August/September 2004
Nancy J. Cohen is the award winning author of four futuristic romance novels and the Bad Hair Day mystery series.
She has a bachelor's degree in nursing from the University of Rochester and a master's degree from the University of California. After the birth of her first child, she gave up her career as a clinical nurse specialist to write full-time. Her debut novel, a romance written under the pseudonym Nancy Cane, won the HOLT Medallion Award.
The Bad Hair Day mystery series, published by Kensington, features South Florida beauty salon owner and hairstylist Marla Shore. So far, Marla has snipped, styled, and snooped her way through five books. Look for the sixth in the series, Died Blonde, in December 2004.
Welcome, Nancy!
IC:
How long have you been writing?
NC:
I’ve been writing ever since I can remember, but I began my first novel in 1975 with a helpful book called Structuring Your Novel. My career propelled ahead after I joined Florida Romance Writers in 1988 and got involved in a critique group. I just finished my term as President for this organization. I considered that payback for all the help and support I’ve gotten over the years.
IC:
Do you still participate in a critique group? Do you recommend them as a tool for other writers?
NC:
I belong to a group of six critique partners who meet every other week, alternating people's homes. We provide snacks and spend the first half hour or so munching while we discuss industry news, whine about rejections, or share info about writing related events. Then we pass around pages for fifteen to twenty minutes each, writing our critique notes on separate sheets of paper. After everyone's been read, we target one person at a time and go around the table offering our critiques aloud. Each person takes home the notes pertaining to her work. We start from the beginning of a book, and read sequentially at each meeting. Our group meets Tuesday mornings from 9:30 until around 1:00. Yes, I recommend joining a critique group to other writers. I couldn’t have done it without them, and I still need their input, not to mention the support.
IC:
What made you switch from nursing to writing?
NC:
I’ve always wanted to write, but then I always wanted to be a nurse, also. I retired from nursing after my first child was born, and then I began writing full-time.
IC:
I know you started in the Romance Genre, even winning a Holt Medallion award. Can you tell us why you decided to switch to mysteries?
NC:
I ended up having a mystery in my last romance novels, so I thought, why not write a straight mystery? I really like devising complex plots and that works better in the mystery genre.
IC:
Did you find the switch from romance to mystery easy or hard? Did your contacts from the romance area help?
NC:
I maintained my romance contacts because I believe in cross-genre promotion, but I had to make new contacts in mystery. The conferences were the most difficult because of cultural differences between the genres. Romance writers dress up more and run their panels very differently than mystery authors. The mystery field is very different. I still feel as though I have one foot in each sector, which I suppose I do.
IC:
Do you still write romances as Nancy Cane?
NC:
Not at the moment. My earlier futuristic romances are available online, however.
IC:
Do you have any advice for writers who want to cross-over from one genre to another?
NC:
Read a lot in your chosen genre so you understand the nuances of language, genre conventions, reader expectations, and tone. It should be something you enjoy, not something you do just because the market is hot in that particular field. Get involved in writers organizations and conferences for the new genre so you can start making contacts and getting your name out there.
IC:
What gave you the idea for the Bad Hair Day series?
NC:
I was in the hair salon getting a perm, waiting for my timer to go off, and I had nothing good to read. I glanced at the other customers who were staring into space waiting for their timers to go off. I thought, we need something gripping to read to kill time. Let’s kill off one of these ladies! Thus PERMED TO DEATH was born. A stylist has to be a good listener, so she’s a natural for a sleuth. She knows many people around town, and clients confide in her. The beauty parlor is a great background setting for a mystery series. People are constantly walking in, gossiping, and exchanging information. Plus, it’s fun to research, and I can write off my hair appointments on my taxes. :)
IC:
The next book in the series is scheduled for December. Can you give us a taste of what Marla will be up to in Died Blonde?
NC:
Marla stumbles over her rival’s body in the meter room behind their competing salons. Carolyn Sutton has been a thorn in Marla’s side ever since the first book, so Marla isn’t eager to help Detective Vail solve the case. At least, not until Carolyn’s trusted psychic tells Marla that someone she knows will die unless she finds Carolyn’s killer. The trail takes Marla to Cassadaga which is a spiritualist camp in central Florida. More on the research below. Also, Marla’s relationship with Dalton Vail moves up a notch. Their romantic subplot continues to spice the series but the road still has a few rocks in it yet.
IC:
How much research do you do for your books?
NC:
Researching a book is the fun part for me. I get to learn something new and have a lot of interesting experiences. For Body Wave, I toured the aquaculture research center associated with Nova Southeastern University. It was fascinating to learn about tilapia fish farming. For Died Blonde, I stayed overnight at the Cassadaga Hotel and got a reading by a psychic. I also visited a Seminole bingo hall. The next book is called Dead Roots, and for this one, I went to the Gamble Plantation near the west coast of Florida. The old sugar mill ruins will be in my story. Personal experiences end up in my books, and Internet research also plays a part. Trips to on-site locations provide sensory details that bring the story alive.
IC:
Can you share a favorite experience you've had as a writer?
NC:
The best experience as a writer is getting letters and e-mail from readers saying that they like my books or that they somehow have been inspired by my work. I particularly liked the one from a hairdresser who said I inspired her to open her own salon.
IC:
Since you have written mysteries and romances, and your romances have paranormal aspects, what do you like to read?
NC:
I read romance, mystery, and science fiction. I love genre fiction, because I read to escape the turmoil of daily life. That’s also the experience I hope to give my readers. There’s enough bad news in the newspapers every day. When you read my books, I want you to escape to tropical Florida for a fast-paced adventure with a touch of romance.
IC:
How do you write your books-do you plot them out or let the characters lead you?
NC:
I write the entire synopsis before I begin the manuscript. Although my story is plotted out ahead of time, sometimes it takes a different path. That’s when the characters take over.
IC:
Do you write the synopsis first for strictly your use or do you share it with your editor/agent? If you do share it with them is there any pressure to stick with the synopsis even if you feel the characters want to take the story someplace else?
NC:
There is no pressure to stick to a synopsis. The story evolves as it evolves. For me, the synopsis is both a marketing tool and a writing guideline. It acts as my outline, but also my option clause calls for just a synopsis.
IC:
When you are working on one book in the series are you thinking of where Marla may be in the book after that one?
NC:
Yes, I’ll start gathering information for the next book. Sometimes I’ll plant a little teaser at the end of the story that leads into the following installment.
IC:
Do you have any other projects in the works?
NC:
Well, I just completed the synopsis for my option book for Kensington. If they renew my contracts, you’ll see at least a couple more Bad Hair Day books. In the meantime, I’m working on some new proposals.
IC:
You mentioned new proposals, can you tell us are they for mysteries, romances or something completely different?
NC:
I’m not sure what you’d call them! One is romantic suspense with a strong mystery element. The other is suspense with a romantic element. So go figure. It’ll be whatever the editor or agent decides to call it. But these are stand alone stories geared more for the romance market. I also have an idea for a new mystery series but I may not have time to develop it, depending on what happens with these other books and my on-going series.
IC:
I noticed on your web site you have a page for reader's bad hair day questions. How did this get started? Do a lot of readers email you questions for Marla? Do you have beauty experience of your own?
NC:
I’ve gotten a LOT of questions from browsers about their bad hair problems. I can’t say that they’re all readers. But everybody is concerned about their hair, and too many people mess up their home coloring job and want free advice. I once got my hair hacked off too short, so I can understand the horror when that happens. I get my kicks from the e-mails that start out with Dear Marla, like she’s real. She IS real to me!
I’m looking forward to a quiet summer to get some writing done. Please keep watch on my web site for new listings of signings and appearances. Click here to visit Nancy's site.
IC:
Here are a few of Nancy's upcoming appearances:
December 5, Sunday, 1-3pm, Cover To Cover Books, Tavernier Towne, 91272 Overseas Hwy Tavernier FL 3307, 305-852-1415, Contact: Joan Bell: c2cbooks@compusource.net
December 13 2004, Monday, 6:30pm, Delray Beach Public Library, 29 SE 4th Ave., Delray Beach FL, 561-266-9490
February 18-20, 2005, Florida Romance Writers Annual Fun-in-the-Sun Conference, Renaissance Hotel, Fort Lauderdale
March 3-6, 2005 SleuthFest, Renaissance Hotel, Fort Lauderdale
April 27-May 1, 2005, Romantic Times Booklovers Convention, St. Louis, Millennium Hotel
This interview was conducted for SinC-IC
by Lori Devoti.
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