Why do you write the genre that you write?
I think I’m naturally drawn to writing a mystery and creating a puzzle. Agatha Christie says that mystery is where justice is served and where things are neatly tied up with a big red bow and I couldn’t agree more! Life is so uncertain, it’s good to have control over something albeit in fiction!

What’s the quirkiest quirk one of your characters has?
My police officer D.I. Shawn Cropper is obsessed with trains. He has ringtones for different models (which I spent hours researching) and a selection of “interesting” ties.

Tell us how you got into writing?
I have always kept journals. I was a great letter writer throughout my early teens and was always told “you should write a book” but I never felt I was clever enough. Everything changed when I helped a friend type up his screenplay (he couldn’t type) in 1989. I started to make suggestions to his storyline and one day it occurred to me that I just might be able to write something myself. I took five years of creative writing classes UCLA Writers’ Extension in Los Angeles (where I now teach the occasional mystery writing workshop online). I started with screenplays and moved to long-form narrative about twenty years ago.

What jobs have you held before, during and/or after you became a writer?
My six-month temporary job as the executive assistant for the CEO of a west coast advertising agency has morphed into twenty-three years. I have a wonderful supportive boss who has championed my writing career from the beginning. It does get stressful. I have a lot to manage as my job responsibilities have grown along with my writing commitments and all the author biz that goes with that.

Where do you write?
I have a little office in my house dedicated to writing now but it wasn’t always like that. But I can write anywhere – on a plane, in my car (not driving!), in a café. I have trained myself not to get distracted by noise and yet I can’t write with music in the background.

What is your favorite deadline snack?
Smarties (the UK equivalent of M & M’s) with sweet-and salty popcorn. And a lot of it.

What is next for you?
I start writing book 10 in the Honeychurch series on October 1st. I’m currently promoting A Killer Christmas at Honeychurch Hall which will be released in November.

What are you reading now?
Um. I’m embarrassed to admit I am reading Revenge: Meghan, Harry and the War Between the Windsors, (a guilty pleasure) but I am also reading The Lost Child by Samantha Ford. When I’m writing flat out, I never read my own genre. I just can’t get into the story no matter how talented the author.

Where can we find you?
My website at hannahdennison.com
Facebook Author page at Hannah Dennison Books
Instagram at @hannahdennisonbooks
Twitter at @HannahLDennison

Now to have some fun . . .

Vanilla or chocolate
Chocolate (of course!)

Ice cream or cake
Cake

Broccoli or squash
Broccoli

Pizza, burgers, or pasta
Pizza

Breakfast, lunch, or dinner
Lunch

Mountain or beach
Tough one, if pushed . . . mountain

City or country
Country

Introvert or extrovert
Introvert – I am desperately shy

And even more fun . . .

You are stranded on a deserted island. What are your three must-haves?
Apart from my dogs . . . which would take up two spots
A Celtic harp – for entertainment (although I’m not very good at it)
A giant blank notebook
A pen that will never run out

My bio:
British born, Hannah originally moved to Los Angeles to pursue screenwriting. She has been an obituary reporter, antique dealer, private jet flight attendant and Hollywood story analyst. After twenty-five years living on the West Coast, Hannah returned to the UK where she shares her life with two high-spirited Hungarian Vizslas. She enjoys all country pursuits, movies, and theatre, reading and seriously good chocolate.

Hannah writes the Honeychurch Hall Mysteries (Constable), the Island Sisters Mysteries (Minotaur), and the Vicky Hill Mysteries (Constable).