What prompted you to write the book?
I was at a crossroads in my life and education. One day I decided that
I wanted to write and since I enjoyed mysteries I gave it a shot. I finished the book right before I went back to finish my
history degree.
How long did it take to write?
My
first draft took three months. Revising took two years and six revisions.
Are any of the stories based on real genealogical problems?
Well the nice thing about genealogy is that there is so much you can glean and use. The first and second books are
actually based on two family lines and the mysteries behind them. I had an ancestor that was married five times. All of his
wives but the last died within 3-7 years of their marriage. Each of them had anywhere from 1-5 children. I always wondered
why they died so quickly and from what. This was back in the 1700's and they lived on a small island off of the coast
of Maine. I thought it might make an interesting premise for a mystery novel. I can only hope that my ancestor was a little
kinder to his wives than the Captain is.
The second book
was based on one of my ancestors who really did commit suicide in the 1850's. The report of his death was listed in the
paper, and about fifteen years later someone by the same name really did die in the local asylum. So I thought...what if?
And that's where A Commitment to Murder came from.
The third is a totally made up senario. That may be why I am having so much trouble with it!
How did you develop the characters?
I have a wide range of experience with people
and places. No one character is based on any one person specifically. They are a conglomeration of several people into one.
The closest might be Lydia and I. They do tell you to write about what you know...right?
Why
a series?
Mainly because I enjoy following the lives of the characters when I read myself. If they are well
written they become members of your family. I wanted to create a group of people - women - who could work together, have difficulties
and conflicts and still be friends at the end of the story. You will never find a more hard working and supportive group of
people than genealogists. I wanted to share that with my readers.
Where are the stories
set?
In the Los Angeles County area; South Bay specifically. The town is a mix of the area I live in. A little
of Torrance, a little of Gardena, a little of El Segundo and a little of Redondo Beach. All areas I have lived near since
the day I was born. Rancho Camino as a city is totally fictitious.
Why genealogy?
I
read a lot of mysteries. Before I started writing these, I had never come across any other genealogy writers until Rhet McPherson.
I discovered her after I had completed the second book. I decided that since there were a ton of mysteries that were present
day, it might be nice to solve something from the past. And let me tell you my genealogy has quite a few mysteries of which
I cannot solve. There are a couple that I used for the basis of the first two books that are very close. I call it my perfect
world. Writing genealogical mysteries gives me the chance to solve those problems in a most unusual way!
How do you choose the murder weapon?
That changes with each story line. The first one came
from a friend at work. The second was simply a matter of the situation the deceased character was in prior to his death. I
can't reveal too much or you won't read the books!
What are your favorite
books, television shows and movies?
Well Murder She Wrote has been a favorite since I was a kid.
I still watch the reruns when I am home during the week. CSI is another that I will watch over and over and of course
Monk. I see a bit of myself in his OC nature!
Movies: Jane Eyre, Rebecca, Indiana
Jones, Shakespeare in Love, the National Lampoon Vacation movies, Murphy's Romance, Hope
Floats and of course for total irreverance (and because I have a fear of flying) Airplane.
As for
literature: I'm big fan of Elizabeth Peters and her Amelia Peabody series. My mother wanted to be an archaeologist. I
not only enjoy the series mystery aspect of it, but I can see her out there digging up bones and pottery like the
Emersons. Torie O'Shea mysteries and of course one of my all time favorites, the Bennie Harper Quilting series by Earlene
Fowler. And I have been a faithful fan of Rita Mae Brown and her Sneaky Pie series as well. I love both her human's
and their pets.
I read a little romance and that's Amanda Quick. The only SF/Fantasy I truly enjoy is Anne McCaffrey's
Dragon Rider's series. My oldest is named after one of her prominent weyrwomen so that tells you something!
I
read a lot. I have many other favorites, way too much to list here. I guess working in a library will do that to you.
