Monica Ferris was at the Hiawatha Library in October. It is so interesting to hear authors talk about their writing. She does an amazing job of recreating Excelsior, Minnesota including things, like the amusement park that were torn down a long time ago. She told me people still talk about that park -- it was simple by today's standards, but as a child it seemed to me as if it were magical -- a roller coaster, ferris wheel and other rides by the lake. The excitement we'd feel when we approached Excelsior and saw the roller coaster! She brings it all back in her novels -- I feel like I'm back home again. The interesting thing is that she didn't grow up there. She's basing her decriptions on what others have told her! She does so much research when writing her books. I'm amazed that authors can come up with such interesting story lines and realistic characters. On top of that, good authors, like Monica, do an enormous amount of research to make their books authentic. When you have time be sure to read some, if not all, of her needlecraft mysteries. There is a new one coming out in December: Knitting Bones. Don't miss it. I won't.
