On the QT | The Official Newsletter of GWA November-December 2017 | Page 13

USING HER HORTICULTURAL KNOWLEDGE GWA Director Mary-Kate Mackey, award- winning garden writer and author of Write Better Right Now, is a big fan, who devoured Marty’s first manuscript and offered her sugges- tions. “As a gardener, I love reading all of Marty’s mysteries because I know the plant material is going to be accurate. I have total faith that she is not going to make things bloom at the wrong time,” Mary-Kate said. “You know that she loves the land she’s writing about.” Marty agrees that her horticulture back- ground is an essential part of her narratives. “I love writing about gardens and about plants. I always have correct gardening information. Other than that, I can make up everything else.” She infuses elements of history into “The Potting Shed” series: Roman ruins buried in a London backyard or a modern-day connection to a 19th century plant explorer. In “Birds of a Feather,” plants, nature and bird watching are woven into each story. THE THIRD ACT Mary-Kate describes Marty’s mystery writing career as a third act. “She’s got her garden writ- ing. Her garden touring combines with a love of England and all things British, which gives her books authenticity. And now, in hindsight, it’s easy to see how Marty’s first two acts led her to the third. It seems like everything she did in garden writing was training to get to these mysteries.” “It’s great fun to do the research,” Marty said. That research often takes place during free mo- ments before or after one of the garden tours she leads, often with her husband Leighton Wingate, a copy editor and journalist who’s become an expert on British pubs. “People are amazingly helpful when I’m researching an upcoming mystery. From a behind-the-scenes tour of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh to watching a rehearsal for an outdoor production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, I always get lots of suggestions for who the next victim should be,” she confided with a chuckle. Marty’s life is full of her characters and their stories. She credits a ritualistic habit of writing every single day for much of her success. She typically spends each afternoon at her local library, either drafting a new chapter or revising and editing. Learn more about Marty Wingate’s two mys- tery series at Marty’s page on Random House’s site. Former GWA President Debra Prinzing is a Seattle- based fan of murder mysteries, who has downloaded all of Marty Wingate’s books on her digital reader. Debra is the founder and creative director of Slowflowers.com. WELCOME NEW MEMBERS Mario Braini Graphic Details! Dundas [email protected] 416.746.2209 Nicole Brait Brooklyn, NY [email protected] Jan Bujan Clarendon Hills, IL [email protected] Baylor Chapman San Francisco, CA [email protected] 1 [phone] Michelle Gervais New Milford, CT [email protected] Joseph Han Buffalo, NY [email protected] Deborah Ozga Kensington, MD [email protected] Carolyn Hestand Kennedy Dallas, TX carolynhestandkennedy @gmail.com [phone] Kelly Reilly Des Moines, IA [email protected] Lola Honeybone Nashville, TN [email protected] Janice Cox Medford, OR [email protected] Daniel Cunningham Dallas, TX [email protected] [phone] Gina Dickson Abilene, TX [email protected] Gary Gardener Gary’s Lawn Care Lynchburg VA [phone] Steve Garland West Pymble NSW, Australia [email protected] Robert Hudson Vista, CA [email protected] Kate Jerome Pleasant Prairie, WI [email protected] Angela Lituri Chelmsford, MA [email protected] [phone] Caleb Melchior Perryville, MO [email protected] [phone] Barbara Melera Cobleskill, NY [email protected] Helping Us Grow! ONE MEMBER APLD Karen Banerd Cassandra Barr Sharon Beasley Steve Bender Tracy Blevins Keri Byrum Pat Crocker Mark Cullen Katie-Elzer Peters Tom Fischer Susan Harris Wendy Helfenbaum Dawn Hummel Kathy Jentz Jan Johnson Igor Kaftan Jessie Keith Karen Kennedy Debra Knapke Theresa Loe Longwood Gardens Jeff Lowenfels Janet Point Rehoboth Beach, DE [email protected] Shem Ruszczyk Kennet Square, PA [email protected] Cheryl Spencer Colorado Springs, CO [email protected] Pat Sullivan Indianapolis, IN [email protected] Deborah Trickett Westwood, MA [email protected] Tom Underwood Birmingham, AL [email protected] Dianne Venetta Leesburg, FL [email protected] Susan Yoder Seed Your Future Martinsville, IN [email protected] Thanks to these GWA members for helping to grow the organization. Sue Markgraf Jennifer McGuinness Kerry Ann Mendez Kelly Norris Debra Prinzing Marty Ross Katie Rotella Pam Ruch Yvonne Savio Denise Schreiber Bill Thomas Sue Trusty Chris VanCleve Teresa Watkins Tom Wichman Dottie Woodson Abbie Zabar Maria Zampini Bill Johnson Eva Monheim Lynn Steiner THREE MEMBERS Ken Brown FOUR MEMBERS Ruth Rogers Clausen Jan Johnsen Jo Ellen Meyers Sharp SIX MEMBERS Brie Arthur TWELVE MEMBERS Kirk Ryan Brown TWO ALLIED MEMBERS Teresa Watkins TWO MEMBERS Helen Battersby Louise Clark Kate Copsey Sally Cunningham 13