Karin Kaufman's "The Witch Tree"

Title: The Witch Tree

Cover blurb:Four days before Christmas in Elk Park, Colorado, genealogist Anna Denning discovers a client’s body. When she starts asking questions no one wants answered, she becomes the killer’s next target. Still grieving the death of her husband, Anna must draw on her wounded faith to enter a world of wicca and paganism -- and discover the secret of The Witch Tree.

1) How did this story come to you?
Several things came together. First, I’ve loved mysteries since I was a kid and I’ve always wanted to write the kind of mystery I like to read. Second, about ten years ago I started researching my family tree, and as anyone who’s done that knows, genealogical research is a lot like detective work -- or at least how mystery writers imagine detective work to be! (I should mention that the “tree” in the title is a family tree -- in this case, one full of witches.)

And finally, in my twenties, even though I considered myself a Christian, I dabbled in wicca. I feel tremendous empathy for young people caught up in wicca, witchcraft, and paganism. I completely understand what draws them to those “paths.”

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
Although I wrote a lot as a child and off and on as an adult, I didn’t complete my first mystery novel until about seven years ago. A couple years after that, I wrote my second mystery. Neither book was fit for publication, but I learned a lot as I wrote and received some encouraging feedback. After I finished The Witch Tree, I realized that the world of publishing had changed a great deal, so I decided to change with it and publish my mystery as an indie ebook.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
1. In my early teens I played guitar in an all-girl rock band. We were ahead of our time!
2. When I lived in Los Angeles, I worked on the sets of two low-budget movies produced by the king of B movies, Roger Corman.
3. I dislike summer, and since weather plays a big part in everything I write, I may never write a mystery that takes place during the summer months . . . though a Christian horror novel and August seem made for each other.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I’m working on some short stories (mysteries with a touch of romance) and the second novel in my Anna Denning mystery series.

5) Parting comments?
Thank you for having me, Dawn! I love connecting with readers.

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
My website: http://www.karinkaufman.com/
My blog: http://www.karin-kaufman.blogspot.com/
I’m also easy to find on Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads.