Jinx Schwartz Books In Order

Publication Order of Hetta Coffey Mystery Books

Publication Order of Standalone Novels

Publication Order of Short Stories/Novellas

Publication Order of Magnolia Bluff Crime Chronicles Books

Jinx Schwartz is an American author that writes mystery adventure novels. Jinx is best known for the Hetta Coffey books which she based on her own life.

+Biography
Jinx Schwartz is a 9th generation Texan that loves the water. That is the first thing the author will say to you if you ask her to describe herself, and the description is both apt and accurate.

Jinx grew up all over the place. Her roots have always been in Texas but her childhood was spent in places like Haiti and Thailand. Her father was in engineering and construction and his work took him all over the planet.

As a child, Jinx was determined to follow in her father’s footsteps. She accrued the necessary skills and began to look for some good rivers upon which she could build dams. When she realized that all the good rivers had been taken, she started looking for new mega projects to undertake.

Her journey took her to Alaska, Mexico, Japan and numerous other exotic locations. Hetta Coffey, Jinx Schwartz’s protagonist is also an engineer who spends her days undertaking unique construction and engineering projects in exotic locations all over the world.

So it shouldn’t come as a surprise to learn that Jinx based the character of Hetta Coffey on herself. A time came when Jinx realized that she needed a change. Life on solid ground no longer appealed to her.

So she gave everything up, bought a yacht and took to sailing. It was around that time that she met her husband. The two of them couldn’t have been a more perfect match. They were both more than willing to take on the financial complexities that came with living on a boat if it meant spending the rest of their lives enjoying the freedom that sailing provided.

The couple calls both Arizona and Mexico’s Sea of Cortez home. Jinx has always looked at her writing craft as a tool through which she could share the wonders she has seen with readers.

Life on the water is both quiet and exciting. The couple spends plenty of time on land but they always find their way back to the sea. And it isn’t just Jinx’s personal life that inspires her to write the Hetta Coffey novels.

Her life as a sailor has given her access to the sort of unique experiences that most people can only dream of. She meets all manner of strange figures and personalities on her journeys, people that are clearly running from something and who are never short of interesting stories to tell.

The author was writing for several years before she attracted the attention of a publisher. Her first Hetta Coffey novel stood out because her heroine was a strong, independent, adventurous woman who was liked by both male and female readers because she was so loyal to her friends, dangerous for those she disliked and completely free with her tongue.

At the time that Jinx created the character, she remembers how ridiculous it was that, as a single woman with no sailing experience whatsoever, she had been foolish enough to buy a boat.

When she first created Hetta Coffey, the author merely saw it as a means through which she could share that experience with readers. Over time, she began to embellish some of her experiences and the Hetta Coffey that people know today was born.

The author writes for entertainment purposes. Her books are designed to help readers escape. There are no deeper messages hidden in her work and that is how the author likes it.

She has included authors like Larry McMurtry and Nelson DeMille among her influences. Like those two authors, there is plenty of humor in Jinx Schwartz’ books. Jinx started out in traditional publishing.

She eventually experimented with indie publishing and found that she liked the platform so much more. Jinx doesn’t believe that she would be so successful if she had stuck with her small traditional publisher.

As an indie published author, Jinx sells so many more books than she did with her traditional publisher. The author relies on social media to sell her work. She also participates in book signings every so often.
For all the success she has encountered with self-publishing, Jinx is a little hesitant to praise the current popularity of indie publishing. The author believes that the concept has allowed a deluge of terrible books to overwhelm the market.

That being said, Jinx still encourages new authors to try and self-publish, especially if they are unable to secure a traditional publisher. Her only advise when it comes to that route is for every new indie author to invest in a decent editor.

She also believes that every author would benefit greatly from the contribution of a critique group.

+Just Add Water
Hetta Coffey might be close to forty but she has yet to grow up. A civil engineer that spends her days traversing the world, the brash, bossy, bold girl hasn’t had the best of luck with romance, having accumulated quite the impressive collection of failed international affairs.

But Hetta is happy so long as she has her dog. Hetta finds herself in a little bit of trouble when a passing yacht draws her attention. It isn’t just the male skippers that pique her interest.

Hetta realizes that a boat might be the one thing she’s been missing in her life. She goes out and buys one. The fact that she doesn’t know anything about sailing does not scare her one bit.

+Just Add Salt
Hetta Coffey is a civil engineer that spends her days sailing around the world on her yacht, snagging attractive men and getting into all sorts of trouble.

With her boyfriend away, Hetta decides to pass the time by going to Baja for a job. Hetta is new to sailing. So she has no business taking a long trip across the Eastern Pacific ocean on her own.

So she hires a handsome captain to simplify matters. The job awaiting Hetta is supposed to be a profitable one. Hetta cannot help but think that things won’t be as straightforward as everyone says they will be, but her independent nature won’t let her back down.