Excerpts from interviews published in The Eldersburg Lantern.
Columnist Nora Penwick brings her personal touch to these casual conversations revealing the heart of Eldersburg one resident at a time.
Interview with Eve Tigernacht
January 16, 2026
Recently I had a chance to sit down with Eldersburg’s newest arrival Eve Tigernacht. She and her husband, Armin Tigernacht, are the new owners of the Anton Steiner estate which they will be opening as the Aubergine Inn on March 1st.
Nora: “Welcome to Eldersburg, Mrs. Tigernacht. So, tell me, what do you think of our little town?”
Eve: “Eldersburg is a fascinating place, Ms. Penwick. My husband and I are looking forward to becoming a part of the community here.”
Nora: “Please, Mrs. Tigernacht, call me Nora—everyone does. I know our readers are curious to know what brought you to Eldersburg and especially the Steiner estate.”
Eve: “The Daniels family are good friends of ours and when my husband and I were looking for a place to realize our dream of running an inn, Eldersburg was on a short list of places that we considered. Ethan jokingly mentioned the Anton Steiner property, and we decided to look into it. It’s a wonderful place. We were shocked that it had remained empty all these years.”
Nora: “That’s right, you’re friends with Sheriff Daniels. You are a trauma therapist, is that right? Will you be opening an office here?”
Eve: “No, Nora, I will be focusing all of my attention on running the inn.”
Nora: “All of your attention? You were involved in the trouble that brought the FBI to our little town a couple weeks ago, were you not?”
Eve: “Well, not exactly. I agreed to help Sheriff Daniels with the little girl.”
Nora: “She was fortunate to have such a renowned professional interested in her care. You didn’t just help the little girl though. You have trained dogs that you use to assist you, and they were also instrumental in bringing the FBI case to a successful conclusion.”
Eve: “My dogs and I are not crime fighters, if that’s what you’re getting at. I have three dogs that are first my companions and second highly trained in different disciplines. They often accompany me and will be busy offering greetings to our guests once we open.”
Nora: “That’s fine, Mrs. Tigernacht. You are aware, of course, that the Steiner estate is shrouded in mystery. There are strange stories about the mansion and the property. Almost everyone is afraid to go up there. How do you expect to run a successful business in a place with such a history?”
Eve: “The people of Eldersburg that we have met so far are some of the friendliest people I have ever known. One thing I’ve learned already is that the business owners here look out for each other and give each other their support. I suspect once all of the renovations are complete, we’ll be able to show everyone that there’s nothing to be afraid of.”
Nora: “We share our town with the descendants of the original founders—the Ashanek. The three peaks of the mountains hold great significance to them, especially Varatakai which is the mountain your land is on. Have you had any interactions with the Ashanek Elders yet?”
Eve: “The history of Eldersburg is something that I and my husband are looking forward to learning more about. I am sure that it will only deepen my appreciation of this beautiful town. The Ashanek that I have met so far have been welcoming and friendly.”
Nora: “I suppose that’s an answer of sorts. One last question, Mrs. Tigernacht. Is your husband working on the next Case Ingersol adventure?”
Eve: “I’m sure that he is. Armin is usually in his study writing, but I try not to ask about his work until it’s finished.”
Nora: “That’s all right. I hope to be able to catch up with him later. Having a famous author living in Eldersburg might actually get us on the map.”
