Old Bones and New Ghosts (The Marti Mickkleson Mysteries) by Kay Charles | Author Interview

Thanks for taking the time to share a bit about yourself with my readers and me!

Thank you so much for inviting me!

Tell us a little about yourself.

Well, I’m here today as Kay Charles, the much nicer version (PG-rated, not scary, approved of by my mom) of Patricia Lillie, which is what my driver’s license says. Under my own name, I’ve published picture books, dark short stories, a scary novel, picture fonts, and display fonts. As Kay, I’m getting to fulfill another long-term dream and write cozy mysteries! My latest, Old Bones and New Ghosts, is the long delayed (because life and reasons) follow-up to Ghosts in Glass Houses, the first Marti Mickkleson Mystery.

How long have you been writing?

Honestly, I’m not sure. Like most writers, I’ve told stories for as long as I can remember. I started writing short stories—in secret—in high school. I later went to art school because I wanted to both write and draw, and picture books seemed like the perfect answer—and my first published books were picture books. Novels terrified me—there’s so much to juggle in a full-length novel! Decades after art school, I went back to school for my MFA in writing, and I’ve since written—and published—three novels in two genres under two names and am working on my fourth.

Did you always want to be an author? What made you choose the cozy mystery genre?

Always. When I was growing up, I thought the coolest thing in the entire world would be to find my name in a library card catalog. (And I was right!) As for cozies, Mystery has always been one of my favorite genres, and I’ve always leaned toward the traditional and cozy end of the spectrum. They are my favorite “curl up and relax” reading. In grad school, I met Valerie Burns. Although I was writing Quiet Horror, we bonded over our love of cozies. She convinced me (dare I say, nagged me) to try my hand at a cozy, and the first Marti Mickkleson Mystery was the result.

Do you prefer to read cozy mystery books, or do you have another favorite genre? What are you reading now?

I am a multi-genre reader, and I often go on genre binges. Over the years, I’ve binged Science Fiction and Fantasy as well as Mystery and Horror (not the gory stuff, which for some reason doesn’t scare me even though I’m a wimp.) Over the past several years, the binges have usually been Cozy Mysteries and Horror. Oddly, I usually read cozies while writing the dark stuff and vice versa. Right now, even though I’m working on the next Marti Mickkleson book, I’m reading mostly cozies—or at least cozy–ish—mysteries. I’m in the middle of a reread of Jane Haddam’s Gregor Demarkian series and am reading Sniffing Out Murder by Kallie E. Benjamin (aka, Valerie Burns.) Next up on my new book list is City of Betrayal by Victoria Thompson.

Do you have a favorite place to write?

My favorite place is curled up in my comfy chair writing on my laptop. I have had to teach myself to write anywhere and tune out anything going on around me—otherwise, I might not get anything done!

What’s on your desk (if you write at one!)?

I do have a desk, which basically has a monitor on it to plug into my laptop. Boring, yes—but even though sometimes that larger screen is needed, I like the intimacy of writing with my laptop on my lap.

What is the first book you remember reading as a child? What was one of your favorite books you read as a child?

I don’t remember the first I read, but I do know the first I brought home from the library. I got my library card at four years old and was allowed to check out three books. We came home, my mom read them to me, and I said, “Let’s go back and get more.” She explained we couldn’t do that on the same day. Two of them I’ve forgotten, but the third was Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans. I made my mom read it over and over until she couldn’t wait to go back to the library and exchange it. When we did, I found out there were more Madeline books! Eventually, I was the proud owner of a full set that never had to go back to the library, and I can still recite the first book by heart, In an old house in Paris that was covered with vines…

Do you like audiobooks, physical books, or e-books better? Why?

Much to my surprise, I’ve become an e-book convert. Thanks to my tablet and phone, I always have hundreds of books in my bag and am never without something to read no matter what I’m in the mood for. I can highlight things and make notes in a book without feeling guilty. (I feel incredibly guilty marking up physical books.) And, best of all, at the end of a long day, I can make the type and contrast whatever my tired eyes need and get in an extra hour of reading!

If you had the opportunity to live anywhere in the world for a year while writing a book that took place in that same setting, where would you choose?

Thanks to a cousin who lives and works in Europe, I’ve been lucky to spend time in Great Britain, the Netherlands, Germany, Prague, and Florence. I’d return to any of them in a heartbeat and would love to set a book in any of them.

What or who has influenced you the most as a writer?

So many writers influenced both my love of books and my writing—beginning with Dr Suess and Ludwig Bemelmans! Going back to writers who set me on my current path: Agatha Christie and Ngaio Marsh (of course for both!), Joan Hess, Charlotte MacLeod/Alisa Craig, Amanda Cross, M.C. Beaton, Lilian Jackson Braun, Jane Haddam, and so many more! For creepy-me (in that other genre), Shirley Jackson all the way.

Do you have any author friends who support you while you’re writing? Do you belong to any writing groups?

I’ve already mentioned meeting Valerie in grad school, and I made many other writer friends in all genres there. Their friendship and support have been invaluable. Around 11 or 12 years ago, a friend and I founded a local writing group. He named the group. “Ashtabula Writers of Fantastic and Uncanny Literature.” Acronym: AWFUL. I’m not as active in it anymore, but I’m still proud to say I’m an AWFUL writer. (I still think he suggested the group—it was his idea—just for the pun.)

Finally, what are you working on now? Can you tell us a bit about it?

I’m in the early stages of the next Marti Mickkleson book. You may have noticed in my answers above that I’m a big fan of libraries. So is Marti, and the next book involves the Bicklesburg Public Library. The library, of course, has a ghost of its own, as does my local library—which I worked in years ago.

Thank you again for taking the time to answer my questions!