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Are all your main characters women? "Yes.
My main characters are women who are their
own heroes. In fact, all four of my books have the
same premise: A woman can achieve her dream
through strength and perseverance."
What motivated you to write from the
perspective?
"I experienced coming of age during a time when
a lot of women's issues were starting to surface.
When I entered the corporate world in the 70s, I
was struck by the struggles women go through
trying to make a place for themselves as they look
for their own meaningful work and try to get
control of where their life is going.
Shadows in the Grass takes place on a farm
in Central New York. How familiar are you
with this area?
"I owned a 100-acre farm just outside Cazenovia,
NY, for almost thirty years, and writing this book
gave me an opportunity to express my deep
reverence for the way of life of the people who
live in the uplands of Central New York. The
isolaltion of country life along with the
backbreaking work of farming and gardening bind
these communities in a uniquely close network
that you rarely find in metropolitan areas."
We see that you spent 20 years in the mall
development industry. How much of
WINDFALL is based on your experience?

"All the character in my book are factitious,
however, I drew from my years in the industry.
Of course, in order to make an interesting plot, I
had to create conflict which would keep the
reader turning the pages."
In your years in the industry, you must
have seen a lot of conflict.
"Of course. There's mainly the environmental
issues, whether it's pollution from automobiles
or the destruction of natural habitat. In the early
years of mall development, there was the
devastation to the central business districts in
towns all across America. When a mall got built
in the suburbs, the stores downtown had to
either go in or go under. Now we see newer
malls coming into a market and the older ones
abandoned the same way we did the
downtowns in the 70s."
Your third novel, PELICAN WATCH, has a
strong environmental message woven
through the romance and suspense.
Yes. Natives of South Carolina, as well as
transplants from the North, are more and more
aware of the value of our environment and the
endangered animals such as the loggerhead
turtle. Writing Pelican Watch gave me a
wonderful opportunity to express my love of
the South and iits unique charm, and tell the

story of the folks who are working to
preserve it.
Tell us about your newest novel, IN
THE SHADOWS OF CHIMNEY ROCK.
Ever since I bought a vacation home in
the mountains of Western North Carolina,
I've become aware of the raging battle
between developers who are ravaging
the mountains and those who are
fighting to save its beauty for the
generations to come. Being a Realtor, I
am extremely sensitive to the two
opposing desires: one, of people
wanting to live and enjoy this wonderful
piece of the earth, and those who are
streaming into the mountains to
over-develop for sheer profit.
Somewhere in the middle is a place that
will preserve these mountains, so in the
years ahead we won't have to tell
children "how spectacular these
mountains used to be."

Ever since the tumultuous 60s and 70s,
we've been awakened to the importance
of saving the places we love, and more
and more of us are articulating our
concerns in a way that will bring this
about. In my books, I want to applaud
those who champion this cause.