The stories she would tell about the traditions and culture of the people and the pueblo fascinated Carol. The character of Nicky Matthews was inspired by her sister-in-law who works as a police officer on a Native American pueblo in the state of New Mexico. While trying to figure out how to pitch the book, she came across the Tony Hillerman Prize. When she was half-way done, she realized it might just be a “Tony Hillerman” kind of book. Instead, she just wrote something that combined the very things (science, supernatural, and mystery) that she enjoyed reading about. While writing the book, she did not come up with an idea or a theme and wrote around it. A character has a course project called “The Hearts of the Missing Still Beat”, a title she proposed and part of it became the title. Her editor thought it was too much of a romance title, and wanted another. Originally, the name of the book was called “Spirit Heart”, which is the name of a piece of jewelry that plays a big role in the book. She decided to write a novel as something to do after her children went into adulthood. She has stood in the Lincoln County Courthouse, a place that Billy the Kid once escaped by killing two deputies. Carol has visited Chaco Canyon and El Morro. She has been to the spot that allows you to be in four states all at once.

Her husband’s family has lived in New Mexico for many generations, but she only moved there in the year 1991 so she enjoys exploring the state.

Carol also worked at a drug-testing lab and briefly on the Jornada Experimental Range just north of town. In their backyard, they have a wonderful, breathtaking view of the Organ Mountains.īefore she began teaching full-time, she conducted plant genetic engineering research, which she also conducted at New Mexico State University. She lives in Las Cruces, New Mexico with her husband. Author Carol Potenza was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, and is an Assistant Professor of Biochemistry and Chemistry at New Mexico State University.

Hearts of the missing by carol potenza