Author Bio:Karin Fitz Sanford, a former advertising copywriter, was born in New York but grew up in Northern California's wine country, the setting for her Wine Country Cold Case series. Having run her own award-winning ad agency for over twenty-five years, she is a member of Sisters in Crime and lives in Northern California with her husband.
Q&A with the Author, Karin Fitz Sanford 1) Your protagonist, former FBI agent Anne McCormack, left the Bureau and started an estate liquidation business. Why that career? When my mother passed a few years ago, the family hired an estate liquidator to sell and auction off valuables so we couldsettle the estate. Watching her work, it occurred to me that she had incredible entrée into our lives. She could overhear private conversations, learn family secrets, find journals and money. It’sthe ideal career for a protagonist, I figured. But I also wanted Anne to have real police powers so she could help with cold cases—which she acquired because she left the Bureau on good terms and is able to be hired on temp assignment with the police department. 2) RUNNING ON EMPTY is the second in a series. Howdoes this book differ from the first? This installment is more action-oriented and a bit darker. Anne’s business has taken off, but just when she’s feeling comfortable, she gets pulled into dangerous situations with unlikely foes. That said, many of my readers’ favorite characters—Jack, Chloe, and Krista—show up, and Anne is as feisty and flawed as ever. 3) Was it easy to transition to mystery writing after a career as an advertising copywriter? I thought it would be a breeze. After all, I’d been a professional writer and had read thousands of novels. But as the saying goes, “You don’t know what you don’t know.” I didn’t know that using 14 different points of view would be a problem (five is usually the max). I didn’t know there were dozens of ways to say “said,” but that it was best to stick with “said,” or better yet, skip attributions altogether. I didn’t know that Scrivener is a godsend. There was a steep, steep learning curve. 4) Favorite part of writing? Hands down, doing the research. Writing is often hard, but learning about guns, police procedures, drugs and wine makingis fun. I’ve found that if you want to know something, just ask. People will tell you anything—literally, anything—especially if you’re older, harmless-looking and tell them you’re a writer. I’ve been invited to tour wineries and gun ranges. I have a retired cop in the family who answers all my police-related emails. Neighbors are a great resource (“So, Charles,” I asked my neighbor who has five classic vehicles lining the street, “if I were to hide money in your old truck, where...”). Another neighbor works at a winery. Ask away. Worst case scenario? They look at you funny. 5) Most helpful piece of advice? “The first draft is just you telling yourself the story,” said author Terry Pratchett. Hearing that made me instantly relax. 6) Finally, you’re having a dinner party for four. Whichauthors, dead or living, would you invite and why? Truman Capote, because his story-telling skills amaze me and he’s endlessly fascinating. Irving Berlin, because his lyrics are timeless. Nora Ephron, because of her wit and originality. And Louise Penny, because of her warmth, wisdom, and luminouswriting. I’ll supply the take-out and keep quiet. | 
Great interview!
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