Picture a South Carolina storyteller who turned her knack for quirky characters and cozy mysteries into a beloved series—meet Fran Rizer! A former schoolteacher with a flair for photography, songwriting, and scientific writing, Rizer brought her vibrant personality to the literary world with the Callie Parrish mysteries, charming readers with humor and Southern charm.
Born and raised in the Palmetto State, Rizer’s journey from classroom to crime novels is as captivating as her stories. Her unique blend of wit, warmth, and a touch of mortuary mischief has made her a standout in the cozy mystery genre, proving that even the quietest towns hide the juiciest secrets.
The Making of Fran Rizer
Fran Rizer was born on December 12 in South Carolina, where her roots run as deep as the Kudzu vines she later wrote about. After 25 years teaching in public schools, she retired and traded lesson plans for plot twists. Her diverse talents—spanning photography, songwriting, and scientific writing—shaped her creative approach, giving her stories a rich, multifaceted charm. Inspired by her love for mystery novels and her Southern surroundings, Rizer began crafting tales that feel like a chat with a witty friend over sweet tea.
Fran Rizer’s Unforgettable Stories
Rizer’s Callie Parrish series, launched in 2007 with A Tisket, A Tasket, A Fancy Stolen Casket, introduces Calamine “Callie” Parrish, a mortuary cosmetologist with a knack for stumbling into murders. This eight-book series, ending with A Skull Full of Posies in 2017, blends humor, heart, and small-town intrigue. In the debut, Callie uncovers a hypodermic needle in a corpse, sparking a whirlwind of clues and quirky suspects.
Beyond cozy mysteries, Rizer explored darker themes in Kudzu River, a standalone thriller about abuse and retribution, showcasing her versatility. She also co-authored Southern Swamps and Ruins, a haunting ghost story collection, with Richard D. Laudenslager. Her writing style—laced with Southern idioms, vivid settings, and laugh-out-loud moments—earned nominations for prestigious awards like the Agatha, Edgar, and SIBA.
Rizer’s stories shine with relatable characters and a playful tone, often weaving in mortuary details that fascinate and amuse. Her ability to balance lighthearted fun with gripping plots makes her work a cozy mystery lover’s delight, perfect for curling up with a Moon Pie.
Why Fran Rizer Matters
Fran Rizer’s impact lies in her ability to make readers feel at home in her fictional South Carolina towns. Her Callie Parrish series brought fresh energy to the cozy mystery genre, blending Southern hospitality with clever sleuthing. Featured on SCETV’s A Literary Tour of South Carolina, Rizer inspired aspiring writers with her late-blooming career and fearless genre-hopping. Her stories, infused with humor and heart, continue to resonate with fans who cherish her unique voice.
By celebrating her Southern heritage and embracing her eclectic talents, Rizer carved a niche that’s both timeless and distinctly her own. Her work reminds us that every small town—and every writer—has a story worth telling.
- Born: December 12, South Carolina
- Key Works: Callie Parrish series, Kudzu River, Southern Swamps and Ruins
- Awards: Porter Fleming Fiction Award winner; nominated for Agatha, Edgar, and SIBA awards
Snag A Tisket, A Tasket, A Fancy Stolen Casket and dive into Fran Rizer’s cozy, Southern-flavored mysteries—you’ll be hooked!