Hysteria: Definition—psychological disorder marked by emotional excitability and overdramatic or attention-seeking behavior. The term has a controversial history as it was formerly regarded as a disease specific to women.

It is precisely the disclaimer of the dictionary description which attracted author Maud Casey to give a voice to the unfortunate marginalized girls and women who were committed to the nineteenth-century Salpêtrière mental asylum in Paris. Under the guidance of neurologist Jean-Martin Charcot they were diagnosed with hysteria, a term Charcot coined to describe a group of symptoms. The resulting book: City of Incurable Women is written in a chilling descriptive poetic prose and uses real photographs and medical records to fictionalize stories, of some actual and some invented women.

Casey will be appearing at the Academy Art Museum as part of Shore Lit author series this Friday October 28 to discuss her writing and research. Shore Lit founder Kerry Folan said of Casey’s writing that it is “both lyrical and beautiful and gives life to women who’ve been erased from history. It’s unlike anything I’ve ever read before. This book is for anyone who is interested in the evolution of women’s healthcare. But it also will reach people who loves language. Maud’s book pushes the bounds of what a novel can do. It’s exciting to see.”

‘Poetic’ and ‘lyrical’ are not words often used to describe a book with this type of subject, but 19th century psychiatry is a topic that has interested Casey for many years. Her extensive research on her previous novel, The Man Who Walked Away, a real-life case history of a patient—Albert Dadas, facilitated her exploration into the world of mental incarceration. “Had Dadas wandered into Charcot’s, hospital,” says Casey, “he might have been diagnosed as one of the few male hysterics. But here was the difference: this diagnosis presumes that a man is experiencing these symptoms due to a traumatic event outside of himself. And with a woman, it’s always that it’s her body that is the problem.”

One of the books Casey used in her investigation was Georges Didi-Huberman’s The Invention of Hysteria: Charcot and the Photographic Iconography of the Salpêtrière. It was these photographs that haunted Casey. Glass plate photography was the technology of the time, and subjects would have to hold a pose for up to five seconds in order for the photograph to be ‘taken.’ Hysteria is typically defined as a disease of movement and yet these photographs showed the opposite. “So there was this weird, I still don’t know quite the word for it, but like a collusion, a collaboration of sorts, where the women and girls would have to hold the poses. And as a novelist, this held an immense fascination for me. Here are these photographs, but what was going on outside the frame?”

There were also events Charcot held for medical students known as ‘Tuesday lessons,’ where hysteria cases would be presented. “For those Tuesday lessons.” Casey said, “he specifically chose girls and women who were either very photogenic, or their stories were particularly dramatic, or they were particularly good in the public sphere.” These become a popular spectacle, drawing both attention and crowds outside of the medical field.

Casey speculates that in both cases–the photographs and the Tuesday lessons–girls and women were chosen due to their ability to be ‘stage ready’ and perform. In exchange, they more than likely, received special privileges.

But just who were these women? It has been reported that the Salpêtrière mental asylum at times contained thousands of girls and women, many who were orphans, daughters of prostitutes, or working in domestic situations where they had been abused. Certainly, they were poor. “There was indeed a lot of pain in the lives of these girls and these women. Now, whether that meant that they were mentally ill is an entirely other question,” says Casey.

What Casey hopes is that her writing humanizes these girls and women, some of whom were considered incurables and admitted for life. “My hope is that the book be like an undoing, a pulling at the knot of certainty that these doctors created around the diagnosis of hysteria. The most presiding message, if there is one in the book, is that human beings are unfathomable mysteries, and my hope is that if it leads to anything, it leads to restoring the sense of their inscrutable humanity,”

Maud Casey is also the author of The Art of Mystery: The Search for Questions, The Man who Walked Away, Drastic, Genealogy, and The Shape of Things to Come. She lives in Washington, D.C., and teaches a creative writing program at the University of Maryland.

City of Incurable Women is a Literary Hub “New Books to Dive Into” selection, a Publishers Weekly “Books of the Week” selection, a Center for Fiction “Bookstore Picks” selection, a Politics and Prose Bookstore Staff Pick, and a selection for the American Library in Paris Book Award Shortlist

Shore Lit founder Kerry Folan is a professor of writing and literature at George Mason University. She founded Shore Lit with the aim of enhancing local cultural offerings with regular, free author events open to the public.

Mau Casey will be appearing at the Academy Art Museum in conversations with Kerry Folan on Friday, October 28 at 6 pm. The event is free. Guests are encouraged to RSVP to the author reception starting at 5:00 pm. (https://www.eventbrite.com/e/shore-lit-reception-with-writer-maud-casey-tickets-394354754687)

Val Cavalheri is a recent transplant to the Eastern Shore, having lived in Northern Virginia for the past 20 years. She’s been a writer, editor and professional photographer for various publications, including the Washington Post.

It’s become almost cliché to talk about the wealth of historic and cultural resources available on the Eastern Shore. Yet, no other words are appropriate when you bring up institutions such as the Academy Art Museum, which provides residents and visitors with a robust art center not usually found in small towns. Much has been said about the nationally recognized exhibits that can be viewed by walking through their doors. But the mission of the Museum also acknowledges that another way to appreciate art is by learning to make it yourself.

Sarah Jesse, who took over as Director of the Museum last June, brings 17 years of experience, so it shouldn’t be a surprise that she has continued to promote thoughtful, engaging, and entertaining classes. It also helps that the building’s physical configuration supports the blending of art and education—with galleries on the lower level and the art-making studios on the second floor. “It’s exactly this split, which reflects our mission of being a museum that shows art and a museum where you can make art,” says Jesse.

Art classes are certainly not exceptional to what other museums provide. Still, as Jesse told us, the level and robust schedule at which the Academy Art offers them is unique, particularly if you consider that 97 classes are being offered per year. The courses take into consideration both the beginner/amateur with one-day workshops and multi-week sessions for those who want to improve skills they may already have. There is something for everyone, no matter your level of experience. Of course, this couldn’t be possible without their impressive roster of instructors. “A lot of our teaching artists have their works in museums and galleries. So it is an opportunity to learn from someone who has really mastered their craft and can impart their knowledge on to the students.” 

The selection of classes is a collaboration between Jesse and Janet Hendricks, Director of Adult Education, Programs, & Design, and Katie Cassidy, consultant for adult classes and workshops, who help set the schedule. Thought is given to a number of criteria regarding what they think will be popular in a particular season. “Both Janet and Katie have been at the Museum for a long time,” says Jesse, “and know the community and the audience well. This helps us shape the lineup for the year. They will also solicit instructors to teach and review any requests that come in from artists who want to teach.”

Having your finger on the pulse of the community helps to ensure that classes are well attended. When asked what courses are most popular, Jesse responds, “They’re popular in different ways. For example, Paul Aspell’s clay classes are often fully booked by students who have worked with him over the years. But all of our instructors seem to have a following, where their students will keep returning for additional lessons. If you ask five different students, what is the most popular class, you might get five different answers, and they’re all correct.”

So what has this talented team come up with for this year? Go to the Museum’s website, and you’ll find a treasure of options. For instance, one being taught by locally renowned artist Sheryl Southwick is suitable and fun for all levels. It’s called ‘Have a Heart Collage Workshop’ and will take place on February 8–just in time for Valentine’s Day. For something totally different, there is a three-day workshop, ‘The Painterly Print,’ led by Rosemary Cooley, on the art of printmaking, which starts on February 11. How about capturing your four-legged friend on canvas?  Check out ‘Painting Animal Portraits’ with Barrie Barnett on March 5 and 6th or ‘Weekend Workshop: Pets in Charcoal’ on April 23 and 24th, taught by Meg Walsh. 

Since art takes many forms, the Museum also offers classes in photography, such as the six-week course titled ‘Photography: Art of Seeing Creatively,’ with Sahm Doherty-Sefton, starting on March 3. You’ll also find programs in the performing arts, including voice, piano, and guitar lessons. 

If your preference is more towards the listening rather than the hands-on approach to art, then the Museum has you covered as well, with their robust assortment of ongoing lectures. Catch the popular one-day art appreciation programs Art at Noon (you bring lunch, they provide the art) or the Movie & Music Lectures (including a very provocative one titled: ‘A Night at the Opera – CENSORED’).  

Then there are the Kittredge-Wilson Speaker Series, named in honor of Frank Kittredge and Paul Wilson, former board chairs of the Museum. The focus of the series is to feature high-profile luminaries in the art world. The Museum is kicking off this year’s lineup with three powerhouses. 

The first will be photographer and filmmaker Michael O. Snyder, who will be featured on March 10. He’ll be discussing his ‘Coming Coast series,’ which documents the effects of climate change around the Chesapeake Bay. 

On April 21, award-winning New York-based artist Fay Ku will talk about her surreal poetic prints and her process in creating them. In fact, the Museum just acquired one of her works for their collection. 

The third, on June 9, will be Kaywin Feldman, from the National Gallery of Art. She is considered one of the most important museum directors in the country, and she’ll talk about what it means to run the National Museum, what a national collection of art looks like today, and how things are changing. 

“The big news,” says Jesse, “which I’m very excited about, is that this year’s lecture series is free, thanks to Paul Wilson.  In the past, we’ve charged $20-25 per lecture.”

With all this beauty and artistic expression surrounding her at the Museum, we wondered if Jesse herself was an artist. “No, I’ve always been an appreciator,” she said. But for my degrees in art history, I was required to take studio classes, and it only reaffirmed that I am an appreciator and not a maker myself because my artwork was terrible. But I do have an extra appreciation for it.”

So whether you’re an artist, a wanna-be, or even just an appreciator, there’s plenty to do at the building on the corner of South Street and Harrison Street. Stop by. 

Classes and events have associated costs; check the website for further information.  Reservations are required. Until further notice, all visitors must wear a mask and socially distance.

Val Cavalheri is a recent transplant to the Eastern Shore, having lived in Northern Virginia for the past 20 years. She’s been a writer, editor and professional photographer for various publications, including the Washington Post.

We’re used to hearing about grand openings, anniversaries, and celebrations that had to be canceled or postponed as the world dealt with a pandemic. In many cases, these inadvertent pauses allowed the planning of an even grander festivity than initially imagined. Such is the case with Foxy’s Harbor Grille of St. Michaels as they prepare for their 20th — or as owner Terye Knopp calls it, 20+1 — Anniversary Party. And, she assures us: it’s going to be epic!

No, Knopp hasn’t owned the establishment the entire 20 years, but she plans on collaborating with those who used to call Foxy’s theirs. This includes Arthur Webb (of Awful Arthur’s Seafood Company fame), who started Foxy’s and then sold it to Steve and Deena Kilmon, who sold it to Jon Lewis, who, around ten years ago, sold it to Knopp. Each owner, says Knopp, left a lasting legacy to the institution, and instead of burying their accomplishments, she plans on making it a significant part of the celebration.

Legacy is important to Knopp; it’s part of who she is. Her family has an Eastern Shore connection that goes back five generations, starting on Tilghman Island and ending in St. Michaels. But there is something else that defines her, and it’s all about her search for ‘blue skies, the white sand, and the palm trees.’

The search for that dream was so strong that in the winter of 1997, she took a job as a chef on a private cruise boat that went to — yep, you guessed it — the Bahamas, the Caribbean, St. Maarten, and St Bart. She might have continued doing that for an indeterminate amount of time were it not for a marriage and a pregnancy that brought her back to the Shore and the start of her restaurant experience. The couple ended up buying and running Madison’s West End Restaurant (named after their daughter) in St. Michaels for several years until a divorce changed her direction once again.

Maddie and Terye Knopp

Returning to her original training as a dental hygienist, Knopp accepted a job in — not surprising — Florida’s Key West, where she and daughter, Maddie, got to enjoy her dream for a while. But there was another feeling that started to intrude into that dream. The legacy part that reminded her not only how much she missed her family and her town but also, surprisingly, the restaurant life.

That’s when she got a phone call from her good friend and former Foxy owner. “Deena (Kilmon) called saying that Foxy’s was for sale. I thought: ‘wow, there’s my opportunity! Let me give it some thought.’ It didn’t take me even 24 hours to decide. It was right in my hometown and small enough (it was just the patio at the time) that I could do it by myself, and it was seasonal, so I could still go and get my skies, sand, and palm trees.”

And so she bought it, and over the ten years, she made some changes to her patio: creating a bigger kitchen, expanding the drink menu, and adding a large selection of craft beer. Foxy’s became a hot spot, and it wasn’t unusual to be put on a two-hour waitlist. Foxy’s had outgrown its space. And that’s about when the adjacent property, formerly the Town Dock restaurant, became available in 2019. It was an opportunity she couldn’t turn down.

Knopp put into motion a plan that would keep the patio casual but ‘bump it up a notch’ once people came inside. She hired an executive chef, upgraded the menus, and started remodeling. The improvement ideas included seating areas, two indoor bars, a gift shop, tropical colors on the walls, tables overlooking the harbor, and space for events.

Once the renovation was completed, it was time to introduce the new Foxy’s. An opening event was planned for Wednesday, March 18th. Invitations had gone out, $15,000 in liquor and over $10,000 in food had been delivered, when on March 16th, the Governor shut down Maryland.

Looking back, Knopp said, “We made it through COVID. It was tough, just like it was for everybody. We learned how to do takeout, even though we didn’t want to do it, but that’s what the world wanted. Takeout was very popular, especially in March, April, and May. Then, once we got into the season, the marina was full every day, and people wanted to eat. So again, we had a captive audience, and we made it through the year.”

This brings us to 2021 and the epic commemoration that didn’t happen but is about to. “I want everybody that’s ever worked at Foxy’s, that’s been a fan of Foxy’s, that has become family of Foxy’s, or a friend of Foxy’s to come.”

So for all those people, the 20+1 year anniversary party is happening on October 3rd from noon to six. The main portion will be held on the patio, and two local and very popular bands, JCT 33 and Bird Dog and the Road Kings, will entertain. The plan is for Foxy’s former owners to attend and celebrate their legacy. For that, Knopp has created a special Owner’s Menu.

Terye Knopp

“When Arthur Webb opened, he advertised Foxy’s as the ‘home of the 10 oz Martini.’ We’re not going to sell 10 oz Martinis, but we will have 5 oz glasses for $5.00 and signed by Arthur. The Kilmons introduced the Crab Pretzel, and we’ll have that on the menu. Jon Lewis’ claim to fame was the hugely successful Orange Crush. So we’re going to roll back to 2006 prices and sell them for $6.00. My contribution is the Island Dog, which is literally a jalapeno hot dog that is grilled and rolled in a taco shell.” That’s only a small part of what is being planned for that day.

As Terye Knopp described plans for the event, and throughout this interview, there was another Knopp who quietly filled in additional detail, answered employee questions, and ran errands. Daughter Maddie. She is the next-generation restaurateur, being groomed to take over Foxy’s. There is no doubt she’s ready. “I have been working here since I was 12, starting as a bus girl, then as a hostess, then a server, and then I bartended for a few years. Over the last two years, I’ve been really involved in the managerial aspects of running this business.”

Is there anything she would do differently? No, Maddie said. “I think that my mom has created a tremendous opening opportunity for me to come in and learn the ropes. I’m a restaurant kid. I know what I’m walking into, and I couldn’t picture myself doing anything else.”

For now, both Knopps are preparing for this party and looking forward to Breakfast with Santa, which they’re hosting on December 11th. The event, which used to be held at the Town Dock Restaurant through 2016, will now be at Foxy’s.

Something else keeping Knopp busy is her involvement with the newly formed St. Michaels Restaurant Association, whose function is to represent the 31 qualifying members. “The restaurants in St. Michaels are the largest employer, and if you put all the restaurants together, we employ over 450 people. Our goal is to be a solution-based organization working with our local government and neighboring businesses so that we can give our visitors the best experience possible.”

It appears as if Knopp is here to stay. And, if you wonder what happened to the yearning for blue skies, white sand, and palm trees, well, it seems as if she’s realized that you don’t necessarily have to leave to find your island vibe. “Foxy’s has become a destination,” she said. “it’s not like they come to St. Michaels and find Foxy’s. They come to Foxy’s and find St. Michaels.” So, for now, the white sand may be a challenge, but we’re sure she found her blue skies and the palm trees.

Val Cavalheri is a recent transplant to the Eastern Shore, having lived in Northern Virginia for the past 20 years. She’s been a writer, editor and professional photographer for various publications, including the Washington Post.

www.foxysharborgrille.com 125 Mulberry Street St. Michaels, MD (410) 745-4340 For more information about Christmas in St. Michaels, go here: Christmasinstmichaels.org

Everyone has a story. It’s a reporter’s job to get to the part of someone’s life that captures a compelling moment that will motivate, entertain, or move the reader. Of course, unless it’s something ‘newsworthy,’ most people aren’t asked to tell theirs. And that’s too bad. There are some remarkable stories that might just change a life.

That’s what Angeline Sturgis hopes for anyway.  

Angeline Sturgis

Sturgis isn’t a reporter, nor even a storyteller. She’s a retired ESL (English as a Second Language) teacher who moved from New Jersey to Easton. What Sturgis does well is listen. It started with a friend of hers, a janitor from Cuba named William, who worked at her old school. “William would tell me his amazing story,” said Sturgis, “about how he had come to the United States when he was in his early 20s. One day I said to him, ‘William, you have to write this story down!’ And he said, ‘Why? Do you think I’m going to forget it?’ And I said, ‘No. For other people.’”

That was the beginning. Sturgis took her laptop down to his tiny janitor closet and documented his words. She then asked William’s 6-year-old daughter to illustrate the narrative. Once completed, Sturgis found an online site that allowed her to create a picture/photo book. Within a short time, she had chronicled other stories from her students. 

After her move to the Eastern Shore, Sturgis looked to volunteer her time. She heard about Chesapeake Multicultural Resource Center (ChesMRC), an organization that provides services to non-English speaking residents from Talbot and surrounding counties, and asked if they’re be interested in her immigrant stories. With help from a small grant from Talbot Arts Council, Sturgis turned to Victoria Gomez Lozano, ChesMRC’s Hispanic Outreach Coordinator, for assistance in identifying the ‘storytellers.’ Three Easton families volunteered. Each family is from one of three countries: Guatemala, Mexico, and Honduras, countries that are representative of the immigrant population on the Eastern Shore. 

As these books were being written, Sturgis imagined a small gathering, at a local church perhaps, where these stories would be read aloud, while the pictures drawn by the children would be projected on a screen. She already knew how moving such an event would be, having experienced it in Jersey.

That’s when Matthew Peters, Executive Director of ChesMRC, stepped in. He agreed that these stories were important but knew they needed to be shared on a larger scale. “We’re not an advocacy group or organization,” said Peters, “and we’re not advocating for any change. But we also know the real stories behind what we see every day. What’s normal for us is not being told or heard because it’s too tough. Politics and idealisms aside, we need to start listening to these accounts.”

What Peters meant was that despite these books being illustrated by children, the stories are far from being for kids. They are powerful, hard-hitting, and raw.  

They were never similar, says Sturgis, yet each touched her. She mentioned parts from the books that stood out for her.  One was a drawing from the book called The Pieces of My Heart. “The grandson illustrated it with a heart that keeps shattering. And every time something awful happens to his grandmother, a piece of the heart chips off.” Or this quote from one of the books: “This was harrowing for all of us, but especially for me, because at 14, I was now practically a mother to my seven-year-old brother, responsible for his welfare, and far more aware of the dangers of international travel by unaccompanied children. The two of us were sent off by bus to make our way alone through Central America. It was as awful as all the stories we had ever heard.” 

What’s important to Sturgis that people understand is that her focus is not on the adversity of these families. “That’s why I call this project Telling the Family Story,” she said.  “It’s not called, Against the Odds. These are snippet of the universal desire to work hard and get ahead.  It’s, for lack of a better word, the American Dream.”

Once completed, the only thing that needed to be considered was how to best honor these stories. With Peters’ backing, a decision was made that with Hispanic Heritage Month occurring in September, the right time was now. The Avalon Theater was the right place, and a fundraising event would be held to expose Easton (and the world) to the emotional themes and the journeys that led these three families to the Eastern Shore.

So on September 24th at 7:00 pm at the Stoltz Pavillion, ChesMRC will present “Nuestras Raices (Our Roots),” where each family will read their unique chronicle. Signed copies of the books will be available after the show.  The Director of the Center for Cultural Engagement at The Catholic University of America, Javier Bustamante, will be the keynote speaker and musician, Tori Gomez will perform. Following the event, there will be a mingling session where attendees can meet the families.

This will be a day that Sturgis has been looking forward to—not for herself, but for the families whose stories she captured. “My name is nowhere on these books,” she said, “they are the authors, and the children are the illustrators. And can you imagine if you had to leave school in the fourth grade—being the author of a book! Each story shows that what they went through was to benefit their children because they knew that life was too dangerous not to do anything else.”

The books will be available in either English or Spanish. They are:

The Pieces of My Heart, by Veronica Renero Paz and illustrated by her grandson, Jose. She talks about her life in Guatemala and her determination to keep her family together as they traveled to a new country.

Love Leads the Way, by Trinidad Bravo Bravo, is a story about two Mexican teens whose parents were determined to keep them apart and their commitment to make their relationship work, no matter how far they needed to travel. It is illustrated by three of the couple’s children, Jeremy Jonas, Jadiel, and Genesis Rosario.

Because of Mommy Tomi, by Estela Vianey Ramirez Ulloa and illustrated by her daughters Daniela and Natalie, is a heartbreaking account about the bond between a grandmother and her young granddaughter and the ultimate sacrifice the grandmother had to make to protect the children she was raising in Honduras.

Everyone has a story.

To purchase tickets for this event, go here. https://tickets.avalontheatre.com/eventperformances.asp?evt=1309

Val Cavalheri is a recent transplant to the Eastern Shore, having lived in Northern Virginia for the past 20 years. She’s been a writer, editor and professional photographer for various publications, including the Washington Post.

From “Letters in Time” by Susan Reiss: Emma Chase moves to a quaint Cottage she inherited outside St. Michaels, Maryland. Her plan is to rest and recover from the horrendous car accident that almost took her life. When the movers find an antique plantation desk hidden in the garage, she has it moved into the Cottage. The next morning, a mysterious letter appears dated 1862 and signed by a stranger named Daniel, who declares his love for Emma. Does she believe in ghosts? Should she respond?

Irresistible. How can you NOT want to read a thriller set in St. Michaels that has you walking along familiar streets and perhaps, just perhaps, running into characters that might be recognizable (although their names are surely changed)? 

Available this month, Letters in Time is the latest book by author Susan Reiss, although not her first book set on the Eastern Shore. The Spy recently sat down with the author to talk about her creative process and find out how and why St. Michaels is a source of inspiration. 

Author Susan Reiss

The first thing we learned was that writing was not her first career, nor her second, not even her third. But like all that Reiss has done before becoming an author, it was an award-winning decision.

Originally trained as a concert pianist, she started working as a television writer/producer, which won her various accolades and awards, three Tellys and TWENTY-SEVEN Emmy nominations (with no wins). She then started her own production company doing programming for everybody from PBS to ESPN. But as Reiss explains, “It was like a little girl who has curly hair, who wants straight hair and vice versa. I wanted something on the shelf. So., I figured, hey, no problem, I’m a television writer. This should be a no-brainer.” And she started, as she said, ‘playing with stories.’ But to continue her prize-winning streak, she needed something more–a muse of sorts. And it came in the form of a town.

Her fascination with the Eastern Shore, like for many of us who were not from the area, happened when she and her then-husband passed through on their way to Ocean City. They already had a home on Cape Cod, but an unexpected diversion to St. Michaels sealed the deal, and they bought a house there.  “I needed a place,” said Reiss, “where I could figuratively drop my briefcase at the bridge.” The marriage may not have lasted, but the attraction remained. That was almost 30 years ago.” Thirty years led to six books in the acclaimed Silver Series set in St. Michaels and also won her the Scribe of the Eastern Shore designation in 2015. 

But if you ask Reiss what it is about St. Michaels that inspires her, be prepared not to get a definitive answer. “I wish I knew,” she’ll respond. “I think it’s the water,” she might speculate, “but it could also be the boats and the history.”

Whatever it is, the formula works, and she sees no reason to change. After all, it is her readers who keep asking for more. “When I first started the Silver Series, I had people ask me, ‘oh, dear God, why are you writing about the Eastern Shore? You live in a rural area.’ And I’m thinking to myself; you can’t take three steps without bumping into history or some past of sorts. You want characters? If I need a new character, all I have to do is go out the front door and take a stroll down Talbot Street and do a little observation because we not only have the residents of the Eastern Shore, but we have close to 100,000 tourists that used to come here. Grab a seat and a cup of coffee and just watch.”

Mysteries seem to be what she gravitates to in her stories, and the Oxford-based Mystery Loves Company bookstore couldn’t be happier.  “My friend, Susan,” says owner Kathy Harig, “is a special person and a wonderfully creative author. Her Eastern Shore stories are based on events embellished by her research and imagination. Her books are best sellers at my store, and her followers are thrilled when she has a new offering.”

So, what is it about the genre that is so appealing to Reiss? “I’ve always been drawn to mysteries as a reader,” she says. “But I tend to step away if it’s a story of a stalker or something that is extremely threatening. I mean, there were threats in my books, but there’s a difference with a stalker. I call my stories ‘cozy mysteries,’ meaning you can take them to bed with you and read without having nightmares like you do with some books. Also, I tend not to get into what I call the grizzly parts. Patricia Cornwell does a phenomenal job writing about her medical examiner. But slinging intestines over a telephone pole? No thanks, I can’t do that.”

This type of descriptive commentary made us want to know more about the creative process she uses when writing, but the answer was not surprising given her past. “In television, you have to conceive of an idea before you write the script. Then when you’re writing the script, you have to direct it in your head because if you can’t direct it in your head, it’s no good on paper. When you’re shooting, you have to edit in your head. And if you have a scene that is not working when you’re shooting, then you have to say: ‘Cut,’ and start again.”

Envisioning also comes in handy when writing realistic-sounding dialogue because… well, she’s not alone in that task. “I visualize everything. They’re not words. They’re just really a written report of what I’m seeing and what I’m hearing because, yes, my characters talk to me. I’ve had circumstances where I’ll be writing dialogue, and all of a sudden, that dialogue will stop. And the character in my head will say, ‘No way I’d say that!’ The first time it happened, it was like, ‘Hello? Okay, what would you say? How would you say that?’ I don’t know; maybe writers are just a little bit insane.”

There is someone outside of the descriptive ‘voices,’ who she credits in helping her with references and research: libraries—specifically, the St. Michaels branch, calling the librarian a writer’s best friend. Reiss says, ‘A librarian doesn’t know everything. But he or she knows where to find it.”  In case you doubt her fidelity, her latest book is dedicated to Betty Dorbin, a St. Michael’s librarian (whose mother, Elizabeth Carroll, began the library in St. Michaels—but that’s another story….).

What it all comes down to is that Reiss will continue to write about what she loves and what people want to hear about, and that includes the Eastern Shore. “People feel the magic of this area. And they want to know more. And they love stories that are set here. It’s something that connects with their psyche. And I think if you asked me who I was writing for, I’d have to say I’m writing for people who like a good story.”

Of course, as any writer can attest, the whole writing process is tedious. What took months (or years) to write will be read in a day or a week. “Then people start asking,” says Reiss, “when’s the next one? Well, that’s quite a compliment. But it took you just nanoseconds to read it. And it took me quite a while and a lot of effort to write it. Yes. So, it’s quite a challenge. And sometimes I think alligator wrangling might be a little easier.”

Not that she would have it any other way, but which, of course, begs the question, when is the next one? Says Reiss: ‘Well, actually, the first chapter of the next one will be released in the back of the upcoming book. It’s the first time I’ve done that. How it happened was I woke up at six o’clock one Sunday morning with a jolt and sat up straight up in bed. And I realized that I had the first chapter in my head of Book Two.” 

Somehow, that didn’t surprise us.

Val Cavalheri is a recent transplant to the Eastern Shore, having lived in Northern Virginia for the past 20 years. She’s been a writer, editor and professional photographer for various publications, including the Washington Post.

Letters in Time is available on Amazon and the following local retailers:  Mystery Loves Company, Oxford, MD; Pemberton Pharmacy and Gifts, St Michaels, MD; The Blue Crab, St Michaels, MD; Flying Cloud Booksellers, Easton, MD