Sheepdog stars in Sonoma mystery writer’s new novel

After a long career as an attorney, the law is Monnet’s expertise, so she followed the old adage, ‘write what you know.’|

‘A Vintage Year’

Genre: Mystery

Author: Elizabeth Monnet

Cost: $10

Available: Readers’ Books, Amazon, Target

Sonoma and Silicon Valley, vintners and venture capitalists, and the unavoidable lawyers set the scenes of 'A Vintage Year for Libel and Slander,' the second mystery novel written by Elizabeth Monnet. But it's Sidney the Australian Sheepdog, the sleuth that saves the day, that once again delights Monnet's many readers.

When Monnet wrote her first novel, 'A Vintage Year for Insider Trading,' she wrote six drafts before adding Sidney as a character. 'I put in the dog and it became easier because I was able to add humor to the book,' she said, sitting in her Sonoma loft home where she does most of her writing.

Monnet and her husband Bill have owned a home in Sonoma since 2002, spending weekends here while they were working in Silicon Valley. When they both retired in 2010, while still in their 50s, Monnet decided to pursue her love of writing.

After a long career as an attorney, the law is Monnet's expertise, so she followed the old adage, 'write what you know.' An English native, she began as a barrister (even wearing the required white wig) and after falling in love with Bill, an American, she moved to California in 1975, got married, and a few years later passed the California bar exam.

She knew British and European law from her studies at University of Nottingham, and when she added U.S. law to the mix she was able to establish a successful practice counseling overseas companies conducting business in California, specializing in sporting goods and fashion. She eventually joined the prestigious firm Squire Patton, working in their Palo Alto office with Silicon Valley clients.

'They think they are brilliant at everything,' she said of Silicon Valley types she's known. A theory she repeats in her novel, when an attorney character says, 'Most of the nerds working in Silicon Valley can be super smart and dumb simultaneously. Haven't you noticed?'

Sidney the sheepdog is also a character she knows well, as she and Bill have had three Aussies, Bruce, Jim and now 2-year-old Dean. She dedicates her book to them, writing 'their devotion, sweet nature and sharp intelligence inspired, and continue to inspire, the sheepdog character, Sidney.'

In the novels, Sidney can communicate with birds, which feed him the clues he needs to solve the mysteries. It sounds a bit corny, but works wells as a tool to move the story forward in an amusing way.

Monnet had written articles for legal publications, including 'How to Manage a Rock Star CEO' for the Daily Journal, but had never attempted fiction. She started her first novel in 2010, and although she worked on it steadily, both researching and writing, it was not finished until 2015.

She begins with a chapter-by-chapter outline, and then follows up with the details, writing on an Apple laptop. She credits Sonoma writer and creative writing teacher Deb Carlen with teaching her to write fiction at a class offered at Readers' Books. 'She was incredible,' Monnet said. Carlen has continued on with Monnet, editing both of her novels.

When 'Insider Trading' was finished, including a cover illustration by Monnet's Sonoma neighbor, graphic artist Patti Britton, Monnet had no interest in hunting down a book agent or commercial publisher, preferring to market the book herself. Selling at Readers' Books and two independent bookstores in Marin County, as well as Amazon, it has sold nearly 5,000 copies. She uses the print on demand services of Ingram Spark for both books.

'It's fun,' Monnet said about writing, and she especially likes it when people think they know the real people behind her characters. 'People tell me all the time that they know who my character is, and then they will often name someone I don't even know,' she said. 'It makes me happy because it lets me know my characters are believable.' Although her characters are inspired by many people she has known 'there aren't any that are an actual person.'

'Libel and Slander' was released at the end of 2019 and Monnet said it is selling well. It also has a cover designed by Britton. At a 170 pages it is almost 100 pages shorter than 'Insider Trading.' She's priced her book at $10 'because I want it to be easy to buy.' Monnet said her readers are 'dog lovers, members of the legal profession and people who live in Sonoma or want to live here.'

She is conjuring ideas for her third 'A Vintage Year' novel now, and Sidney the Aussie will definitely be a main character. For those who can't wait to read more about Sidney's adventures, he writes a blog on elizabethmonnet.com.

‘A Vintage Year’

Genre: Mystery

Author: Elizabeth Monnet

Cost: $10

Available: Readers’ Books, Amazon, Target

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