Terry Ambrose

Writing is like a good barbecue sauce, if it ain't bold, it ain't worth doing.

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The Broken Spine by Dorothy St. James

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The Broken Spine by Dorothy St. James

Dorothy St. James is the pen name for award-winning author, Dorothy McFalls. Dorothy writes in several different genres. The Broken Spine is the first in her Beloved Bookroom Mystery series.

Warring worlds

“The Broken Spine explores the tension between living in the digital world and the analog world,” Dorothy said. “My heroine, Trudell Becket loves her library so much that when it’s being converted into a ‘bookless’ library she does something outrageous. She opens a secret ‘bookroom’ in the basement of the library where she works. The bookroom is a throwback to libraries of another era with a card catalog and book slips for checking out the books. Change can be difficult, painful. In the case of the changes coming to the Cypress library, that change is murder.”

Do bookless libraries exist?

“I read an article about a bookless library opening in Texas. It got me to thinking about how I would feel if my library went completely digital. I read mainly digital books, and yet the thought of the books leaving my local library made me feel anxious. I wouldn’t want that to happen. I then started to play ‘what if’ games in my head. What if I were a librarian in that library? What would I do? I far would I go to save those books?”

Dorothy St James, author of The Broken Spine

Dorothy said she wants prospective readers to know that she’s not against technology. “I love all the new gadgets. I don’t know what I’d do without my smart phone. But at the same time, I’m a nut when it comes to books. I have such lovely childhood memories from my time spent at the library. My daughter adores going to the library to find treasures to read. She rarely goes in with a book in mind. She simply wanders around in the stacks and picks up anything that appeals to her. This isn’t something she could do online.”

Oh, and for those who truly have inquiring minds, Dorothy said, “I love cats! I hate cooking.”

Learning about libaries

Dorothy said that one of the problem she faced in writing this series is that she’s not a librarian, nor has she been through the training and education librarians undergo for their work. “This was a problem since my protagonist, Trudell Becket is (in addition to being an amazing sleuth) the assistant librarian of the Cypress library. While I did have extensive experience working in government, I knew that it wasn’t quite the same thing. To write this series, I needed to get into the minds of local librarians.” Fortunately for Dorothy, she learned that librarians love to share their knowledge.

“I love to research my books. Sometimes I must remind myself to stop researching and start writing already. For the White House Gardener Mystery series, I stalked secret service agents through Lafayette Park at three AM in the morning to see how difficult it would be to murder someone there. (It’s possible.) For the Southern Chocolate Shop Mysteries series, I learned how to make my own chocolate from cacao beans. I also tasted many, many different types of chocolates in the name of research. While writing books for that series, I always eat some chocolate before sitting down at the computer because…research.”

For the Beloved Bookroom Mystery series, Dorothy took part in many of her local library’s activities. She joined tai chi classes, took sewing classes, art classes, attended plays, and author talks. “I was amazed at how libraries are changing. They’re becoming vibrant community centers that also have books.”

Learn more about Dorothy St. James and The Broken Spine at www.dorothystjames.com. Did you like this interview? If so, click here to read more Behind the Story interviews from your favorite authors.

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Crime Scene Connection by Deena Alexander

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Crime Scene Connection by Deena Alexander

Deena Alexander grew up on the south shore of eastern Long Island. Her love for writing developed when her youngest son was born and didn’t sleep through the night. Crime Scene Connection is her debut novel in the romantic suspense genre.

Faith and forgiveness

“My family and my faith are the two most important things in my life,” Deena said. “I write books about Christian characters who must depend on their faith to see them through the most trying of situations, while they struggle to find courage and strength within themselves. Family is also important to my characters, and they often put themselves in danger to save those they love.”

Though Deena feels it’s not always easy to forgive those who’ve hurt us, it’s often easier than forgiving ourselves. “In Crime Scene Connection, Addison Keller is on the run. She doesn’t know who to rely on for help; a stranger who pretty much despises her for sins she didn’t commit, a sister who’s been estranged for years after interfering in Addison’s marriage, or herself. While forgiving herself may prove to be too difficult, Addison knows she’s got to find a way or the guilt may just cause her to make a deadly mistake.”

A change in plans

Deena Alexander - Crime Scene Connection

“My husband works for the railroad, and I was thinking of writing a book about a terrorist attack on a railroad. I figured he’d be the perfect source of any information I needed. Unfortunately, the idea of someone using information I provided to actually attack a railroad kept me from writing the story. So, I started thinking, what would happen if a killer recreated the scenes from a novel, then challenged the author to try to find him before he could kill her?”

Deena said she loved the idea for Crime Scene Connection, but had a hard time getting it just right. “Often when writing a book, I just sit down and write the story from beginning to end, then give it a good round of edits before sending it off to my agent or publisher. I rewrote Crime Scene Connection at least nine times before being offered a contract from Harlequin Love Inspired Suspense. The record before that was a book I’d rewritten three times before it was picked up for publication.”

A cozy in the works?

“I think the most enjoyable thing I’ve ever done for research was in preparation for a cozy mystery I haven’t written yet, based on a small antique village. I visited a place on Long Island with my kids called Barntique Village. At the time, my kids were twenty-eight, twenty, and eight, so it was difficult to find things all of them enjoyed, but we had a great time that day. My daughter and her husband loved looking at old antique bottles among other things, my younger two loved all the retro video game things, and I found a beautiful desk and several old typewriters—that sure brought back memories. Overall, it was a very enjoyable, fun day, and I’m looking forward to writing that story.”

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

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Behind the story of Wedding Bear Blues by Meg Macy

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Wedding Bear Blues by Meg Macy

Meg Macy is an award-winning mystery author with a passion for cozy mysteries, gardening, and crafts. She’s written the Shamelessly Adorable Teddy Bear cozy mysteries for Kensington and is one-half of the writing team of D.E. Ireland for the Eliza Doolittle & Henry Higgins mysteries. Two of her books, Wouldn’t It Be Deadly and Get Me to the Grave On Time, were Agatha Award finalists for Best Historical. Wedding Bear Blues is the fourth Teddy Bear Mystery.

Teddy bears and family first

Meg said she’d known about the Chelsea Teddy Bear Factory in Southeastern Michigan for years, and even turned down a chance to tour the factory because she was busy with other things at the time.

“I figured it would always be there. Unfortunately, by the time I came up with a ‘teddy bear’ theme for a cozy mystery series, I was too late – the factory had closed up and the business moved to Missouri. Rats! But I did find some photos of the factor and the bears, so I decided to make my own version of a teddy bear shop and factory, plus the family that runs it.”

One of the themes Meg stresses in her books is ‘family first.’ Family, as well as her close friends, are important to Meg. “My protagonist, Sasha Silverman, believes in family first with her heart. After a terrible first marriage, she returned home to her family and appreciates their support throughout along with close friends in the small town of Silver Hollow. Although I’ve never lived in a small town, I’ve visited several. I know it’s true that ‘everyone knows everybody’ — and that gossip is ripe. I also stress that teddy bears are ‘childhood innocence’ at its best. My books include the terrible ways in which adults use these toys for drug smuggling and worse crimes, but justice always comes for them in the end.”

On the personal side

Meg Macy - Wedding Bear Blues

Meg describes herself as a voracious mystery and historical fiction reader. Her reading interests also influence her writing, which include contemporary cozies, westerns, and romance. “Everything I write has either a hint of mystery or a full-blown mystery involved. I’m also an artist – watercolors, pen/ink, and acrylic. I haven’t had much time to devote lately, but after this past year, I may try to pick up my brushes once more.”

The past year has been a challenging time for Meg’s writing. “It’s hard to drum up the creativity to write. To do anything, in fact, with all the bad news every day. I’m sure we all remember experiencing the same problem after 9–11. When New York City shut down, my brief ‘career’ writing puzzles, games, etc. for children’s magazines dried up completely. I had to refocus my creativity, which wasn’t easy. Sometimes these life-shaking events are just another door opening. I may be stepping through another next year. Time will tell.”

Inspiration in the stacks—real or virtual

“I absolutely love research. I remember going to the university library stacks in college and browsing through old books — there’s nothing like that smell of musty pages, and wondering who last looked up information inside that book, if ever. With the internet, we can now find things from so many other libraries and sources. The world opened up at our fingertips! While considering a sequel to my first published novel, Double Crossing, I happened to come across a printed menu on a website for a lavish dinner that took place in Sacramento in late 1869 for railroad magnates and politicians. That was the perfect starting point for Double or Nothing. Those gems an author stumbles over don’t come often, but they can be inspirational.”

Learn more about Meg Macy and Wedding Bear Blues on her website at megmacy.com. Did you like this interview? If so, click here to read more Behind the Story interviews from your favorite authors.

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Behind the story of Erin’s Children by Eileen O’Finlan

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Erin's Children by Eileen O'Finlan

Eileen O’Finlan is a historical fiction writer who likes telling stories from the past that are rarely taught in the classroom. Erin’s Children is Eileen’s second novel and the sequel to her debut novel, Kelegeen.

While writing Kelegeen, Eileen said she kept seeing scenes for a sequel play out in her mind. Even though all of those scenes didn’t end up in the story, they provided her with a starting point. During her research of Erin’s Children, Eileen kept finding parallels between today’s events and those that were happening at the time of her story’s setting.

Past and present collide

“For example, the main characters in Erin’s Children are Irish immigrants who came to America to escape the Great Hunger (aka Potato Famine). Shortly after their arrival, the Know Nothing political party came to power in America. One of the main tenets of that party’s platform was ‘nativism,’ the belief that only white Protestants of British extraction should have any say in the governing of America. In fact, they wanted to force all immigrants, especially Irish Catholic immigrants, out of the country. They also wanted to free the slaves, but not for humanitarian reasons. Rather, it was in order to ship them out of the country, as well. They believed that ‘America should be run by Americans’ and saw themselves as the only ‘true’ Americans. I couldn’t help but think of the issues of immigration and race that are so important in America today. I could hardly have written a novel about Irish immigrants in 1850s America and left them out. I will leave readers to draw their own conclusions as to what we can learn from history.”

A stickler for details

Eileen O'Finlan

Eileen said she wants her readers to know that she does everything she can to ensure that she has the historical details portrayed correctly. “What I most want readers to know is that I have made a promise to them. That promise is that when they pick up a book by Eileen O’Finlan they can be sure that I have done my very best to create a story in which they can become totally absorbed. They can get lost in it, live it vicariously, and, hopefully, wish it would never end. Those are the kind of stories I love to read so I’ve made it my mission to give that experience to my readers to the best of my ability.”

A change of venue for Erin’s Children


“I was originally going to set the story in Boston since it is well known as one of the places Irish immigrants flocked to. However, it didn’t take long for me to find out that Worcester also had an Irish population and was a destination for Famine era immigrants. In the 1830s Irish immigrants had come to Worcester to build the Blackstone Canal after having built the Erie Canal. Since I live in central Massachusetts in a suburb of Worcester, I knew I’d have a blast researching the history and decided to set the story here instead.”

A love of historical research


Eileen said that while researching Erin’s Children, she read the Worcester City documents for the entire decade of the 1850s. “These are the annual reports from the mayor and each of the City committees and departments such as the school committee, fire and police departments, or the committee for the city aqueduct. I read them cover to cover – every word. Under other circumstances this might have been a fabulous cure for insomnia, but given that I was setting the novel in Worcester in the 1850s they became a source of utter fascination to me.”

As Eileen read through the documents, nuggets of information popped out—the mention of winter coming early one year which shut down all outside work early and caused a smaller than usual harvest or the huge snowstorm that interfered with a new mayor’s inauguration. “I used these things in the story whenever I could and followed the calendar for 1850 to make sure my dates were accurate.” 
Eileen considers herself fortunate that one of her dearest friends is also a curator and research historian at Old Sturbridge Village. “I think of him as my own personal research historian. I don’t think there’s a thing Tom doesn’t know about 19th century New England (and most of history in general, for that matter). Whenever I wasn’t sure of something or couldn’t find the answer in my research I’d call or text him. He always had the answer no matter how obscure it might be.”

Because Eileen does much of her writing at night, those conversations often took place in the middle of the night. “I’d be in the middle of a scene, get stuck because I didn’t know something and I’d text Tom. I almost always got my answer right away. Though one time, it was followed by, ‘it’s the middle of the night – go to bed!’”

Learn more about Eileen O’Finlan at eileenofinlan.com. Did you like this interview? If so, click here to read more Behind the Story interviews from your favorite authors.

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Behind the story of Where There’s a Will by Judy Penz Sheluk

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Where There's a Will by Judy Penz Sheluk

Judy Penz Sheluk is a former journalist and magazine editor and the author of two mystery series: the Glass Dolphin Mysteries and the Marketville Mysteries. Where There’s a Will is the third Glass Dolphin Mystery.

Three books from the start

Judy said that while Where There’s a Will is a cozy mystery, there are no cats, crafts, or cookie recipes. At just 48,000 words, Judy describes the book as a fun, but fast-paced, story in which readers will learn more about ‘Bully’ (pre-emptive real estate offers), wills, holograph wills, and estate law.

“From the time I wrote the first book in the series, The Hanged Man’s Noose, I knew it would be a three-book series,” Judy said. “I also knew how it would end…at least from my main characters’ perspective. I’m usually a complete pantser, but in this case, I actually wrote the last 3 chapters first, though I did do a bit of editing by the time I got back there. I also knew I wanted to do something along the lines of an ‘Antiques Roadshow’ style appraisal day, with Arabella Carpenter hosting it, and I wanted her business partner, Emily Garland, house hunting. The way all of it converged was fun to write.”

Judy added that while this is the third book in the series, she believes readers can read it as a standalone, also. “Of course, as the author, I’m always hoping folks read the entire series, because I’ve done a fair bit of character progression,” Judy said.

Judy Penz Sheluk

A research tip

“I do a lot of research,” Judy said. “In this case, I interviewed two realtors: my nephew, Brian Sametz, and a friend, Carole McGill Plant. Both gave me plenty of material to work with. I also interviewed Daniel Fiorini, who is an estate lawyer. Dan said something that changed the course of the story: The dead can’t reach out from the grave. I loved that…even though it didn’t fit with what I’d originally had in mind for the plot.”

Judy also said that because she was a journalist for many years, she learned the importance of good research. “I love talking to experts in their respective fields. You can Google and Wiki search all day long, but 15 minutes with an expert will give you ten times the information, and tidbits and trivia you’d never find on your own – and it will be accurate. “

Learn more about Judy Penz Sheluk at judypenzsheluk.com. Did you like this interview? If so, click here to read more Behind the Story interviews from your favorite authors.

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Behind the story of Fishing for Trouble by Elizabeth Logan

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Fishing for Trouble by Elizabeth Logan

Behind the story of Fishing for Trouble by Elizabeth Logan Elizabeth Logan is the (current) pen name for Camille Minichino, who is determined to turn every aspect of her life into a mystery series. A retired physicist, she’s the author of 28 mystery novels in 5 series, all with different pen names. Fishing for Trouble is the second book in the Alaskan Diner series.

Under contract, but following her instincts

Camille said she decided to write this series and Fishing for Trouble when she was offered a work-for-hire contract from the publisher that.came with “a bible.” What this means is the publisher determined the major details, i.e., the protagonist is the owner of a diner in Alaska; her name is Charlotte ‘Charlie’ Cooke; her BFF owns an inn down the road; she works with Alaska State Trooper Cody Graham; her chief cook (also the victim in the first book) is Oliver; and more!

This was Camille’s first work-for-hire contract. She said, “The bible specifies so many details that writing it turned out to be not too different from a board game, working around the ‘givens’ to construct a story. I did get to choose her hair color. But not her pet, an orange tabby named Benny, short for Eggs Benedict.”

Camille said the one issue that runs through all her books is feminism. “Not necessarily the banner-carrying kind, though I’ve done my share of that, but the subtle kind that makes sure the protagonist (they’re all female) is strong enough to be self-supporting, both financially and emotionally, that she is as smart as any male counterpart. In earlier books, my agenda was to show women as scientists or mathematicians, a STEM agenda in itself. In my current book, the second in the Alaskan Diner series, she’s a business owner and, of course, a master sleuth!”

Camille Minichino writing as Elizabeth Logan

Up close and personal

“You need to know these idiosyncrasies only if you plan to spend a week or so with me. I’m not sure it will affect how you approach my books. First, I don’t like maintenance of any kind. This applies to grooming (no makeup or extraneous cosmetics), housework, office work like scheduling and filing, or follow-up chores.

“Second, I’m not much of finisher, which I view as maintenance. The fact that I’ve finished 28 novels and a host of short stories and articles is due entirely to deadlines for my day job and publishers. Otherwise, I’d have to return payroll checks, advances, and royalties.

“Lastly, I want to create and run. If you need highly polished floors, you’re on your own.”

Not a finisher, but up to a challenge

“My biggest challenge with this series was Benny, the cat. Definitely Benny, the cat. Those who know me know I have never nor will I ever have a pet. No dogs, cats, parrots, fish. None. I don’t hate them; I just don’t want to be bothered maintaining a creature that is not human, that is, will never grow up and move out, get a job, and be on his or her own. (See #3, regarding maintenance.)

“Nevertheless, I accepted Benny (again, see #3, this time with respect to advances and royalties) and appealed to my cat-loving friends, whose name, it turns out, is legion. They only too happily showered me with cat stories and photos of cats in different positions, so to speak. I have a binder full of What cats eat or don’t eat, What they sound like, How their tail communicates. One of the cat people even constructed a Pinterest page for Benny.

“What could have been very challenging turned into a great new way to relate to my friends and critique partners.”

Embalming, anyone?

“I have a cousin-once-removed who is married to a freelance embalmer. I know, that’s already funny, but Bobby is also a funny guy. When I was writing the Periodic Table Mysteries, my first series, I wanted to give my retired-physicist protagonist (i.e., me) something to make her likeable. Fun to have lunch with. Give physicists a good name. So, I gave her a pair of best friends who run a mortuary and offer her the apartment above the parlor, two levels above the embalming room.

“Well, you can see where this is going. Bobby became my expert witness as the series went on (The Hydrogen Murder, The Helium Murder, and so on) as he shared his funniest true stories and I turned them into my fiction, changing names to protect the innocent.

“It seems that when a dearly departed is laid out for viewing in a casket, the clothes are cut up in such a way as to make the prep easy. For example, a dress or jacket will be sliced up the back and tucked in the sides of the casket, which is more convenient than trying to ‘dress’ the person.

“One day, one of Bobby’s friends came to visit in the prep room. The guy took off his jacket and hung it on the back of a chair. I’ll leave you to figure out the punch line!”

Dying to learn more about Camille Minichino or Fishing for Trouble? Check out her website at minichino.com. And, if you’d like to see more of my Behind the Story interviews, you can pick and choose here.

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