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Lora Roberts: Bay Area Mayhem: Killing in my own backyard My first mystery was inspired because of circumstances unique to the Bay Area, and to Palo Alto in particular. In the early 80's, the age of redevelopment, buildings were routinely torn down and rebuilt better—i.e., bigger. Down the block from our aging house, two lovely Queen Anne houses—big front porches, great millwork—were demolished for an ultra-modern clot of expensive condos. Neighborhood outrage got us nowhere. I got an image of a developer getting her just desserts—upside down in a dumpster, fine Italian shoes pointed heavenward. That was the beginning of Revolting Development. My next Palo Alto character grew from the streets themselves. Liz Sullivan lives in her VW bus, eking out an existence as a free-lance writer, parking here and there around town and growing vegetables in her community garden plot. She's chosen to park her wheels in Palo Alto because the atmosphere isn't hostile or snooty. The libraries are an unparalled resource. Riconada Pool provides showers and exercise. She conducts a writing workshop at the Senior Center. She's made some friends; she's hidden from her past. Of course, there's the down side too. She finds out about that when the body of a vagrant turns up under her bus one morning. Murder in a Nice Neighborhood begins the series of Liz Sullivan books. The Bay Area is a perfect setting for fiction; such a depth and range of weirdness as actually occurs here lends verisimilitude to the narrative. And there's just something yeasty in the air here, that sparks my imagination. I like thinking about and writing about what's going on in those cozy cottages and handsome Victorians. I like the way Palo Altans turn out at City Council meetings, bedeviling their elected representatives to get the government they want. I like the way parents are all over the schools, and people volunteer for community activities. I like the May Fete Parade. People don't slap their kids in grocery stores here; for the most part they're polite to strangers and considerate when driving. Of course, there's always some pretentious behaviors and new age follies to make fun of, too. That's why writing set in Palo Alto is so much fun. That's why I've parked my fictional Birkenstocks here.
More from Lora:
Lee Harris ~ Jonnie Jacobs ~ Valerie Wolzien ©2005-06 by Lee Harris, Jonnie Jacobs, Lora Roberts and Valerie Wolzien. |