If you had to describe your childhood is three lines, what would you say?
Carefree and fun.
What is one thing/place you wish you could go back to just one more time?
My teenage years
Was becoming an author something you always planned on doing or did you have other goals as a child?
First I wanted to be an actress and then an author. In my younger days the arts weren’t as accepted as a career as they are now.
What is your favourite feel-good movie?
Mama Mia
Name one fictional book-world you'd love to visit or live in.
I would love to visit Fuchsia, Minnesota the community in my own books.
Who was your inspiration for Granny, AKA Hermiony Vidalia Criony Fiddlestadt? If Granny and Agatha Christie's Miss Marple were to have a showdown, who do you think would win?
I think my mother was my inspiration for Granny although I didn’t know it at the time I was writing her. My mom had grit. And in deference to Agatha Christie of course, Miss Marple would win.
Do you have any opinion on the term "Generation Gap"?
I think we only have a generation gap if we close our minds to other generation’s ideas. When we quit listening to those that are younger or older we widen the gap and can’t come together. I love the younger generation. I learn so much from them.
Who did the artwork for your book "The Penderghast Puzzle Protectors"?
The artwork was done by Paula Ellenberger.
How did you go about creating the amazing set of characters in this book?
I have an active imagination and I like quirky people. I think my characters are people I would like to meet and hang out with in real life.
How do you manage to come out with such complex mysteries that always keep the reader guessing? Do you think of a mystery and then solve it in your or think of a conclusion first and work your way backwards?
I start writing and it seems to come together. I am never sure of the outcome until I get at least through half of the book and then things still change toward the end and the perpetrator might change too depending on what I write. Sometimes I am surprised at what happens as I am tapping away on my keyboard.
What was the most fun part about writing "Whatchamacallit? Thingamajig"? Do you have any trustworthy grand-kids you could call if you ever fall into trouble?
I wrote Whatchamacallit? Thingamajig? with my grand-kids. They had input and their pictures are on the cover. Yes, I could call them because I do now with my kids mysteries. I felt as grandparents we don’t let our grandchildren know who we were when we were young and it brings us together if they know we experienced some of the same things as they do. And we made mistakes too.
What are some of your favorite mystery/humor books? Do you find yourself copying certain styles or phrases from these books?
I love the FBI Series from Catherine Coulter. I love Barbara Johnson from Women of Faith’s humor and of course, Irma Bombeck. I follow many cozy mystery series too. My favorite book though I think is by Kris Radish and it is called, “Annie Freeman’s Fabulous Traveling Funeral.”
As an author, what kind of pressure or stress do you get from writing? What are some ways you find ways to have fun being an author even though it is a very demanding job?
I am the one that puts pressure on myself. I have a weekly column in newspapers and I have been writing my column since 2005. Finding new subjects each week is always a challenge and a stress. And then I also worry that a book isn’t up to my expectations and won’t meet my readers either. Then there is the stress of finding a way to let people know my books are out there. I love creating graphics and ads for my books and meeting my readers.
Have you ever considered writing under a pseudonym?
Yes, and I will be doing that with a serious book I am writing.
What is the harshest but also most helpful criticism you've ever received? What was the best?
My harshest was also my best in my opinion. One reader said I had scrambled eggs for brains and I wrote like Doctor Seuss. I should have kept my day job. Well, I love Dr. Seuss and I don’t mind having scrambled eggs for brains so though it was meant to be a bad review I loved it.
