About Margaret
The Formal Version
Margaret Lucke is a writer, editor, and teacher of fiction writing classes in the San Francisco Bay Area. She writes tales of love, ghosts, and murder, sometimes all three in one book. She is the author of two novels of paranormal suspense, House of Desire and House of Whispers, and two mysteries, Snow Angel and A Relative Stranger (an Anthony Award finalist). She is also the editor of Fault Lines, a short story anthology published in 2019 by the Northern California chapter of Sisters in Crime. In addition, she has published two how-to books on writing, Schaum’s Quick Guide to Writing Great Short Stories and Writing Mysteries. Her other publishing credits include more than 60 short stories, feature articles, and scripts for mystery weekends. A former president of the Northern California chapter of Mystery Writers of America, she has been an instructor for the UC Berkeley Extension writing program since 1994 and works with businesses and individuals as a writing coach and editorial consultant.
The Informal Version
I have been flinging words around for most of my life, as a writer, editor, communications consultant, teacher of writing classes, and writing coach. Writing fiction is one of my true loves. Ever since I produced my first book at age five (I still have the one and only copy), I’ve been fascinated by the power of stories and the magic of creativity.
In addition to books, my writing credits include scripts for mystery weekends, short stories, feature articles and book reviews. I’ve served two terms as president of the Northern California chapter of Mystery Writers of America.
My checkered past includes stints as a bank clerk, registered agent of a foreign government, crisis hotline responder, communications director for a historic preservation organization, bookkeeper and printshop owner. Currently I work with businesses and individuals as an editorial consultant, and I teach fiction writing classes for University of California-Berkeley Extension and other venues.
I love to travel, and my writing career has given me opportunities to visit China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand, England, and Italy, as well as Alaska and other U.S. places. Most days, though, I journey no farther than my desk -- and into my imagination.
Now You Know
>> I live within sight of San Francisco Bay (just barely).
>> I share my house with my photographer husband, Charles Lucke.
>> Favorite indulgences include black tea, red wine, and dark chocolate.
>> I enjoy painting, music, and theater, though I don’t produce any of them.
>> Some friends call me Peggy, a standard nickname for Margaret. Others call me Daphne, the name of a character I played in a college theater production.