The Murderer's Tale was the last one we wrote together. I think Gail was the one who came up with this idea, having learned that epilepsy was long believed to be a form of possession by the devil. We told the Tales from two points of view: Dame Frevisse, and whoever was named in the title. It was fun letting the reader know from the start who the culprit was, so they could watch Frevisse's slow circling in on him.

Note how our covers suddenly improved. This one is really beautiful.

But with this book, the collaboration stopped. I didn't like the harsh tone of the novels. I wanted something friendlier, something kinder. At the very least, I would have liked better weather! But Gail had gone so far in her research that she had weather reports -- and she insisted that in the years we were setting these novels, the weather was terrible. We quarreled so often while writing this that our meetings frequently ended with one or both of us in tears.

We plotted The Prioress' Tale together, and then I went on a vacation. I came back to find she had fairly gotten the bit between her teeth and written four or five chapters alone. When I started to read it, I decided that I could not live in this miserable priory any longer, and told her I wanted out. I said she could have the name and any future novels. She was, I think, pleased not to have Mary Sunshine around any more. She finished the novel on her own -- and got another Edgar nomination for it! She has continued alone ever since, and is doing well. Am I jealous? Maybe, just a little. But I also feel something like a proud mother watching her daughter rise to great peaks on her own. God speed, Gail.

The Novice's Tale
The Servant's Tale
The Outlaw's Tale
The Bishop's Tale
The Boy's Tale
The Murderer's Tale
Home