Interview Kate Henry Doran

by

Edee Wilcox

Hi Kat. So you work with private investigators in addition to your writing, how fascinating! I’ve always admired people that could weave a good mystery in with romance so let’s get started with a few questions.

1) What made you decide to leave nursing and go into private investigation?

I haven’t left nursing, now I investigate allegations of Medical Malpractice and incidents of personal injury. Yes, I no longer deliver hands-on care--but my nursing background helps me in this job. Besides, it’s fun and it pays very well.

2) I noticed how one of your main characters is a police officer. Do any of the people you meet in your investigations show up in your writing?

Not yet, but they will someday. The police officers and Assistant District Attorneys I had contact with when I worked as a Victim Advocate greatly influenced how I developed my characters. The doctors (and nurses) I used to work with are in my books--and will continue to be in all of my books.

3) What do you like about the female character, Maggie?

She’s got guts, something she didn’t have for too many years. She is serene, finally, after a life spent in chaos, much of which was of her own making. Each day is a struggle to live life on life’s terms.

4) What are some of her fears that she must face or overcome?

Losing the trust of her children is the biggest one. Another is that one of them might be harmed in some way and she wouldn’t be able to help them.

5) What research was done to prepare for this book?

I spent a day with an equine veterinarian making rounds with her. She and her staff helped me develop the mechanics of how Jiggs was injured. I also spent an afternoon with the patrol unit of the Rochester Police Department. They were great--and very enthusiastic about helping me with my book. Cops are frustrated authors and really light up when an author asks for help. A Sheriff’s deputy helped me with the scene at the mounted patrol stable. That’s all I’ll say about that.

6) What was the hardest part about writing this book?

Trying to infuse emotion into the ICU scenes between Maggie and her dying son. I wanted it to be realistic but not too maudlin. I hope I succeeded.

7) Which character do you most identify with and why?

Maggie, who has been a part of my life for probably ten or more years. I always wanted a nursing supervisor like her. I hope I was as good a nursing supervisor as she is.

8) Where do you find your inspiration for your stories?

The basic nugget usually comes from a newspaper articles, places I’ve traveled to, towns I’ve driven through have become vital secondary characters for me. I found the town where I set my first novel, Captain Marvelous, on one of my investigations. During a subsequent investigation, I found the scene of the first and last crimes in that book. A future book will take place along the west coast of Ireland, from the beaches of Ballybunion to the wilds of Donegal.

9) How difficult was it to create two characters with the chemistry to draw them together, but the history to tear them apart?

Maggie and Mike have been renting space inside my head for more than ten years. It wasn’t until I decided to make her an alcoholic that things started to click. I’m a big fan of conflict, so once I had that nailed, the book practically wrote itself. And I really like Mike Brandt. I mean, really like him.

10) What’s next for you?

I want to do a series, carrying the same characters along, making a different one the “star” in a different book. The books will be based on the seven Samurai.