Chapter Member
Spotlight Profile
January, 1998
Spotlight Profile
January, 1998
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Sunnye Tiedemann
Editor of Sisters in Crime National Newsletter
This month's guest is Sunnye Tiedemann, newly appointed editor of the Sisters in Crime National newsletter. She comes to the job with broad experience in editing and in writing nonfiction columns. Sunnye takes great interest in the health of SinC and in the field of writing. Projecting boundless confidence, energy and goodwill she sallies forth to tackle almost any project. An example of her dedication was her willingness to step in at the last minute and consent to this interview. As an editor she is willing to give free rein to newcomers and, with much patience, to assist when necessary. And, as her name so aptly indicates, she maintains a sunny disposition, no matter the travails. This interview was conducted on December 16th by Louise Guardino for the Internet Chapter (IC).
Sunnye mentions a work-in-progress during the interview. Reluctantly, at IC's urging, she sent along a passage, still under construction, from her novel-to-be, Winter of the Heart.
Lucy Rutherfurd paused in the doorway to the President's study to watch him for a moment. He sat before the great stone fireplace, reading, his Navy cape draped around him, for he was being photographed for another portrait. He still looked weary, but his color was better than when he arrived several days ago. Coming home to Warm Springs always rejuvenated his polio-ridden body and war-harried spirit; he became the teasing, jolly soul he had been when he and Lucy fell in love years ago. As he laid the paper on his desk and signed with a flourish of the pen, Lucy turned a bright smile in his direction and strolled into the study calling a cheery "I'm back."
Winter of the Heart, Sunnye Tiedemann
IC
You chose the above passage because...?
Sunnye
I chose this because I think it has the makings of a bestseller. When FDR dies, his dear friend Lucy discovers evidence that he was murdered. She must get vital information to Truman but soon discovers that she is the next target.
IC
Intriguing! Crime, a Sisters in Crime forte, which leads me to: Why did you initially join SinC?
Sunnye
Because it was there. To see what it was all about. And because I really like Carolyn Hart, Joan Hess, Eve Sandstrom and Jean Hager, all of whom I had met and who were members.
IC
What's the best part about your association with SinC?
Sunnye
The people. I have met many really special people through the organization and have learned from them all. I especially like the feeling I'm getting from this new National board we have -- one of really caring about the membership and wanting to make the organization one that is effective in promoting mystery writers.
IC
That leads me to another question: What do you see as demonstrating this?
Sunnye
In true teaser fashion I will refer you to the soon-to-be-in-your-mailbox newsletter. There you will see lots of evidence of this if you read the minutes of the meeting.One evidence is the new Concern Committee which is formed to look at issues members bring before it. But there is a definite desire there to listen and to communicate with the membership.
I will add, however, that I am not a member of the Board. I do not speak for them. I am, however, in a somewhat privileged position as observer and I am very much heartened by what I am seeing and hearing.
IC
You are involved in many different activities. What are they?
Sunnye
Not so much this year. I suddenly felt I was in a rut so I have phased out a lot of stuff. I won't be teaching any more college writing classes for a while because I got burned out -- it is tiresome having to teach third-grade grammar to college sophomores. I also refused to teach adults this winter -- maybe next year. My stints on the local library board and the traffic committee both wound down this year and I was glad to give them up. What I have left is on-line teaching (I am a teaching assistant in one class and am writing and organizing a class for AOL Campus on how to write and publish your own cookbook), a sometime part time job at Phillips Petroleum Co. (gets me out among people -- I am a hermit at heart and have to make myself get out).That's why I took on the newsletter. Because I finally had time to do something for the organization. And I think this is something I can do better than anyone else right now! (That sounds arrogant, but I don't mean it that way! I just think this is my time for this job.)
IC
How do you manage to juggle it all?
Sunnye
I firmly believe that we all do what we want, whether we admit it or not. The SinC newsletter is now one of my top priorities -- and I always get my top priorities done. Everyone does. <.G> There's an old Southern saying: To get a job done, give it to a busy person! <.G>
IC
If for a day you were locked in a room that contained a dictionary, a VCR and Doctor Zhivago video, and three current mystery books (a cozy, a hardboiled, and a procedural) what would you do (besides try to escape) and in what order?
Sunnye
Locked in a room for a day: Who provides the food and how? And am I safe? Those two questions have to be answered first! (I am a person who knows how to set priorities, remember?) Assuming that reasonable, delicious food would be provided and I am safe from possible harm, I'd read the cozy and take a nap. That would probably kill a good 24 hours right there. Then I'd start to write -- because every time I sleep I need to write as soon as I wake up. I assume that's because I have an active subconscious/right brain!
IC
Would you try to escape from the room and if so, how? (It's a tiny room on the 20th floor adjacent to the hotel elevator shaft: usual hotel furniture, small bathroom, one window, no veranda.)
Sunnye
Would I try to escape? No, not unless I was in danger or got hungry.I very seldom have a chance to be alone and I treasure times that I can think and just generally commune with myself. That said, when I do get to be alone, sooner or later I have to force myself out into the public! I love people, but I am very shy and it takes courage for me to "put myself forward." However, if I was threatened or frightened, I'd take action. Possibly fake illness to get carried out on a stretcher or light a fire in the elevator shaft or something. I am an action person -- I never wait for something to happen; I make things happen.
IC
What prompts you to pick up one mystery to read rather than another?
Sunnye
What prompts me? Well sometimes just curiosity about a writer or a title or a cover. Sometimes it's to read a fav writer....or about a favorite subject...there are lots of reasons I'll read a book. Someone said they liked it (someone whose opinion I respect) ...the usual, I guess.
IC
Can a cover turn you off or will you check the blurb before deciding?
Sunnye
I read blurbs...but don't pay much attention to cover art or what's said on the cover. I learned not to when I was reviewing a lot! Sometimes the worst covers surrounded the best books.
IC
By what's said, do you mean the come-on text or the endorsements? And how much stock do you put in endorsements?
Sunnye
I don't have much faith in the opinions of others when it comes to books. I've seen too many reviewers who wrote from their own agendas, especially in big publications like Washington Post and NY Times. Sometimes they didn't even read the book and it was obvious. So I listen to friends whose opinions I respect and explore books ...my own way. I have a method of choosing, you see.
IC
A method of choosing being?
Sunnye
Subject, characters or authors are the easy choices... I like books about the arts, for example, so a mystery set at an opera or art gallery or symphony rehearsal, whatever -- I'll buy without looking at it. I could name some SinC authors that I buy that way, but for obvious reasons, I won't. For the rest I find a copy of the book, at a library or bookstore and do my inspection. Read the first page, look at the style of the book by thumbing through it, check out the back pages...not so much reading the end as just getting a feel for how it's put together. I hadn't realized that this would be so hard to explain!I will say this...even if I don't like a book I will finish it. As a writer, I feel I owe a fellow writer that courtesy! Besides, I might find something I like...and...I might learn something.
When I was writing the newspaper column about books I read everything. I developed a very eclectic taste!
IC
Have your tastes in mystery fiction changed over the years? And if so, what has been the most influential in changing your preferences?
Sunnye
Yes, I think my taste has changed a lot. I think the changes I see in society have made me reevaluate what I want to read. Also, things that have happened in my life have changed the way I see books and writers and subjects. I am extremely sensitive to hurt.I think too many books are written without the author considering who might be hurt by the publication of the book. I think that's sad.
IC
Can you clarify or give an example of what you mean?
Sunnye
Hurt by publication...there are authors out there who know me who will know exactly what I mean, but for diplomatic purposes I'll just say that some of the sensationalist biographies of famous people would be a good example.We live in a society that thinks we should know everything knowable. That is silly and foolish. We don't have to know everything. And we shouldn't. And for goodness sakes don't get me going on trial by media!
IC
So subject or plot is important in your choice, it seems. On the question of character versus plot, when you've finished a book you really liked, what is it that you come away with? (or maybe I should say, remember the longest.)
Sunnye
Oh, I think I remember characters longer than story. I love people...characters are people (usually -- of course there's the occasional cat..)
IC
In a murder mystery, do you have a preference as to when the first body shows up? Some readers must have a body within the first chapter or they turn away. Not you, of course, since you will read to the end.
Sunnye
No preference as to when the body appears. The story is the thing..and you don't have to have a body to have a story. Heck, you can have a murder without a body and the story can be riveting!
IC
Besides being an editor and writing newspaper columns, you write fiction. Might something like the subject of "trial by media" be the spark for a future story by you?
Sunnye
Anything is likely to spark a story, as you know. And yes, that's very possible...especially since I'm passionate about it.The catch, of course, is that I am hampered by who the story might hurt...innocent victims of the situation who might heal if the subject were laid to rest rather than explored publicly.
IC
Passion: makes the fingers fly (on the keys, that is.) And speaking of passion, you stated earlier that you believe this to be the right time for having assumed editorship of the National SinC newsletter. Why is that?
Sunnye
This is the right time for me (from my point of view) because the position opened up just as I was backing off from a schedule overload and looking for a new experience. I hope it's the right time for SinC for me to do it. That remains to be seen!
IC
What is the most important aspect of a newsletter such as SinC's? What do you see its mission as?
Sunnye
I'll answer that a little differently from what you expect, I think. I see my mission as one of providing the instrument best suited to the needs of the membership and the Board.
IC
And where do you think SinC's emphasis should be in the future or is it just right as it is?
Sunnye
Nothing is ever just right as it is. Things change in unexpected ways. SinC is in that position now and the new Board is well aware of that. The Board is listening and will be communicating with the membership; together they will find the way for the future.
IC
You were a columnist and some of your responses lean towards the nonfiction area. Can you estimate what percentage of your writing is fiction versus nonfiction?
Sunnye
90% nonfiction, 10% fiction as far as publication is concerned....50-50 when it comes to writing. I don't send much fiction out for publication, but I send almost all my nonfiction out.
IC
What do you do with your fiction, then? Squirrel it away? Doesn't it deserve a chance to play outside?
Sunnye
I wrote my first mystery novel...60,000 words of Murder at OK Mozart, put it aside for six months, read it...and recognized the worst doggoned book I'd ever read. So I ditched it. It is gone. Nada. Four years down the drain. But I am writing another...a book about the murder of FDR and this one is good....very good...I also write short stories...have had one published and am ready to send out a couple of others. Those are great practice and fun to do.
IC
The FDR-based novel sounds very interesting! Make sure you get it out into the world for the rest of us.Okay, the time has come. The platform is yours now to speak to your public, those who've arrived at the Spotlight to avidly read your words of wisdom. Go for it.
Sunnye
You came to the wrong place for wisdom, gal. But I will say to the Sisters and Brothers that we've a great organization here, one that can be greater and will be if we work together. There are important jobs to be done -- the SinC review monitoring project is one that comes to mind. If everyone will help, we can make a difference.Let me add: that SinC's membership is readers, academics, fans...a wide variety of interests with the common ground of interest in mysteries and in the publishing of mysteries, especially those written by women. Each of us has to find our own way to publication -- that is a one-on-one proposition.
But we all benefit by seeing that reviewers review mysteries, for example (the monitoring project again), and by helping and supporting each other and the organization. Read the newsletter that you'll be getting soon -- there's a lot happening. And there's a place for everyone.
IC
Good positive ending note. Thanks so much, Sunnye!
To see previous Spotlight Profiles, click here.
