Mrs. Bundle is a very likable protagonist. She's a woman of mature age. She lives in farm country in Vermont. Her teenage neighbor, Angie Andersen, helps Mrs. Bundle with her private eye business. Although this is an adult read/cozy series, the pre-teens and teenagers have embraced the series, too.
I was inspired by the kernel of a character: a semi-retired widow who lives in the middle of nowhere (where everything on the surface seems peaceful, seemingly without mystery or intrigue) and decides on a whim to become a private investigator.
In the first novel, Mrs. Bundle Takes a Hike: The Case of the Singing Swans, Mrs. Bundle is introduced, along with her favorite cat, Cracker (an especially astute cat who cat-thinks his ideas and opinions to her). Mrs. Bundle is rather bored and wants to have more purpose, fun, and allure in her life. She decides to become a detective, little knowing that that decision and the subsequent adventures will turn her life upside down. Mrs. Bundle's close friend and next-door neighbor on the next farm, Angie Andersen, ends up immersed in the mystery, too.
Predominant themes: Strong women protagonists, women of all ages helping their comtemporaries, their elders, and those younger, Yankee stamina and humor, whimsical adventure with a touch of the dark side and a bit of naughtiness thrown in for good measure!
Mrs. Bundle's resourcefulness and her spunk throughout the series. Altough she is refined, respectful, and ladylike, if need be, she can also pack a pretty mean punch. Why? It's who we are as women: strong, independent, resourceful, fun---it's all about feeling good about who you are!
I am from a large extended family (seven siblings) and spend much time enjoying family life. I am an experienced watercolorist, love to work out, have been a Realtor for 25 years, and have a wonderful husband. I love watching anything BBC or PBS---am a huge Anglophile.
Working on #4: After solving her last mystery while on vacation in Maine, Mrs. Bundle will be back in Vermont solving a number of mysteries in the Springfield/Weathersfield area.
AUTHOR INTERVIEW WITH GREATER PORTLAND, MAINE NEWSPAPER:
Q: How many Mrs. Bundle books do you think you will write? A: I'll probably do at least eight. Finding the time is a real challenge for me. A portion of my time now is spent meeting readers at book signings and events, which I love.
Q: What do you like to read? A: I read fun stuff, mysteries. I love the Mitford series, E.F. Benson, Christie, Grafton, Laurie R. King, etc. I love quirky mysteries, but not silly. I also like them to have underlying deep and serious themes. I love women protagonists who are smart.
Q: Are there any similarities between you and Mrs. Bundle? A: She has a reputation for being impetuous, and I've been called that before. She's very competent. She's like a dog on a bone, especially when it has to do with someone near and dear to her. The other thing about Mrs. Bundle is she doesn't mind getting down and dirty if she has to. In the second book, there's a murder and everything isn't always pleasant.
Q: Do you think you'll write any books outside of the series? A: I'm keeping with my Mrs. Bundle. I love her, and I love all the inhabitants, the community of Pillson. There's a lot more to write.
Q: What if the Mrs. Bundle books were turned into a movie? A: Jean Marsh from 'Upstairs, Downstairs' or Joanne Woodward would play Mrs. Bundle. Who would play Angie? Eva Mendes, because of her Italian grandmother's Mediterranean side and the Andersen Scandinavian side. Who would play Cracker? It might be a thespian stretch for both of them, but either Spook or Choo Choo from the 'Top Cat' gang!