Shakespeare's Blood comes from my years as an English teacher, and some of the crimes within that story might come from Shakespeare's admittedly bloody plots. It's the only one of my books that I would warn people not to read if they aren't into nasty murders. While I have no desire to write such things, when an idea comes along I write it down. It's only later that I think, "Ick. That was a gory one!"

I wrote the story when internet publishing was in its infancy and I was unaware of the...

This is another one I haven't got an explanation for. Where did the idea (which I can't tell you about because it would ruin the surprise) come from?

I know it was early on in my writing career. While I was looking for representation for Macbeth's Niece, I wrote a couple of other books, including Not Dead Yet... I queried agents for this one too, and a woman took it on. For a year she tried to sell it, but she got no takers.

I understand. It's hard to pitch a book that you have to read halfway...

At a mystery conference probably twenty years ago, I met a woman known in the industry for being successful but also waspish. When I told her I'd signed with a traditional publisher to produce my Elizabethan mystery, Her Highness' First Murder, she dismissed me with a contemptuous, two-prong comment. First, I'd signed with the "wrong" people. She could have helped me, but I'd thrown that chance away by choosing elsewhere. Then she announced that the Tudors were "done" anyway.

First, I hadn't...