HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN: Ruffles and flourishes and confetti! You know how much we adore debut authors here on Jungle Red, and today we celebrate the fabulous Mia P. Manansala, whose ARSENIC AND ADOBO is all the buzz. It comes out May 4, but you are hearing about it here first!
And I have to say, she’s amazing. We met at Malice, where she was constantly surrounded by pals. She has a big launch event May 6 with our own Jenn McKinlay! Info here.
And I’m hosting her in The Back Room on May 16 with Peter Swanson, Mary Kubica and CJ Box! (Whoa.) Info here.
Very very exciting!
Here today on Jungle Red, Mia reveals how she discovered something SO true and SO hilarious--and, I have to say, so wise. I never thought about it this way. And now I never won’t.
What do you think of Mia's realization, Reds and readers? And the generous Mia is giving away a copy of her new book! (LOOK at that fab cover!)
Having Fun with Genre Tropes
It all started with a conversation between me and Kellye Garrett.
I can’t remember how the topic even came up, but we were joking about how so many cozies followed basic rom-com tropes: girl from a small town moves to the big city and can’t hack it so has to return home and pick up the pieces in some way. They then get roped into the family’s small business (often having to save it) and become more involved with the townspeople, eventually falling in love, if not romantically then with the town itself. Or a similar variation on those themes.
“Omg, cozies are just rom-coms with dead bodies!” I remember saying.
Dear Readers, that’s where it all began for me. Soon after that conversation, I was riding the train to work when this line popped into my head fully formed:
“My name is Lila Macapagal and my life has become a rom-com cliche.”
I had no idea who Lila was or what her story was going to be, but I knew I wanted to find out. I whipped out my phone and started writing that line down in my Notes app (can’t trust myself to actually remember these things) and as I was typing, the second line came to me:
“Not many romantic comedies feature Asian-American leads (or dead bodies, but more on that later), but the trademarks are all there.”
And that was it. I immediately knew what my story was and what my protagonist’s general backstory was going to be.
I’m not gonna lie: I love a good trope. That’s one of the reasons I love cozies so much. They’re familiar. They’re comforting. I greatly enjoy opening a book and getting exactly what I expected.
Genre is a tricky beast though. Many people have VERY set expectations on what should and shouldn’t happen in certain (sub)genres.
For example, Romance = Happily Ever After or at least, Happy For Now. If the main couple doesn’t get together in the end, readers get upset. I can understand why. I specifically picked up a romance novel to get swept away in an idyllic love affair. If I wanted to be reminded that dating sucks, I could’ve looked back on a decade of disappointing experiences. I don’t need a book for that.
The same goes for cozies, in my opinion. We see real-life villains get away with terrible things every day—at least in fiction they get their just desserts.
But when do these elements become too predictable? Too unbelievable?
People often say there is no such thing as an original idea—it’s all in the execution. I agree. I would also add: have a little fun with it. For my debut, ARSENIC AND ADOBO, I acknowledged every cozy trope I threw in there and had a blast with it. Some people take themselves too seriously and miss out on half the fun of writing.
That being said, are there any mystery genre tropes that you love? Hate? I personally can’t stand protagonists that make ridiculous decisions solely meant to introduce more danger to the plot. I’m already giving you the benefit of the doubt that this cookie baker is also a world class sleuth—my suspension of disbelief can only go so far.
Please share your thoughts on this to be entered in a drawing for a signed copy of ARSENIC AND ADOBO!
HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN: Isn’t that brilliant? I am not fond of...twins.:-) In books, I mean. Or when a character ignores OBVIOUS danger. Even if it turns out not to be dangerous, a real person would at least notice that the Uber driver does not look like the person on the visor-flap license.
How about you, Reds and readers? And Mia will pick a winner after midnight EST!
And yay Mia!
Mia P. Manansala (she/her) is a writer and certified book coach from Chicago who loves books, baking, and bad-ass women. She uses humor (and murder) to explore aspects of the Filipino diaspora, queerness, and her millennial love for pop culture. Her debut novel, ARSENIC AND ADOBO, comes out May 4, 2021 with Berkley/Penguin Random House.
Find her on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram: @MPMtheWriter
Or check out her website: www.miapmanansala.com
ARSENIC AND ADOBO
The first book in a new culinary cozy series full of sharp humor and delectable dishes—one that might just be killer....
When Lila Macapagal moves back home to recover from a horrible breakup, her life seems to be following all the typical rom-com tropes. She's tasked with saving her Tita Rosie's failing restaurant, and she has to deal with a group of matchmaking aunties who shower her with love and judgment. But when a notoriously nasty food critic (who happens to be her ex-boyfriend) drops dead moments after a confrontation with Lila, her life quickly swerves from a Nora Ephron romp to an Agatha Christie case.
With the cops treating her like she's the one and only suspect, and the shady landlord looking to finally kick the Macapagal family out and resell the storefront, Lila's left with no choice but to conduct her own investigation. Armed with the nosy auntie network, her barista best bud, and her trusted Dachshund, Longanisa, Lila takes on this tasty, twisted case and soon finds her own neck on the chopping block…
