Sandra (Sandy) Brewer is the SinC-IC chapter's historian, alternate president, and technical consultant. She also runs her own business as a computer hardware and software consultant. That, SinC-IC, and keeping Trystan, a character in Sandy's first novel, Murder for Beltene, in line, keeps her exceptionally busy. Like many members, she has an awesome collection of books. Rumor has it that her TV is of the black and white vintage and serves only as a collector of dust. She has a delightful sense of humor evident in her writing. I'd say in her e-mails too, but I can't be sure, now, who is really sending mail in her name. You'll understand when you read further.

Each Spotlight guest may select any passage to be used as her introduction to our readers. Sandy went first class. She selected The Bard.

CHORUS: O, for a muse of fire, that would ascend The brightest heaven of invention. A kingdom for a stage, princes to act And monarchs to behold the swelling scene! Then should the warlike Harry, like himself, Assume the port of Mars; and at his heels, Leash'd in like hounds, should famine, sword and fire Crouch for employment. But pardon gentles all. The flat unraised spirits that have dared On this unworthy scaffold to bring forth So great an object: can this cockpit hold The vasty fields of France? Or may we cram Within this wooden O the very casques That did affright the air at Agincourt? O, pardon! And let us, ciphers to this great account On your imaginary forces work. For 'tis your thoughts that now must deck our kings Carry them here and there, jumping o'er times, Turning the accomplishment of many years Into an hour-glass: for the which supply, Admit me Chorus to this history; Who prologue-like your humble patience pray, Gently to hear, kindly to judge, our play!    -- Prologue, Henry V, William Shakespeare       (from the Kenneth Branagh screen adaptation)

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IC
In the quote from Henry V above, where Shakespeare uses the device of the chorus to speak directly to the audience, he asks them to use their imaginations; to 'see' the immensity of a battlefield upon this tiny stage. Is the call to imagination what intrigues you in this passage?

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Sandy
Shakespeare is one of my absolute favorites. There's very little he's done that I don't like. My friends generally refer to this as a Shakespeare jones. I get a little twitchy if I don't see some from time to time. And, of course, living as close as I do to Stratford, we get up there from time to time.

This particular quote. The imagery of the chorus telling the audience what they're going to see and that they have to add all the extraneous details themselves -- it's very much like what we do with books. We give them the basis and their imagination takes it from there. And, of course, the last line is the prayer of all writers. "Gently to hear, kindly to judge, our play."

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IC
Well, you certainly have followed the call to invite readers to use their imaginations in your soon-to-be published (November 1999) book, Murder for Beltene. Tell us about Murder for Beltene.

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Sandy
This is the summary I usually use for Murder for Beltene.

Life used to be so simple for Rhiannon Beltene. The deadlines for the vampire novels she writes used to be the most she had to worry about. But not anymore. Her cousin Trystan sleeps in a coffin and thinks he's a vampire. The body she's just found has thrown everyone into a tizzy. There's a new sheriff in town and her cousin, Righdhonn, the mercenary (and the best armed man in the county), has become her shadow. She's forced to put down her writing and deal with both the crisis and the new sheriff, who has no idea of exactly how the Beltene family runs Brennen County. Her family is sure that the killings are all her fault, the tabloids are having a field day and the murderer thinks a body a day is a terrific gift!

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IC
When I think of Murder for Beltene, I think of atmosphere and questions. Your story starts off with a bang and poses so many questions in the reader's mind such as what's with the Beltene Forest reputation for being haunted? What is this strange presence the Beltene family seems to have in what otherwise might be a normal town? The prevalence of the mostly Celtic streetnames and character names adds to the atmosphere. I can't wait to read the book!

Want to tell us about the origin of the name 'Beltene'?

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Sandy
Beltene is one of the names of the Welsh god of Death. When I was researching all the Celtic names I wanted to use, there it was in the list and it was one of the bolt-of-lightning things. I had the last name for my character and the title -- it went together so well.

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IC
It's also a festival on May 1, isn't it? Imagine, May 1 could be called a festival of the God of Death!

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Sandy
Yes, it is a festival on May 1st. It's the last of the three spring fertility festivals. A time when people, plants and animals prepare for the warm months. A time for love, union and the Maypole.

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IC
You make heavy use of Celtic myth in this book. How is it that you became immersed in Celtic lore?

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Sandy
I've always loved myths and legends. It's a short hop from Greek and Roman myths to something a little closer to home. And when I decided that Rhiannon's family needed to be in Michigan and Wales (I love mountains and Wales has some gorgeous ones), the myths and names had to be a part of the book.

Of course, the fact that I have an incredible number of history books (I don't really like much past Elizabeth I) could have something to do with it, too.

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IC
How long was Murder for Beltene brewing in the Brewer mind?

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Sandy
It brewed for quite a while -- the original conception was probably around 1991. I finished the original draft in 1995. It was rejected by Write Way, but Dorrie O'Brien sent me an excellent letter telling me it was well written, but what she saw as the major plot problems in it. I dwelled on it for a while, decided she was right, rewrote it -- it's 150% better for the rewrite -- sent it to her last year and this time she bought it! I also tend to get deeply sidetracked by research. At one point I got delayed the best part of a summer because I stopped to make a map of Sevyrn and Beltene House. I was losing track of where I was stashing the bodies!

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IC
Was Write Way, then, the first publisher you sent it to? No agent?

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Sandy
I sent it to several of the larger houses as well as Write Way -- Write Way was the only one I didn't get the standard 'This isn't appropriate for our list' rejection letter.

I did try several agents however, but didn't get anywhere, so when Dorrie made me an offer, and I thought it was good, I took it. So, yes, I am agent-less.

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IC
Ah, you answered my question before I asked; at least part of it. Did you end up doing an extensive outline that same summer?

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Sandy
My outline usually looks like a really scribbled-up page or two of notes. I know where I'm starting and more or less what I want in the middle and the end. I spend a lot of time keeping Rhiannon's cousin Trystan in line.

Of course, with the maps and house layouts and the extensive genealogies I did for both the Beltenes and most of the families in Sevyrn, I do have a lot of background material that won't need to be redone for succeeding books.

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IC
So this will be a series. Did you have that in mind when you began Murder for Beltene?

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Sandy
Not in the beginning, but it became clear as I was writing it, that there were too many cool characters to mush all into one book. Right now I have the basis for the next three. The next one is going to revolve around Rhiannon's cousin's birthday party -- on Halloween, no less -- which is also Samhain Eve, another pagan festival.

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IC
You mentioned Trystan earlier. A naive visitor to your web site would believe that Brennan County was real and that Trystan was perhaps your son, brother, or very close cousin, heh heh. This will be delightful to your future fans. How much of your life is "Sandy" and how much Brennan County and its inhabitants?

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Sandy
Sandy does the computer troubleshooting and consulting, which takes up a great deal of my time. Brennen County and its inhabitants get the rest, assisted by my friends who've taken my characters under their wings. Trystan, especially, has taken on a life of his own. Heavens, I get email from him.

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IC
E-mail! Are you sure you don't use your PC in your sleep?

You exhibit a great deal of humor in Murder for Beltene as well as at your web site. Is there also a dark side to Sandy?

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Sandy
Of course. I have a rather macabre sense of humor. As will be attested when Murder for Beltene comes out and the mode of murder and the reasons for them can be seen. Dark sides don't bother me, they're a part of everyone and they're only scary if you don't look them square in the eye. But humor is a great way to deal with dark and scary things.

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IC
Another enticement to read Murder for Beltene!

Can you tell us how Dorrie O'Brien of Write Way influenced your final version of Murder for Beltene?

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Sandy
Dorrie said that the original draft she received had two major problems. One was the relationship between Rhiannon and Daniel (which was both adversarial and hot) and the other was Rhiannon's attitude toward being the Beltene. Rhi spent the first 3/4 of the book moaning about not wanting to be the Beltene. Both problems were taken care of by making Rhiannon more mature and responsible and not quite so much of a spoiled brat.

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IC
Don't tell me, but I suspect that to be "The Beltene" must mean Rhiannon is supposed to 'okay' any death in Brennan County. Who wouldn't moan about that?

To other serious matters: Tell us who the people are who have most influenced you in the way you live your life or in your writing.

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Sandy
I've always been a compulsive reader (probably why I have 4000 odd books in my apartment) and I generally will read just about anything that's not nailed down. By the time I was in high school, I had gone through just about everything in the library and Lois (Thayer) Johnson, my honors English teacher was feeding me authors like Zola (I must admit Germinal took me the better part of 4-5 days to wade through!). She was also a very instrumental part of my writing. She encouraged me tremendously. She was always willing to sit down (with her red pencil) and read whatever I'd written (and having found some of those things recently, I think she should be nominated for sainthood).

I'd lost contact with her for a number of years, and when MFB was contracted, managed to track her down. She just finished reading it and said it was wonderful to see one of her students fulfilling their potential. I think that means more to me than just about anything.

Fictionwise, I prefer reading mysteries (now,there's a shock), fantasy and horror. And Shakespeare and history. I adored Alistar MacLean, Helen MacInnes, Dick Francis and Mary Stewart as a child.

As to the way I live my life, unfortunately, Pollyanna (I'm eternally optimistic) and Thumper's mom from Bambi ('If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all') are major influences.   :)

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IC
What brought you to Sisters in Crime?

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Sandy
At one point in the late eighties or early nineties, I decided that if I was seriously going to write mysteries that I needed to be part of an organization that evolved around them. I joined MWA, as an affiliate. I was a member for a couple of years, but didn't feel I was getting the support I wanted from them. Part of the problem is the nearest chapter is Chicago and that's four and a half hours from me.

So, about five years ago, I joined SinC National. We have our Books in Print, we have the Publisher's Weekly ad twice a year and a lot more comradery. Of course, I still couldn't attend meetings, so when I found SinC-IC last fall, I was elated. And decided if I was going to be a member, I might as well be active.

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IC
You are on the SinC-IC Steering Committee. Many members have only a vague idea of what that means. Want to enlighten them?

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Sandy
One of the major things we do is to evaluate the services that we can offer the members of our chapter and then implement new ones as we think of them. Such as the workshop, the membership roster, both the personal and the SinC webrings. It's been an active year for us.

And we are always open to new suggestions for services from members.

If there are any jobs that we need to have done (and there are many, from WebSister to PR), we have members who find us volunteers to assist. Each member of the Steering Committee usually has at least one other job she's doing.

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IC
And you were a busy volunteer before being on the Steering Committee. I realize it is probably difficult, but can you tell us what you like best about SinC-IC?

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Sandy
The interaction, the comradery and the feeling that, published or not, there are people out there just like you and they've run into the same problems you have and you can talk to them about it.

Writing is a solitary game and too often you can forget that you're not alone.

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IC
The SinC-IC mailing list certainly helps in staving off writer's loneliness, doesn't it? Now, here's the oddball question of the session: Imagine walking into a room where a well-known writer, the US President, and a puppy awaited you. Protocol not being an issue, whom would you first approach? Whom would you spend the most time with?

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Sandy
I'd approach the puppy first, and depending on the identity of the writer, would spend most of my time either with the writer or the puppy.

We don't even want to contemplate a discussion between me and the US President. I have a very low tolerance for politics in general.

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IC
Do you see a future in e-books and would you ever consider having your books made available in that medium?

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Sandy
I'm not sure how much of a future there is for e-books. I have to tell you, when I read, I want to curl up on the couch. Not in front of my monitor -- God knows, I spend enough time in front of it between the computer troubleshooting, jobs for clients and writing. Nor am I overthrilled with printing it out and reading loose sheets (I get enough of that editing my own manuscripts). However, I'm sure there are a number of people who would rather go that route. So, yes, if they come up with a reasonable way to market e-books, then I'm sure you'll see mine it that medium. But I doubt that I'll be reading them. I like the feel of a book too much.

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IC
What do you think is the future of the printed word? Paper versus film, TV, or digital medium?

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Sandy
I think I could be a bad person to answer that question. I'm the one with an apartment full of books (Trystan has pointed out that there are libraries with less) and a television that does nothing but work as an attachment for my VCR, neither of which are overworked. For some of the reasons I used for the last question I don't think the printed word is on its way out, but I do think it's sharing its space.

Interestingly enough, I was asked a couple of years ago if when I was writing (or reading, for that matter) I saw the words or the action. I was rather stunned and took a moment before telling the person that the words were the action and the action was the words. There was no difference. She was amazed that I saw no difference. Perhaps the fact that there are people who can't see the action in the words is why other mediums are so popular.

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IC
I'm wondering if there is an answer begging to be given to the question not asked?

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Sandy
I can't think of a single answer that's gone unnoticed.

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IC
Okay, I sense Trystan in the wings so, wrapping it up, is there any last comment for our readers?

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Sandy
Yes, he seems to think I should work on his birthday party this afternoon -- optimistic soul that he is.

Getting published can happen -- I have a collection of rejection letters that could choke a horse (or considering the thread on the General Bulletin Board -- a cow?) and after all these years, it's happened.

May your words all be wonderful!

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IC
Nice closing, Sandy. Thanks for being our guest.

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Sandy
Thanks for having me. Besides SinC-IC just got the pleasure (I hope) of doing the first interview for Murder for Beltene.  :)

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IC
Thanks for all the time -- and Trystan's been waiting for that birthday party for eons! How does he stand it?

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Sandy
Well, he's not terribly patient and if he gets too rambunctious, I just toss him in the dungeon for a while. It's amazing what kind of attitude adjustment that gets me.  :)

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If you'd like to get a taste of Murder for Beltene check out Sandy's home page.

This interview was conducted on August 14 for the Internet Chapter (IC) by Louise Guardino.