An Unsuitable Job follows the first woman detective in her Las Vegas agency, who is investigating the murder of a salesman at a hotel and encounters a dismissive attitude from those around her. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?

The idea came from my fascination with overlooked corners of history, especially those involving courageous women who quietly broke barriers. When I discovered the real-life Harvey Girls—young women trained to serve with precision and elegance across the American West—I saw the potential for a deeper story. Many of these women had grit and ambition but were often remembered only for their uniforms or smiles. I wondered: what if one of them refused to fade into the background? What if she stepped into a role no woman had held before—like that of a detective?

The hotel setting, inspired by the historic Castañeda Hotel in Las Vegas, New Mexico, was the perfect place to explore class, gender, and secrecy. A grand old hotel invites both luxury and scandal—and that’s where Josie MacFarland steps in.

I found Josie to be an intriguing character, and I admired her determination to prove herself in a career dominated by men. What was your inspiration for this character?

Thank you—I admire her too. Josie is very close to my heart. She’s smart, observant, and deeply principled, but also shaped by the pressures of 1929: the Great Depression, limited choices for women, and expectations from her family. I gave her my own stubborn streak and added a longing for justice and belonging that I think many of us share.

She’s inspired in part by the women in my own family—strong, capable, and often under-recognized—and by the many female pioneers who were told they were “unsuitable” for one reason or another. Josie doesn’t just want a job; she wants to matter. And she wants to do it her own way.

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

A bit of both. I began with a clear sense of the victim and the setting—who died, where, and why it would shake up the community. But the full mystery unraveled as I wrote. I’m a big believer in letting characters surprise me. Once I had Josie on the page, her instincts began to shape the investigation. Clues appeared I hadn’t planned for, and side characters revealed secrets I didn’t see coming.

Will this novel be the start of a series, or are you working on a different story?

Yes—this is the beginning of The Harvey House Mysteries, a new historical series set in the American Southwest during the late 1920s and early ’30s. Each book will feature Josie as the recurring protagonist. She’s now a “Harvey House Detective,” solving problems the company wants handled quietly—before the press or police get involved.

The next installment will take Josie deeper into the dusty corridors of power, family secrets, and crimes that echo far beyond one hotel room. I’m currently working on book two, and let’s just say: someone ends up dead in a very public place—and it’s not who anyone expected.

That’s part of the fun and challenge of writing a mystery. It needs a solid structure, but also room to breathe. I knew the ending early on, but the journey there? That unfolded like a case file opening in real time.

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