Jerol Anderson

Jerol Anderson crafts mystery and intrigue. Her first book The Queen Anne Fox, received an Eppie nomination for best mystery of 2006. The story began when the author resided on Queen Anne Hill, where she took delight in the quaint neighborhoods of Seattle and actually encountered the real Queen Anne Fox. In March 2007 the second of the Jessica Tyson, Special Agent Mysteries, Gone Missing in the Underground, will be released. Jesse searches for missing persons through underground tunnels and in the twisted minds of suspects above on the history-filled streets of Seattle’s Pioneer Square. Jerol Anderson lives in Cambridge, Wisconsin with her supportive husband, Doug, and cockatiel, Tonto, and near her two daughters and their families. When she is not intrigued with bringing fictional characters out of memory and into the light of day, the author enjoys absorbing energy from her family and flowers. visit author's site here

Author's Books

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Both The Queen Anne Fox (Eppie Finalist for Best Mystery in 2006) and my new release Gone Missing in the Underground deal with crime and suspense, entangled with a love story.

Plots and people for my stories jump out at me from real life. An idea for a story rolls around in my head with 'what if's' for six months to a year before anything goes onto paper and the writing process begins.

Once an idea is formulated I create a rough idea of a beginning, end and middle, but the first writing is dialog between the main characters. I believe that dialog is the ‘stuff of life’. When I finally sit down in front of the computer screen, whole scenes of dialog fly onto the page. Through intense dialog, I feel I can get under the skin of characters to understand and portray their emotions more clearly.

I call myself a free-flow writer. The first draft of a scene is rough, but it contains all the high points and immediacy of what is happening or about to happen. To critique a first draft, I often find I must convert from a vocabulary that is painfully personal into a more universal language so the reader can 'get it'.

Early in the morning is my most alert time of day. If I can get up before the hustle and bustle of the real world creeps into my mind, then I can more easily stay in the imaginary one I have created.

Settings are as important to me as character and plot. I firmly believe that setting should come across to the reader as a character, so the reader walks away from the book feeling like he/she has been there. Setting and the development and growth of characters are key. I want the characters to draw my reader into the story and leave answers as to where they are headed.

It is important for me to share critiquing with other writers. Helping them with their manuscript helps me to learn.

When my manuscript is finished and has been through a critiquing process, it goes to the critical eye of my husband, who is an insatiable reader of all genres. He gives the manuscript a 'yes' or 'no'. Then just prior to submission each manuscript goes to two neighbors who are retired school teachers with sharp red pencils.

I would like to address ‘writers' block’. I don't believe in it. I will remain in full denial. Writing is like any other activity. There are days when one has the ‘dropsies’, days when one can’t sort papers alphabetically, just as there are days when appropriate words will not come forth. When I can't get into a character or am having trouble finishing a scene, I give my characters a rest and work on submission letters or promotional pieces or journaling. I keep writing.

My advice to beginning writers is write, write, and write some more. There are eight to ten re-writes of each of my manuscripts hidden within my hard drive. And, a couple of beginner manuscripts that may never find their way out of my closet. Each successive re-write shows improvement. And I'm always working on two or three stories at one time.

The other advice is to find a critique partner or critique group or both. These are caring writers and readers who can give a kind and constructive critique of your in-progress writing while you do the same for theirs. Though we work in a solitary world, the finished product must appeal to a wide audience.

The Queen Anne Fox
A Jessica Tyson Mystery
Eppie Finalist for the Best Mystery in 2006.

Ideas for The Queen Anne Fox came to me while I was living in the Queen Anne neighborhood of Seattle . One night, as I was walking on the hill, a red fox pranced across the street in front of me. (Having worked in the fur industry earlier in life, I knew the gait and bushy tail of a fox.) The next morning I called the local newspaper and their comment was, "Oh, so the Queen is roaming her hill again." Words like that are magic to a writer's ears.

I'm a people-watcher and I write about people and real life. There are some pretty creepy characters in The Queen Anne Fox. But, actually I’ve met most of them face to face.

When I finished The Queen Anne Fox, many readers responded by saying it was sad when the story ended. They didn't want to leave Jesse and David. I decided I didn't want to leave them either and created Gone Missing in the Underground

Gone Missing in the Underground
A Jessica Tyson Mystery

Prior to this story I had an idea. What if Jesse’s powers for sensing where a murder has occurred are completely blocked? What if she believes they are blocked due to her own emotions over life changes?

Gone Missing in the Underground is very much about setting. Seattle has the fabulous underground tour into the past with fun and entertaining tour guides.

When I was about half-way through creating this story, I realized I could not reach the depth I wanted for my characters. The story needed someone who could throw fresh ideas into the mystery and act as a sounding-board for Jesse and David's emotions as they considered sharing a life together.

Melinda, a fourteen year old in the story, throws a monkey-wrench into the relationship of two working professionals, but she also gives fresh insight into the case and into the emotions of all of the characters.

There are fewer creepy characters in this story. Instead there are more people like you and me, searching for our own life’s meaning. The creepy characters re-appear again in the third novel of this trilogy, Emma’s Garden, hopefully to be released within the next year.

I am very grateful to Whiskey Creek Press and the wonderful people who work with me there for helping these characters find their way into your heart.

More intriguing plots roll around in my head, but it takes me about a year to develop each into a polished novel. For upcoming events and release information or to comment on The Queen Anne Fox and Gone Missing in the Underground, please see my website at www.jerolanderson.com.