Why do you write the genre that you write?
Hi Dru Ann, it’s good to be back visiting you and all your friends. I write what I read. My favorite fiction novels are almost exclusively cozy mysteries. I also love short mystery fiction but I don’t confine myself to cozy shorts. When it comes to genre I write cozy novels and my short stories are mysteries, although most of my shorts are not quite cozy but they do not move into thriller territory. In non-fiction I love to read American History and I have a special interest in the period from the pre-Revolutionary War to the War of 1812. And you will notice, I don’t write American History non-fiction at all. I leave that to the experts.

What’s the quirkiest quirk one of your characters has?
So many characters! So many quirks! Well, since the characters in Murder, She Wrote are the people with whom I spend most of my time these days, let’s take a look. In Cabot Cove Jessica Fletcher’s friend and neighbor, Ideal Molloy, is one of the ladies we often meet at Loretta’s Beauty Parlor. Ideal’s oddball sense of humor often leads her to tease other patrons, particularly the always elegant realtor, Eve Simpson. What I love about Ideal is that no matter how raucous the back and forth may get, she will stop on a dime the minute donuts appear.

Tell us how you got into writing?
My first two grandchildren were born twelve days and thirteen hundred miles apart. At that point I knew I had to give up the job I loved, working for New York City, to gain the freedom to travel back and forth so the babies would get to know me and I would get to know them. For decades I had promised myself that when I no longer had a demanding full time job, I would write a book. And that is how and why I started writing, although I had not a clue as to how it should be done. I soon learned that writing is a tough job and there are no “shoulds”.

What jobs have you held before, during and/or after you became a writer?
As I mentioned above, during my first career I was an Administrative Manager for the City of New York. After the first two grandbabies were born and I began writing, I also worked part time for six years in two different gyms. Part time work gave me plenty of time for the grandkids and to fiddle with writing mysteries. Presently writing and grandchildren take up most of my time.

Where do you write?
Technically, I write at my computer in a small home office/guest bedroom in my apartment, and I edit in my recliner in the living room. I must confess that I carry a few pages of my current work around with me, so if I get a few minutes to myself, say in the dentist’s waiting room, or while riding a bus or train I can always work.

What is your favorite deadline snack?
Irish Breakfast tea, Green tea, White tea and nearly every herbal tea, especially chamomile when I fear I am getting too wound up and need to calm down.

What is next for you?
I just finished the editing process on Murder, She Wrote Death on the Emerald Isle, so I have decided it is time for Jessica Fletcher to stay home in Cabot Cove for a while, and well, we will see what happens. It is always possible that someone will be murdered.

What are you reading now?
Murphy’s Law by Rhys Bowen. It is the first book in the Molly Murphy series. Of course since I follow the series, I have read book one a couple of times over the past twenty years. The other day, there it was waiting for me on a shelf in my local library. I could not resist once again coming to America from Ireland with Molly and then sharing all her adventures when she got here.

Where can we find you?
Website at terriefarleymoran.com (which is usually not quite up to date) and Facebook.

Now to have some fun . . .

Vanilla or chocolate
I am far too indecisive. I want both!

Ice cream or cake
Ice cream—chocolate and vanilla with chocolate chips sprinkled on top.

Broccoli or squash
Butternut Squash, especially if you use it to stuff ravioli!

Pizza, burgers, or pasta
Pizza! I’ll have a regular slice and a white slice to go, please.

Breakfast, lunch, or dinner
Breakfast—three meals a day! Bring on the bacon and eggs.

Mountain or beach
Well, the grandkids all love the beach, so I guess that will be my choice as well.

City or country
City!! I’ve lived in New York City my entire life. I cannot imagine living anywhere else. Whenever I come home from visiting elsewhere I begin humming Ace Frehley’s “Back in the New York Groove” as soon as the plane starts it’s descent or the train begins to pull into Penn Station. So far I have never burst out into song for which, I am sure, my fellow travelers are grateful.

Introvert or extrovert
Total Introvert. I am my own best company.

And even more fun . . .

You are stranded on a deserted island. What are your three must-haves?
I must have my books, lots of tea and my seven grandchildren!!

My bio:
Terrie Farley Moran is thrilled to be co-author, along with Jessica Fletcher, of the long running Murder, She Wrote series. Her contributions include: Murder, She Wrote Killing in a Koi Pond, Murder, She Wrote Debonair in Death and Murder, She Wrote Killer on the Court which will be followed by Murder, She Wrote Death on the Emerald Isle (January, 2023). She has also written the beachside Read ‘Em and Eat cozy mystery series and has co-authored four of Laura Childs’ New Orleans scrapbooking mysteries. Her short stories have been published in numerous magazines and anthologies. Terrie is a recipient of both the Agatha and the Derringer awards.