Internet Chapter
Guest Author Interviews







Kathleen Antrim
July 2003
Interviewed for SinC-IC by Lorie Ham

 

Sinc-IC: Why did you choose to write mysteries?

KA: I've always loved suspense. I wrote my first book when I was seven years old, and even that project had suspense. I also like books that are smart, and cause the reader to think. Mysteries tend to be puzzles that the reader is trying to solve, and I love trying to give the reader a challenge as well as something to think about.

What is unique about your main character or setting?

KA: Well, Capital Offense deals with an issue that really hasn't been dealt with in fiction before'the power of the first lady. Carolyn Alden Lane is a woman who commands respect and admiration in her professional life, but is horribly flawed when it comes to her personal life. As I wrote this book, I kept wondering: How far will Carolyn go to save herself and her power? How much will she compromise to reach her goals? Does the end justify the means? And in the final analysis, would she choose to save herself, or sacrifice herself, to save the country?

What authors do you like to read?

KA: I read just about everything I can get my hands on - fiction, non-fiction, and poetry. I feel it's imperative for a writer to read as much as possible. As for favorites, well, I love so many it's hard to narrow it down, but I'll name a few: Dorothy Allison, Anita Shreve, Elizabeth George, Terry Brooks, Nelson DeMille, Harper Lee, Nick McDonnell (a new author who is fabulous), Michael Connelly, Barbara Kingsolver, D.P. Lyle, jeez, I could go on and on.

How long did it take you to write this book?

KA: I did about six years of research and it took me about two years to write the novel. In order to get the backdrop accurate and the subject matter really clear, I interviewed ex-CIA, Secret Service, individuals as high up as the Cabinet level, Gubernatorial and Senatorial security details, physicians, etc.

Do you make a living off of your writing?

KA: Not, yet. In fact, my husband tells me that I have the most expensive career on the planet. But I have to admit, I don't write for the money. I write because it is what I love to do. It's truly a passion, and I get cranky when I'm not writing.

What do you like most about being a writer?

KA: Making up stories is what I love most. I've been doing this since I was a kid, playing with my two imaginary friends Snorky and Hyacinth. At night I'd lie in bed and make up huge tales with dialogue and everything. Some of these stories would go on for several nights; others were just one night stands. It just depended on how juicy the tale was as to how long I'd drag it out.

KA: I've always loved living in other worlds, in fact, one time my imaginary friend Snorky even told off my mother. Of course, this didn't go over very well with Mom. Regardless of how vehemently I protested that it wasn't me but Snorky who'd said those awful things, I still ended up in trouble.

What do you like least?

KA: That's an easy question to answer, the business side of writing. If I had my druthers I'd just write and leave the business stuff to others.

How much time do you spend writing?

KA: I do most of my writing in my mind, before I actually sit down and commit it to paper. So, this is tough to answer. Actually, when I'm in the middle of a project I'd say that I'm consciously or subconsciously working on it 24/7. My mind is always spinning on things, even when I'm dealing with other matters. I think that's why I'm told I'm preoccupied a lot. I don't mean to be, but when I'm in the middle of a project it's just one of the downsides.

How do you discipline yourself to write?

KA: Usually, I'm really happy to be able to focus. But when I get antsy, I exercise and this usually calms me down enough to sit down and get it out. I have to admit that at times it's a wonderful experience, and at others it's like a root canal. I don't know why this is, just part of the job I suppose.

Do you hear characters speak to you?

KA: Oh, yes. They definitely talk to me, some more than others, but then that just depends on their personality. I'm working on a project right now with a character named RayAnn. Well, RayAnn talks my ear off. One night while I was in New York, and by the way, I was exhausted, RayAnn would not shut up. Finally, I had to get up and write down everything she was saying, because she wasn't going to quiet down until I did so. But that's just RayAnn; she's always needing to be the center of attention.


Cindy Daniel
June 2003
Interviewed for SinC-IC by Lynn Kinnaman


SinC-IC: How did you start writing?

CD: I had never planned on writing. Hadn't dreamed of it since I was a child. Just decided instead of having a mid-life crisis I would write a book. Well, the truth is, I never had confidence in myself until the orthopedic surgeons at Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children thought their secretary could take over the role of managing editor for a three-volume textbook they were writing for W.B. Saunders, Inc. Their faith in my ability, and the compliments I received from Saunders, gave me the courage I needed to put my thoughts into words and my story on paper.

SinC-IC: Why did you choose to write mysteries?

CD: I consider myself very shy, but at the same time I enjoy entertaining people. Writing mysteries allows me to hide within the written word, while playing games with my audience. I don't think any other genre would allow me to take the joys, sorrows, and peculiarities of everyday life and turn them into a big jigsaw puzzle that makes perfect sense and provides a tremendous amount of comfort when completed.

SinC-IC: Briefly summarize the plot or the plot inspiration for your latest work:

CD: Several years ago I decided I wanted to open a used mystery bookstore when I retired - naming it Death Warmed Over. When my husband and I would go on scenic drives through East Texas, I would even scout-out locations for my venture. Well, my husband, and the bank statement, convinced me retirement wasn't in the near, or even relatively close, future, so I decided to write about the life I wasn't destined to have.

SinC-IC: Any interesting or unusual thing happen during the development of this work?

CD: A publisher signed me to a three book deal.

SinC-IC: What is your writing process (outline, research, index cards, software)?

CD: I don't use an outline. With the first two books I've worked backwards. I knew what was going to happen before I knew the characters. So I had to establish personalities that would let themselves get into the situation I had planned. As I created these individuals and their lives, I would keep notes about them in a separate file in my laptop. When certain ideas would pop into my head, maybe things I wanted the protag to say or circumstances I wanted to happen, those thoughts would be written and saved for future use. Anytime I would have a professional do a job related task I was unsure of (i.e. policeman at a crime scene) I would make a note of it in the computer and then call, email, or visit someone in that field to verify my facts.

SinC-IC: How do you discipline yourself and schedule your writing?

CD: I don't. Right now it's a lot of fun because I don't adhere to a rigid schedule. I'm extremely lucky because ideas are still free flowing. Having a full-time job already, I'm hesitant to set boundaries and make writing seem like work. There will hopefully come a day when I will need to plan things more religiously, but right now I'm enjoying my time in the evenings and weekends just sitting on the patio writing on my laptop.

SinC-IC: How do you handle rejection?

CD: Early into submitting queries I read that if you weren't getting a rejection a day you weren't submitting enough. That belief kept me positive, looking at each rejection as a sign of progress instead of as a personal failure.

SinC-IC: What's the one thing you couldn't do without in order to write?

CD: Without a doubt, I could not write without the continued love and support of my family. They make my life complete. Writing is just the icing on the cake.

SinC-IC: Do you have someone who critiques your work?

CD: First I have a couple of good friends from work critique me. They are readers, not writers, and give me comments on things that are out of character or interrupt the flow of the story, as well as point out typos. Now, in addition, I am in a critique group through the Guppies that helps me with the mechanics.

SinC-IC: Do you have an agent? Any comments about that?

CD: I do not have an agent, so I really can't comment too much. I'll just say that I queried a LOT of agents. Mostly getting form rejections. I feel extremely blessed to have been signed by Quiet Storm Publishing. They have a wonderful group of authors on board and provide a tremendous amount of support and encouragement to us.

SinC-IC: What was the best writing advice you've received?

CD: It wasn't the words as much as who spoke them. Catherine Coulter, who is one of my favorite authors, responded to a letter I sent asking for direction (most authors do not even respond). Catherine, however, answered with genuine affection for a fellow writer. She provided me with the information I requested and told me to 'never give up.

SinC-IC: What's the worst?

CD: 'Go to the bookstore and buy this book or that book about agents.' I think most of us already know that by the time we start asking for advice. And I wonder, how many writers got published by looking in those books? Yes, they definitely serve a purpose and are a valuable tool. But without hard work, grit, and determination, a book of addresses won't help. You search the internet, you submit, you go to conferences, you join writing groups, you listen to every writer that will talk about their experience and you take everything with a grain of salt.

SinC-IC: What's the best book you've read about writing?

CD: I haven't read many yet. Really, I think my ignorance is bliss right now. Too much knowledge may confuse me. But the book I started with was "The Complete Idiots Guide To Creative Writing" by Laurie E. Rozakis, Ph.D. Just happened to see it on the shelf at BookStop while buying a new supply of mysteries.

SinC-IC: What advice do you have for beginning authors?

CD: Believe in yourself. And, don't be quick to make changes based on people's comments; no one else can write YOUR story.

SinC-IC: Is there anything else you'd like to tell us?

CD: Don't ever let anyone tell you something can't be accomplished. It can be. You can be the one to do it.


Silvia Foti
May 2003
Interviewed for SinC-IC by Lorie Ham

 

Why did you choose to write mysteries?

SF: In a way, it was an accident. When I conceived the story, I wasn't really into mysteries and knew very little about the genre. Yet I liked the
story concept, so I let it lead me down the path of what I needed to do to write it. It took me years to study the mystery genre, take courses
on it, and try to catch up with it. I've learned to appreciate the format in the process, and realized I loved the tension, the suspense, and the
game between the author and reader of trying to solve who is the killer. I've also learned to love the strong heroines and heroes along the way.

What is unique about your main character or setting in Skullduggery?

SF: Alexandria Vilkas is a frustrated journalist who couldn't get her dream job of writing for the Chicago Tribune. So she took the only paying job that hired her, which was writing for a national magazine on paranormal events. The problem is she doesn't really believe in ghosts or the supernatural, thinking it's all phony delusions, yet she covers what's she's told to by her editor because she's got a lot of bills to pay. All the while, she's still waiting for her big break in the journalism field. She's from the Southwest Side of Chicago, near Midway airport, an underrepresented area in fiction. Most Chicago fiction takes place on the North Side, so this book showcases the South Side.

What authors do you like to read?

SF: I like Barbara D'Amato, Sara Paretsky, Sue Grafton, Janet Evanovich. I loved Alice Sebold's "The Lovely Bones." I'm still fond of Agatha Christy and Carolyn Keene. I'm a huge fan of Julia Cameron, and felt her Artist's Way was life-altering.

How long did it take you to write Skullduggery?

SF: It took me seven years of writing and rewriting. The funny thing is that as a journalist, I thought I could whip out a mystery novel in no time because I had the impression, like the rest of the world, that it was easy and formulaic. I've learned never to taunt a literary genre like that ever again.

Do you make a living off your writing?

SF: I do make a decent living off my nonfiction journalism writing. I run my own freelance writing company called Lotus Ink, from which I've written for a variety of publications and websites. Just yesterday, I opened a little savings account off the tiny earnings I made on Skullduggery and just cried over the latest interest rates. I don't plan to retire on my creative writing just yet.}

What do you like most about being a writer?

SF: I can't imagine doing anything else. That's all I've ever wanted to do for as long as I could remember. If I don't write, I feel I can't breathe. I even wrote about dentistry for 12 years just to be close to writing. I kept telling myself it didn't matter what I was writing about, just as long as I was writing. Kind of like the battered wife syndrome. Now I think differently. Now I want to write what I want to write. When used effectively, it's a high form of self-expression and creativity, and you can make yourself understood to many people in a way that you want them to understand you. It's engaging, and a white page is always available for the taking.

What do you like least?

SF: The underestimation of writers and the underpay. We work alone on so many projects, so it's difficult to have some collective muscle at a job. I belong to several writers groups, and the National Writer's Union has made great strides, but so much more needs to be done. Just yesterday, I turned down a "wonderful opportunity" to write for less than $10 an hour. It's taken me years to get to this point of discernment.

How much time per day or week do you spend writing?

SF: Well, I spend probably 35 hours per week writing, but most of that is for freelance paying writing. I do my creative writing in spurts, when my freelance work is slow. That's the other reason it took me seven years to write Skullduggery.

How do you discipline yourself to do your writing?

SF: Oh look! There's another bill that just came in. That's plenty motivation for my freelance writing. For my creative writing, it's like going to church. I need spiritual release. I need to connect to my Higher Self and God.

Do your characters talk to you?

SF: It's more like I work hard to bring them to life, which seems to take an enormous amount of energy. Then when they're conceived, I feel them intensely, like I crawl into their skin and assume their characters. Then I sort of channel them onto the page. Then it's a matter of tuning into them when I need them.



Questions about the chapter? Write to prez@sinc-ic.org.
Questions about the web site? Write to websister@sinc-ic.org.

Unless otherwise specified, all content is copyright © 2003 Sisters in Crime, Internet Chapter.