Kensington Launches Cozy Imprint Kensington Cozies

Kensington Publishing is launching Kensington Cozies, an imprint dedicated to the cozy mystery genre, which usually have "little-to-no violence, profanity, or sex; likeable amateur sleuths; tight-knit communities; and series arcs that allow the protagonists to grow in their professions and relationships." The first titles go on sale December 28. Over time, backlist titles that fit the cozy criteria will be folded into the imprint. Historical mysteries will remain under the Kensington Books imprint.

Kensington president and CEO Steven Zacharius commented: "Kensington has long been a leader in the genre, and it's time the roughly 60 contemporary cozy mysteries we publish each year had their own imprint."

All Kensington editors will acquire for the imprint, which includes hardcover, trade paperback, and mass market max releases from established authors like Joanne Fluke, Carlene O'Connor, Ellery Adams, Leslie Meier, and Lee Hollis, as well as new voices such as Emmeline Duncan, Frank Anthony Polito, Gabby Allan and Christin Brecher. Digital first cozies will remain in Kensington's e-original imprint, Lyrical Underground.

Kensington Cozies will be overseen by communications manager Larissa Ackerman, who, Kensington said, "has spearheaded many of the company's major initiatives to expand the visibility of the genre as a whole in recent years. She said, "We're excited to continue building awareness of everything cozy mysteries have to offer, growing their presence on readers' and retailers' bookshelves, and bringing more diversity to the genre--both in the authors whose stories we publish and the readers who love them."

Ackerman conceived and developed the Cozy Club Card, a loyalty card program available through participating libraries and bookstores that allows readers to earn free cozy mystery ARCs. She oversees partnerships such as "The Cozy Corner" with Tea Time Magazine, and she will continue to build programs such as Kensington's Cozy Cons, a series of annual, multi-author reader parties that have taken place in rotating bookstores and cities in the U.S. since 2018.