I met Melissa Olson when she graciously co-appeared at Mystery to Me bookstore in Madison, Wisconsin in February. Somehow, in the midst of what reads like an exhausting writing schedule—not to mention pretty deep life obligations involving raising young children, herding dogs, and a social media presence that rivals most teenagers'—Melissa found time to answer a few questions and give me a peek into her creative space. She even sent a T-shirt.

Rob: How would you characterize the differences be...