by Anna A Armstrong

Everything in life and books comes down to character. There are few more enjoyable ways to while away a morning than spending time in a café with a really good cup of coffee, getting to know who someone is. I love using different ‘character questionnaires’ which are all over the internet and interviewing my characters. I have exercise books fall of these character analyses.

Once you know who a person really is and what motivates them, it is far easier to know how they will react in every situation. This knowledge means that when I move on to plotting, I have a pretty good idea of how they are going to behave when faced with troublesome murders and life’s many joys and woes. As in life, there will be times when I am surprised.

I adore being part of this multi-generational world. I am extremely fortunate in being the mother of three adult daughters and also to be blessed with being a part of a village and church community which means I have lots of opportunities to enjoy and observe every age and how they interact. As writers, I know you will all be keen observers of people and I think that it is that ability to notice every tiny detail that gives authenticity to a work.

There is a wonderful energy between the generations, often marked by affectionate exasperation, which I hope to capture. Each generation has so much to offer the other age groups. Young people’s exuberance in infectious (also it is so useful to have people in ones life who actually know how the latest tech works). The in-between lady is usually rather overstretched, juggling work and family, but they have determination. The older generation often have an abundance of time, warmth and wisdom.

As a final comment, which is not so much ‘how’ I incorporate multi-generational family dynamics into the FitzMorris Family Mysteries but ‘why’, it is fun for me personally. While all my characters are fictional, I have to admit that when I am writing the student granddaughter, Amelia, I do indulge in re-living my youth as I would have liked to have been. Amelia is an extremely confident criminal psychology student who wears corsets, short skirts and Doc Marten boots, while being a fantasy Goth. I feel my student days were wasted being a spotty, jeans clad, ball of neurosis, rather than an outrageous Goth who can’t wait to confront any murderer.

Anna A. Armstrong writes uplifting, cosy mysteries. Set in rural villages, they overflow with friendship, warm family relationships, delicious food, beautiful gardens and romance as well as the odd murder to spice things up. At the heart of her stories are her colourful characters who have their own varied foibles. There is nothing like a spot of murder for revealing who people are and what makes them tick.

Growing up in home counties England, Anna was surrounded with dogs and horses as well as the wide variety of people who make up village life. Her observation skills were further honed by studying Anthropology at university. Much to her family’s embarrassment, she often can’t resist pulling out a pad and sketching random strangers in a restaurant.

When not indulging her love of traveling, Anna divides her time between the quintessentially English village of Burford in the Cotswolds and the rugged Isle of Man, the jewel of the Irish Sea. She is passionate about food, her garden, her three dachshunds, family and latterly trick riding, just in case running off to the circus becomes an option!

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