The Art of the Decoy by Trish Esden

Trish Esden loves museums, gardens, wilderness, dogs, and birds, in various orders depending on the day. She lives in northern Vermont where she deals antiques with her husband, a profession she’s been involved with since her teens. The Art of the Decoy is the first Scandal Mountain Antiques Mystery.

Where the heart lies

“When I set out to write The Art of the Decoy, I didn’t actively try to address any issues. But they did seep into the story as I asked the main character, Edie Brown, to face situations that were intellectually and emotionally challenging to her. At the beginning of the novel there is a quote from Edie about the world of art and antiques. She says: ‘And to us dealers in the art and antiques trade, it really all comes down to the cash. Well, that, plus the love of history. And the hunt. And the desire for beautiful things.’ 

“But, as the story unfolds, the reader discovers where Edie’s heart truly lies and how far she’s willing to go to do what she feels is right. Along with that philosophical issue, Edie faces a deep seeded grief over the loss of her grandparents as well as personal conflicts with her mother and other characters. So, yes, there are issues that play a role in the Scandal Mountain Antiques Mystery series. But I like to think they work in concert with the mystery plot and pace rather than bogging them down.”

Old meets new

Trish, a life-long New Englander, has been an antique dealer since she was a teen. She said that she’s been wanting to write a series that would show an up-to-date look at the antique trade and Vermont life. “Not just the picturesque and romanticized version but books set where old ways clash and meld into the modern. This is one reason I chose to place the fictional town of Scandal Mountain close to the progressive small city of Burlington and equally near the rural and often more conservative towns that spread along the border of Vermont and Quebec. The mix of older traditions butting against the onrush of contemporary life offers an extra layer of tensions, especially for an antique and art dealer like Edie Brown. To succeed in restoring her family’s antique business to its former glory, Edie must keep one foot on the cutting edge of the antique trade while also respecting the history and cultural value of the antiques she loves and their owners and creators.”

Never too late

Trish believes that as a writer, her job is to entertain readers with a fast-paced escape from real life. “This is my debut mystery series. There is no explicit sex, and very limited swearing and violence. It essentially straddles the line between traditional and cozy mystery. But I’ve also traditionally published two contemporary fantasy series that are a touch dark and a bit sexy. You can find them under the name of Pat Esden. What I’d like readers—who are also aspiring authors—to know is that I didn’t begin writing with the goal of being traditionally published until my late forties. With all my heart I believe life is about making time to explore all our dreams. Forties. Fifties. Sixties… It’s never too late to go for it.”

Blending reality with fiction

“As an antique dealer, I have volumes of odd and funny stories to think back on when I write. That said, I never use specific people or events. If you cross me, I won’t kill you in one of my novels. I only use those memories to spark ideas, or for a dash of color. For example: In The Art of the Decoy there is an old-timer antique dealer by the name of Bucky Sanders. He smarter than almost anyone when it comes to antiques. The biggest names in the industry traveled to Vermont to buy from him. But he doesn’t look the part. He smells of liquor and has a tobacco-stained beard. He wears stained overhauls in the summer and a tattered woman’s snowmobile suit in the winter. Bucky’s beard and smell are a tribute to a brilliant antique dealer I once knew. The idea of an old man wearing a woman’s snowmobile suit came from another man who had an outstanding ability when it came to carving and furniture repair. He found a similar tattered suit while scrounging for pieces of lumber in a dumpster. The suit was the right size, so he took it home and wore it for years much to his wife’s chagrin. ‘Waste not want not’, was his motto. 

Learn more about Trish Esden at trishesden.com. Did you like this interview? If so, click here to read more Behind the Story interviews from your favorite authors.