Moonset on Desert Sands follows a woman hiding from her ruthless uncle as she concentrates on mastering the spells that may help her vanquish him once and for all. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?

I believe that Arista needed a sabbatical after almost being killed – ha! Getting away became important for her healing, and since Auntie had ties in Sedona it naturally flowed. Picking up where Murder Under Redwood Moon ended, I wanted Auntie to search for her parents and, with the possibility of the family reuniting, I thought it could lead to the uncle’s vengeance for Arista’s father maiming him, or the final deadly blow from Arista’s father upon Fergus … finishing the job he started for the initial familial betrayal.

How did you balance magic and its use throughout the story to keep it believable?

When I first thought of writing the Murder, Tea, & Crystals Trilogy, I had recently met with a modern-day witch. She shared her lifestyle with me—rituals, crystals, tarot, etc.. It was during this time I found that she experienced and made magick a part of her everyday life. And so, for my MCs, Arista and Bethie, their magick is no different than a Catholic’s prayer while lighting a candle in the church for a loved one or a Buddhist’s session of sitting for calm and healing. They work with crystals and intention in the same manner. So, making it a given of the characters’ personas, the story can progress without focus on the magick aspect.

What was your favorite scene in this story?

I enjoyed writing the horseback riding scenes. The first one, set in the desert, was my experiment on suspense without the murder involved. The second horseback scene, the children’s costume contest, is based on a true story! When my oldest was around six years old, he was the little Count circling the arena and wowing the crowd. And yes, he brought home the ribbons! On another note, I enjoyed injecting the East-meets-West element into the latter part of the book.

What can readers expect to see in the third book in this trilogy? When will it be released?

The final book of the Murder, Tea, & Crystals Trilogy is complete! It will be released Fall 2025 and picks up where book two completed. This final installment has a different pace. It starts with a look back … way, way back to when Arista’s great-great-grandfather first used the Ouija table. Then, it peeks at the action at Arista’s house while she is in Sedona for book two. Finally, it comes present, and we see the story to its grand finale.

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