I often get asked where I get ideas for my books. This is how the concept for ‘Horsing Around with Murder’ evolved.
Settling on a location for my funny and furry Senior Sleuth Mystery series was easy—a dude ranch owned by three women of a certain age. Each book would start with a murder that one of the co-owners would solve. But I had no clue where to go from there, plot-wise, for my first book in the series.
I sent out a panic call to an author friend who, like me, has an affinity for the absurd and inappropriate (okay, earthy) sense of humor. We arranged a meeting to brainstorm ideas and settle on the main concept around which I could write the book.
About mid-session, she recounted an incident during her career as a veterinarian’s assistant. While participating in an equine artificial insemination procedure, which requires the collection of a specimen, she managed to lose her grip on the stallion’s pride and joy, allowing the appendage to get wedged up her sleeve. A struggle ensued.
After we both dissolved into hysterical laughter, I realized I had found my pivotal idea, the idea around which I would write the book.
Here’s what I came up with for Horsing Around with Murder: Grizzly Gulch Guest Ranch is in financial difficulty due to recent renovations. To increase business, my protagonist and her sisters decide to host a week-long horse breeding symposium to increase their popularity and attract more guests, who, of course are the suspects.
To find out what happens, I invite you to read Horsing Around with Murder. I’m told one of the chapters, which is based on this true story, is worth the price of admission.
