Heather’s Bookshelf: Author Interview with Paul D. McDonald

Book Title: Mystery at the Haunted Castle & Mystery on Campus

Released:  07/07/22 & 05/08/23

Genre:  YA Mystery

Interview by Heather L. Barksdale

What inspired you to write “Mystery at the Haunted Castle”?

McDonald: Mystery at the Haunted Castle is the first book in the series of teen detective stories called The Flaugherty Twins Mysteries.

I have been writing since grade school when I won an award for a short story I wrote on pollution. However, I don’t believe I was really sold on writing until my freshman year of high school, when my English teacher asked me to write a short story on an object lesson. When I had completed the story, it was then I knew that I wanted to be a writer.

The Flaugherty Twins Mysteries were birthed shortly after I decided that writing was what I wanted to do. I was a huge fan of the Hardy Boys and I used to read all the Nancy Drew books my sister brought home from the library as well. I liked both series, but I wanted something that was a little closer to home; I wanted characters like me. So, my characters are Irish American and Catholic. This becomes a backdrop for the stories, which are typical crime-solving teen stories.

I liked the idea of a boy and girl protagonist because I always felt a little funny reading Nancy Drew books, and I wanted both boys and girls to enjoy my series. I also was always fascinated by the psychic connection between twins, although this is more common among identical twins rather than fraternal twins. I wanted that to be an element in the stories as well.

How did you come up with the names of your main characters?

McDonald: I wanted ethnic names for my characters that represented my Irish American heritage. There’s no name more Irish than Patrick. And I believe I got the last name from a street name in my hometown. For a time, we also had a mayor name Flaherty, but I preferred the more complex spelling of the name. And, although I had read that it is unwise to have characters with similar names, I decided the girl character should be Patricia.

Is there anything that you want readers to know about you, your writing process or your book?

McDonald: I want to make books that kids will enjoy reading; something with adventure and excitement and intrigue. The mysteries are the heart of each story, with cliff-hanger chapter endings that keep the reader turning the pages. But I also want stories that will give kids some takeaways that can be useful in their lives. My main characters, as brother and sister, are often antagonistic toward one another, but at the bottom of it all, they love each other and will always come to each other’s aid. They are not perfect; they each have character flaws. And at the beginning of the series, they have a very immature faith, but as the stories continue, they will grow stronger in their faith. There will sometimes be moral lessons that they learn along the way that will help guide them in the right direction.

These are by no means stories of faith. But the foundation of faith will inform some of their decisions. And I do introduce a priest character in a later book, and he will become a sort of mentor to them.

If "Mystery at the Haunted Castle" was adapted into a movie, who would you like to see cast to play your lead characters?

McDonald: When I was looking for ways to explain to my illustrator what the characters looked like, I did some research, looking for photographs of people who might resemble the

characters. One day when I was flipping channels on my TV, I came across a Hallmark romance movie about a pear farmer, and the minute I saw the actor, I knew that’s what Pat looked like! Ryan Paevey is WAY too old to play the part, but a

younger actor with similar looks would fill the bill. For Patty, my illustrator came up with a look for her that reminds me a lot of a young Dana Delany, but again, it would have to be a younger actress who looked like her.

When you encounter writer’s block, what do you do to break yourself out of it?

McDonald: I usually focus on some other aspect of my writing, either editing or promotion, or something like that. I will even just spend time reading a good book in the same genre.

Are there any tips that you would like to share with other aspiring authors?

McDonald: Learn as much as you can about the art of writing. Read as much as you can, especially in your genre. Find tools to help you in your weak areas, especially grammar and spelling tools. Get a mentor or coach to encourage you. Keep writing!

What is your favorite genre, book, and/or author?

McDonald: I love a good mystery. And I love Agatha Christie! Her plots are so intricate, and the clues are spread like breadcrumbs, but you have to be very alert and very astute to even come close to the correct “who-dun-it.”

What are you working on next?

McDonald: I am continuing to work on the series. Book 2, Mystery on Campus, is already published. Book 3, Lost on Black Mountain, is almost ready for publication. I have already completed drafts for the next four books in the series, and have ideas for several others. So, next is research for Book 8.

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