MM: Penny give us the backstory on how you became an author?
P: I’ve
always loved books, but never really thought about writing one until I was
fifty-nine and retired. Up to that point I had written a few short stories for
my children, tried some poetry, and taken some creative writing classes, but
nothing really clicked. After I retired I had time on my hands and was looking
for a hobby. My husband suggested that I write a book. So I began writing a
cozy mystery that I thought would just be a time filler, but as it actually
turned into something I might want to read, I got more serious about it.
MM: Where
is your favorite place to write?
P: I
write in my office at the computer. I make notes anywhere, but can’t really
write unless I’m in my chair looking at the screen.
MM: Tell
us about your writing schedule?
P: I have a
terrible writing schedule. Each week I plan two hours a day for writing and by
day two, the plan is a complete shambles. Life keeps getting in the way.
MM: If you
could invite five authors (living or dead), to sit down to a meal with you. Who
would they be and what would you want to know?
P: This
is quite a question. I think I would love to have Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
because my great-aunt actually knew him and I do love Sherlock Holmes. Agatha
Christie because she is the original cozy writer and Miss Marple is my hero.
Oscar Wilde and Dorothy Parker because I am fascinated and awed by their wit.
And Dick Francis because he told such a good tale. I don’t know that I would
ask them anything. I would serve a lovely dinner, keep their glasses full, and
just listen and learn.
MM: Tell
us about your latest book/s?
P: I am
the author of Roses and
Daisies and Death, Oh My and Roses Are Dead, My Love, a
cozy mystery series.
My leading ladies, Daisy and Rose Forrest, are sisters who inherited an old
house in fictional Old Towne Bostwick Maryland at a time when they both needed
a change. They moved into the upper floors and opened a gift shop downstairs.
These ladies, along with their irrepressible mother, Angela, seem to attract
trouble and love it! Curious and persistent they never let pesky things like
police tape or locked doors deter them from getting to the bottom of blackmail,
threatening letters, missing diamonds, childish pranks, or murder.
In Roses Are Dead, My Love,
released last May, Daisy and Rose find themselves inadvertently caught in the
middle of a nasty blackmail plot in Old Towne. When their dog house goes up in
flames, Rose is whacked on the head and Malcolm, their beloved pooch, is
duct-taped, and they practically trip over the body of the woman who runs the
post office they are hot on the trail of a murdering lunatic once again.
MM: Why do
you like writing books?
P: It’s great
fun to write characters that can do all the things I either can’t do or never
would do. Daisy, Rose, and Angela have an enormous amount of energy, don’t mind
sticking their noses in other people’s business, and have absolutely no
hesitation breaking into attics, dark houses, and post offices. They also dress
extremely well and mix a mean cocktail.
I also
love being able to write witty banter between sisters or finding the perfect
words for every situation. In life I so rarely come up with the best comeback
when I need it. In books, I have the luxury of getting the dialog just right.
MM: Is
there an author, teacher, mentor, or group that has inspired you?
P: Of the
many books and authors I’ve read, I think Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird made
the greatest impression on me. I just fell in love with the words. I still read
it yearly and always marvel at the fact that to me it’s still as beautiful as
the first time I read it.
MM: let's
talk about 2016? What are you looking forward to in 2016?
P: Well,
I hope to have finished my third book by the spring. And I am planning to
attend the Malice Domestic conference in April and the C3 Conference in the
fall.
On a
personal note, my husband, Tom, and I will be celebrating our 45th anniversary. We have
never been on a cruise and are planning one for the occasion. Other than that
life should continue on as usual with lots of family and friends.
MM: Give
us a little backstory on you and your childhood? Were you a reader and what
were some of your favorite authors and titles?
P: I grew
up in Washington DC and College Park, MD. I was the fourth of six kids. My dad
was a lawyer for the government. My mother stayed home and kept everything
going. There were a lot of noisy family dinners and laughter in the house.
My mother
instilled in us a love of books. My earliest memories are of my mother reading
to us before bed or at lunch on a cold afternoon. My father and brother were
poets. My sisters are all very artistic.
My
mother, also, introduced me to three of her (and now my) favorite authors; P.G.
Wodehouse, Agatha Christie, and Dorothy Sayers.
In
addition to Harper Lee, I am a devoted fan J.R.R. Tolkien and would have to say
The Lord of the Rings
is probably my favorite book.
MM: Okay
now for some fun questions. What is your favorite song, movies, place to
vacation, comedian, dessert, meal, binge television shows, artist and do you
collect anything or have a hobby?
P: Del
Shannon’s Runaway; Love
Actually; Nags Head, NC; Trevor Noah or Jon Stewart; Yellow layer cake with
chocolate icing; Thanksgiving dinner; Leverage and Pride and Prejudice (6
part BBC series); Monet; I am a docent at historic Riversdale Mansion and I
love to bake.
MM: What
comes first the character, the plot, the setting or the situation?
P: The
basic plot comes first, then the characters. But I lean most heavily on the
characters.
MM: What
would your characters tell us about you?
P: A fair
amount. Daisy and Rose Forrest are loosely based on my sisters and me. We are
all very close and have a great time when we’re together. Angela Forrest is
based on my mother, my mother-in-law, and my best friend’s mother and as such
is my favorite character.
MM: Do you
have a favorite quote?
P: I had
to think about this for quite a while and I would have to say “No matter how
dark the night is, you can always break a window with a hammer.” My brother
used to say this and it sort of sums up our family’s philosophy.
MM: What
one life lesson have you learned that you can apply to writing books?
P: If
something is supposed to be enjoyable and it ceases to be, then it’s time to
stop. I write for fun. When it stops being fun, I will stop writing.
MM: In
closing what would you like to say to your readers, your village of friends and
family and of course your bloggers?
P: A big
thank you. I began writing as a hobby. I never dreamed that anyone would buy my
books or read my blog. When I hear from family, friends, or people that I’ve
even never met that they love Angela or Malcolm or can relate to a post I’ve
written I am delighted and honored. It gives me the incentive I need to keep
writing.
I’ve made wall hangings, table runners, lap quilts, small
centerpieces and coasters. Haven’t tried
making totes yet, but it looks interesting.
