Is it because I grew up in a desert-like area in California? My imagination has always harbored a fascination for islands and lighthouses. I think whatever is far away from our everyday world acquires a certain mystique. And in my desert world, when temperatures soared into the 90s or even reached the 100s in September, I loved escaping to stories with sea-swept islands and lighthouses (and, of course, I needed to set my first historical mystery on a remote lighthouse island)

Autumn on Prince Edward island My husband and I started out married life in an apartment near the University of California, Berkeley....

My husband and I can never resist a sign that reads “Library Book Sale.” On an autumn afternoon filled with brilliant colors and...