Jennifer J. Chow joins me today to talk about her new novel. Mimi Lee Gets a Clue was released by Berkley on March 10, 2020 and is the first in the new Sassy Cat mystery series. Her other Asian-American novels include Dragonfly Dreams, The 228 Legacy, and the Winston Wong cozy mysteries. She lives in Los Angeles and is active in Crime Writers of Color and Sisters in Crime.
SS: Welcome, Jennifer. Can you share a bit about your background?
JJC: Both of my parents immigrated to the United States. My dad is Malaysian Chinese. He was born and raised in Malaysia but has Chinese heritage. My mom was Chinese and grew up in Hong Kong.
SS: If you have children, does being a parent influence your writing? To what extent?
JJC: I have two girls, so their interactions often inspire the sister relationship seen in Mimi Lee Gets a Clue.
SS: Who do you consider to be your biggest and best mentor and/or inspiration?
JJC: Naomi Hirahara. She really took me under her wing when I said I wanted to write cozies. As a busy and successful Edgar Award winner, I continue to be amazed by the support she gives up-and-coming writers. She provided me writing tips, plugged me into the mystery community, and helped me understand work-life balance.
SS: When you are creating a story, do you avoid reading books in the same vein so as not to be influenced by others, or do you seek out all possible variations for maximum inspiration?
JJC: I often avoid the same genre, going out of my way to read other types of fiction and also non-fiction as I create a story. During the revision process, though, I like reading all kinds of mysteries and crime fiction.
SS: What is your writing Kryptonite? What’s most likely to stop the flow of your words?
JJC: The Internet (and social media)
SS: What is a fun or strange source of inspiration that ended up in your book (a name, location, line of dialogue, etc.)?
JJC: I put in my own version of the Hollywood Walk of Fame in my fictional pet grooming shop, Hollywoof. There’s a Bark of Fame on the floor of the store, which highlights celebrity dogs.
SS: A good ending should fix the shape and meaning of the whole novel. How did you make sure yours did exactly that?
JJC: My stories tend to feel finished because I try to wrap up all the loose ends—a must in mysteries. I also like having an ending that gives a slight echo of the beginning.
SS: Name a classic you feel guilty about never having read.
JJC: 
Fahrenheit 451.
SS: That was one of my alt-time favorites as a teenager. I keep meaning to reread it to see if it holds up to my memories. Do you read your book reviews? How do you deal with bad or good ones? Does a bad one affect your writing?
JJC: I don’t like reading book reviews. Instead, I look at the average rating of the novel. For specific media reviews, I trust my editor to tell me about the important ones. Although negative reviews get me down because my writing is from the heart, I do respect differing options. I know that reading can be subjective.
SS: What’s the first book you read that made you think, “I’ve got to write something like this someday!” What prompted you to write cozy mysteries instead of “true” crime type mysteries?
JJC: I need to pay homage to Agatha Christie here. Interestingly enough, I first read The Mousetrap, which is really a play. But I did fall in love with her characters, particularly the elderly but brilliant Miss Marple.
LIGHTNING ROUND:
Describe your books in 3 words: Cats, sass, and clues
Favorite thing about your genre? It’s light-hearted and not gory
When writing, are you a night owl or morning person? Morning, though I used to write at night
Pantser or Plotter? Plot-antser
Your favorite guilty pleasure: Cream puffs
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An excerpt from Mimi Lee Gets a Clue:
I carried Marshmallow over to the front porch and placed him down on the splintering wooden boards. The bell didn’t work, so I had to bang hard against the door.
A few pieces of brown paint flaked off after I knocked.
From inside, a deep voice boomed, “Hold on.”
A few seconds later, and I heard the dead bolt slide. The door opened partway, and a man with shoulder-length red locks and a stubble beard looked out at me. His hair appeared purposefully messy, and his biker jacket and ripped jeans screamed grunge.
I cleared my throat. “Mr. Nolan, I presume?”
He nodded but didn’t open the door any wider.
“I have a few questions about your dogs.”
He squinted his hazel eyes at me. At least, I thought that was their color. Under the shadow of his bushy eyebrows, I couldn’t quite tell. “You here about the ad? For a teacup Chi? Less than three pounds, even as an adult.”
I stammered. “Healthy Chihuahuas grow up to be four to six pounds.”
Russ closed the door an inch. “Who are you? Why are you here?”
That’s when Marshmallow streaked into the house. Startled, Russ lost hold of the front door, and it flew wide open.
Worried about the damage Marshmallow might do, I scooted inside. Marshmallow kept on going, so I chased him. While running, I noticed the house smelled horrible. It needed a good airing and a vat of vinegar, if not kerosene and flames.
The front door closed behind me, and I heard Russ say, “I ain’t prepared for company.”
Marshmallow dashed to the end of a shabby living room and scratched against an opaque sliding door that divided a hidden back area. His imaginary voice piped up. “There are dogs trapped inside.”
I managed to grab him and started to leave, but he slipped out of my arms. He pawed at the door again.
“Wait a minute,” Russ said as his lumbering steps caught up.
My curiosity won out, and I slid open the door. Both Marshmallow and I froze at the scene before us.
Thick blankets covered the entirety of the walls, making a soundproof space. A foul stench arose from the cramped area. The enclosed back room was filled with Chihuahuas. I lost count after twenty.
The little dogs started yipping like crazy, and Marshmallow responded by yowling at them. Bowls of food had been knocked over. Half-empty water dishes spilled murky trails. A few tennis balls lay scattered around, drool-soaked and defuzzed.
However, most of the stink came from dog waste piled all around the vinyl floor.
I turned to face Russ. “What kind of hellhole is this?”
He tugged at his long beard. “You caught me at a bad time.”
“I don’t believe you. This looks like it’s been going on for a while.”
“You’re trespassing,” Russ said, flexing his muscles. “Take your cat and go. Or I’ll make you leave.”
I held my hands up. “Fine, we’re going. I’ve seen enough.”
I took Marshmallow, and we retreated to the front porch. At the door, I told Russ, “You can bet I’m reporting this to animal control and the police.”
He curled his meaty hand into a fist. “You wouldn’t dare.”
I stared him in the eye. “I’d consider it my duty. You’re harming those puppies.”
He shook his fist at me.
I yelled in a voice as loud as Ma-speak. “Don’t you dare threaten me, you monster. You hurt those dogs, and I’ll hurt you!”
Russ slammed the door in my face.
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Mimi Lee Gets a Clue is available through:
Amazon | B&N | Penguin | Indibound
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You can connect with Jennifer here on social media:
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
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