Hems and Homicide is my newest book—and the first in the Apron Shop Series. I’ve
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| Elizabeth Penney |
What was the most recent book you read?
An Inquiry into Love and Death, by Simone St. James, a ghost story, mystery, and romance all in one. I loved it, as I do all of this author’s books.
How did you develop your character and choose your location?
I wanted to set a series in Maine, where I spent most of my childhood. It makes a great setting with its beautiful coastal scenery, sweet small towns, and quirky way of life. Next, I decided on my premise, an apron shop. Aprons are enjoying a renaissance of late and they’re also an iconic part of American history. Featuring vintage aprons from different eras in my series gives me a lot of plot ideas to work with.
As for my main character, she came to me while brainstorming. Iris is a former fabric designer and she loves vintage aprons and linens. She often wears aprons over the 1950s dresses she sews for herself. These outfits suit her curvy figure and mid-century modern sensibility. Iris is a little nerdy, kind, bright, and inquisitive.
What kind of research do you do, and how long do you spend researching before beginning a book?
Since Hems and Homicide is the first in a series, I spent some time developing the cast of characters and the setting. Blueberry Cove is a fictional town so I needed to map out the whole place. Iris has a grandmother, a cat, and lots of friends. All of them needed names, occupations, and relationships of their own. Once I start writing, I often pause to do more research as questions and the need for more information arise.
What books did you read as a child?
The short answer is everything. I’m from a family of voracious readers. I started reading Nancy Drew books at age seven, I remember, because we had just moved to Maine and I checked one out at the library. The libraries I went to had a wonderful collection of classic books, so I read every color of fairy tale book, all the Raggedy Anne stories, the original Wizard of Oz and Mary Poppins books, and so forth. I also enjoyed other mystery series like Trixie Belden and The Three Investigators.
What drew you to writing?
Because of my love of books, it was always a desire. But, busy with a career and raising a family, I was well into adulthood before I started writing. Then I found I couldn’t stop. About ten years ago, I left the banking and business development world and began to write full-time.
The short answer is everything. I’m from a family of voracious readers. I started reading Nancy Drew books at age seven, I remember, because we had just moved to Maine and I checked one out at the library. The libraries I went to had a wonderful collection of classic books, so I read every color of fairy tale book, all the Raggedy Anne stories, the original Wizard of Oz and Mary Poppins books, and so forth. I also enjoyed other mystery series like Trixie Belden and The Three Investigators.
What drew you to writing?
Because of my love of books, it was always a desire. But, busy with a career and raising a family, I was well into adulthood before I started writing. Then I found I couldn’t stop. About ten years ago, I left the banking and business development world and began to write full-time.
If you could tell your younger writing self anything, what would it be?
Keep going, you will get there! For most new writers, there’s a time when you wonder if your writing is any good, if you’re ever going to get an agent, get published, etc. It can be a long haul.
Who is your favorite author?
I have many favorites, so like a parent with a big family, I don’t want to pick just one. My reading tastes are eclectic. I’ve read the classics plus a lot of twentieth century authors my parents had on their shelves. For example, my father had a lot of 1950s science fiction and I read it all. I enjoy mysteries both cozy and dark, suspense, women’s fiction, and literary fiction.
If you could not be an author, what would you like to do as a career?
I’d be a flower farmer. I dabble in that now and I love it.
Keep going, you will get there! For most new writers, there’s a time when you wonder if your writing is any good, if you’re ever going to get an agent, get published, etc. It can be a long haul.
Who is your favorite author?
I have many favorites, so like a parent with a big family, I don’t want to pick just one. My reading tastes are eclectic. I’ve read the classics plus a lot of twentieth century authors my parents had on their shelves. For example, my father had a lot of 1950s science fiction and I read it all. I enjoy mysteries both cozy and dark, suspense, women’s fiction, and literary fiction.
If you could not be an author, what would you like to do as a career?
I’d be a flower farmer. I dabble in that now and I love it.
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