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

What drew you to the genre you write?
I grew up reading mysteries beginning with Nancy Drew and later Agatha Christie. I’ve always loved puzzles and hated violence, and I’m a big advocate for justice in writing and in life. That led me to cozy mysteries—both to read and to write.

How did you come up with your pseudonym?
Sarah is a name I’ve always liked, and Osborne is my mother’s maiden name. Her parents wrote adventure stories for kids. They never made much money off the stories, but I think they enjoyed their work together to write them. I managed to find one example in a vintage magazine and recently discovered a partial manuscript by them. Great fun.

Tell us how you got into writing?
I’ve been writing as long as I can remember beginning with a third-grade story in which the protagonist, a little girl, has forgotten her name and must ask a variety of animals to help her find it again. I am an introvert, which means I like quiet time to think and write. My daughter once said I had a rich internal life, and I guess she is correct about that.

What jobs have you held before, during and/or after you became a writer?
I was an elementary school teacher for several years and then worked for the Centers for Disease Control in the Bureau of Training. After that I pursued a long held and secret desire of mine to become a doctor. I went to medical school and became a psychiatrist, a fulfilling career from which I recently retired. Subsequently, I’ve devoted my time to writing both cozy mysteries and essays about my work as a psychiatrist.

How many books do you have published?
I’ve published nine books in my Ditie Brown Mystery Series and six books in my Flo and Maude Christmas Cozies.

Where do you write?
I have a dedicated room upstairs in which I wrote for years. Now I’ve expanded to the downstairs either in a bedroom or the dining room table. More important than where I write is when I write. I get up early every morning and write for at least an hour and a half. That starts my day making me feel happy and grounded.

What’s your favorite genre to read?
Cozy mysteries are my go-to comfort reads. I’m also in three book clubs, and that greatly expands what I am exposed to. It’s helped me become a better writer.

What is something people would be surprised to know about you?
That is such a good question. If you have read my books then you know a lot about me. I’ve always thought a book of fiction reveals a great deal about the author. In my case you would know I love children, good food, pets and solving puzzles. Hopefully, you would know I have a sense of humor. Perhaps you wouldn’t know much about my childhood—that I grew up in a family of seven children in northern California where we had a horse and chickens and miscellaneous other animals including a goat at one point. We didn’t live on a farm but I’m sure our neighbors thought we did.

Who is an author you admire?
To Kill a Mockingbird remains my favorite book, so I would have to say Harper Lee is at the top of my list.

Have you any advice for aspiring or beginning writers?
Write what you love to read. Write every day if you can—make it a habit.

What is next for you?
I will likely write another book in my Ditie Brown Mystery Series. It might be told from Lucie’s point of view. She is the daughter of Ditie Brown and at an age (14) where she would probably like to tell her own story. I’m also gathering essays from my work as a psychiatrist and might see if they can become a book of some kind. Finally, I’m reading psychological thrillers to see if I might attempt one with a manuscript that needs some serious rewriting. However, since I don’t enjoy reading about protagonists who turn out to be evil, I’m not sure how far I’ll get with that plan.

Where can we find you?
You can find me at www.doctorosborne.com and I’d love to have you sign up for my monthly newsletter, which you can do on the first page of the website. Or you can write to me at sarah@doctorosborne.com and I’ll respond. It’s always a pleasure for me to hear from readers. My books are available at fine bookstores like Eight Cousins in Falmouth, Massachusetts and in the following sites online.

NOW TO HAVE SOME FUN . . .

Breakfast, lunch, or dinner:
Definitely breakfast. I am the ultimate morning person

Fruits or vegetables:
Both

Sweet or salty snacks:
Always sweet

Ice cream, cake, or pie:
Ice cream. I’m sure I could live on ice cream.

Cooking, baking, or dining out:
I love to cook and bake.

City life or country living:
Something in between. I like small-town living.

Beach or mountain:
Beach

Early bird or night owl:
As I said, I’m definitely an early bird. I fade quickly in the evening.

Winter, Spring, Summer, or Fall:
I love every season now that I live on Cape Cod. I love all the changes that happen here.

Extrovert or introvert:
As I mentioned above I’m an introvert. I love my friends and family but big groups are not my favorite place to be.

AND EVEN MORE FUN . . .

What is your favorite movie?
This varies with my mood. At the moment with Christmas coming I’d have to say Christmas Carol with Alistair Sim (1951). Best Scrooge ever!

You are stranded on a deserted island. What are your three must-haves?
1) A large box of matches
2) A crank radio for a possible rescue
3) A companion that I love. If not a person, I’ll take a dog.

My bio:
Sarah Osborne is the pen name for a writer and physician who lives on Cape Cod. She has long admired what older women can accomplish in the world and now she writes about them in books that are meant to be warm, funny and intriguing as these old dames travel the world to prevent murders during the holiday season.