I LOVE when mystery novels set in a past era try to stick as closely as possible to true history. It gives me goosebumps to discover that what I’m reading is inspired by actual events and is not too far from the way things really were, especially when it’s difficult to believe people really did/thought/believed that back then. What I’ve found is there’s really nothing new under the sun, only the same, but different.
By 1919, Anna Katharine Green was well on her way to earning the title “Mother of Detective Fiction” having successfully published 21 novels and two collections of poetry. At the age of 72, she knew a thing or three when it came to writing crime fiction and detective mystery. Below you’ll find one of the …
When Anna Katharine Green had the dream that would inspire the writing of The Leavenworth Case, her debut novel, the first person she wrote to was Mary Hatch: “The other night I had a wonderful dream, which has impressed a story on my mind.… It is so passionate, so strong, so subtle, so dread, dark, …
A Deed of Dreadful Note is a piece of historical fiction, created by blending The Leavenworth Case with Anna’s personal history, recorded thoughts, and relationships since, as she said herself, “Truth is stranger than fiction.” Where possible, I have used Anna’s own words to capture the grace and wit with which she approached the world …
Toot the horns and sound the trumpets! It’s RELEASE DAY for A Deed of Dreadful Note I cannot begin to tell you how excited I am to finally have this passion project out in the world! I’ll be posting lots of new videos over the next few months, including readings from A Deed of Dreadful …
NEW VIDEO! The countdown to the release of my newest novel begins today! We’re only 10 days away from the release of A Deed of Dreadful Note, first in the Anna Katharine Green Mysteries. This book is the first and only historical fiction ever written featuring the Mother of Detective Fiction! In this video, I …
When writing historical fiction, one of the most important things to keep straight is the timeline of events. While writing A Deed of Dreadful Note, I wanted to track not only the events in Anna Katharine Green’s life, but events around her that would have affected her writing. For example: When was the publication of …
Coming May 30… A Deed of Dreadful Note, first in the Anna Katharine Green Mysteries, is the first and only historical fiction ever written featuring the Mother of Detective Fiction! And here’s the cover!!!! What do you think??? Fifteen years before Sir Arthur Conan Doyle published A Study in Scarlet, Anna Katharine Green began writing …
As we near the end of Women’s History Month, it’s time to announce my NEW novel COMING SOON! In 2019, I wrote my first draft of this novel. For the past four years I’ve been researching, reading, and soaking up anything and everything I could learn about a certain female author who has been forgotten. …
Today at noon MST I go LIVE with fellow BookTuber Amy Marie! Join me and @bookswithamymarie as we bake lemon-rosemary muffins straight out of Mrs. Curry’s cookbook! (Mrs. Curry is my cook character featured in the Spokane Clock Tower Mysteries.) Find the recipe here! Subscribe to my YouTube channel! If you enjoy baking, check out …
“So,” Thomas began, “any sign of your husband, Mrs. Sigmund? Just cream, please,” he said in response to the proffered additives, helping himself to a muffin—yes, definitely lemon but with a sprinkling of rosemary. He was beginning to wonder if Mrs. Curry had been his mother in another life. “No, sir,” the maid said softly, …
