Guest Author Interviews
May 2002
Book Giveaway: Dream Tapestry
Interviewed for SinC-IC by Lori Ham
SinC-IC: Why did you choose to write mysteries?
CM: I can't say I always knew I would write mysteries. When I finally made a leap of faith and decided to actually tackle a book (instead of just talking about it), I wasn't really sure what kind of story I would weave. I really had to think about what I would ENJOY writing, because if I expected people to read my words, I obviously had to have some interest in the story I created. I thought, "What do I read?" Well, I have always loved biographies, but I knew I wasn't going to write non-fiction. I enjoy romance, but I was fairly certain I wouldn't write purely romance novels. Then I realized that most of the books I read are mystery, suspense or action-adventure. Even the movies I watch are in those genres. I had a lightbulb moment. I would write a story that was primarily suspense, but with a little romance mixed in. Hopefully, Dream Tapestry, is just the right mix of both.
SinC-IC: What is unique about your main character or setting in Dream Tapestry?
CM: I believe what is unique about Dream Tapestry is the way the story is told. In the first part of the book, Peejay Novak is a teenager and the story is told from the point of view of a young girl. But after Part One is finished, the rest of the story is told through the eyes of a young adult...Peejay at age 24. Dream Tapestry is not purely mystery, nor is it purely romance. I would have to say it would fit into the 'mainstream' category, because while the mystery is about Peejay solving the unexplained (and unsolved) disappearance of her father, the real story is about her 'coming of age'. It is about how she deals with all the turmoil in her life. In the beginning, she is young and naive. By book's end, she has transformed into a woman who is ready to face the future head-on.
SinC-IC: What authors do you like to read?
CM: My choice of reading material is really very diverse. My favorite 'established' mystery author is Sue Grafton. I also like to read mysteries by Mary Higgens Clark and Sara Paretsky, to name just a few. And I am adding more NEW mystery authors to my list every day...people I have met on the Internet who are extremely talented. I hesitate to mention any ONE right now because I don't want to leave somebody 'worthy' off my list. Other authors I enjoy: James A. Michener, Peter Straub, Shirley MacLaine (yes, Shirley!), LaVyrle Spencer, and, of course, Stephen King. I haven't read anything by Steven J. Cannell, yet, but I intend to read all of his books. He has inspired me for years. He does it all! In particular, I would love to write screenplays...and see them on the screen, either television or movies.
SinC-IC: How long did it take you to write Dream Tapestry?
CM: Ooooh...too long. It is a fairly long book, but I am told it reads fast. Actually, I began writing Dream Tapestry in 1992...when I was single. I finished the first two-thirds of the book in less than six months. But I had a surprise in store for me. One day, while taking a break from writing, I happened to meet my husband on-line. He lived in Florida, I lived in Maryland. That was ten years ago, in April. I moved to Florida in August and we married by year's end. The next year, at 38-years-old, I gave birth to our son, Christopher. Needless to say, it took several more years to finish the book. I typed the last part of the story with a baby in my lap or a toddler pulling on my arm. I actually finished writing the story in 1996, but I took my time editing it. Dream Tapestry was finally published in 2001.
SinC-IC: Do you have a family member who is supportive of your writing endeavors?
CM: Family members! Mom was the one who always "knew" I would be an author. She is also the one who pushed me to take more writing courses. She never read a single draft of Dream Tapestry. Instead, she waited to hold the actual book in her hands. When she finished reading it, she phoned me long distance and said, "I am literally covered in goosebumps. I am amazed that you, my daughter, wrote this story." My husband's reaction was a little different. I sat down over a period of several days and read the final draft to him out loud. When I finished, I looked up and he was actually crying. He said to me, "Don't ever doubt your talent." I will always remember how they both reacted to my first book. My whole family is my cheerleading section. My sister was a 'test reader' and helped me proofread the final draft. Her husband has always been the one to say, "Go for it!" even when I quit my job to pursue my dream. And my niece was the first person to hear the story...whenever I finished a chapter, I would stop and read it to her to measure her reaction. But I have to say that the one who is proudest of me is my 8-year-old son who likes to show me off at school. He can't read my books since they have adult themes, but that doesn't matter to him. He tells everybody I am famous, and he refuses to believe otherwise.
SinC-IC: Do you make a living off your writing?
CM: No. Not yet, but I am ever hopeful. I am still a poor writer, but I love my work.
SinC-IC: What do you like most about being a writer?
CM: Writing the story. I love everything about writing, including the research and planning. And while it's not always easy, it is always fulfilling...even those moments when I am struggling for the next word or scene.
SinC-IC: What do you like least?
CM: One word: PROMOTION. I'm still learning the ropes, but I don't think it's a task that gets easier the more you do it. Check back with me in five years and I'm sure I'll answer this question the same way.
SinC-IC: How much time per day or week do you spend writing?
CM: I work at this new career every day (including weekends) by either writing, promoting or networking. It is a full-time job that is certainly more interesting and fullfilling than the 9-5 office hum-drum that burned me out years ago (I hate to type for anybody but me!). And it's definitely better than the double shifts I worked when I managed a 24/7 restaurant. I would say I work a minimum of 6-8 hours a day on writing and promoting my book(s).
SinC-IC: How do you discipline yourself to do your writing?
CM: Becoming an author is a choice I made. So every day, I work at this job that I love so much. That's not to say that I actually write every day. Some days I do research. Some days I plot and plan. Other days I spend time finding ways to promote Dream Tapestry. If I want to be an author and make a career for myself in this field, then I have to work at it...just like any job. I am always writing, even when I am driving or taking a shower. My mind is constantly considering new ideas and possibilities. The trick is to record those moments of inspiration quickly, using my computer, a notepad, or my dictation machine. I learned a trick from two authors I interviewed for the Wicked Company Book Preview Club. They both told me that they work on several projects at once. I currently have two books in progress, so during those times when I reach a "stand still" on book two (Broken Angel), book three (tentatively titled Mirror, Mirror) is waiting in the wings begging for attention.
SinC-IC: Do your characters talk to you?
CM: On a good day, yes. On a bad day, I carry the conversation and wait for my characters to reply. Actually, I really don't think they talk to me. My characters talk to each other and I have learned to listen to them and record what they say.
SinC-IC: Is there anything else you'd like to tell us?
CM: I manage the Wicked Company Book Preview Club online. The purpose of the club is two-fold...to allow readers to preview mystery novels, and to give authors a tool to showcase their work. My partner in this endeavor,D.L. Browne, makes the selections. I format the books for e-mail previews and conduct weekly author interviews. We absolutely DO NOT review books, but we do try to provide our readers with enough information about the author(s) and book(s) to make an informed choice before they purchase a title. Previews are sent out on a daily basis, Monday thru Friday, via e-mail. For more information, visit our website at: www.wickedcompany.net.
Pauline Baird Jones
June 2002
Book Giveaway: Missing You
Interviewed for SinC-IC by Lynn Kinnaman
SinC-IC: How did you start writing?
PBJ: The old-fashioned way—with paper and pencil. <g> How did I start? I think it was already there inside me. I loved to read and often got in trouble for reading behind my text books in school and under the covers at night. It was a natural transition to writing about the characters I loved in the books I read, then to write about my own.
SinC-IC: Why did you choose to write mysteries?
PBJ: I like that thrill of danger and of course, the power to kill. <g> When people annoy me in my real like, I make them disposable characters in my books. It's quite cathartic. <g>
SinC-IC: Briefly summarize the plot or the plot inspiration for your latest book:
PBJ: It was more like plot desperation for Missing You. I had written two books in a three book series and had a deadline approaching with no real story, just a main character I'd like through three books. I started with a love interest for him and then felt my way through the mist, asking questions and answering them as I went.
I tried out several scenarios and he didn't like any of them, so finally pulled out a heroine I'd actually had as an alien in my mind, made her human and gave her amnesia. Luke liked her a lot.
Then I had to figure out why she was in peril and as I said, as I answered each question, the story grew into Missing You.
SinC-IC: How long did it take you to write it?
PBJ: Well, in stark contrast to my other books, this one took me two months. And a lot of help from my friends and family. And my sister dangled the carrot of a trip to Vancouver to keep me going. We were leaving on Sept 12.
SinC-IC: What was the best writing advice you've received?
PBJ: To not give up, to believe in what I'm doing and keep trying.
SinC-IC: What's the worst?
PBJ: To write to the market. It changes too fast to write to what's being published now.
SinC-IC: How do you discipline yourself and schedule your writing?
PBJ: Discipline? Oh yeah, right. I'm disciplined. Really. Just ask…my cat. Yeah, my cat will vouch for me.
SinC-IC: How do you handle writer's block?
PBJ: Badly. I whine, I pace, then finally I sit down and start asking my characters what's wrong. When I've suffered enough, they'll tell me. (Pay back is a you-know-what.)
SinC-IC: What's the one thing you couldn't do without in order to write?
PBJ: Diet Dr. Pepper.
SinC-IC: Do you have someone who critiques your work?
PBJ: I have some friends who will read it when I know something is wrong, but not what, but I don’t belong to a regular group. I tried it and found I was writing to my audience too quickly. I need time to really suck and then work to make it better.
SinC-IC: What's the best book you've read about writing?
PBJ: Oh, tough question. Hmmm. I'd say the one I go back to the most is a play writing book called The Structure of Action by Sam Smiley.
SinC-IC: What advice do you have for beginning authors?
PBJ: If you don't love writing, it isn't worth it. If you do, well, you'll suffer, but it's worth it.
SinC-IC: Is there anything else you'd like to tell us?
PBJ: It's Monday. I can barely remember my name. <g>
Beth Anderson
July 2002
Book Giveaway: Murder Online
Interviewed for SinC-IC by Lorie Ham
SinC-IC: Why did you choose to write mysteries?
BA: It kind of evolved without my realizing it, although looking back, I've been reading mysteries all my life. I started out with my first published book, a Harlequin Superromance which contained corporate fraud. The next two were mainstream novels which, as many good mainstream novels do, contained mysteries. One was about a Mafia money war in Vegas, and the other was about a psycho stalker in Los Angeles. My next two, Night Sounds and Murder Online, are both murder mysteries. I have not yet written a book that contains scenes of an actual murder, including the two I'm currently working on, The Scoutmaster’s Wife and Jonathan’s Child. I'm not hot on gore, the puzzle is the thing that keeps me fascinated when reading and writing mysteries.
SinC-IC: What is unique about your main character or setting?
BA: All of my books are standalones, although I've been asked by many people to write a follow up series on Claire and Marty, my protagonists in Murder Online.
As for unique, there's not much unique about the main character or the setting. Claire is just a very strong small town widow trying to raise her daughters alone. One of them is murdered. She goes after the killer in spite of great odds and the objection of just about everyone. I’ve pretty much left the door wide open to a sequel or five or six, though, and I have one blocked out, so I'm thinking about it.
SinC-IC: What authors do you like to read?
BA: Right now I've just finished reading Harlan Coben's Gone for Good. I love his writing, it's clean and clear and to the point, plus he's very funny in places, but the main thing I love about his books is that he's so well versed in the human condition, his books are always sprinkled with truth. I know I'm in the minority here, but I've always loved James Michener's books, although they're not mysteries. I like Stephen Booth's books for his fantastic moody settings and characters, and Bill Moody because I always love his subject matter (I'm a great fan of jazz, any jazz). Mary Higgens Clark always captivates me; I'm sure she's had a great deal of influence over my writing, but then, many authors have.
SinC-IC: How long did it take for you to write this book?
BA: Murder Online took me about six months to create, not counting the preliminary research and plotting, and definitely not counting the final editing.
SinC-IC: Do you make a living off of your writing?
BA: Bwahahahaha!!! Not at the moment.
SinC-IC: What do you like most about being a writer?
BA: Finding out what will actually happen to my characters. I do plot, some more carefully than others, and the ones I do plot carefully always have more happen than I thought they would at the beginning anyhow. Right now I'm working on one that's fully plotted and one that's not plotted at all. For that one I just took the characters I had in mind and started writing without a plot. I can do it that way, but it's harder, and I'll probably wind up plotting the rest of it out before I go any further. Matter of fact, that's how I wrote Night Sounds. I wrote a couple of chapters, then plotted the rest of the book. No matter what I'm doing, though, if I'm writing, it's fun. Yes, it's hard work, but you have to know you're having fun when you discover several hours have passed and all of a sudden it's time to stop and you feel you've only been there fifteen minutes. This happens to me a lot.
SinC-IC: What do you like least?
BA: Same as everyone else, the promotion aspect of it. I’ve done a lot of speaking at conferences, but to arrange for and actually go off somewhere to do a signing is not my idea of fun. Of course, it's fun when I get there and there are actually people wanting to see the trained monkey—uh—author and get their books signed, but worrying about it ahead of time is pure murder. Plus, I hate getting dressed up. I'm a sweats and Reeboks person, so it’s hard to put my author clothes and makeup on and go out there and be Beth Anderson the Author. It's a lot more fun sitting home creating terrible situations for my characters to get into.
SinC-IC: How much time per day or week do you spend writing?
BA: That all depends. I wrote my first three books while I was working full time, so I worked two hours a day and most of the weekends. Since I retired, I often work afternoons and into the evening. Life interferes more now than it used to though. I don't have as much uninterrupted time now as I did when I was working.
SinC-IC: How do you discipline yourself to write?
BA: I just sit down and start writing, even if it's crap, which it often is. I do a lot of editing as I go along because that's the way I like to work; it feels right ot me to do it that way, although others go all the way through and then go back and edit. I would say the majority of the time I'm editing. I find myself doing that a lot as I think about exactly how I want my next scene to appear.
SinC-IC: Do you hear your characters speak to you?
BA: Do you mean when I'm driving or at the store do they somehow start telling me what they want to do? No, absolutely not. I'm the author. I control what goes in that book, both consciously and subconsciously. But when I'm working at my keyboard and really into a scene, it is as though I'm there, playing all the parts, and then I hear all of them, which is, of course (let's be realistic here), coming from my mind. That, for me, is the magic time, just the fact that all those people are actually inside my mind, saying all those different things with different voices. Which makes me wonder, actually, if we're all not just a little…well…strange?
SinC-IC: Anything else you might want to add?
BA: I think a lot of people who want to write get very discouraged when their words don't come out the way they see the scene. Or worse, they think the words are right and then some agent or editor or critique partner tells them the words aren't right, and they don't know what to do next. Many stop right there, at the place where they find out how hard it actually is to get it right. They wonder why, if the authors they admire got it right, can't they? To those people, I'd add that writing is, in large part, going over and over and over each paragraph, each sentence, each word, cutting and revising and honing until we wind up with the smoothly written books people love to read.
Page maintained by webcrew3@sinc-ic.org.
Questions about the web site? Write to websister@sinc-ic.org.
Unless otherwise specified, all content is copyright © 2002 Sisters in Crime, Internet Chapter.