Interview with Escape into a Good Book 11/27
Please tell us a little bit about yourself.
This is my second interview with you this year, mostly because I was lucky enough to have two books published in 2026. I love writing the Henry Park Series because even though I live in Texas, I spent many years as a child and young adult in Colorado. I love creating the busy tourist-filled summers and four seasons, something we don’t have in South Texas. Right now, I’m working on the third book in the series, and I keep making it snow. Fictional snow is excellent, mostly because you don’t have to shovel it!
What are three things most people don’t know about you?
I’m an army brat, I sing in church choir, and I have more pictures of birds than my family in my phone.
What is the first book you remember reading?
I’ve answered this question before and can’t remember what I put, but it was probably one of the Little House books.
What are you reading now?
I am reading Judge Stone. The main character, Mary Stone is an excellent, strong, no bs woman and I like that. I’m learning more about legal proceedings, too. I recommend it.
What made you decide you wanted to write mysteries?
I tried romance, but I wasn’t that good at it, although there is an element of romance in all my mysteries. I tried to write young adult, but lets face it. It’s been a long time since I had the ability to think like a young adult character! Kind of like Goldilocks, mystery was just right for me. My favorite mysteries to watch are shows like Grantchester and Father Brown. I like these programs not because of the mystery/puzzle elements, but because of the growth of recurring characters. A mystery to solve is the bonus.
Do you have a special place where you like to write?
Anywhere it’s quiet, although I have discovered I can write on my laptop while my son with Down syndrome watches Barney. It’s a happy place for me.
Where do the ideas for your books come from?
I love to watch true crime, scammer shows, and YouTube badgecam shows. Sometimes they will spark an idea.
Is there anything about writing you find most challenging?
Going from my first draft to my second draft. I know that’s very specific, but my first draft is like my hair in the morning-crazy, out of place, and ugly. Going through this process is like pulling a comb through a bunch of tangles. Once it’s finished the story becomes more cohesive, my characters and settings have better descriptions, and I usually have a list of plot holes and a plan to fix them. What a mess.
What do you think makes a good story?
A character who is wronged by another, but grows out of the process.
Which, of all your characters, do you think is the most like you?
Probably, Betsy from the Pecan Bayou Series. That was the first series I wrote, and Betsy, the bumbling housewife who is trying to save money with her helpful hints column, hits at where I was in life at that time. Now that I’m older, I identify with Dot’s mother in the Swinging Sixties Series, the librarian/aspiring writer.
What makes your books different from others out there in this genre?
I love to make truly evil villains.
What’s next on the horizon for you?
I am currently working on the third book in the Henry Park Series. All the books have titles that start with Color Me, so Color Me#3 is on the way, and it is very snowy!
