Maureen Robb is the former editor of a San Francisco business newspaper and the former west coast bureau chief for a New York-based business newspaper. She has covered Silicon Valley from its inception and thinks that the Valley—with its dreamers, schemers, and wannabe millionaires—has all the ingredients for a terrific mystery novel.
In her own words:
I was born and raised in Maine, went to college in New York City, and made my way to San Francisco after graduation. I’ve always loved mysteries and writing and had my first poem published at age nine. I didn’t initially plan to be a writer, though. I thought it more likely that I’d be a painter—I’d had my work shown in Maine and was selected as one of a group of young Maine artists thought to have promise.
After much soul-searching, however, I decided I had little of originality to contribute to the art world, and I chose to major in communication arts at Fordham University. There I wrote short stories, studied literature and theater, and took journalism courses taught by professionals in New York. I also wrote, and drew, for the literary magazine. Along the way I helped put myself through college as an assistant editor for a New York publishing company and as a gem courier in New York’s Diamond District.
Once on the West Coast, I had a great time living the California lifestyle and writing for magazines and newspapers. As a cub reporter I was already attending press conferences in the mayor’s office and getting to know people around town. Over the years I interviewed politicians like Senator Dianne Feinstein and assassinated San Francisco mayor George Moscone, corporation presidents, foreign dignitaries, government and union officials, religious leaders, scientists, chefs, artists, writers, and scrappy longshoremen. I came to specialize in business writing and editing, but I have to say this about journalism, and becoming a writer: you can pursue any story and write about anything that excites you. The opportunity and freedom were—and still are—incredible to me.
Which brings me to today: Why write a mystery about Silicon Valley? Because it’s an incredible, vibrant place that attracts talented people from all over the world—who are transforming the way we live. These are fascinating men and women who are pushing the envelope of human potential for all of us, and I wanted to show what drives them, and how they live. Silicon Valley also represents one of those exciting, rare times and places that actually change the course of human history. (I also talk about this in the Q & A.)
Why did I choose a restaurant’s chef-owner as my amateur sleuth? Honestly, I feel lucky to have lived in San Francisco at a time when California chefs like Alice Waters and Jeremiah Tower were leading the creation of an exciting new food culture. It was fabulous going to new restaurants, discovering new cuisines, and expanding my horizons about the role of good food (and wine) in our lives. I just fell in love with the whole restaurant and food scene —and I’m still in love with it.
As you can see, writing the Lea Sherwood series lets me combine several of my passions, and I’m looking forward to vicariously living—and relating—Lea’s adventures!