The Roses of Port Townsend follows a mother and her two sons as their fresh start in a seaport town turns into a ghostly adventure. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?

I traveled with my two sons, Ian and Ryan, from Olympia, Washington, to Port Townsend when they were younger. We stayed at Manresa Castle over Easter and had a wonderful time. During our visit, we took several photos and captured images that featured orbs. In one photo, there was an orb above each of our heads, which was quite spooky. Manresa Castle is reportedly haunted and has been featured on the television show “Ghost Adventures.”

The Victorian architecture, combined with both Steampunk and Victorian vibes, makes Port Townsend a fascinating destination. The history of the town, as well as that of Fort Worden and Fort Flagler, is all intriguing and significant. As I was writing the novel, my husband and I lived on the coast, either on Camano Island or in Ferndale, Washington, overlooking the Salish Sea. We visited Port Townsend regularly, and during those visits, ideas for my novel began to develop. I would write between jobs or in the evenings after coming home from work. Once I was able to retire, I started writing regularly, and the ideas flowed freely.

How do you balance story development with shocking plot twists? Or can they be the same thing?

I tell a good story, and plot twists are a necessity. I have always hated knowing how a story would end, and about eighty percent of the time, I can guess at even a “trick” ending and get it right. However, plot twists need to make sense and must enhance the storyline. I found that plot twists added depth to my story and made it more engaging. Everything just fell into place. I also challenged myself to revive my imagination, which had been buried in dry government documents, statistics, program requirements, rules, laws, and administrative procedures. To be truly creative, you must find the child’s voice within and ask yourself what’s truly fun, scary, exciting, whimsical, or even absurd. That’s the voice I try to tap into. I do utilize some of my knowledge about government to create an image of “them bilge-rat government types,” as the untrusting pirate, Ben Pease, would likely say. Still, mostly I rely on my imagination, the history of the area, and the joy of finding and fighting monsters. We all have to defend ourselves against monsters at some point in our lives. These days, they are less likely to be vampires and more likely to be found in the hallowed halls of our political institutions.

Do you find you are able to relate to your characters while writing?

My characters have become very real to me; they feel like members of my family now, so I have a good understanding of what they will and won’t do. I can relate to every character in my novel because they remind me of my sons or because I’ve encountered similar characters in the past. Most of my characters are a blend of people I know, historical figures I’ve discovered through reading, characters from movies or books, and aspects of my own personality.

Can we look forward to more mysteries from you soon? What are you currently working on?

I want to share that the Gumshoes are preparing for another exciting adventure. I am starting to work on “The Portal Protectors,” the next book in the “Roses of Port Townsend” series. I hope to complete my first draft by the summer of 2026.

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