J a MenziesMysteries have been my books of choice since I discovered Trixie Belden (I owned every book) and other teen detectives. Later, I discovered and devoured the work of Erle Stanley Gardner, John Creasey, Agatha Christie, Georgette Heyer, Ngaio Marsh, Doothy L. Sayers, Desmond Bagley, Raymond Chandler, Emma Lathen, and others. I still go back and reread many of the authors of the British Golden Age-they're my comfort-books. I also read a variety of contemporary authors, including Donna Andrews, Louise Penny, Alan Bradley, Sue Grafton, Peter Robinson, Rick Blechta, Vicki Delany, P. D. James, Marcia Muller, and T. Jefferson Parker. I'm a member of various writers' organizations, including Sisters in Crime and Crime Writers of Canada. I also teach workshops for writers. I especially enjoy sharing some of my secrets on developing plots. (One of my favorite reviews, from Library Journal, called me a "master of plotting.") By the way, in real life, people know me as N. J. Lindquist. And my first two mysteries (Shaded Light and Glitter of Diamonds) were originally published under that name. Afterwards, I decided that I really needed to separate the mysteries from my other books, so-better late than never (I hope)-I made my birth name (J. A. Menzies) my alter ego Read More Read Less