You live on a lake in the woods of Northwest Wisconsin. How do your daily natural surroundings influence the mood and settings in your novels?
My surroundings create a sense of peace and stimulate my creativity. I can sit out on my deck overlooking the lake with a cup of coffee or a glass of wine, or lose myself in sunrises or sunsets reflecting across the lake. I enjoy watching my "pet" deer follow me around. The stress of everyday life disappears, and my creativity is unleashed. My love of nature spills over into my novels, I think, although I balance this with the inherent dangers lurking out there.
Nature plays a strong role in your stories. What is it about wilderness landscapes that makes them perfect for psychological suspense?
The peace and tranquility of nature can easily be disrupted in remote wilderness settings when a major storm, wild animals, or danger moves in. Or when one is stranded on an island, trying to survive. The quiet and sense of isolation can cause the mind to wander, imagining negative outcomes.
You’re drawn to the Victorian era. What elements of that time period—social, spiritual, or aesthetic—most inspire your storytelling?
I've always been intrigued with Victorian spiritualism, ever since I connected with Emily Dickinson. She believed in immortality of the soul, and found the divine through nature. "I dwell in possibility..." she wrote, and that has become my mantra! The Victorians believe that the dead can communicate with the living, in the evolution of the soul after death, and that deceased spirits can guide the living. I relate to that...and have had several experiences to back up my beliefs. This is something I hope to relay to my readers through my novels.
Many of your books blend the supernatural with psychological tension. How do you balance the eerie with the emotional realism of your characters?
I try to blur the line between external threats and internal emotions to create suspense. I create delusional, unbalanced characters, and conflicts based on internal struggles originating from experiences within previous lifetimes. It helps to set scenes in isolated settings where a character is trapped both physically and mentally.
Your settings range from ghost towns to haunted islands to remote wilderness. Do you choose the setting first, or does the story lead you there?
A combination of both. I travel a lot, often seeking unique off the grid places in remote locations. Sometimes I find a place that speaks to me and compels me to set scenes there. The haunted Virginia City, Montana - the setting for my Amelia 1868 novel - is an example. Other times I research to find the best location for scenes in a novel. My research led me to Rainy Lake in Northern Minnesota, a place I fell in love with enough to set scenes from three of my novels there!
Unfinished Business is set along Lake Superior’s North Shore and includes Isle Royale and Voyageurs National Parks. What drew you to these particular locations?
My characters and plot required scenic remote, wilderness locations that were not easily accessible such as these national parks. I had previously visited them and fell in love with them. As I hiked along the trails on cliffs overlooking the Great Lake, I knew this is where scenes in my novel must take place. I also love Duluth, Grand Marais and the North Shore of Lake Superior. They are unique communities where my characters would fit in nicely.
Did you visit the parks featured in Unfinished Business while researching? If so, did any real experiences inspire scenes in the novel?
Absolutely! I sat by the lakes watching the sunrises and sunsets, wandered along the trails, and interviewed locals who lived or worked there. I met Mike, a local historian and boat captain, who was a wealth of information. He showed me places on Rainy Lake where one of my characters could hide out. His family history inspired me to set some scenes here and to integrate some of his fascinating stories into my novel. He even became one of my characters!
Readers say your stories are both “intriguing” and “terrifying.” What do you think makes psychological fear more powerful than graphic horror?
A blend of psychological fear and graphic horror can sometimes be the most effective. However, I prefer focusing more on psychological fear instead of graphic horror because I think more people can relate to it. Psychological fear targets the mind. It is more internal, longer term, frequently based on inner turmoil, distorted reality, suspense and anxiety. Graphic horror is more external, more immediate and physical, generating a fight or flight response.
Family mysteries seem to be a strong thread in your work. Why do secrets within families make such compelling suspense?
Maybe because we all have some secrets - or unknowns - within our own lives and families? And because we are curious at heart. By delving into the family secrets of others, it can sometimes help us to understand our own history and to understand ourselves better. Perhaps it can even help us to resolve lingering issues that have haunted us or our loved ones for some time.
There’s also a budding romance woven into Unfinished Business. What does romance add to a thriller or supernatural story?
I feel that romance adds emotional depth and an additional dimension to my characters. Readers relate to love, something most of us desire to find in our own lives. By integrating romance into a thriller or a supernatural story, more is at stake. And readers are more fully engaged.
As someone who loves photography, do you ever “see” scenes like snapshots before you write them?
Yes, frequently. Many of my scenes take place in real places I've visited, taken photographs of, or seen in historical pictures. Others are firmly in my mind before I begin to write a scene. I can "see" the paintings on the wall, the rockers on the porch, the fireplace, books on the shelf, etc. before I create the scene on paper.
Your novels are set in real, vividly described places. How much research goes into making the settings feel authentic?
Lots! I consider myself to be a "place writer." It is important to me, and to my readers, to bring places to life. The only way to do this is to spend time at the locations I write about, meet and talk with the locals, take lots of photographs and simply try to absorb the culture and the nature surrounding me. I also do historical research at local libraries so I can integrate local history into my novels. I've developed a fan base at places where my novels are set, returning often to do book signings and spend time with new friends.
Do you believe in ghosts or the supernatural yourself, or do you approach those elements purely as storytelling tools?
I do! I have had several supernatural encounters - visits from deceased relatives. I have also photographed spirits - some transparent, some full-bodied, and some orbs. I've shared those photos with paranormal researchers. Several of my photos are currently being used on ghost tours on Galveston Island in Texas. I believe there is another world beyond this one, a message I try to convey to my readers.
For readers new to your work, what do you hope they feel after finishing one of your books?
My hope is that readers may broaden their horizons after reading my novels. The best and most heart-warming compliment I've ever had from a number of my readers is that my novels have made a difference in their lives. Themes that I like to convey include forgiveness, a belief in an afterlife, and the assurance that our deceased loved ones are still with us in one way or another.
What are your thoughts on social media for marketing or promotions? Are you enjoying your experience with AllAuthor so far? Would you recommend this platform to your author friends?
Social media is essential for marketing and promotions. I am very pleased with AllAuthor and would highly recommend their platform to other authors. They make it so much easier to promote your books!
