Q&A with Sarah Strohmeyer

 

Photo by Dave Smith

 

 

Sarah Strohmeyer is the author of the new novel A Mother Always Knows. Her many other books include Do I Know You?. A former newspaper reporter, she lives near Montpelier, Vermont. 

 

Q: What inspired you to write A Mother Always Knows, and how did you create your character Stella?

 

A: Like most writers, I’ve been keeping notes on life’s events and that includes cults in my area of Vermont where dowsing – for water, not bodies – is so common the American Society of Dowsers is headquartered here.

 

But it was a call from a neighboring town clerk (until March, I was the elected town clerk in Middlesex, Vermont, for 12 years) regarding a hidden sect of Druids on the border of our towns that really got me thinking.

 

The head of the Druids collapsed from a heart attack and died on the eve of autumn equinox festivities and instead of calling a funeral home, the Druids decided to make his corpse part of the ceremony.

 

His name was Ivan McBeth and that was just too interesting to ignore. So, the leader of the dowsing cult in A Mother Always Knows is Radcliffe MacBeath.

As for Stella, who doesn’t love a quiet librarian with hidden supernatural talent?

 

Q: How was the novel’s title chosen, and what does it signify for you?

 

A: I get this question a lot for some reason! Without giving away too much of the plot, the idea that a “mother always knows” is simultaneously wise and creepy. What does a mother always know? And is that true?

 

In A Mother Always Knows, Stella’s mother is fleeing the cult for some reason – but we don’t know exactly what and how her decision to flee led to her murder. For me, the title signifies that sometimes mothers are expected to be superhuman and the fact is, we’re not!

 

Q: The MSN review of the novel says, “With its spooky atmosphere, well-paced plot, and exploration of the dark side of belief, this is a must-read for thriller enthusiasts looking for a story with both heart and sharp edges.” What do you think of that description?

 

A: I love it, of course! That’s exactly what I was shooting for – heart with sharp edges. But also humor. There’s a lot of humor in my books, which is weird.

 

Q: Did you know how the book would end before you started writing it, or did you make many changes along the way?

 

A: I had a general idea of how it would end. But, again as any writer will tell you, once the characters come to life they start acting in ways you didn’t outline. So, in that regard there may have been a few changes. ;)

 

Q: What are you working on now?

 

A: I’m working on Worst. Wife. Ever., which hopefully will come out next year. It’s kind of a tradwife thriller – with a twist.

 

Q: Anything else we should know?

 

A: I’m really grateful to everyone who’s read A Mother Always Knows and posted reviews online. Everyone’s busy with packed schedules, so I appreciate the time and effort of people like you to bring our books to the attention of the reading public. Thank you so much!

 

--Interview with Deborah Kalb