Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Clementine’s Shadow is my first published novel — though I have a couple others in process. I was an English major in high school and always loved mysteries — so it was natural for me to gravitate toward writing one. After working as a civil servant for many years, I now live in the beach community of Ventura with my husband and our cats. When I’m not writing or working on art projects (I’m currently illustrating a children’s book for an author), you can find me digging up the lawn as I transform our yard into a drought-tolerant paradise — one foot at a time!
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
When I started writing Clementine’s Shadow, I wanted to tell a story from multiple points of view, with a tight timeline where all the characters end up in the same place trying to rescue a little girl. To that end, the plot of Clementine’s Shadow takes places over the course of one day and interweaves the lives of four people, with each one finding a way to vanquish past failures as they search for the girl. I set the story in a harsh, unforgiving landscape that would mirror some of the characters’ unwillingness to forgive themselves.
As a native Californian, I knew a big part of the state’s history was linked to the discovery of gold and silver and the idea of setting the story near an abandoned mine offered a wealth of possibilities. For Clementine’s Shadow, I took elements of Acton, CA, the Antelope Valley and the Red Rover Mine and melded them with other mines in the region to create my fictional town and county. I didn’t want to use a real county; the idea of insulting the hard-working sheriff departments that patrol these wide expanses didn’t sit right with me. Besides, with a fictional town, you can have a lot more creative fun.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Not really, but dark chocolate is an important part of my creative process. I do like to ‘mix things up’ by writing by hand as well as on the computer.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
I’ve always read across genres – maybe even more so as a child. I read all the Nancy Drew mysteries, but my favorite book in elementary school was Johnny Tremain. That book sparked my interest in history; I think successful books make you want to read more about the subject or period in which they’re set. I was also a huge Charles Dickens and Louisa May Alcott fan, but my early love of mysteries did influence me. My favorite authors today include mystery writers C.J. Box, Jan Burke, Harlan Coben, Michael Connelly, Robert Crais, Tana French, Sue Grafton and Jo Nesbo.
What are you working on now?
I’m currently doing a final polish on a second thriller, Erasing Ramona, as well as a YA mystery, Punishment Summer. I’m also 11,000 words into a new project — another thriller — and am having fun with the research.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
My book — or links to it — can be found on any of the following websites:
http://peggyrothschild.com
www.amazon.com/clementines-shadow-ebook/dp/B00C9IED50/ref=sr_1-1?=books&ie=UTF8qid=1365558888&sr+1-1
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/clementines-shadow-peggy-rothschild/1115238635?ean=9780615799148
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7079283.Peggy_Rothschild
http://www.facebook.com/peggyrothschildauthor
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Whoever said “Writing is 90% rewriting” had it right. I think the best thing an author can do is stay open to criticism but not relinquish your voice.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
I heard a presenter at a writers conference say something along the lines of: Telling your friends you’re writing a book isn’t writing. Talking about writing isn’t writing. Only putting your butt in a chair and writing IS writing.
What are you reading now?
I just finished reading Brad Parks’ The Good Cop and have started Craig Johnson’s A Serpent’s Tooth.
What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m planning a research trip to northern California for the manuscript I’ve just started and that — along with lots and lots of writing and rewriting — will keep me busy for awhile.
If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Oh my, that’s tough. I’d definitely need to bring ‘Snow Falling on Cedars’ by David Guterson as that’s a book I’ve enjoyed reading time and again. The others would also be re-readers — books where I love the language or the characters or the plot — or all three:
The Double Bind by Chris Bohjalian
Angle of Repose by Wallace Stegner
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by JK Rowling
Author Websites and Profiles
Peggy Rothschild Website
Peggy Rothschild Amazon Profile
Peggy Rothschild’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account