Page One: Vanished

Q. Your first mystery novel, "Page One: Hit and Run", was released in July 2006 and was well-received throughout the upper Midwest. What has been the best part of being a first-time author?

A. The most gratifying thing has been hearing from readers who liked the book. I would continue writing even if I didn't have an audience, but it's nice to know someone out there likes what I'm writing. I've received dozens of e-mails from people who don't know me but wanted to share their enthusiasm for the book. I've also had people attend my presentations who were thrilled to have an author now living in the Upper Peninsula write about their "home".

Q. What's been the toughest part?

A. Writing the second book in the series, "Page One: Vanished", while still promoting the first and working a full-time job. There are not enough hours in the day!

Q. But you did manage to finish "Page One: Vanished" and, wow, what a follow-up! This book has a darker, deeper feel than the first one. Why it that?

A. There are a number of reasons for that. It's common for subsequent books in a series to get darker as the author gets deeper into the motivations of the characters. Also, I wrote "Page One: Hit and Run" when I was 28 and had little knowledge of the process of writing a novel, especially what worked best for me. I used an outline format that, I think, curtailed the creative process a bit.

I threw out the rule book when it came to writing "Page One: Vanished". This book came from my soul, dark place that it is. This edginess shows most in the characters, who have more depth. In this book, I explore Robin's past a bit more, including her relationship with her father, mother and best friend. We're introduced to Robin's late mother's sister, Gina, who provides a feminine emotional support system that Robin has been lacking and who is a gateway to learning more about what makes Robin tick.

Yes, Aunt Gina is a unique woman who draws Robin out of her shell. Tell us how you came up with that character.

Unfortunately, I don't have an aunt, but, in a lot of ways, Aunt Gina is an amalgamation of women in my life who filled the gap left by my mother's death when I was 9. Being that Robin is a bit too disconnected from her extended family, I wanted her aunt, a rather unconventional woman, to be more than just a connection to her dead mother. Rather, Aunt Gina is an older, more experienced friend who had lived through the pain of losing a significant other and come out on the other side in better shape.

Q. We really see in this book just what a mess Robin's emotional state is. Why did you chose to have Robin bare her soul?

A. The underlying theme of this series is how people react to tragedy in their lives. Robin is going through the natural process of grieving for her murdered fiancŽ. At the opening of "Vanished", it's been five months since Mitch's death so Robin is over the shock of losing him. Now she's experiencing the full depth of her anger at the pointlessness of his death. In the next book, she'll attempt to find some closure as she tries to find his killer.

This book also has a wider scope in terms of showcasing the Upper Peninsula, taking Robin to Copper Harbor, Houghton, Manistique and other towns. Talk a little about why you chose to expand the story beyond the Escanaba area.

The one thing to remember about the Upper Peninsula is that although it takes almost seven hours to drive from one end of the peninsula to the other, the U.P. is really one community. It's a unique region in that we all feel a kinship with other Yoopers (the euphemism for those of us who have chosen to make the U.P. our lifelong home). A true Yooper knows the peninsula well and can give you directions to any town with a 500+ population. The people who live in Sault Ste. Marie care about what happens in Marquette or Escanaba or Houghton because they likely have friends or relatives there.

One of my goals with "Vanished" was to show that sense of community, to show that despite the distance between towns, what happens in one community has an impact on all of us. For example, about 15 years ago, a man murdered two young women in Houghton and Baraga counties. People all across the U.P. still remember those murders. It shook our sense of security because we knew those killings could just as easily have happened in our towns as in Houghton or L'Anse.

Q. In "Vanished", the Vietnam war is referred to several times and we learn more about Hank Hamilton (Robin's father) and his thoughts on his time in Vietnam. Does that time period have special significance for you?

A. Not personally. My parents were too old to serve in Vietnam, and I was 3 when the war ended so I don't remember any of it. However, in April 2000 I talked with four Vietnam veterans for an article about the 25th anniversary of the fall of Saigon. Writing that article left an indelible imprint on my psyche as these very different men, who all saw combat, opened up to me, stranger young enough to be their daughter, about how they had coped with what they saw and did and how it impacted their lives over the next 30 years. It taught me a lot about the human mind and spirit. Each and every one of those men is a hero in my eyes, as is anyone who serves their country, especially in a time of war.

You've described yourself as "hyper-organized" so I'm betting you're already working on the third book.

Guilty as charged. The only way I can keep up with the one-book-a-year-schedule set by my publisher is to exercise a lot self-discipline in terms of writing, research and planning. As we've already discussed, "Page One: Whiteout" will focus on Robin's search for her fiancée's killer and the drug trade in the Upper Peninsula. This book, like "Page One: Vanished", requires a lot of research and I'm learning some very unpleasant things about the U.P., a place I love and can never imagine leaving but one that does have its flaws.

Q. Any plans for a tour for "Page One: Vanished"?

A. Yes. I'll announce a schedule as the time approaches, but I'll be making several appearances around the Upper Peninsula of Michigan all summer. I'll also be taking a week to tour Lower Michigan in mid- to late-June 2007. It's an opportunity to talk to readers and writers about my work and the process of writing, which I truly enjoy.

Q. Do you ever plan to write a novel based on a real crime?

A. No, never. My novels will always be pure fiction. I certainly wouldn't want someone to write a book about something bad happening to my family or friends; it would feel like a terrible invasion of privacy.