Special Sauce

[Rosemary Harris]

I'm heading to the Flatiron building today to work with an artist on a map which will be included in the front of my book. My protag (wish I could call her my heroine, but that is a little high falutin') is an amateur sleuth who happens to be a gardener. Anyway, this map - which I did not ask for - has turned into a thang. How big, how detailed, hand drawn or computer, etc. I'm thrilled that the publisher is taking this kind of an interest, but has anyone ever been influenced by the "stuff" in a mystery? The recipes, dog tricks, cross stitch patterns, whatever?

[I. J. Parker]

I've always used maps in my books. I love them in the books of others. Unfortunately, I've never had a publisher who has supplied a professional version and have had to draw them myself. You are lucky.