auel and Ken Follet and it fueled a growing passion for fantasy and historical fiction. Clan of the Cave Bear has taught me everything I know about prehistoric man and what it takes to teach through fiction. Louisa May Alcott taught me about writing about connection and the everyday.
L.M. Montgomery taught me about the power of word pictures — a thousand summers stored in a cord of wood. E.B. White taught me about embodying an animal character. J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone taught me about simplicity. The list goes on.
Do you have a target reader?
Me. I’m a mid-fifties, cat loving, gen-xer who loves cozy mysteries, long walks in the park, a good cup of tea with peanut butterscotch biscotti while watching pet videos.
About Writing
Do you have a writing process? If so can you please describe it?
Every good (or bad) writing day starts with a tarot card reading. Usually asking the question, how will the writing go today? I’ll pull three cards and if it looks particularly bleak, I’ll write for at least an hour. If I can’t get into the flow, I’ll switch to marketing and promotion or bookkeeping.
If the writing does come then I’ll do it for 2-4 hours before getting up to bounce on my rebounder or do chores around the house to get the blood flowing. Then I’m back at it. Often, I’ll go to a coffee shop or a pub and put my earbuds in and get to work.
I find the start of the book can sometimes be the hardest because I don’t have a feel for the characters yet. I call this stage “laying the fertilizer.” I know that something will come from all the shit, I just can’t see it yet.
Do you outline? If so, do you do so extensively or just chapter headings and a couple of sentences?
Oh yes. The primary reason my first attempts were so bad was because I didn’t outline at all. I was letting the book come to me. I’ve driven a houseboat for my sister’s stag and I learned quickly that you need to steer about five minutes before making the turn. Writing a book is a lot like that. It’s really easy to steer off course, so now I spend more time planning than I do writing.
My process is to write a one-page summary for the entire book then I break that down into four to six acts. Those acts get broken down into their chapters with a skeleton outline or a few paragraphs outlining the action in the chapter. In order to spend as little time as possible writing, my current strategy is to play out the scene in my imagination as if I’m watching a movie. I can do this while walking, showering, or doing chores. Of course, the plan never remains static unless I’m really sure on things.
In writing Rosie’s story, I really felt that surety (The Raven’s Familiar) so much so, that the manuscript survived practically unscathed throughout the writing process. It was a revelation for me, especially after having struggled through five major structural revisions of The Hanged Man. Rosie taught me a lot about writing.
Do you edit as you go or wait until you’ve finished?
Once I’ve fertilized the fields, inspiration can come from anywhere — a show, a character, an overheard conversation, or my own character’s voice. If that happens, I’ll go back immediately to rewrite. Sometimes it’s a complete rewrite but I’ll often be able to strip the old writing for parts. I try and write forward as much as possible though, really only editing once the first pass is complete.
Did you hire a professional editor?
I’ve found a great collaborator in Stacey Goitia. She believed in my writing before anyone else and I feel like she really sees me. She’s brought a lot to my writing, first teaching me the conventions, then pointing out problems big and small. She also noted when she vibed with something, which was always a pleasurable experience. It’s so great to run things past a real person who might laugh or feel something in response. For the first time, I thought this writing gig might actually be possible.
I also have a beta reader who helped me with a final test read before final formatting. She was as invested in the project as I could ever hope. It’s a great feeling to share something you create and find people who love it too.
Do you listen to music while you write? If yes, what gets the fingers tapping?
Oh for sure, I was listening to DJ Kamori on YouTube when I was writing Fiona’s reveal scene in The Hanged Man. He plays a lot of R&B and there’s a scene where Fiona swings her dress around to tuck it beneath her legs as she sits. If you listen carefully, I think you can hear the rhythm of the blues beneath it.
Teddy Swims and Benson Boone are both largely responsible for the book too. But the biggest hack I’ve discovered to get me in the zone is drone type spa music. I went to Sparkling Hills Spa & Resort (Okanagan, BC) at the beginning of The Hanged Man and pumped out fifteen chapters in two days on spa music. It’s pretty powerful.
About Publishing
Did you submit your work to Agents?
No, I really didn’t think there would be any interest although Stacey thought I should. I still don’t know if I’d get accepted by anyone, there are a lot of books out there. I really thought it would just be easier to find my audience on my own. I was so naïve – but here we are, proving the concept on my own.
What made you decide to go Indie, whether self-publishing or with an indie publisher? Was it a particular event or a gradual process?
Margins and complete ignorance. I’ve seen plenty of authors on Instagram who say they wrote ten books before getting picked up and then they’d only see thirty percent. That, in combination with the fact that I’m in my fifties and didn’t want to wait for ten books to be able to start selling them. My biological countdown clock is ticking pretty loudly lately and I want to give Fiona and Rosie a chance to tell their story. I’ve owned other businesses in the past and thought how hard could it be? I’m still being schooled on that last bit but it’s too late now.
I had my mind made up from the beginning and just went right to the work of planning the publishing process. For some fortuitous reason, I’ve been more consistent with the books than I have at anything else I’ve ever done. I’m a Gemini with ADHD tendencies; and while my Chinese zodiac animal is an ox, slow and plodding is not my style.
I’ve learned a lot in the publishing of The Raven’s Familiar: Part One but I can definitely see the advantage of having a publishing team, writing is a lonely business and being on a boat with others is more comforting than bobbing on the ocean all by yourself.
Did you get your book cover professionally done or did you do it yourself?
Damonza did the cover for The Hanged Man. I really like the tone. I went to them and asked for Cozy Mystery meets tarot and gothic romantasy all with a mid-century mod flavor. I think they nailed it. I can definitely see what the 22-book series will feel like.
Do you have a marketing plan for the book or are you just winging it?
I’m lucky to be working with BooksForward on this. I really knew nothing when I started but have talked to a lot of professionals and read what other authors are doing. I do have a sales background too so that helps. I have a loose plan and like my writing I just move forward and see where the opportunities pop up. So far, I’ve had a lot of traction with cat-themed avenues via The Raven’s Familiar. Rosie resonates with people and provides a lot of cat-related marketing opportunities. I’m finding the sweet spot in the market where cat-lovers meet cozy mystery readers. I’ve been working with animal rescue organizations and donating a portion of proceeds from those partnerships to the cause. It’s fun and rewarding.
Any advice that you would like to give to other newbies considering becoming Indie authors?
It’s really good to just write something small and publish it first. Go through all the steps before you do it for real on a bigger scale. There are a lot of things you don’t know until you do — then just buckle up and get it done. I’d also strongly recommend connecting with other authors early and hiring a coach — someone who’s written and published before. If you can find someone you align with, it’s absolutely worth the investment.
About You
Where did you grow up?
In the Pacific Northwest, Vancouver, BC to be precise. It’s why Fiona lives near the forests. The gloom and perpetual rain sets the tone for the series perfectly.
Where do you live now?
I live in the Okanagan. It’s a semi-arid desert so I’ve spent the last few years just drying out. The small-town vibes from this place also informs Fiona’s life.
What would you like readers to know about you?
I’m not Fiona but I feel like we share a lot of interests and I would love to spend an afternoon with her. Here’s what I dabble in:
- Bread-baker
- Meditator
- Chief Cat Keeper
- Administrative Office Worker
- Current TBR pile: 6:40 to Montreal by Eva Jurczyk, 10 Things That Never Happened by Alexis Hall, In the Circle of Ancient Trees: Our Oldest Trees and the Stories They Tell by Valerie Trouet (just a few of twenty)
- Closet guitar player and singer
- Aspiring world traveler – I aspire to write remotely in the south of France, overlooking the ocean in Greece or from the French Quarter in New Orleans (to name just a few places).
What are you working on now?
I’m working on Books 1.5 and 2.0 in the series.
Book 1.5 – The Raven’s Familiar: Part Two picks up where Part One left off — Rosie arrives at The Raven, Fiona’s shop, and finds her forever home. It’s immediately threatened by the return of Fiona’s ex, Edward Chalmers, who brings along his young daughter to play at Fiona’s heartstrings. He has an ulterior motive that only Rosie can see. She investigates with the help of her motley crew of animals and humans and through trial and error, learns how to communicate with her human, Fiona. It’s the start of their relationship which takes place before The Hanged Man in the timeline even though it will be released after the fact. I like playing with the timing of things.
Book 2 – The Fool, is a Christmas novel releasing early December. The local theater in Pineridge Hollow is staging a Christmas rendition of The Taming of the Shrew. Fiona gets drafted as understudy for Katharina — and even Rosie is given a role. The play opens to a packed house when the lead actress collapses. Fiona is steps away from her debut performance when a scream rips through the theater. The other lead actor is found dead. To quote Fiona, ‘that wasn’t in the script!’
End of Interview:
Get your copy of The Hanged Man from Amazon US or Amazon UK.
