The Art of “Reinvention,” Part 2: On Becoming a Mystery Writer

Episode description:

In Part 1 of  Ron Roel’s conversation with Patricia King two months ago, she  talked about her years as an international management consultant, working with Fortune-fifty companies like PepsiCo, Chase Bank, and Pfizer and publishing five business books, including Never Work for a Jerk, which landed her on the Oprah Winfrey show. In today’s conversation with Pat — Part 2 of her extraordinary journey — she talks about how she made the transition to yet another career as a historical mystery writer, under the pen name, Annamaria Alfieri. It wasn’t easy. Pat will reveal how she used her writing and research skills to produce finely detailed historical mysteries—and get a publisher to take a chance on a first-time novelist. Pat will take us through her early mysteries, set in South America, which have garnered critical acclaim. Some years later, she moved across the Atlantic to set her second series of historical novels in British East Africa. Described as Out of Africa meets Agatha Christie, Strange Gods, The Idol of Mombasa, and The Blasphemers are stories that capture the beauty and complexities of imposing a colonial culture on a foreign land. These adventures, in turn, have led to a surprising chapter in Pat King’s real-life story: a transcontinental effort to transform the future of young Maasai girls in Kenya.

Guest description:

Before taking on a new literary identity as Annamaria Alfieri, Patricia King spent 25 years as an international management consultant, working with Fortune-50 companies like PepsiCo, Chase Bank, and Pfizer.  Her five nonfiction books on business subjects include Never Work for a Jerk, which landed her on the Oprah Winfrey show. After “retiring” as a consultant she helped launch and manage a  highly successful direct marketing company. At age 69, Pat embarked on her current career as historical mystery writer Annamaria Alfieri. Her early mysteries, all set in South America, and garnered critical acclaim. The Washington Post said of her debut novel, “As both history and mystery, City of Silver glitters.” The Christian Science Monitor chose her Blood Tango as one of ten must-read thrillers. Pat is also author of the Vera and Tolliver series of historical mysteries set in British East Africa, which has been described as Out of Africa meets Agatha Christie. A world traveler, Pat/Annamaria takes a keen interest in the history of the places she visits and writes about. She lives in New York City and is a member of the board of trustees of the Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival and a past president of the New York Chapter of Mystery Writers of America. 

Contact:  pk@patriciaking.nyc 

https://www.facebook.com/annamaria.alfieri

To learn more about Annamaria Alfieri and see reviews of her historical mysteries, visit her website, www.annamariaalfieri.com.

And to read an interview with Annamaria, go to the Gotham Writers website:

https://www.writingclasses.com/toolbox/author-q-a/annamaria-alfieri