About how when a book or story idea starts cooking, there’s as much pondering and wondering as writing in those early days. I’d forgotten how much I like those early days when I’m more discovering for myself than disclosing the story to the reader. The world I’m looking out on is not the gorgeous and inviting blue skies and shining blue ocean of most days but gray sky and gray sea. While I’m working on a new Thea Kozak mystery, I’m attuned to Thea’s voice. When I’m living in Joe’s head instead of Thea’s, I’m aware of how observant he is, particularly about the natural world.