Now it’s time to learn more about the authors we read. . .

Why do you write the genre that you write?
I like stores that have a beginning, middle, and end. I like surprises when they’re clever and not contrived, and I enjoy the puzzle of the mystery genre.

What’s the quirkiest quirk one of your characters has?
Over the years DCI St Just has developed a real hate/hate relationship with technology. But he’s trying at least to learn the terminology so he can understand his young suspects.

How did you come up with your pseudonym?
I chose to use the initials G.M. because when I began writing, I felt (rightly or wrongly) there was a an inbuilt prejudice against female writers, and I wanted to use a neutral name so editors would come at my work unhindered. I’m not sure I fooled anybody, but that was my reasoning.

Tell us how you got into writing?
It was always just there. No deliberate decision had to be made. I didn’t know how to do anything else.

What jobs have you held before, during and/or after you became a writer?
Most of my early jobs had to do with writing – journalism and copywriting. Which – no surprise – are completely different animals from writing a mystery novel.

Where do you write?
I have a home office. If I need a change of scene I have a choice of nearby coffee shops and I might work in one of those. But it’s hit and miss if it’s noisy or crowded or the music is too loud so mostly I work at home.

When the weather is nice, I will sit in a nearby park that my city has organized with tables and benches and so on. It’s quite pleasant under the trees but it’s a brief time of year where the weather cooperates. When it’s too hot or cold, then it’s back to the home office.

What is your favorite deadline snack?
Trader Joe’s pretzel slims.

Who is an author you admire?
The British author Ann Cleeves is one. She wrote for many, many years with almost zero recognition and now she’s being rewarded for having stuck with it. Although I’m sure it never occurred to her to do anything but continue writing. She’s a real pro, a real, to-her-bones writer.

What’s your favorite genre to read?
History, particularly European history, World War II. Biographies of people like Lucretia Borgia. And of course, mystery.

What are you reading now?
The Monuments Men by Robert M. Edsel and Bret Witter. It’s about the men (and women) who helped rescue much of the art stolen by the Nazis. A true, fascinating story. These were academics, for the most part middle-aged, risking their lives to find and save artwork that would otherwise be lost to us.

What is your favorite beverage to end the day?
Coffee with almond milk over ice. No, the caffeine doesn’t bother me.

What is next for you?
I have two series going – the Rev. Max Tudor Mysteries (eight so far) and the DCI St Just Mysteries (six so far). I’m also returning to my first love, short stories, after a break because I was so busy with the novels. The short story form is more labor intensive than anyone can imagine – at least, it is for me. My agent has asked several times for a standalone so I guess I’ll do that, too.

Where can we find you?
Website at gmmalliet.com, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Threads, TikTok. Let’s see, did I forget anything? Links to all of the socials appear at linktr.ee/gmmalliet.

Now to have some fun . . .

Chocolate or vanilla
Chocolate

Cake or ice cream
Cake

Fruits or vegetables
Vegetables, particularly broccoli and Brussels sprouts

Breakfast, lunch, or dinner
Breakfast – used to be eggs and bacon but I turned vegetarian years ago.

Dining in or dining out
Out. I’m a bit of a foodie. Also, I’m lazy.

City life or country living
City

Beach or mountain
Either, so long as there’s a body of water nearby.

Summer or winter
Winter

Short story or full-length novel
Either! Both! Whatever!

Extrovert or introvert
Reserved extrovert

Early bird or night owl
Early bird

And even more fun . . .

What’s your favorite movie?
Terms of Endearment followed by Gosford Park and The Firm and about a hundred others. I love movies.

You are stranded on a deserted island. What are your three must-haves?
SPF lotion, my iPad for reading and movies, and WiFi. That last may be cheating.

My bio:
G.M. Malliet is an American award-winning author of mystery and cozy mystery novels. She is best known for writing the Agatha Award-winning Death of a Cozy Writer (2008), the first installment of the St. Just Mystery Series, which was named among the Best Books of 2008 by Kirkus Reviews. The holder of degrees from Oxford University and the University of Cambridge, G.M. Malliet has wide experience in journalism and copywriting. She wrote for national and international news publications (Thomson Reuters) and public broadcasters (PBS) before making the switch to fiction writing. Agented by Mark Gottlieb of Trident Media Group, New York, G.M. Malliet is a member of Crime Writers’ Association (UK), International Thriller Writers, Maine Writers & Publishers Alliance, Mystery Writers of America, and Sisters in Crime (former National Board member). She currently resides in the US.