Jewels for Christmas from Avi, Susan Albert and Raab Associates

SWA: My husband Bill Albert and I write a Victorian/Edwardian mystery series under the name of Robin Paige. Each book in the series features a real person, around whom the mystery is woven. Beatrix was always a favorite of mine, and we used her as our "featured character" in the second book in the Robin Paige series, DEATH AT GALLOWS GREEN, which came out in the middle 90s. For that book, I did a great deal of research into her life and enjoyed learning about her life and her work. I began to think she'd make a great character in her own series--especially if I focused on the years between 1905-1913. In those eight years, her life completely changed. I was fascinated by a woman who could break her parents' rules about earning money (through her art), then step out of a life of culture, wealth, and luxury in London and become a North Country sheep farmer! And if I wanted to know more about her, I felt that others would, too.

2.SR: I know this book "Hill Top Farm", is one in a series of six, when can readers expect the next installment?

SWA: I'm planning eight books in the series. THE TALE OF HOLLY HOW is the second book; it will appear in July, 2006 (along with the paperback of HILL TOP FARM). In January, I'll be starting work on Book 3, THE TALE OF CUCKOO BROW WOOD.

3.SR: Your use of herbs in many of your books is very unusual and adds an interesting layer to the mysteries. How did you develop this idea?

SWA: I began studying herbs when I was in graduate school, working with medieval English and European literature. I had to know something about herbs, particularly the medicinals, since they were an important aspect of medieval life. Later, when I left the academic world and had time for a garden, I wanted to grow the plants I had studied, and became even more interested in their history and folklore. This interest eventually led to the creation of the China Bayles herbal mysteries. (The most recent book in that series is A DILLY OF A DEATH, with DEAD MAN'S BONES due out in April.) Beatrix Potter grew herbs in her Lake District garden, of course. People can see some of these on my website,

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