With the Old Testament as one of the sources of inspiration for the books in the Ministry is Murder series, the possibilities for the next book are forever rich and tantalizing. With so many gloomy forecasts about what we might expect if global warming continues, I easily found my hook this time. Although my personal memories of Ohio are more apt to include precipitation, and lots of it, I wondered how a town like Emerald Springs would fare without rain. Drought and heat would definitely feel like the end of the world to people not used to either. The idea took root. You, of course, will have to figure out the Bible story A Lie is "suggested by." Although truly, I'm making it so easy for you, how could you not?

About the same time I happened to catch an episode of American Idol. No fan of reality shows, which seem to be squeezing out so many of the better dramas and comedies on network television, I still understand their draw. But those judges! Were they kind and thoughtful, no one would watch, of course. But surely some of those contestants have had fantasies about doing away with more than a few of them.

And so, Grady Barber sprang to life. A local boy made good, come home to lord it over one and all at the Emerald Springs Idyll. As for the circus? What better way to introduce a host of exotic animals into a sleepy little Ohio town? And if you think the real state of Ohio would prohibit such a thing, please guess again and read the state statutes. I did.

Finally, I dug around in my memories of years as a minister's wife and remembered one of my children complaining to his dad because Dad had mentioned him in a sermon. How could I not embroider on that?

All the Ministry is Murder books are so much fun to write. This one was no exception.