In The Postcard Mysteries, I always try to be as historically accurate as possible. Historical events related to my books have been researched, represented, and portrayed to the best of my ability. Much of my research comes from personal interviews, books, newspapers, magazines, photographs, and postcards from the era. Though it is not easy to find older material, prefer it that way. The internet is efficient but rather sanitary and soulless. It's much more fun to dig about in musty cellars, airless attics, and dusty minds. As I do for all my books, make lengthy visits to the places I write about. During these visits, soak up local culture and talk to everyone I meet. It is important to me to capture people's oral histories.
 
I began writing the postcard mystery series the very day I found a postcard of a red bus in a stack of postcards labeled 'old European postcards $.50'. This first postcard became "The Red Bus: A Postcard to an Assassin." People often ask where I find my postcards. More often than not, the right postcard falls in my lap. When I hold it and look at it, I know what needs to be written. Once a postcard is selected, I meticulous research the topic and location. Whenever possible, I visit area and conduct face-to-face interviews with people appropriate to the story.
 
Carol Tonnesen is my pen name, a combination of my mother's first name and my great-grandmother's last name.

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