Nancy Atherton 2007-10-17
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In this engaging episode of The Poisoned Pen Podcast, host Barbara Peters welcomes bestselling mystery author Nancy Atherton to discuss her acclaimed Laurie Shepherd series, centered on the enigmatic Aunt Dimity. Atherton reflects on her creative process, revealing she writes without outlines, embracing the serendipity of discovery as she follows her characters' voices—particularly those of Laurie, Bill, and the mysterious Aunt Dimity. She shares how her deep love for England, shaped by years of travel and immersion in its history and villages, fuels the atmospheric authenticity of her books. Atherton also discusses the challenges of writing in a unique narrative voice, the emotional intensity of the creative process, and her belief in the power of storytelling to reflect readers' personal experiences. She touches on the tension between authorial vision and adaptation, the importance of historical authenticity in fiction, and her preference for BBC casting over Hollywood. The conversation closes with a preview of her latest release, Aunt Dimity Snowbound, a cozy mystery steeped in classic Gothic isolation and British weather.
Write without an outline—let the story unfold organically through character-driven discovery.
The best stories emerge when you listen to your characters, not force them into a pre-planned plot.
Use historical and cultural authenticity through careful choice of nouns and rhythms, not just archaic language.
Embrace the solitary, muse-driven creative process—even if it disrupts your daily life.
Readers often project their own voices and faces onto characters; honor that personal connection.
…and 2 more takeaways available in PodZeus
Welcome & Introduction to Nancy Atherton
Barbara Peters welcomes Nancy Atherton to the Poisoned Pen Podcast, introducing her as a mystery author who has moved from Colorado Springs to Phoenix, and discusses her deep connection to England despite never having lived there.
The Allure of English Villages & Creative Wish Fulfillment
“If you're living in the middle of a big urban center what do you dream about? You dream about living in a cozy little village surrounded by lambs and sheep and eccentric people.”
The Art of Writing Without an Outline
“I tried in the second book, In Antimony and the Duke, I tried writing the story that I thought it was supposed to be and my characters quickly let me know that they were in... They were about another story entirely.”
The Power of Narrative Voice & the Aunt Dimity Phenomenon
“I didn't try to do anything. I think that some of us just have voices and trying to... come up with a formula for having a voice seems very sad to me.”
The Creative Process: Glazing, Muse, and Emotional Immersion
“There are moments when my friends call it glazing. when we'll be doing something and they sort of look over and say, Nancy, you're glazing. And it's because I'm back in the book for a little while.”
“I tried in the second book, In Antimony and the Duke, I tried writing the story that I thought it was supposed to be and my characters quickly let me know that they were in... They were about another story entirely.”
“If you're living in the middle of a big urban center what do you dream about? You dream about living in a cozy little village surrounded by lambs and sheep and eccentric people.”
“I didn't try to do anything. I think that some of us just have voices and trying to... come up with a formula for having a voice seems very sad to me.”
Host
Guest
Nancy Atherton
person
Barbara Peters
person
Aunt Dimity
person
Laurie Shepard
person
Bill Willis
person
Aunt Dimity's Death
book
Antimony and the Duke
book
P.D. James
person
The Poisoned Pen
organization
Aunt Dimity Snowbound
book
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