Readers asked, “How do you come up with your book ideas?”

Every creative person I know has a particular way they like to create. Some people go to a cafe or coffee shop to write. Some go to exotic locations on a writer’s retreat. Others go to writing residencies where they can write and have their writing critiqued. Me? I like to write right here in my office.

When I met my husband, Ronald, fifty years ago, freshman year of college, he took me to his sculpture studio. It was so clean, I could have eaten off the floor. I didn’t understand it. Sometimes when I am at the height of creating, the space around me is blown apart.

Research books and articles totter in an unstable pile; a “junk drawer” folder exists on iCloud of things related to whatever I’m working on; Post-Its are stuck to everything with handwriting that even I can’t read at times; my worn-out, hard-covered notebook in which I scribble notes that slide up the page at sharp angles, or that are connected with arrows and circles, looks well-used. My creating space can be chaotic.

So it took me a while to understand why it was so important for some creatives to seek another place outside their daily routine, or why Ronald needs to have a pristine creating space. I took a lesson in watching the meticulous way he creates. Slow and measured. Detailed. Not afraid to start over. The clean space he needs to work unencumbered and the space some of my writer friends need away from the routine does something special for them. It frees their minds. When I understood that, it freed my mind, too. I understood my office is my creating space.

How mundane. A home office.

I won’t lie. That notebook is still a mess, and though I keep saying I’m going to start a new one, I keep squeezing more notes and folded articles into this one. I still have a few blank pages left on which to scribble my thoughts and details that I don’t want to miss, so I will keep on scribbling until there’s no place left. Ditto for the folders on iCloud. I was a career records manager who was a pro at bringing organization and access to millions of corporate records, yet my own files are left at the whim of my chaotic mind.

But my office is impeccable these days. And comfortable. And whimsical. I display glass plates of my book covers and all the awards my books have won. I have a reading nook with a rocking recliner and a stained glass floor lamp. And a TV on the wall for when I need to take a break. My desk is large and beautiful– a pleasure to work at– and situated right next to the window, with my camera always at the ready, in case a bird or butterfly comes to visit. A couple Christmas’ ago, Ronald bought me a very nice ergonomic desk chair. And then I have my whimsical kitsch: a twinkling tree with colored-glass ornaments; seashells; stuffed animals (including a mini schnauzer that looks just like my now-deceased dog, Ru, who was the inspiration for Ęhní’da’ in A Cadence Mystery series); a display of Funko Pop superheroes; photos of my kids and granddaughter, as well as a digital photo screen to display my favorite animal pics that I’ve taken over the years; and my newest edition: a metal wreath made out of ghosts!

My office is not mundane. It’s inspiring.

How can I turn out a book every six or eight months?

My writing process involves two things:

I keep my mind open to images, dreams, and ideas. It can’t be serendipity when I hear something that is relevant to my story at the time I am working on it. Unsolicited information helps me make the story better. My dreams often give me the answer to a scene I can’t get quite right, or they help me develop characters. The people of Cadence appear often in my dreams and so do the monsters.I write every day, whether it’s for a couple of hours or, at times, for up to ten or twelve hours, and never let the book I’m working on get pushed to the back of my mind. I allow my mind to work on it as I settle down to sleep, or when I’m just waking up in the morning, or cooking dinner, or cleaning up. I talk to Ronald about my projects and read him the manuscripts for his feedback. I communicate with my beta readers and editors and listen carefully to their feedback. All of that is essential to the “writing every day” mindset.I don’t stop writing. I move on to the next project.

Usually, when I turn a manuscript over to my editor, I am already thinking about the next book. The first thing that is clearly visible is the opening scene. That’s the catalyst of the story and it’s also my springboard to jump into the meat of the story. I identify one or two themes I’d like to explore in the book. Then, I begin research and taking extensive notes as I think about a storyline and which regular characters will be involved and which new characters will be introduced. I try to answer the question, “Where do I think the story is going?” And though I answer to the best of my knowledge, I don’t consider it the final answer. It gives me a roadmap and a place to begin my writing journey. I give myself the freedom of knowing I can veer off course, or go in a different direction, or even take a completely different route. My characters help me along the way to make those choices. I work like Ronald, meticulous and measured, and give my story space to reveal itself.

I once told another artist that I worked over forty years for someone else. I was a hard worker and engaged in my work. I used my creativity to problem solve. And I’ve loved just about every job I ever had. Why wouldn’t I feel the same way about writing books? I do.

So it’s no chore to write a book. Yes, it’s a discipline and it takes discipline. I’ve heard stories from so many writers saying it took a decade to write a book. There could be many reasons for that, but I’m sure one reason is that the distractions were, well, distracting.

Writing a book is hard work. It can be tedious to figure out if I have all the details straight, because mysteries rely on the details to take readers on a twisty, unknown journey. Researching different cultures and myths takes a lot of time. I feel lost sometimes when I’m trying to figure out scene placement and progression. But most of all, it’s joyful, fun, engaging, and freeing.

The icing on the cake? I love to entertain you and hear what you think about my stories.

What’s next?

Creature of Secret Sorrows (A Cadence Mystery, #7) is due to be released in December or early January 2026. It’s a gothic thriller!

Book 8, untitled, is in the incubation stage. A basic storyline is in place. Research has begun. Stay tuned! In the meantime, get caught up on the others and see what the buzz is all about!

Purchase A Cadence Mystery books here

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