Author Interview

Below is an interview of the author.

What inspired the creation of your series?

The series grew from my love of the world of dogs. I have spent over 50 years showing dogs and have been involved in many dog-related activities, always with Samoyeds. I love writing, which I’ve had since I was a child. During college, I was lucky enough to have Walter Tevis as my advisor, the author of ‘The Hustler, ’ ‘The Man Who Fell to Earth,’ and The Queen’s Gambit,’ among other titles. He taught writing for four years and inspired me to consider it as a career. Life got in the way, so my career ended up with my becoming a schoolteacher and a librarian. Eventually, the opportunity to write came along. The old saying “write what you know” took over, and I knew I had to write about dogs and include a large Irish-American family, which is my background. I love suspense, so it was a natural choice.

 What motivates Kate to take risks?

Kate’s main drive is the need for justice. She is loyal to her family and the circle of people who become part of ‘Kate’s team’ along the way. 

How do the dogs impact the plot?

Dogs are smart, intuitive, and loyal. What else would a detective want for a sidekick?

 What challenges did you face at the start?

The major challenge is time. I decided early on that I wanted to publish the books myself. I’d been a single parent since my son was quite young, so I had to do much without help. This led to a desire to decide on the direction of my new career. It hasn’t been easy, but writing is something I love.

How did your passion for dogs begin?

When I was a graduate student wife working to put my husband through Caltech, I joined a needlework group of faculty and student wives. When I went to the home of the woman in charge, I approached the door, and a beautiful white dog stepped up, smiling and wagging his tail, and I fell in love. I became friends with the owners and followed Zeke through his career as a show dog. This allowed me to learn about the breed from all the experts, and on the day that Zeke finished his championship, I acquired my first Samoyed puppy. That puppy grew up to win the Samoyed Club of America National and the International Show in Mexico City and became the first Samoyed to go Best in Show in the country of Mexico. Over 50 years later, I still have Samoyeds.

Do you have a favorite scene involving dogs that stands out in your books?

One of my most enjoyable themes in a story was that of the puppy Quinn and his squeaking hedgehog toy in the book North Country Honeymoon. As I wrote, my puppy Quinn was going around the house with his new toy, a squeaky hedgehog, and the noise, which began as something annoying, grew into a major plot point. Inspiration can come from anywhere.