From Class Reunion to Murder Mystery:

The Story Behind Maximum Pressure

What happens when your high school classmates urge you to write a murder mystery set at a class reunion? In my case, it led to Maximum Pressure, the ninth book in my Claudia Rose forensic handwriting mystery series.

The idea was born at an Anaheim High School Class of 67 reunion, and took off when a group of classmates won the right to have a character named after them in my next novel. That's when the fun began.

Then I was invited to moderate the panel at the annual Anaheim Library Mystery Author Luncheon, a fundraiser that supports many terrific programs for kids and young adults. I interviewed three wonderful authors: Rachel Howzell Hall, George Fong, and Dave Putnam. Several of my classmates attended the luncheon and bid in the live auction--I'd donated a character name in the book. They won! Winners don't get to choose whether they are a victim, a killer, or simply have a walk-on part--that's the author's job. But their name is in the book. We spent the rest of that hilarious afternoon deciding who I should kill.

On paper, of course.

Their real names made it into Maximum Pressure, although I gave them relatively small roles. After all, I couldn't let my classmates take over Claudia Rose's story!

I started by finding the title--they're always handwriting-related, of course. And, having come up with one, I wrote the back story of each character, plotting, and preparing to get started. Readers never see most of that stuff, but if a book is to have real emotional depth, the author needs a full understanding of what led up the 'inciting event'--the hook that makes you want to read on. (shhh--a little peek behind the curtain: we turn to a 16-year-old Claudia Rose's point of view.)

The original cover that you see here was designed by the award-winning and obviously talented Scott Montgomery, who designed my first memoir cover, as well as the cover for the Sisters in Crime/LA anthology Entertainment to Die For.

It used to take me a year to write a book. I write my fiction in between forgery cases and personality assessments. Then I got it down to 9 months (yes, I get the birthing reference). And then I wrote my memoir, Growing From the Ashes, in 27 days (I'm still astounded)! So, I applied what I've learned and got MAXIMUM PRESSURE to market by the spring of 2024.

Since Maximum Pressure was first published, the Claudia Rose series has found a new home with UK publisher Vinci Books, and the e-books have been given new covers. The original cover, shown here, was designed by Scott Montgomery. The current Vinci edition has a different look, but the story inside is the same. The paperback editions are slated to receive their new covers in spring 2027.

Updated October 2026