As long as I can remember I've loved everything British -- from the folk music, countryside and villages to the 15th-17th century history and of course English mysteries!  I grew up reading Nancy Drew, Sherlock Holmes and the Golden Age mystery authors.  The more history I read of Britain, the more I wanted to learn about the people.  When I discovered what I considered 'odd' customs such as Guy Fawkes Day or Turning the Devil's Stone, I became more and more fascinated -- not only at the longevitiy of the continuing customs but also with the history behind them.  I knew I had to incorporate them into my own mystery novels. The great Golden Age mystery author Ngaio Marsh has probably influenced me the most.  I love her characters and her sense of 'place.'  That same sense is evident in other favorite authors of mine, such as duMaurier and the Bronte sisters.  I think this feeling of place, nearly a character in itself, is evident in my books, too. I like the controlled world of the novel, creating the village and characters and having the good guy win in the end.  I like justice prevailing and the victim's friends and family at least feeling like the wrong-doer will be punished.  I am a lover of the classic style of mystery, fascinated with the knotty puzzle and watching the detective figure out whodunit.  Because I like Ngaio Marsh novels so much, I also like the character-driven plot.  Again, these elements have influenced my own writing.  

Authored 8 published mystery novels in 5 1/2 years.
Authored 3 short stories in 3 mystery anthologies.
Graduated from Webster University with a BA in English and Departmental Honors