Mystery lovers, get ready! Today, I’m sitting down with the talented small town reader turned author, Kathleen J Easley. An author who knows how to keep readers on the edge of their seats. Known for her twisty plots, dynamic characters, and paranormal mysteries, Kathleen has carved out a name for herself in the world of fiction. But what goes into crafting a page-turning mystery? From her writing process to the inspiration behind her stories, we’re diving deep into the mind of this storyteller. So grab a cup of coffee (or your detective notebook) and join me as we uncover the secrets behind Kathleen J. Easley’s mysteries!
About Kathleen J Easley
A true denizen of the Pacific Northwest, Kathleen J Easley loves deep blue water, tall green trees, and the Seattle Seahawks. She can often be found with her husband on their boat cruising the San Juan Islands of Washington State. She is the author of the Brenna Wickham Haunted Mystery series. Set in Seattle, these are contemporary murder mysteries with a paranormal twist and a hint of romantic suspense. Kathleen is a member of the Puget Sound Chapter of Sisters in Crime.
Find her at https://www.kathleenjeasley.com/
An Interview with Kathleen J Easley
Can you share your journey to becoming an author? What inspired you to pursue a writing career?
I think I’ve always wanted to be an author. I’ve always had a passion for reading. As a kid, I used to go to the library and bring home stacks of books. When I was young, my father used to read to me and my siblings. We had subscriptions to Highlights and Humpty Dumpty Magazine, and he would read them to us, cover to cover. Sometimes, he would make up his own stories, and I used to think that was so amazing. I wanted to make up stories, too.
What was the first story or piece of writing you remember creating? How has your writing evolved since then?
I think I was in fourth grade when I wrote and illustrated my first story. It was about a mouse who lived in a hole in a riverbank. In high school, I took all the English and creative writing classes I could cram into my schedule. In community college, I continued to take classes in poetry and creative writing. I wrote a couple of short fantasy stories and dabbled in fan fiction. I joined a small group of other want-to-be writers, and we would read and critique each other’s work. I also attended media conventions, seminars, and workshops whenever I could. It was a long road, full of trial and error, lots of practice, and all the wisdom I could glean from other writers.
Are there any specific authors or books that influenced you early in your writing journey?
Early on, I read mysteries like the Hardy Boys, Donna Parker, and Nancy Drew. Later, I discovered science fiction and fantasy and became obsessed with Andre Norton, C.S. Lewis, Anne McCaffrey, and J.R.R. Tolkien. Then, in high school, one of my English teachers introduced me to classic literature. Instead of the classroom exercises, diagramming sentences, underlining nouns and predicates – which I could do in my sleep – she gave me a list of novels and told me to read two. I read them all: Great Expectations, Wuthering Heights, Jane Eyre, Rebecca, and The Three Musketeers. I have loved that style of Gothic literature ever since. Something about the intensity of emotion and suspense in those classic novels has always struck a chord with me. And besides those, I would have to add all the books written by Mary Stewart, the Queen of Romantic Suspense, as well as Victoria Holt, Phyllis A. Whitney, and Barbara Michaels. Romantic suspense, indeed.
Can you describe your typical writing routine? Do you have any specific habits or rituals that aid your creative process?
The only way I can write is to make a cup of tea, then go into my office (a converted bedroom) and shut the door. I have to have complete quiet with no distractions. No phone, no radio, no TV on in the background. And I need a full day. If I only have an hour or so, I don’t usually bother. It takes me time to get my head fully immersed in what I’m writing, and I hate to stop once I get rolling.
Are you a planner or a “pantser” (writing by the seat of your pants)? How do you approach structuring your stories?
I definitely started out as a pantser. I would have a general idea and then just start writing. I would let the characters tell me where they wanted to go. The trouble is, this often led to dead ends and re-writes, forcing me to change directions in order to make things work out. So, lately, I’ve become more of a planner. I’ve just started working on the third book in my series, and I have it pretty well mapped out. I do still give my characters a lot of leeway, but at least now I have a pretty good idea where they’re going right from the start.
How do you develop and bring your characters to life? Are they ever inspired by real people or experiences?
Nearly all my characters are inspired by real people, usually friends and relatives. Many would be surprised to know they’ve made appearances in my books. My brother was the model for one of the main characters in my last book. I dedicated the book to him, and he recognized himself immediately. Other people may only appear briefly, perhaps as a unique personality or body type. Often, if I’m trying to describe a character, I will think of either someone I know or someone I’ve seen who comes close to what I have in mind. Our lives are shaped by the people and experiences we’ve had throughout our lives. I think it’s only natural that our imaginations would draw on those when creating fictional worlds.
What role does research play in your writing? How do you strike a balance between authenticity and creative freedom?
I do TONS of research. Thank goodness for the internet. I’m fine with fictitious persons, places, and things, but when it comes to anything resembling science and technology, I strive to be as accurate as possible. My biggest nightmare is to have someone point to something I’ve written and say, “No, that’s not right, that could never happen that way.” I don’t see a problem balancing authenticity and creative freedom. I love stories about ghosts, dragons, and magic. I have no problem suspending disbelief as long as the author establishes the ground rules for his or her universe and everything tracks logically and consistently.
How did you decide what your book cover should look like?
One of the themes of my series is returning to the neighborhood where you grew up as a kid. In the book, I’ve described it as a quiet neighborhood of older homes with trees, fences, and well-tended yards. That’s what I wanted to convey on the cover. So, I jumped in my car and began to drive around until I found exactly the right street and took a picture. I gave the picture to my brilliant cover artist and told her to use it as a model, also adding the ghost and the beagle from the story. She did an excellent job capturing just the image and mood I was going for. For the second book, I described a scene from the story and even made a rough sketch to give the artist. Again, her imagination and artistic creativity came up with just the right cover picture.
Do you have a favorite character that you’ve created? What makes this character particularly special to you?
I have a special fondness for Kate Ecklund, the main character in my stand-alone novel, Under The Apple Tree. There’s a lot of her in me. I started writing that story way back in the mid-80s when my kids were little, and I didn’t have a lot of time. Writing was more of a hobby at which I dabbled when I had a free moment. Kate actually started out as a teenage boy, and Blossom, the ghost from the 40s, was an old woman living in a nursing home. I didn’t really have a clear plot in mind, but, over time, the boy became a girl, and the story slowly grew, changed, and evolved. It sat in a drawer, untouched, for many years until I dug it out a year ago, brushed it off, and began to work on it again until it was ultimately finished and ready to be put out there. I’m quite proud of how it turned out.
How do you approach writing dialogue to make it feel authentic and engaging for readers?
Simple. I act out all my scenes and say the lines out loud. I even make faces and hand gestures where necessary to go along with the dialogue. I have a mirror on the wall in my office, in front of which I can practice lines and expressions. I also pay attention to people speaking around me and on television in an effort to keep current with trending slang and idioms.
What was your favorite childhood story?
While I read and loved hundreds of books as a child, I have to confess that my favorite will always be Lassie Come-Home by Eric Knight. I have wonderful memories of sitting on my father’s lap while he read it out loud to me. And it was shortly after reading this story that my family acquired a much-loved collie puppy. In school, I checked out and re-read this book seven times, along with every other story about dogs and horses I could get my hands on.
What advice would you give to aspiring authors who are just starting their writing journey?
There is a quote from Barbara Kingsolver that I have framed and hung on the wall next to my desk. I think it’s the best advice I’ve ever heard: “Close the door. Write with no one looking over your shoulder. Don’t try to figure out what other people want to hear from you; figure out what you have to say. It’s the one and only thing you have to offer.” But, besides that, I would say, learn your craft. Take classes, go to workshops, and listen to other writers. Even the very basics, like spelling, grammar, and punctuation, are important if you want to be taken seriously. And write. Keep writing. Don’t just talk about it. Lots of people say they want to be writers, but only the very determined actually accomplish it.
Thank you, Kathleen, for letting us interview you ❤️.
Under The Apple Tree – See the Mystery Review Crew Recommendation for this Story!
By Kathleen J. Easley
Genre: Paranormal, Mystery
Recently divorced from a suffocating marriage, Kate Ecklund is determined to make it on her own. She buys an old abandoned Victorian manor with plans to restore it and turn it into a bed-and-breakfast. But she soon discovers that the house is haunted by the ghost of the previous owner, Blossom Thatcher, an aged recluse who died alone in the moldering mansion. Even in death, Blossom’s spirit awaits the return of her lover, who tragically vanished over eighty years ago. Curiosity and compassion compel Kate to unravel the mystery and bring peace to the grieving ghost. To do this, she must seek clues to the past, which ultimately lead to a hidden map to a lost gold mine.
As the plot unfolds, two men come into Kate’s life. One sweeps her off her feet with his good looks and amorous style, while the other amuses her with his wit and engaging repartee. The story is told through chapters that alternate between Kate in the present and Blossom in the past. Set decades apart, the two unique love stories are inexorably entwined, shrouded in mystery, touched with humor, and imbued with elements of the supernatural.
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