Cozy fantasy has always sounded amazing to me, especially as someone who really has turned to their writing as a form of self-care. It’s done my mental health wonders to find stories and craft a world I can slip into, create the kinds of stories I love to read, that leave you with if not a one hundred percent everything is going to be okay kind of happy ending, then at least a “we got this and everything will be okay eventually” kind of ending. Simply put, cozy fantasy is the balm my wounded soul needs right now.
Which was why I was so excited after interviewing an author for an upcoming Write Talk Wednesday podcast episode to find out that what I write can be classified as cozy fantasy. For those unfamiliar with the genre, the cozy fantasy genre generally features slice of life, low stakes stories in a fantasy or magical setting. While cozy fantasy is often in a completely fantasy setting, it also can be in a contemporary fantasy setting as well.
Cozy fantasy reminds me of the stories I liked to read, the worlds I want to slip into. I’d much rather go to Valdemar than the Shire. I mean don’t get me wrong, second or third breakfasts sound amazing, and living as a Hobbit would have its advantages, but also, have you seen the danger? Valdemar isn’t without its share of trouble, of course, but it seems to be a bit safer than Middle Earth.
Finding a genre where you fit can be important as an author. It helps you feel not alone and helps you market your books more effectively. Now that I know there’s a name for the type of stories I like to write, well, let’s just say I’m getting back to writing those stories I love.
