I’d
like to welcome Jennet Ferguson, the main character in Dorothy Bodoin’s Foxglove
Corners mystery series.
Patricia:
Jennet,
where did you grow up and where do you live now?
Jennet:
I
grew up in Oakpoint, Michigan, a city in the southeastern part of the state
with a population of about 60,000. Now I
live in Foxglove Corners, an hour’s drive from Oakpoint. Foxglove Corners is a magical place, very
rural, with woods and lakes and more than its share of haunted houses. I live in a green Victorian farmhouse on ten
acres with my husband, Crane, and six collies: Halley, Candy, Sky, Gemmy,
Raven, and Misty
Patricia:
What’s
your occupation and how did you come to choose it?
Jennet:
I
teach English in Marston High School which is located in Oakpoint. That means I have an hour-long commute, but I
car pool with my good friend and fellow teacher, Leonora. I sort of drifted into teaching. English was my favorite subject in
school. I thought my classes would be like
the ones I’d attended as a student. I
was wrong. Teaching can be a real
challenge, but it adds an exciting dimension to my life. Sometimes it adds danger.
I love collies. When I first moved to Foxglove Corners, I had
one tricolor collie (black, tan, and white), Halley. I always seemed to come across collies in
distress and finally joined the Lakeville Collie Rescue League. Often I become involved in mysteries and
crimes as a result of rescuing a collie.
Since moving to Foxglove Corners, I’ve had several supernatural
experiences. Recently I started writing
a book about them but had to set it aside when I ran out of material. Maybe someday I’ll leave education to become
a full-time writer.
Patricia:
Tell
us about one of your most memorable “adventures.” What drew you into the
mystery?
Jennet:
One
of my hobbies is reading, and my passion is reading Gothic novels. Naturally one of my special friends is the
town’s librarian, Miss Elizabeth Eidt, who donated her family home to the town
as a library. During a renovation,
contractors discovered a furnished room sealed off from the rest of the
house. Miss Eidt, who was raised in the
house, never knew it existed. Jennet is
curious, especially when it appears that the room is haunted. I refer to this adventure as “The Secret Room
of Eidt House.”
Patricia:
Are
you married or involved in a serious relationship? Tell us about that.
Jennet:
My
move to Foxglove Corners was a lucky one for me. On my first full day in Foxglove Corners, I
met Deputy Sheriff Crane Ferguson, and it was practically love at first sight. We’re married now, and I’ve never been
happier. Anyone would think I wouldn’t
risk my life by getting involved in mysteries.
Well, I never set out to do that.
It just happens.
Patricia:
How
would you describe yourself, physically and personality wise? How do you think
others see you?
Jennet:
I’m
of average height with shoulder length dark brown hair and bangs. I’m on the thin side and usually don’t gain
weight even though it seems as if I’m always eating some rich dessert. Sort of like my creator, except she does gain weight. I’m generally easy going; I try to cultivate
a calm exterior which helps me cope with rebellions teenagers. But if I encounter someone who hurts a
dog—watch out.
Patricia:
What
are your plans for the future?
Jennet:
I’ve
often talked about leaving Marston High School, but I don’t do it. I’m attached to the staff, with the exception
of the Principal Grimsley who is a thorn in my side, and to the classes I
teach, especially Journalism. I suppose
I’ll continue my life as it is now and maybe finish that writing project that I
call my “spirit book”. Maybe the next
time mystery rears its head, I’ll try to look the other way. In my latest adventure, I faced down a gun on
two occasions. But in neither of those
instances did I court danger. It came to
me.
To purchase one of the Foxglove
Corners mysteries :
Link to website: www.dorothybodoin.com
Dorothy Bodoin, a full time writer
of mystery and romantic suspense novels, lives in Royal
Oak, Michigan, with her collie, Kinder, who provides plenty of inspiration for
the fictitious collies in her books.
Prior to attending Oakland University where she majored in English,
Dorothy worked for two years as a secretary in southern Italy for Chrysler
Missile Corporation.
After earning Bachelor’s and
Master’s degrees in English, she taught high school English for several years and
wrote short stories and one Gothic novel, Treasure
at Trail’s End, later
published by Wings ePress. Her first published
work was Darkness at Foxglove
Corners, the first in the Foxglove
Corners Cozy Mystery Series. Dorothy is
also the author of five novels of romantic suspense which were recently reprinted
for the Harlequin Worldwide Mystery Bookclub.
