Are you and Alana Fox one and the same? We are not the same person but we do have some things in common. We are both women of a certain age and have a yearning for the way things used to be. Alana hates email invitations and I mourn the passing of cursive writing. We were both only children and grew up in California’s Central Valley. And we both went to Catholic school.
Our differences are striking. Alana is divorced, avoids children and hates living close enough to the ocean that the waves can come in for cocktails. I am happily married to my first husband, I have a son that I adore and I would kill to live right on the beach. I would love to have Alana's fleet of vintage cars to tool around Malibu.
Why did you choose Malibu for the setting of your novels? When I started writing I was living outside of California and missed it terribly. I decided that if I was going to spend so much time in my imagination, I was going to take it to the beach. I love the beauty of Malibu- the Pacific Ocean, the rugged Santa Monica Mountains and the deep canyons. Also, Malibu is isolated in many ways. There are very few roads in and out and there is a relatively small population. The isolation and the exclusiveness make it the perfect stage for a mystery.
Alana Fox is no spring chicken. Isn’t she too old for a heroine? Nope. Alana has lived long enough to gain wisdom and chutzpah and wrinkles. It has taken her years to cultivate the associations she has and to know how to use them to her benefit. Those associations come in handy every time she gets herself into another fine mess. A younger heroine just wouldn’t have the connections that Alana has… or the nerve. Alana is very certain about who she is and who she isn’t. That kind of wisdom only comes with age… and wrinkles.
What does the future hold for Alana Fox and the rest of the characters in the Malibu Mystery Series? I am currently writing the fourth installment of Alana's adventures. This story reveals much about Alana's childhood...and some of that was a surprise even to me!
Where can I buy your books? My books are available at Amazon.com and on Kindle.