Where did you get the idea for the Pinnacle Peak series?

For my first book, I wanted to combine my passion for sports with my background in law. I am fascinated by the harshness and beauty of the Sonora Desert, so I set the series in the imaginary resort town of Pinnacle Peak, Arizona.

Three of the four Pinnacle Peak mysteries feature Hannah Dain. How much of Hannah is based on you?

Other than a love of athletics, Hannah and I aren't very much alike. Her family situation is very different than mine, as is her physical appearance. (She's shorter!) I do share her take on certain topics; the more I write about her, the more the similarities in our viewpoints become apparent. Cook is a noun, not a verb, to both of us.

The Pinnacle Peak series focuses on family relationships. Why did you choose that topic to write about?

The second book in the series, FAMILY CLAIMS, was described by one reviewer as "both a legal and a family thriller with a couple of mysteries attached and Shakespearian overtones." I like that definition because it includes the element of family. I tell classic stories written small, in that I take larger issues and examine their impact on a small, inter-connected group.

What is irregular in families interests me; how we become who we are in the context of family life. Family can be a haven in a scary world. But it is also a place where emotions run deep and feelings run high. (I'm amazed by the capacity of the family to hurt and wound.) Sibling and parental dynamics can be as complicated as quantum physics. Family can be as compelling a force as a sinking ship or high-rise fire in a disaster movie. It throws people together in close quarters, true characters emerge, and (unlike with friends or business associates) you cannot easily give up and walk out—you have to stick it out. Even if you do manage to leave, you don't really; your family experience forever influences and informs you.

Each Pinnacle Peak title features a different athletic endeavor. Which comes first—the plot idea or the sport? How did you prevent the sports information from slowing the pace of the story?

The story comes first. I then choose the athletic activity that will best serve the plot. While I want the reader to get a sense of what it is like to rope a calf or ride a bike long distances, I don't want to do it at the expense of the story. In the rewriting process, I try to distill the description of the sport down to its bare essence. The books are novels, not how-to manuals; I try to keep the sports parts limited to what the reader needs to know to follow the action.

You actually tried your hand at each of the sports featured in the Pinnacle Peak mysteries. Did you think this was necessary research?

I don't think you need to write what you know. I did it mostly for the fun of it. I had quite a time learning to rodeo, riding a bike across America, mastering climbing (I'm afraid of heights!), and paddling in the ocean. You can read about some of my experiences here.

What is your writing schedule like?

I like to write early in the morning, stopping around midday to do something athletic. If I am deep into the book, more often than not I go back to it again in the evening.

What are you currently working on?

A financial thriller, several short stories, and the next Pinnacle Peak mystery, WINTER’S DISCONTENT.

What books do you like to read?

Nearly everything. In addition to current crime (mystery, suspense, thriller) fiction, I am trying to expand my base in the classics of the genre. I also read nonfiction (especially business and history), short stories, some literary fiction, and poetry.

Where do you get your ideas?

Plot ideas come to me mostly from personal experience and things I see or read in the media. Once I have an idea, I put my imagination to work at the "what if this had happened?" game. If the result grabs me, I start thinking about characters, focusing first on creating a protagonist who would be challenged by the situation.

Do you always know how the story is going to end before you start? Does it ever change?

I am an outliner, so I always know how the story is going to end (meaning I know where I want the protagonist to end up—emotionally and in fact), and generally the path that I am going to take to get there. But no matter how carefully I plan, detours or unexpected trips always crop up along the way.

What drew you to writing?

Boredom and Playboy magazine. While I was in Finland at a month-long ski-training camp, someone stole the bag of books I had brought to read. The only English-language material available was a stack of well-thumbed Playboy magazines. I read them all—the articles really are good—then decided if there weren't any books to read, I'd write one. So I skied during the days (which were only a few hours long at that latitude) and typed when it was dark. Four weeks later I had a draft of HEIR APPARENT, the first Pinnacle Peak mystery. I promptly wrote another book: FAMILY CLAIMS, which won a writing contest and was published by Poisoned Pen Press.

What are your favorite and least favorite things about being a writer?

I feel lucky to have had two careers that I love—trying cases and writing. Unlike the former, which required high heels and trips to the courtroom, I can do the latter in front of my computer while wearing sweats.

I love the euphoria that comes when the writing is going well. Sometimes the creative process accelerates to the point that I feel I can't type fast enough to keep up with the flow of the story. But writing doesn't come easy to me. I have to work to get the story in my head onto the paper.

What in general do you want readers to take away from your novels?

I want readers to be entertained, to take them away from their lives and bring them into a different world. I want them to meet characters they can identify with or find appealing. I'm also happy if readers learn or experience something new (such as a sport), or see something familiar (like family) in a new way.

How do I go about getting a book signed?

Bring it to one of my appearances. Check here for my tour schedule. Or contact Poisoned Pen Bookstore to buy a signed book: www.poisonedpen.com/

What advice would you give a first-time writer trying to find an agent?

The barriers to entry are there, but they're not insurmountable. Start out by writing the best book you can. Develop your character, make sure your story has a beginning, a middle, and an end. Remember that rewriting hones your ability—it's like exercising a muscle: the more you work it, the stronger it becomes. Don't rush—good writing takes time. After you've written the best book you can, write a top-flight synopsis and query letter and send them to agents. Attend conferences that offer a pitch meeting with an agent. Be persistent.

What is the best advice you would you give another writer?

Write every day, even if it is just a paragraph.

Do you do speaking engagements, phone chats with book clubs, media interviews, etc.? What do you like to talk about?

Yes to all! Send me an email. Maybe it's my background as a trial lawyer, but I love to talk about anything: writing, sports, law—you name it.

Have another question for Twist? Submit it here and she'll be happy to answer you!