Joanne, how did you get the idea for BELL, COOK and Candle?
To keep up my interest--and that of my readers--I like to
try different approaches to the stories. In this book, I wanted to see what it
was like to write something a little bit "creepy"--with a graveyard,
an old church, demons, and so on. There was a growing interest in paranormal
stories at that time, and I thought it'd be fun for Angie to "meet the
devil" so to speak.
Tell us about your
latest book?
This one was great fun for me to write. It's called THE DA
VINCI COOK. I spent some time in Italy two years ago and used that experience
to set the story in Rome, right near the place we stayed. It's about time Angie
went to Italy! Also, I thought it'd be fun to have her be there with all the
things to buy, great clothes and food, and she isn't able to do any of it.
Also, I'll admit, that there were parts of the Da Vinci Code that, as a Roman
Catholic, I found rather offensive. I wanted to show some good things about the
Catholic church, and that was the reason for the chain of St. Peter, and a
couple of priests who are in the story.
Let's talk about
your writing schedule.
I prefer to write in the morning, and do until deadline time
when I write through the afternoon--never in the evening. I'm too tired by
then.
Give us some
information on the writing conventions, retreats, seminars etc...that you
support.
I'm on the committee of Murder In The Grove, a yearly
mystery conference in Boise, Idaho. It's small, but is growing rapidly. We
offer a LOT of classes, workshops, and panels for writers as well as readers of
mystery fiction. This year (June 8-9) we're going to have a day-long writers
workshop given by Margie Lawson who is an extremely popular writing instructor.
People absolutely rave about her classes. You can find out more at
www.murderinthegrove.com.
Tell us about where
you live, a little about your personal life and how you became a mystery
author?
I live in the foothills north of Boise. We moved to Idaho
from the San Francisco Bay Area six years ago after my husband retired. I've
always wanted to live in the country, and we're on 5-1/2 acres. I love it.
Unfortunately, the area is growing (lots of Californians moving here!), so a
lot of my time is being spent arguing with the planning and zoning commission
about development in the foothills. I and my neighbors are opposed; the county
wants to build, build, build. It's very frustrating. They don't know how bad it
will get (traffic, air quality, etc.) when the beautiful foothills here look
like the Hollywood hills.
Give us a typical
day in the life of Joanne Pence the author.
Write; maintain websites for our foothills coalition and
Murder In The Grove; answer e-mails; do household chores, shop, etc., write
again if there's time (which never seems to be the case); then watch TV
<g>.
Tell us about Joanne
Pence the woman, the author the friend.
I have a husband of 36 years, two grown sons--one in Idaho
and married, the other still in California (darn!) and engaged, one dog and
three cats. I've basically been very fortunate in my life, always worked hard,
but always enjoyed life, love, and family.
Will you be
traveling a lot in 2007 for book signings?
Not too much--mainly around the Pacific Northwest and
California. I'm doing less and less of that. It's hard to leave home!
Leave us with some
writing words of wisdom and how readers might contact you.
My main wisdom is to enjoy the writing process because
that's all that you can control. There's a lots of frustration in this
business. I often say the only profession that gets more rejection than a
writer is a panhandler. So, enjoy what you do and praise yourself for doing it.
Readers can contact me through my website and at
joanne@joannepence.com. I'd love to hear from you.