Midbury Murders (Book 2) looks like a great follow up to the first. Do you plan to keep it a two book series or expand it in the future?
ABSOLUTELY. I LOVE MY CHARACTERS AND PLAN TO HAVE MANY MANY MORE BOOKS IN THE MIDBURY SERIES.
What do you think makes a great murder mystery story?
THE STORY HAS TO BE COMPELLING. IT MUST HAVE HEART. THE CHARACTERS STORY LINE SHOULD CONTINUE AS THE SUBTEXT THROUGH EACH BOOK.
What inspired you when writing Midbury Murders?
AGATHA CHRISTIE. I LOVE TO READ HER COZY MYSTERIES, ESPECIALLY ENGLISH VILLAGE MYSTERIES.
What are your ambitions for your writing career? Full time? Part time?
I AM A FULL TIME SOLICITER IN CRIMINAL LAW. MY GOAL TO WRITE A NEW MIDBURY MURDERS BOOK QUARTERLY. WE’LL SEE IF I CAN MAINTAIN THAT GOAL!
When did you decide to become a writer?
I SERIOUSLY DECIDED TO TRY MY HAND AT FICTION AFTER WRITING A FEW NON-FICTION BOOKS TWO YEARS AGO. NON-FICTION JUST DID NOT SATISFY ME.
When writing Midbury Murdersdid anything stand out as particularly challenging?
YES! MY TIMELINES! OH, MY GETTING MY DATES RIGHT ESPECIALLY IN THIS LATEST BOOK WAS A HUGE CHALLENGE. IT STARTS IN 1960 WITH THE FIRST MURDER, THEN LEAPS TO THE PRESENT.
How did you come up with the story of Midbury Murders?
I JUST LISTENED. THE STORY TOLD ITSELF TO ME. A LOT OF AUTHOR FRIENDS OF MINE DO HEAVY-DUTY OUTLINING. NOT ME. I TAKE MY TIME UNTIL I UNDERSTAND EXACTLY WHERE THE STORY IS HEADING. THEN I START TYPING. BETH, THE PROTAGONIST, IS BLOSSOMING UNDER MY FINGERS. I LOVE IT.
What do you like to do when not writing?
WE HAVE A FARM. SO, GARDENING AND TAKING CARE OF THE LIVESTOCK. CUDDLING CHICKENS AND DUCKS. PRETTY MUCH ANY OUTDOOR FARM ACTIVITY.
THEY CAN JOIN MY FACEBOOK GROUP AT “MIDBURY MURDERS AUTHOR MARTINA THURLOW” AND CAN CERTAINLY EMAIL ME AT MHATTY@AOL.COM. I LOVE TO HEAR FROM MY READERS.