Phew! I’ve been working on my latest Bella Sarver Mystery, entitled A Death in Our Family, for the past two years, and today I’ve finished the fourth, and hopefully final, draft. It’s now with my Beta reader for review, and then, with only one final edit more, it will be ready for publication. Hopefully before summer.

Writing a mystery novel is an interesting process. The writer has to get to know her characters, figure out the plot and all the clues, pull all the pieces together. It’s not just about the mystery, of course. If the characters and setting are missing interest and appeal, the most clever puzzle is just a little game, not a novel at all. So of course, I’m hoping mine fills the bill.

The themes of A Death in Our Family are family relations, Jewish holidays and community, and, since my protagonist, Bella Sarver, is an artist, the local art scene, as well. Quite a lot to pull together, and still some work to be done, but finally, the end is in sight. So watch this space for further updates.