1. How long have you been writing? I started writing in 2016 when I discovered the sub-sub-genre of culinary cozy mysteries. I thought I could be a perfect fit and carve out a place for myself there. But I love all kinds of mysteries, so my next book, “Shoot Shovel and Shut Up,” is still clean and compelling, but not so cute and culinary.
2. What inspired the book you’re currently promoting? I was inspired by Agatha Christie’s “Death Comes As the End.” That’s a strange story and I felt like the characters had some potential that the original story didn’t explore, AND I thought it would be great on a modern Texan family ranch.
3. Who are the authors who most influenced your work? Definitely Agatha Christie, but also Stacey Swann’s “Olympus, Texas” for all the family drama, and my book seems to be similar to Bruce Hammack’s mysteries. I was told that “Shoot Shovel and Shut Up” is like a clean mystery version of the show “Yellowstone.”
4. Where do you write, i.e. an office, outdoors, a coffee shop? I mostly write at home, but I’ll write anywhere! Sometimes I go to a library, cabin, or coffee shop to have dedicated time, but mostly I write on a laptop at the dining room table. I used to have a desk, but now the family computer has taken my spot.
5. If you could visit one place to research a book where would it be? I would go to the past, but since I can’t, I’ll keep writing contemporary settings since I’m too afraid to get things wrong!
Southern Sisters Book Club 