How did you become a writer?

I have created stories all my life, from playing pretend games as a small child to writing with teenage angst. My first success came early—working in the BBC drama department I wrote a play which the head of drama liked and then produced. So I have been a professional author ever since.

Name your writing influences (writers, books, teachers, etc.).

Early influence was Tolkien. I admired his ability to build a whole world and take me on a journey. When I discovered Tony Hillerman I was blown away. Here was a writer who not only crafted a good mystery but took me somewhere, gave me insights into a different culture. I decided that was what I wanted to do. My first mystery series featured a police constable in Wales (home of my mother’s family). I have since become known for my creation of time and place.

 When and where do you write?

Since I write two and a half books a year I write pretty much every day. I go down to my office, sit my behind on a chair and write until I’ve done about 1500 words. The next day I edit what I’ve written the day before, but knowing I have to complete about five pages a day means that I have to keep going through the bad days and that I’ll have a first draft in about three months. My office has a huge shelf of reference books.

 What are you working on now? 

I now write my Molly Murphy series with my daughter Clare Broyles. We are currently coming to the end of a first draft of our third book together called In Sunshine or in Shadow. It’s set in the Catskill Mountains and is about an early bungalow colony.  I recently finished my next big stand-alone called Island of Lost Boys, that takes place in pre-war Paris, in Paris and London during WWII and also in Australia.

Have you ever suffered from writer’s block? 

Never. I’ve had bad days when I have to extract every word from a reluctant brain but the ideas have always come easily and I find that if a scene is not working well it is because a character is digging his heels in and doesn’t want to do what I’m trying to make him do.

What’s the best writing advice you’ve ever received?

Don't ever write something because you think it’s popular and will sell. You have to love what you are writing, walk in the shoes of your characters, enjoy going to work every morning. And if you write something you think is popular by the time it is released that fad will be over.

What’s your advice to new writers?

Know what you are writing and what is already out there. If you write mysteries read the best mystery writers. Learn from the masters.

Rhys Bowen is the New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of three mystery series as well as several internationally best selling stand alone historical novels. Her Constable Evans series is set in Wales and currently under TV option. The Molly Murphy mysteries are set in early 1900s New York and feature an Irish immigrant. Rhys is now continuing the series with her daughter and they are on book twenty. The Royal Spyness books are lighter satire on the British class system and have a large following. Her stand-alone historical novels have sold over two million copies in over thirty languages. Rhys has won twenty major awards including five Agatha awards, and three Edgar nominations. She was born and educated in Britain but now divides her time between California and Arizona.