K. L. Borges, author of Murder on Flesher Pass, the latest novel in the Montana Animal Rescue mysteries series, is visiting Ascroft, eh? today.
Welcome, K. L.
Tell us about your novel. Is it part of a series? If so, please tell us about the series too.
MURDER ON FLESHER PASS is indeed part of a series; it is the second book in the Montana Animal Rescue Mysteries. These books are realistic, cozy mysteries set in modern-day Montana, where the action is set around a fictional dog rescue in Helena, Montana. The stories are both suspenseful and humorous, and, rest assured, no dogs ever die in my books.
Where did the idea for the mystery that is central to the story come from?
I volunteer in several animal rescues in my area of Montana and am familiar with the “transport” of animals around the USA, some even coming from foreign countries. Transport is done either by motor vehicle or airlifts. While doing background research for Book One: MURDER IN THE CRAZY MOUNTAINS, I came across an online newspaper article about an airlift of fifty dogs (none died) that crashed in a field in Wisconsin. Local people rushed to help, carrying crated dogs away to their personal vets, and the rescue organizations had a hard time tracking them all down. Some of the local people adopted a dog on the spot and refused to return them! This wasn’t material that made it into Book One at all, but remained lodged in my mind, eventually germinating into the central idea of MURDER ON FLESHER PASS.
Is there a theme or subject that underlies the story? If so, what prompted you to write about it?
Animal rescue is the underlying subject for my books. I started volunteering in local Montana rescues after I retired from teaching math and was unprepared for how overwhelming the need is, both locally and across the country. Early on, I saw a post about a lost and wounded hound dog that led me to imagining the events that became the story of Book One, MURDER IN THE CRAZY MOUNTAINS. Book Two, MURDER ON FLESHER PASS and Book Three, MURDER AT BAD MOON CANYON, continue with the fictional RogerDog Rescue and its cast of characters.
How do you create your characters? Do you have favourite ones? If so, why are you partial to them?
Mostly, the characters show up and demand to take part in the story, sometimes catching me completely by surprise. Coming up with names is one of the harder parts of character development: names should be easy to remember and keep separate from others characters, and should be unique to my books (as much as possible).
I have to admit a partiality for the no-nonsense, rough-around-the-edges proprietor of RogerDog Rescue, Betty Mills. I have been privileged to know people in my life who were similar to her and they have sure added a lot of flavour to my days.
How do you bring to life the place you are writing about?
I write about Montana and dog rescue as I actually experience them in my life. I stick with writing what I know, aiming for realism in my fictional stories. I try to describe scenes well enough to evoke the sights, sounds and emotions for my readers, so it’s as if they had lived them.
What research do you do to provide background information to help you write the novel?
I research everything that I don’t know already from first hand knowledge. This gives me a chance to learn new things through my writing; this is enormously fun! The internet can provide a lot of answers but sometimes you have to track down a real person to teach you what you the author need to know, which means making new friends, another bonus.
If travel to visit places that I will use as settings in my books, so that I see them firsthand for veracity.
Is there anything else you’d like to tell readers about the book?
If you like dogs, Montana and mysteries, you will love this book. I hope to share it with you. Thank you for reading this interview!
Thank you for answering my questions, K. L., and good luck with Murder on Flesher Pass, the latest book in the Montana Animal Rescue mystery series.
Readers can learn more about K. L. Borges by visiting the author’s website and her Facebook page.
The novel is available at the following online retailers:
Amazon B&N This House of Books
About K. L. Borges: K.L. Borges, an Agatha Award-nominated author, moved to Montana thirty-five years ago with her husband to raise their three children alongside a series of herding dogs. Prior to becoming an author, she taught math at a private Billings high school (Go, Rams!). Borges is a member of the Billings Gem and Mineral Club and Sisters in Crime. She and her husband are often found enjoying the Montana outdoors with their two blue heelers.
