Today’s special guest is historical mystery author Andrea Steele (A Wilson Steele). She’s chatting with me about her new novel, Zen: The Anatomy of the Perfect Crime, book two in the Griegg/Eastwood Mysteries.
Bio:
Andrea Wilson Steele was born in England and also lived in Canada before her family immigrated to the United States. An accountant by profession, she was a corporate officer in two insurance-related organizations during her business career.
A lifelong equestrian, she teamed with horse trainer Mark Russell to write Lessons in Lightness: The Art of Educating the Horse, published by the Lyons Press in 2004.
Andrea formed Mouse Hole Farm Productions in 2008 to create college-level DVDs and online educational experiences for riders and equine caregivers worldwide. These programs, called Advanced Equine Studies, received prestigious awards at the EQUUS Film Festival in 2015 and 2016.
In 2019 Mouse Hole Farm Press was founded. Her first novel in the Griegg/Eastwood Mysteries, The Trap, launched to critical acclaim in 2020. The series continues with book two, Zen. Watch for book three, Otobang’s Gift, in the future.
Andrea lives on a horse farm in rural Connecticut with her husband, horses, and dogs.
Welcome, Andrea. Please tell us about your current release.
Swiss equestrian William “Zen” Griegg skyrockets to the top of the European show jumping circuit. As he sets his sights on the 2000 Olympic Games, his beloved horse Tiger is abducted en route to a competition in the United States.
Zen’s father, Sigmund Griegg, again teams with American Alana Eastwood to solve an international mystery that leads them from a secret tunnel in the Owl Mountains of Poland, through the art galleries of Zürich, to the Hamilton Farm Equestrian Center in Gladstone, New Jersey.
Griegg and Eastwood uncover an ingenious plot to pull off the perfect crime. The ransom for the safe return of the horse: Lost treasure from World War II that only a handful of people know to exist.
As the clock ticks to reunite Zen with Tiger in time to compete in the Olympic trials, Griegg and Eastwood use the origins of social media to unnerve the abductors and unravel their complex crime.
The story’s fiery climax leaves readers to reflect that, one day, we all dine at a banquet table of past actions where karma dishes out our last meal.
What inspired you to write this book?
As a lifelong rider I wanted to bring a mystery into the horse world.
Excerpt from Zen: The Anatomy of the Perfect Crime:
The ruins of Zamek Stary were sparse. They were comprised of cornerstone walls, some stretching eight meters or higher, with just a scattering of rubble stones in between. Only one section survived intact, that of an outbuilding.
“It’s sad,” Sigmond stated. “A once great feudal complex is now a teen haunt strewn with beer bottles and cigarettes.”
The ruins weren’t an organized tourist site—just dirt paths leading into the woods where the long abandoned stronghold lay, conquered by time.
“Still, I’m glad we came.” Alana told him. “It tells me so much about Palmer Harel.”
“And what is that?”
Kicking her sneaker over the cigarette butts covering the ground, Alana said, “Palmer wasn’t happy about what he was doing in Walbrzych. He wanted to hide in the past. Unless you’re a teenager, there’s nothing to do here but meditate.”
“Feelings of guilt or not,” Sigmund said, “Palmer Harel was a flawed man. He tried to hide it for many years, but in the end, he succumbed to his dishonest impulses. There’s no excusing that.”
“I’m not excusing anything,” Alana said. “I’m just saying that he found himself deeply conflicted.”
“Between good and evil?” Sigmund asked.
“I’m not sure he would put it so succinctly, but yes. It’s probably what killed him.”
“So, Palmer achieved his goal but paid the ultimate price? I don’t waste time thinking like that. My job is to solve the mystery,” Sigmund said with confidence. “Humanizing Harel is of no interest to me.”
Alana continued to push her toe in the dirt.
“Watching you kick those cigarettes around has made me realize something,” Sigmund said.
“What’s that?”
“That David has quit smoking. He couldn’t have avoided a cigarette outside the restaurant if he was still smoking. We talked for some time, and he didn’t light up.”
“Good for him.” Alana hesitated, then said, “I haven’t cared for David, as you may have guessed long ago, but he’s acting differently toward me this time around. I hadn’t expected him to change.
“I planned to confront him if he didn’t regard me as a member of the investigation, but he’s treated me well—now I regret judging him so harshly.”
“David knows you better now,” Sigmund said with a smile. “There is no neo-Nazi zealot trying to kill you this time around. He’s more relaxed. But don’t feel badly. David takes some getting used to.”
“I know I’m not an equal part of the team. I’m just here to help, but I wanted him to show me some respect. He didn’t do that two years ago.”
“Like I said, he knows you now. With William and Tiger safe, even I can unwind, if only to traipse around the hinterland for an afternoon.” Sigmund told her.
“Never doubt your value to our team. You bring a unique perspective no one else can offer, David knows that as well.”
Alana didn’t respond.
What exciting story are you working on next?
Book three in the series is Otobang’s Gift which takes my protagonist (Alana Eastwood) to Africa to investigate a mysterious event in her family history.
When did you first consider yourself a writer?
Even when writing in my business career, I was always interested in making my words artful. As an avid reader, I thought of an interesting story and wrote it down – not realizing how difficult it was to get published. Agents continually encouraged me by saying, “This is really good, but it’s not for us. Don’t give up. Keeping trying and you will get published.” But the rejections kept coming. Since I ran my own video production company (Mouse Hole Farm Productions) that operated on much the same level as a book publisher. I decided to just form my own Mouse Hole Farm Press – to publish my books myself. Just as I could control my video productions from start to finish (My programs were awarded the Prestigious EQUUS Film Festival awards in 2015 and 2016) I wanted that same control over my books.
Do you write full-time? If so, what’s your work day like? If not, what do you do other than write and how do you find time to write?
I am retired from my corporate career, but still spend time producing horse-related education. I also run a small farm and care for my horses myself. As far as writing is concerned, I get the general direction of my story sorted out in my head, and then I start writing. When writing – I give it as much time as it needs. Luckily my schedule is flexible.
What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
I have never thought about that. I’m not sure I even know what kind of answer you are looking for. I enjoy creating quirky characters, though.
As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I’ve always been obsessed with horses. My goal was to do anything that provided enough money to pay for my horses. I started college as an art major, but quickly learned that wasn’t going to pay for the horses…so majored in economics and became a financial manager in my corporate career.
Anything additional you want to share with the readers?
I never imagined myself an author. If you have a story to tell—tell it. Maybe it will become a book, maybe not…but the journey is full of adventure that can enhance your life in all sorts of ways. Join a writers group or just go to book readings and learn from other people.
In my own writing, I enjoy creating characters and then letting them tell me how to write about their feelings and experiences. I let them direct the story. Sometimes they take me in a completely different direction from where I envisioned the plot would track.
Thanks for being here today, Andrea.