Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a community college English professor who writes both ficiton and poetry. For a while, I wrote a column for Gannett Suburban Newspapers on local history, and served as editor of the literary journal Inkwell. My work has been published in many small literary journals. In 2006, I was a finalist for the John Ciardi Prize in Poetry for my manuscript Mud Never Forgets. I have two poetry chapbooks, That’s the Way the Music Sounds, (Finishing Line Press, 2009); and Talking to the Mirror (Last Automat Press, 2010). My mystery novel, Shadow Notes, is available from Barking Rain Press (2016). A full length collection of poems, “Do You Expect Your Art to Answer You?” was published by Futurecycle Press (2016). I am currently serving as the town of Norwalk, Connecticut’s Poet Laureate.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest mystery novel is Shadow Notes, and it was partly inspired by what “shadow notes” are. Therapists keep a second set of notes on their patients that are just for their own use. These are never submitted to insurance companies, nor are they considered “on the record.” In it, they make notes to themselves about what they need to follow up on, notes on patient concerns, and so on. I wondered what might be in a set of those notes that would be useful in a murder investigation, and how an amateur detective might get her hands on them.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Nope, I’m pretty normal. I stare out the window a lot, reward myself with chocolate when the going gets tough, and drink too much tea.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
In the mystery genre, I have always loved Sara Paretsky for her intelligence and ground-breaking work. Other authors include Julia Spencer-Fleming, Julia Keller, Charles Todd, Mark Mills.
In poetry, my favorite author is Mark Doty, but I also love Billy Collins for his wit, Sekou Sundiata for his insight and rhythm, and Adrienne Rich for her forceful intelligence.
What are you working on now?
I’ve just finished the second book in the Clara Montague series, and I’m waiting (no fingernails left) to hear from the publisher. I’m also working on a new poetry collection about flying and space that’s really fun.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I have not yet discovered that. !!
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Stick with it. Doing the work is the most important thing. Never stop learning and trying to make your sentences clear and clean and interesting. The better the writing, the more your book will shine for readers, and the more they will want to read what you have to say.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Keep your butt in the chair!! 🙂
What are you reading now?
In poetry: Tomas Transtormer’s “the great enigmna” and Tracy K. Smith’s “The Body’s Question” (She’s our new national poet laureate); in fiction/mystery, Graham Greene’s “Brighton Rock”; in food writing, which is a vice(!), Mort Rosenblum’s “A Goose in Toulouse.”
What’s next for you as a writer?
Trying to get to the end of the semester. Waiting to hear from my publisher. Continuing to write poems for the next book, and also for a couple of projects I’m involved with as poet laureate of my town.
What is your favorite book of all time?
That’s too hard. There are too many!! Ingrid Hill’s “Ursula, Under” ranks right up there, along with Winnie the Pooh, Mark Doty’s “Heaven’s Coast” (a memoir), Anthony Bourdain’s “Kitchen Confidential,” “The Hobbit”; Grimm’s fairytales, Tennessee Williams’ “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof”… You see my problem.
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