Mystery at Windswept Farm by Wendy Sand Eckel
Despite its cozy name, the fictional town of Cardigan, Maryland seems plagued by the nefarious. From a dead body floating in the marsh to an unjust murder charge, the townspeople have had to deal with more than their fair share of strange happenings. And author Wendy Sand Eckel isn’t letting them off the hook just yet — the third and final installment in the Rosalie Hart Mystery Series, Mystery at Windswept Farm (Level Best Books), brings not one, but two mysterious poisonings to Cardigan. Yet even as protagonist Rosalie Hart navigates running a farm, café and a 5-day cooking course with a renowned Italian chef, she’s still determined to fit in some time for amateur sleuthing.
Murder and mouth-watering cuisine are certainly a unique pairing, but have no fear — Eckel seamlessly weaves the two plotlines together into a multifaceted and compelling narrative. The result is an irresistible thriller that will leave you both impressed and famished. We got a chance to ask her some questions about how she went about writing Mystery at Windswept Farm, as well as what else she has in store for readers.
Q: Walk us through how the Rosalie Hart series came to be. What inspired you to pen these novels?
A: I had completed three books before deciding to write a mystery series. The first was with a vanity press and I vowed after that experience I would only publish traditionally. The third book, Three Skips of a Stone, a mainstream literary, won best novel in the Maryland Writers’ Association (MWA) novel contest and I’m still hopeful that one day I can find a home for it. Once I finished that book, I wanted to try out a more marketable genre, and one where I could have some fun. My mother was an avid mystery reader and, although she had already passed, this mystery series was inspired by her. I also love puzzles — wordle every day — and am fascinated with the intricacies of relationships and how they impact us. Once I decided to write a mystery, my creative muse sent me Rosalie Hart and I thought, oh, I could spend a lot of time with this character. And I’ve loved every minute of it.
Q: How does your background in criminology and social work impact your writing? I can imagine the criminology comes in handy when writing a murder mystery!
A: My fascination with the roots and impact of crime began when I turned 18 and was able to vote, yes, but even better, able to drink 3.2% beer. One night I went out with some friends (who were all using fake ID’s) and got stamped at the door after an ID check. As soon as we had our first sips we were surrounded by liquor control officers. Apparently I had been stamped 6% instead of 3.2% so I had broken the law. We were taken to a police station where, as the only adult, I was booked. The officers took my scarf and jewelry and a mug shot. They eventually released me on bail and if my dad hadn’t hired a lawyer to clear the charges, I would be waking around with a criminal record to this day. That kind of experience can have a real impact and I became intrigued with what happens when you’ve been charged with a crime, that before and after moment when your life has just changed, perhaps, forever. So I studied criminology and took some interesting courses including psychopathology. I also did a semester-long internship as a juvenile probation officer.
Q: Along with the intriguing “whodunnit” plot, you also draw readers in with enticing descriptions of Italian cuisine throughout the story. How did you go about researching these recipes? Did you give them a try?
A: I had a best friend growing up, Kelly, who was from an Italian family. I could sit in her kitchen all day. Ever since I’ve been obsessed with all things Italian. A few years ago, I attended a cooking school in the hills of Tuscany with four of my culinary-obsessed friends. It was glorious. We cooked every day with an authentic chef. Some of the recipes I prepared during this class are in the book, such as creamy pasta with shaved truffles, salt-encrusted fish, and tomato bruschetta. I also plied my friend Carla Palumbo with champagne one sunny afternoon on a beach in Ft. Lauderdale and persuaded her to share her family’s secret Sunday red sauce recipe with me. Yes, I’ve made it and it is out of this world. They call it a Sunday sauce because after it simmers all day on the stove, Italians invite their friends and family to share Sunday dinner. The rest of the recipes I researched during Covid. Marcella Hazan’s ‘Essentials of Italian Cooking’ was a terrific resource. Testing out Italian recipes is not the worst way to survive a lockdown.
Q: Along with social media, you keep a blog where you give some great tips and talk about your writing process. What advice would you give prospective writers about the craft?
A: I’m a trained life coach, which I have found to be a wonderful tool to help people become their most creative and productive selves. I’ve also learned a lot on my writing journey and love to help new writers start their own. I’ve been writing the advice column for the MWA’s quarterly newsletter for the past five years. The best advice I was ever given is allow yourself to write badly. Just get the words on the page. Also, don’t force creativity. Make space for it in your mind and it will come. I highly recommend ‘Big Magic’ by Elizabeth Gilbert. Another thing I hope to help writers with is recognizing the bumps in the road — the bumps where you throw up your hands and say ‘I give up.’ Take mounting rejection letters, for example. I recently presented a workshop at the MWA conference about this and emphasized the importance of understanding the industry, getting feedback on your writing, recognizing the bumps for what they are and pushing through to achieve your goal of getting published.
Q: Are there any authors who serve as inspiration to you and your stories?
A: Not to date myself, but the first series I fell in love with was Travis McGee. I am an eclectic reader and love writers who craft a tale that makes me feel something. Pat Conroy was masterful at this. More recently, I’ve enjoyed Delia Owens and Ann Patchett and I’m very excited there’s a new Barbara Kingsolver coming out. But when I really need inspiration, I reread one or all three of the following: To Kill a Mockingbird, Charlotte’s Web, East of Eden.
Q: If you can share it, what’s next on your writing journey?
A: The next book in the Rosalie Hart Mystery Series, Killer in a Winter Wonderland, will be released in August, 2023 followed by the fifth in the series in August, 2024. And I haven’t given up on Three Skips of a Stone.
Q: What would you hope readers take away from this book?
A: My hope is that they enjoyed the ride, had fun, laughed, cried, dog-eared a page or two, felt entertained, had their curiosity piqued, got hungry, smiled at the end and are looking forward to the next book.
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About Wendy Sand Eckel:
Degrees in criminology and social work, followed by years of clinical practice, helped Wendy Sand Eckel explore her fascination with how relationships impact motivation, desire and inhibition. Combined with her passion for words and meaning, writing mystery is a dream realized.
She is the award-winning author of the Rosalie Hart Mystery Series. Murder at Barclay Meadow and Death at the Day Lily Café were published by Minotaur Books in 2015 and 2016. Death at the Day Lily Café was selected “Best Cozy of 2016” by Suspense Magazine. She is an active member of the Mystery Writers of America and the International Association of Crime Writers.
Eckel lives on the Eastern Shore of Maryland in her dream house where she alternately gazes out her windows at the Chester River and hovers over the stove, creating succulent, sometimes experimental, meals for family and friends. She lives with the love of her life and two rescued orange tabbies, Frodo and Sam.
