People often ask, “What inspired you to write…” Sometimes, I have to stop and think. What did inspire me to write? My love of mysteries (especially Agatha Christie’s cozies) was what got me hooked on reading and wanting to write cozies. However, I’ve got three series and each stems from a different experience or inspiration.
My RJ Franklin series was my first series and Travellin’ Shoes was the first book I wrote. Once, I made the decision to try my hand at writing a cozy, I started to research. I found a lot of advice suggesting writers should “Write what you know.” While I don’t know much about murder (other than what I read in books or watch on television), I figured out what I do know. I know what it’s like to grow up ‘in the church.’ I was born and raised in South Bend, Indiana and I know what it’s like to sing in the church choir. I started singing in the choir when I was four-years-old, even though the official age to join the choir was five. My older sister was in the choir and so I would beg to sit with her on the first and third Sundays when the Children’s choir sang. My mother said the director allowed me to join before my fifth birthday since I was so determined. I know what it’s like to cook and eat soul food since I grew up eating it my entire life. I wanted to create a series which would touch on all of the senses (or as many as possible). I wanted readers to hear the music and taste the foods and experience the culture. So, I created Detective RJ Franklin and paired him with my godmother, Mama B. I think it’s a good combination. RJ has the legal authority to investigate while Mama B has, what my dad called, “mother wit” to help him solve the crimes.
Once I acknowledged my desire to write mysteries, I also acknowledged a desire to own a mystery bookshop. At the time, I was living in Benton Harbor, Michigan, which is located on the shores of Lake Michigan. I dreamed of buying a building downtown St. Joseph (the sister city of Benton Harbor) and living upstairs while I had a bookstore on the first floor. Of course, the cherry on top of that dream would be selling my own British historic cozies at the same time. While I love reading cozies which almost always feature an amateur sleuth, I wanted my books to be practical. My original idea was that all of the murders would only occur in the book my protagonist was writing (hence the title for book one, The PLOT is Murder). However, after I started writing, I wondered if mystery readers would be satisfied with that. That’s when I got the idea, what if each book had two mysteries, the British historic mystery the protagonist was writing and a contemporary murder she was living. As a mystery lover, I thought, I’d love to read a book like that. The reality of having to write two mysteries in each book didn’t hit me until I was well into the book. It’s a good thing I’m a pantser rather than a plotter or I might never have finished writing the first book.
After selling my Mystery Bookshop Mystery series to Kensington, I was so excited when they asked me to submit a proposal for another series. Again, I thought back on the “Write what you know,” advice. For many years when I lived in Indiana and Michigan, I competed with my toy poodles, Coco and Cash in competition sports like obedience and agility. We were never very good, but it was fun and provided a great opportunity for me to spend time with my dogs. So, I created the Dog Club Mystery series which draws on some of the experiences I had while competing with my dogs.
I didn’t realize how much of myself I put in each book until I sat back and thought about it. Samantha Washington dreams of opening a mystery bookshop and writing British historic cozies, because that’s my dream. RJ Franklin lives in northwestern Indiana. He loves his godmother, loves soul food, and attends a Baptist church because, I lived in northwestern Indiana, loved my godmother, soul food and attended a Baptist church. Lilly Echosby is a CPA with a toy poodle. While I wasn’t a CPA, I actually worked at an accounting firm for twelve years. Each book, each series and each major character shares a lot in common with me. I may have been a bit too literal in my interpretation to “Write What you Know.” However, each book is near and dear to my heart because each one contains a piece of me. So, if you want to get to know me, read my books. I’m there in each story.