Interview with mystery author Janet Smith

SUITE: Tell me a little about your books and what genre they are.

JANET: The next one that will be out is Recipe for Murder. It is the 2nd book in the Patrick & Grace Mysteries. The 1st book, In St. Patrick's Custody, was set at a homeless shelter in New York City. Recipe for Murder follows Walter Schmidt, a minor character from the homeless shelter, to his home in Albany, Nebraska. Patrick and Grace are called into action when Walter's mother finds him hanging in the apple shed. The only clue he has left is a recipe for cookies that he tells Patrick and Grace in a letter he sent them that they can make them as famous as Amos and as rich as Mrs. Field. The only problem is, somebody else thought they were cookies to die for. This is my 6th book. The others are in different genres: historical, contemporary romance, time travel, and of course the Patrick & Grace Mysteries.

SUITE: When did you first start writing? First start publishing (stories, books, etc.)

JANET: I started writing about 20 years ago. I wanted to get the experiences we had in Venezuela, where we were missionaries for 9 years before I forgot them. I enjoyed it so much, I was hooked. I began doing magazine work, which did quite well, then moved to the fictional books, which is what I really love doing. I still write for 7 magazines and newspapers regularly; they pay some of the bills. Maybe some day I'll actually make money on the books!

SUITE: Why do you write?

JANET: I have so many stories floating around in my head, I can't imagine not writing. I think my head would explode if I didn't write.

SUITE: Do you have a day job?

JANET: Unfortunately, yes. Actually, I love my day job. My husband and I have run a charitable organization where we deal with all sorts of people with problems of every type available. It is a draining job, but I love it. It provides great fodder for stories! How do you think I knew so much about the homeless?

SUITE: Do you have something you wish to accomplish with the things you write? i.e. enjoyment, challenging, fear. What do you want people to take away with them when they read your writing? Do you ever have a message?

JANET: I write first and foremost to entertain people; to make them feel good about themselves and life in general. The good things that have happened from my books have been totally unplanned. If I had programmed them, they would probably have flopped. For instance,

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