Five years ago, I decided to follow the advice I give my creative writing students. I always tell them to make writing a daily practice, write a story that they would like to read, and dare to fail gloriously.Thus began the long journey of writing two cozy mysteries. The first novel, Maybe Murder, began slowly. Gradually, my young detective Benjamin Kalico and my persnickety, retired English teacher, Emelia Winterjoy, began to march across the pages. When Emelia, Kalico's client, sent his first case report back to him marked in red, I laughed out loud. The second Kalico Cat Detective Agency Mystery, Dusty Death, likewise grabbed hold of my imagination and time. With my unlikely partners, Kalico and Emelia, now established, the puzzle of how to find a nameless missing man and how to uncover a mischievous plot of sabotage that turns deadly became my passion for every off moment. Again, I laughed aloud as I imagined a westernized, hiphop version of Macbeth and sent my somewhat sheltered teacher undercover.What I discovered is that those who teach--can! I write every day and find the fun in murder whenever possible. Now, eight Kalico [Cat] Detective Agency Mysteries are on my book shelf. I hope everyone enjoys the continuing adventures of Benjamin Kalico, Emelia Winterjoy, and friends.Read more about this authorRead less about this author