Surf and Sand follows an adventurous twelve-year-old girl living in a seaside hotel with her mother and brother, who helps a detective to solve a missing person’s case, which is similar to a case in which he worked at the hotel before. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?

I used my childhood memories of the old Hermosa Biltmore Hotel for inspiration. I was 13 or 14 years old, and my mother often booked a room for weekends during the summer of ’58 and ’59. While the adults visited a nearby casino in the evenings, my pals and I explored the old hotel’s dark hallways and basement for hours. Plus, they rented surfboards on the strand outside. So, my novel is based upon childhood memories and not so much on any research, although it was in fact called the Surf and Sand when it was built.

How did the mystery develop for this story? Did you plan it before writing or did it develop organically?

Organically. Mary Nell Morgan is 11 years old, sitting on the roof of the hotel, watching her brother and his friends surf, I was listening to her, and I suppose the mystery was something she needed because it kind of popped into my head.

Why choose this place and time for the setting of the story?

While reminiscing with my oldest friend one evening, he asked if I remembered our visits to the old hotel, and then suggested I write a story “where they find a body in the swimming pool!” Thanks, Fred!

What is the next book that you are working on, and when will it be available?

Hypnotized should be published by summer, 2025. I am still working on it.

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