Cozy mystery to women’s fiction: Why I Wrote Finding Ginny

If you’ve been with me for a while, you know I love cozy mysteries.

Small towns. Strong women. A touch of humor. Some adorable animals. A mystery that keeps you guessing—but still lets you sleep at night.

My first books, the Empty Nesters Cozy Mystery series, have been such a joy to write. Peg, Hazel, the birding group (don’t forget Marcus & Shortie!), small-town secrets… those stories feel like home to me. And if you’ve read them, I hope they’ve felt that way to you too.

So when I tell you I wrote something different this time—a work of emotional women’s fiction about family and forgiveness—you might be wondering why.

The truth is, Finding Ginny didn’t start as a strategic shift.

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Finding Ginny started as a time of questioning

As someone who loves a recovering addict, the questions wouldn’t leave me alone.

What happens after the mistakes?
After the broken relationships?
After the years lost?

And, for those of us who love an addict, what happens to the people left behind?

This book asked more of me

Cozy mysteries are about uncovering the truth.

Finding Ginny is about living with it.

This story took me into deeper emotional territory than I’ve explored before. Instead of a mystery to solve, I found myself writing a multigenerational family drama that explores addiction, healing, and second chances.

Kat isn’t an amateur sleuth. She’s a grandmother who suddenly finds herself raising a child she never knew existed.

Ginny isn’t part of a quirky small-town mystery. She’s a little girl trying to understand why the adults in her life keep disappearing.

And Becky… well, Becky is the kind of character who breaks your heart and tests it at the same time. You know, the one you want to dislike, maybe even hate, but in the end, well, you’ll have to read the book to find out.

Why women’s fiction matters to me

I didn’t set out to leave cozy mysteries behind. In fact, I haven’t.

But I do believe that sometimes stories find us for a reason, and this one felt important. Not because it’s louder or heavier—but because it’s honest.

Because so many of us, or people we love, have walked through seasons like this. Seasons where relationships fracture, where addiction affects families, and where forgiveness feels complicated… or even out of reach.

And yet—there’s still hope.

There’s always hope, my friend.

That’s the thread I held onto while writing Finding Ginny, a story rooted in second chances and healing.

Not perfect endings.
Not easy answers.
But the quiet, steady possibility of healing.

Cozy mysteries are about uncovering the truth. Finding Ginny is about living with it.

For my cozy mystery readers

If you’re here because you love my cozy mysteries, I want you to know this:

You’ll still find what matters most.

• Strong women at the heart of the story
• Relationships that feel real and lived-in
• Moments of warmth, even in hard places, with a touch of humor (I’ve even included animals!)
• And ultimately, a sense of hope

This story may look different on the surface, but at its core, it carries the same heartbeat.

It’s still about people finding their way through the unexpected.

So if you’re a cozy mystery reader exploring women’s fiction, this is a natural next read.

Writing women’s fiction is a new journey

Writing Finding Ginny stretched me in the best way.

It reminded me that stories don’t always stay in the same lane—and maybe they’re not supposed to.

Sometimes they ask us to go deeper. To sit longer in the hard moments. To trust that even without a mystery to solve, there’s still something worth discovering.

Something about love.
About grace.
About second chances.

If you’re looking for women’s fiction about family, forgiveness, and healing…
If you’re drawn to emotional stories about second chances…
If you love character-driven novels that explore real-life struggles with hope…

Finding Ginny is for you. 💛

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Hi, I’m Jen! I’ve been married for over 40 years, have 5 amazing kids, and have 3 adorable grandkids. I homeschooled our three youngest children and used to blog about homeschooling. I also taught Oral Communication as an adjunct instructor for over 5 years.

Jen Dodrill Writes is born of a passion of mine – to write a novel! My cozy mystery series – The Empty Nesters Cozy Mysteries – is now complete! My romantic suspense novella, SeaBreeze Obsession in Trinity Sands Beach Club, released June 17, 2025! And finally, my first women’s fiction, Finding Ginny, releases April 7, 2026!

When I’m not working, you’ll find me writing, spending time with my family, or curled up on the couch reading and drinking a mug of dark roast coffee. (Don’t forget to check out my mug shop – JDMugs!)