Your work spans cozy mysteries, young-adult fantasy fiction, contemporary romances, and historical novels. How do you manage to switch between such diverse genres, and do you have a favorite? My favorite genre always tends to be the one I’m working in at the moment! As you mentioned, I’ve written across several genres, and I love them all for different reasons, but the cozy mystery genre has really captured my heart and imagination in an amazing way. It allows me to combine all my favorite elements—smart heroines, intriguing sidekicks, mystery, whimsy, a touch of romance, and even history. It has everything!
Your cozy mysteries often feature magical animals. What inspired you to incorporate these elements? I suppose I’ve been drawn to magical animals because I enjoy imagining the world the way I wish it could be. Who wouldn’t want to be friends with an immortal talking cat who once lived with Queen Cleopatra? Or a socially anxious little mouse who is determined to hide his power of speech from the world but realizes he’ll need to use his voice to save his best friend? I love slipping into story worlds where whimsical things like that can happen and then sharing those adventures with readers.
Your heroines are known for their strong, feisty personalities. How do you go about crafting these characters, and what qualities do you believe are essential for a memorable heroine? I love my strong, feisty heroines! I like to think of them as being the kind of women we all wish we could be, while also having some of the same insecurities and baggage we all tend to have, which is what makes them relatable. I can see parts of myself in these women, and I hope readers see a bit of themselves as well. Sometimes my heroines make mistakes, but they always learn from them, and they never give up. That’s what I hope makes them memorable to readers.
The theme of balancing justice is prevalent in your mysteries. What draws you to this theme? I want to live in a world where the bad guy—or gal—is always caught and must face the consequences of their crimes. That doesn’t always happen in the real world, but I can ensure it happens in my stories. I suppose that’s what draws me back to this theme again and again.
What fascinates you about the Victorian and Edwardian eras, and how do you ensure historical accuracy while keeping the stories engaging for modern readers? My love for those eras originated with research for a novel I wrote that is set against the backdrop of the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair and then grew with another novel set in the vaudeville world of Old New York. I fell in love with the fashions of the time and the aesthetics, but I also was fascinated by the strict social conventions people endured—especially women. As an author, I found it deeply satisfying to write about female characters who rebelled against those conventions to find freedom and happiness. For each of those novels, I spent about a year researching the time, place, and historical figures I wove into the stories and then another year writing and doing additional research. All that research might drive some writers nuts, but as a history buff, I loved every second of it!
The bits of ancient Egyptian history that appear in my cozy mysteries comes from my lifelong love of that era, and I’m thrilled to be able to put some of what I’ve learned over the years into the pages of my stories.
You mention being a craft addict. What are some of your favorite crafts, and do they influence or inspire your writing in any way? My favorite crafts are usually the ones that incorporate elements of whatever novel I’m working on at the moment. Lately I’ve been making ribbon bookmarks adorned with teapot charms, mouse charms, or cat charms. Since writing books can take weeks or even months, it’s so rewarding to be able to make something from beginning to end in one sitting. While I’m crafting, I usually think I’m giving my brain a break, but inevitably I end up working out a story issue that has been hounding me or thinking up something entirely new for a future story. My story brain never seems to turn off.
How does binge-watching crime dramas influence your writing, particularly your cozy mysteries? Do you have any favorite shows that have inspired your work? I’m inspired by so many crime shows. I love the humor of Psych and Monk. I admire the clever deduction of Elementary and Endeavor. I learn so much about forensic evidence from CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and Bones. But I’d say the ones I’m most drawn to are the British mysteries, such as Midsomer Murders and especially Agatha Christie’s Marple. It’s always fascinating to see how the bad guy or gal tries to hide their crime, how clues might be discovered, and what ultimately gives them away.
You escape to Disneyland whenever you can (love this!). What is it about Disneyland that you find so inspiring, and does it play a role in your creative process? Disneyland is an idealized version of real-life, sort of like the world of my cozy mysteries. It’s filled with fun things to do, interesting things to see, happy people, and of course the Dole Whips, which are my personal favorite Disney treat! I’ve been going to Disneyland since I was a child, so there’s also many wonderful childhood memories I’m able to revisit each time I’m there. I also love that I’m now adding to those memories with new ones that include my hubby, daughter, and friends.
How does living in Southern California with your family (and pampered border collie!) influence your writing routine and the themes you explore in your books? Living in Southern California has had a tremendous effect on my cozy mysteries. Each story is set within Orange County in towns I’ve either lived in or worked in, or both. There are so many interesting and quirky aspects to this area that often go unnoticed by outsiders, and I love pulling some of that into the stories.
What advice would you have for aspiring writers who wish to write in different genres like yourself? I would advise any writer to write stories they love, and if that means dabbling in different genres, go ahead and do it, even if more business-minded folks caution against it. I’ve been in this business a long time, and I know so much about the world of publishing lies outside the author’s control. The only thing truly in your control is deciding what to write, so you might as well write what makes you happy. Also, I believe something wonderful happens when a writer is writing a story they truly love. The enthusiasm fuels the story, and that energy or spark or whatever it is, makes the story extra special for the reader.
BONUS: What is one book you consider to be a comfort read that you reach for all the time? Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll
BONUS 2: What is your FAVORITE ride at Disneyland? Haunted Mansion
I enjoyed learning more about you and your writing in this interview.