I found an interesting family picture from 1911 in one of the albums in our house, a photograph of a grocery storefront belonging to my husband’s great grandparents, situated in a neighborhood in Pittsburgh called Deutschtown (German Town). A huge portion of that extensive neighborhood was bulldozed when a large expressway and interchange was built, and only a few of the historic streets remain. But, the photograph fascinated me, and I began visiting what is left of Deutschtown, imagining a series of stories set in that decade, about the families that lived in that area, and my protagonist, Christoph Richter, came to life.
On weekends I would take creative writing classes or write, but five years passed and I had only rough passages on paper. Something happened to change my life, for the better, and I took a year away from work to write three interconnected historical mysteries. Though I am again working and pursuing a career, I continue to use evenings and weekends to write, and the fourth mystery is nearing completion. Though writing can be construed as work, and it is not easy, I believe that I have found my joy. I have never had so much fun as when I am creating a plot, imagining dialogue and inventing a scene for others to enjoy.
I certainly do other things, skiing and golf if it is the right season, gardening, cooking and taking Orangetheory classes, but I will use whatever time I can find to squeeze in just a few minutes or an hour of writing. If a day goes by without some time to spend with my characters, I can sense my mood diminish and I begin to day dream, writing in my head instead of on a computer. Thankfully, I am surrounded by loving and supportive family and friends, particularly an incredibly patient and encouraging husband, who helps me dig up old maps, and wanders around with me visiting the many historical landmarks that we have in Pittsburgh.
Although I have lived in some fascinating and culturally diverse cities, including New Orleans, New York and Washington, when I returned to Pittsburgh fifteen years ago, I knew it was the right fit. We have a rich industrial and philanthropic history here, enormous and varied parks, as well as a cross-section of cultures that settled in defined neighborhoods, allowing for intriguing story backdrops that provide nuggets of inspiration. Pittsburgh is a very original city, hemmed in by three large rivers, and it is all I need to build stories around Christoph and the mysteries that surround him. Even though I created him and the other characters that fill his life, they often surprise me. I can govern what they ultimately do, but how they get there and how they reveal themselves in a story is entirely up to them. I envision that there will be many adventures to come…