TB: Of the books you’ve written, which one is your favorite and why?
I don’t have a favorite book. However, I do have favorite scenes. I don’t
want to be a “spoiler” and give them away. Here’s what I can share, which
will give you an idea of what the scenes are about but leave you to
discover them on your own. “The wind snatched our cries and flung them
into oblivion. But not the baying of the hound. The centuries-old sound
rang through the night. The hunter coming.” These are sentences from a
passage in Murder at Redwood Cove. Murder at the Mansion has a couple
of shocking surprises and Murder at the Fortune Teller’s Table has a twist
at the end regarding one of the characters.
TB: What do you find to be the most challenging part of writing? And
the most rewarding?
The challenging part is carving out the time to write. There are many
chores and an extensive to-do list always calling out to me. Sometimes I
feel like I’m fighting my way to the computer and pushing all the voices
aside that are saying, “Do me first.” I imagine putting them into a box and
closing the lid.
The most rewarding is visiting my characters and Redwood Cove. I love
Kelly Jackson and the Silver Sentinels. They’ve become part of my life.
Redwood Cove is based on Mendocino, which is a picturesque town on the
northern California coast. It’s a joy to visit and writing about Redwood Cove
keeps it close.
TB: What book is on your nightstand?
There’s no book on my nightstand. When I’m writing, I don’t read
mysteries. My plot is often working through my head, and I don’t want to
get distracted trying to figure out someone else’s mystery.