Frequently Asked Questions How did you come into writing? Where do you get your story ideas? How did you find an agent/publisher? Do you have a disciplined writing schedule? What do the people of Battle Lake think of your mystery series? I set the Murder by Month series in Battle Lake because that's where I was living when I first hammered out May Day. I was impressed with the warmth and humor of the people in the town and the beauty and variety of the landscape, but also disturbed by the number of unusual deaths and quirky characters. In other words, it was the perfect place to stage a long-term mystery series. Overall, I've gotten very positive feedback from the residents of Battle Lake.