---Jackie Houchin

Award winning author Anne Perry appeared at Vroman's Bookstore in Pasadena as part of a nation wide tour for her new Thomas Pitt historical novel "Buckingham Palace Gardens."

Sisters in Crime Speaker's Bureau Director Gayle Bartos-Pool was asked by the bookstore to interview Ms Perry. She welcomed the hundred or more fans in attendance then began her introduction with a list of Perry's accomplishments.

"Anne Perry has sixty books in print and has sold over twenty million copies. She's written three successful series as well as several Christmas books and short stories. She won the Edgar Award and has been nominated for both the Macavity and Agatha Awards."

Gayle asked about the first book she wrote. Ms Perry said the first one "published" was a mystery, although she'd written historical stories before that which weren't published. "There was a lack of strength in the plot," she explained. "I saw that the mystery was a success and stuck with writing them."

Perry brought a laugh from the audience when she answered the question, "When do you find time to write?" by quipping, "I don't do anything else! I eat raw food and sweep dust into the corners."

Gayle asked if series writing was confining, or if she enjoyed watching her characters grow and change. "The latter," replied Perry, "I like my characters to grow ...but no life-shattering changes. No grand finales...and I certainly can't kill them off!"

Asked about writing violence, Ms Perry said, "I wouldn't know how to write a fight. I can't hit my way out of situation, but I can argue my way out."

She then went on to tell "a dreadful little story" about herself as a blond, blue-eyed 5-year old, looking sassy and sweet in a pink dress and Mary Jane shoes. A "big fellow with a stick" tried to take away her 6 pence, but after she told him a sad, sob story (all made up), he ended up giving her his half crown coin instead.

"I never made any more money telling stories until I was forty!"

Gayle then asked Ms Perry to talk about her Christmas stories. " A Christmas Journey was the first," related the author. "It was inspired by a true story of a woman who committed a crime and was told she had to make a pilgrimage or journey of expiation. It's about the freedom that comes from being forgiven...and forgiving."

Perry admitted she was surprised at the book's success and decided to write more, saying that she was able to use her minor characters in them. "I love my subsidiary characters!"

Gayle asked what the author would do if she didn't write. "Oh, be a film director, I guess. I just want to tell stories. I really don't have a Plan B. Most writers don't, isn't that right?" Several in the audience nodded. "I've got to be telling stories."

In closing she mentioned the book she was currently working on; a 900-page tome about a woman doctor in Medieval-Byzantine times, called "Sheen on the Silk."

Gayle ended the interview by thanking her guest. Almost immediately a long line formed... fans carrying a newly purchased book or two, and sometimes as many as a half-dozen others to be signed. Ms Perry graciously signed books, chatted and posed for photos.

Visit websites, www.anneperry.net and www.spygame.org to learn more about these authors.