Lucinda Stratton, a 1968 Bluffton High School graduate, living in Switzerland, recently finished her fifth book in her Hardy Durkin Travel Mystery series.
The book titled Engadine Aerie, set in the Engadine Valley, Switzerland, will be released in April.
Stratton’s previous works include: Corsican Justice, Abruzzo Intrigue, Dalmatian Traffick, and Black Forest Reckoning.
Here are portions of a very interesting Icon e-mail interview with Stratton:
Icon: What are you doing in Switzerland?
We moved to Le Locle, Switzerland, birthplace of my maternal grandmother, last January 2016. I’ve taken her name, Bluette Matthey, as my nom de plume.
Le Locle isn’t as picturesque as many Swiss villages, but it is unique as a designated UNESCO site because it is the birthplace of Swiss watchmaking. My ancestors were watch makers.
It is also a five-minute drive to the French frontier, a handy feature, since my favorite cheese, Comte, is made in Franche-Comte.
Icon: Tell us about your interest in writing.
I’ve been hooked on mysteries since third grade, and traveling about as long. My dad was forever getting us up at two or three in the morning to start off on a trip to Florida, or Canada, or to head out West.
So, I decided to merge my two passions and began writing the Hardy Durkin Travel Mystery series, with Hardy Durkin as my hunky protagonist.
Instead of the London-Paris-Rome circuit (all fantastic places), I chose to use less-known locales as settings for my mysteries. My books are heavily researched for authenticity, which includes a boots-on-the-ground approach, so I get to enjoy visiting and exploring all the places I write about.
I’ve had some amazing experiences, eaten wonderful regional foods, met lovely people, and taken some pretty interesting treks.
I blog about my travels on Niume, Goodreads, Google+, and Tumblr.
Icon: And, Hardy Durkin - your main character – what’s he like?
Hardy Durkin owns an outfitter business that specializes in European treks, so I’ve made a point of duplicating many of his easier hikes (I’m not as fit as he is).
Icon: Where all have you traveled in Europe?
I hiked into the Hermitage of San Bartolomeo near Roccamorice, Abruzzo, Italy, aware I was the only human around for miles as I trekked through the Majella National Park.
Animal scat along the trail reminded me there were bears, wolves, and other beasts present. I also climbed to the top of Rocca Calascio, built in the 10th century by the Romans as a watch tower and the highest fortress in the Apennines. This was for my second book, Abruzzo Intrigue.
Dalmatian Traffick took me to the Balkans, where I visited Croatia, Montenegro, and Albania. I didn’t hike to the Ostrog Monastery, but took my life, literally, in my hands and drove there. Mostly one-lane, snaking up the mountain of Ostroška Greda with the mountain wall on one side and a drop-off that increased at an alarming rate on the other, and no guard rails, anywhere.
Perhaps a row of rather insignificant rocks placed beside the road, or an occasional tree, but nothing substantial to keep you from plummeting over the edge into eternity.
The guide books tell you to hire a taxi, but driving in Montenegro is almost a blood sport and I opted to control my own fate, so I drove slowly and steadfastly, praying that no cars would come from the other direction.
Exploring the traboules of Old Lyon, France, was part of stepping back in time with the Knights Templar in Engadine Aerie. I also was a guest at the annual Engadine Skimarathon last year, which features prominently in Engadine Aerie.
Dangerous conditions at the time prevented me from hiking in to the Morteratsch Glacier; I’m hoping this year I’ll be able to explore the eternal ice of the glacier when I return to snowy St. Moritz, Switzerland, and the Skimarathon for a book promotion of my latest Hardy Durkin Travel Mystery, Engadine Aerie on March 10-12.
Icon: What’s your current book?
My current book, Ding, Dong, Bell, is a period mystery set in Shannon. My dad (Rolland Stratton) was a wonderful storyteller. I taped many of his tales and have incorporated them into this current project. It’s been a pleasure working on Ding, Dong, Bell, and I’ve consulted with Jim Oppermann several times in the process.
Icon: Give us your website, so Icon viewers can find out more about your books.
My website is: bluettematthey.com
Icon: Thanks. If you ever show up in Bluffton, we know a pretty good coffee shop where we’ll treat you to a good cup of coffee.
