Today's Mystery Author Guest: Kwei Quartey

As promised yesterday, fellow mystery author Kwei Quartey is visiting my blog today, with answers to my interview questions. To read his bio and see his photo, please page down to yesterday's post. Also, Kwei is running a contest for a free autographed copy of the upcoming March release in his Inspector Darko Dawson mystery series, Murder at Cape Three Points. Kwei will select the winner tomorrow evening from among those who leave a comment today or tomorrow and will announce the name in a comment on this post.

In the book, at Cape Three Points on the beautiful Ghanaian coast, a canoe washes up at an oil rig site. The two bodies in the canoe—who turn out to be a prominent, wealthy, middle-aged married couple—have obviously been murdered; the way Mr. Smith-Aidoo has been gruesomely decapitated suggests the killer was trying to send a specific message—but what, and to whom, is a mystery. The Smith-Aidoos, pillars in their community, are mourned by everyone, but especially by their niece Sapphire, a successful pediatric surgeon in Ghana's capital, Accra. She is not happy that months have passed since the murder and the rural police have made no headway.

When the Ghanaian federal police finally agree to get involved, Detective Inspector Darko Dawson of the Accra police force is sent out to Cape Three Points to investigate. Pretty as the coast is, he is not happy to be sent away from his wife and two sons, the younger of whom is recovering from a heart operation. And the more he learns about the case, the more convoluted and dangerous it becomes. Three Points has long been inhabited by tribal villages of subsistence fishers, but real estate entrepreneurs and wealthy oil companies have been trying to bribe the tribes to move out. Dawson roots out a host of motives for murder, ranging from personal vendettas to corporate conspiracies.

Sounds like a very intriguing read to me! Below are Kwei's answers to my interview questions.

1. Who or what inspired you to start writing and when did you start?

I started writing novellas when I was eight or nine years old. My parents had hundreds of books at home, fiction and nonfiction. I read voraciously, and I loved mysteries—both adult and children’s. I don’t know what made me want to write like those authors, but I did. Film actors tell how as they watched movies as kids, they thought to themselves, “I want to do that.” It was the same for me, but with books.

2. What tools and process do you use to “get to know” your characters before and while you’re writing the books?

I keep writing the character, and like in real life, he or she begins to develop and grow on me. Sometimes they “do stuff” that surprises me. The suggestion I’ve heard of sitting down to make a detailed sketch of every character—age, appearance, likes, dislikes, marital status, etc.—seems wrong to me. The character is going to evolve in the novel in any case, so I don’t waste time trying to box him or her into some pre-defined state. If we met people and immediately tried to confine them to our first impressions, we would miss the opportunity of getting to know them. Don’t box your characters in.

3. How do you construct your plots? Do you outline or do you write “by the seat of your pants”?

I have to write an outline because the editors want to see one. For instance, Soho Press editors are lining up their 2015 schedule right now, and they would like to see what I have for Darko Dawson #4 (I’m hoping to send them something in about 2 weeks.) There’s no “should” or “should not” about an outline, but it doesn’t hurt. It’s like standing at the top of a valley you’re about to explore. You don’t know the details of what’s in the valley yet, but it’s useful to see the lay of the land.

4. In the age-old question of character versus plot, which one do you think is most important in a murder mystery and which one do you emphasize in your writing? Why?

Character first, plot second. What makes your blood boil or puts a smile on your face? People and what they do. Same with a novel, mystery or otherwise. If plot was the more important, mystery writers could all just write a narrative synopsis showing the brilliant plot and publish that. Thirty pages and you’re done.

With Wife of the Gods, my first novel, readers never said, “Omg, what a plot!” No, they talked about the characters and why they behaved the way they did. What I love about book clubs, which are almost invariably 99 percent female, is that women love to discuss characters in the novel. I often hear readers give an insight into a character that never even occurred to me.

5. What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced as a writer and what inspires you and keeps you motivated?

Getting published—tough slogging. But I’m stubborn, and there’s something about me that makes me even more determined when someone tells me “no.” I don’t like no.

6. What is a typical workday for you and how many hours a day (or week) do you devote to writing?

I wake at 5 AM to write, occasionally earlier. I am worthless late at night unless I’m on deadline. I’m still practicing medicine full time, but in 2014 it’s likely that I will cut back my practice to three 10-hour days. I can’t sustain the same “double career” that I have done heretofore because the writing demands on my time are greater and greater. It’s no longer just the novel-writing itself. It’s blogging, writing articles, travel, events, and so on.

7. What advice do you have to offer to an aspiring author?

1. Love writing for its own sake.
2. Have a crazy desire to create a story and a crazy desire for people to read it.
3. Remember that criticism is an opinion. I had a UK agent tell me years ago in the snootiest tones possible that, “Two places no one wants to read about: Africa and Afghanistan.” That was before the million bestselling No. 1 Ladies Detective series, set in Botswana, Africa, and the international mega-bestseller The Kite Runner, set in Afghanistan. Look, the fact is, sometimes people just don’t know what they’re talking about, so be tough.
4. But don’t be a jerk either. There are really good people in the business, and they deserve respect.
5. Don’t say to people, “I have an idea for a novel,” and then regale them with the plot. Get cracking with writing it and stop sharing it. It’s no good in your head. It needs to be written. Don’t give your drafts to friends, family, lovers, spouses and the like to read and critique unless they’re editors or phenomenally successful authors. People think they know writing the same way they think they know medicine.
 6. If you get stuck on a plot point, give it a night’s sleep. The solution may come to you during sleep. The subconscious needs time to work and not be bothered by the often overbearing conscious self.

8. Now here’s a zinger. Tell us something about yourself that you have not revealed in another interview yet. Something as simple as your favorite TV show or food will do.

I’m terrified of possums, but I like snakes. 

9. What are you working on now and what are your future writing plans?

Even as I promote Murder at Cape Three Points, I will be writing my 4th Darko novel, tentatively called Gold of my Fathers. I’d like to put out a couple of e-novellas as well, but I'm not sure if I will have time.

10. Is there anything else you would like to tell my blog readers?

It would be great if you could sign up on my blog email list. I try not to overdo it and don’t send out blogs more than once every couple weeks or so. But since I’m going to Ghana in February and will be doing some exciting stuff like visiting a deep-sea oil rig, it might be fun to read about my exploits. I’m always getting into something with a little hint of danger. You can see the blogs I wrote about illegal gold mining in Ghana, the topic of the next novel.

Try reading the first two Darko novels, Wife of the Gods and Children of the Street, before Murder at Cape Three Points. Although not absolutely essential, it’s best to do it that way so you can establish the background. Please also check out my e-novella, Death at the Voyager Hotel. This is a very quick and easy read, perfect for a plane flight.

I am most available for book clubs, and I enjoy them. Along with my website, you can find me on Twitter.

11. Anything else?

I recently learned from fellow writer Mukoma wa Ngugi, a professor at Cornell, that he uses Wife of the Gods in the course he teaches on crime writing, along with Walter Mosley’s and Sara Paretsky’s novels. I was thrilled and humbled.


Thanks, Kwei! Now, who has a comment or question for Kwei Quartey? Good luck in the contest!

Tomorrow's Guest: Kwei Quartey

Tomorrow, fellow mystery author Kwei Quartey will guest on my blog. He answers my interview questions, and I'm sure you'll be intrigued by what he has to say. Also, Kwei will run a contest for an autographed copy of the upcoming March release in his Inspector Darko Dawson mystery series, Murder at Cape Three Points. He will choose the winner from among those who leave a comment.

Kwei Quartey is a crime fiction writer and physician living in Pasadena, California. Having practiced medicine for more than 20 years while simultaneously working as a writer, he has attained noteworthy achievements in both fields. Dr. Quartey balances the two professions by dedicating the early morning hours to writing before beginning a day in his clinic.

Kwei Quartey attended medical school at Howard University in Washington, D.C. In 1993, he began practicing medicine in California with HealthCare Partners. Dr. Quartey later founded the facility's wound care center while working as an urgent care physician.

As a crime fiction writer, Kwei Quartey made the Los Angeles Times Bestseller List in 2009. The following year, the G.O.G. National Book Club awarded him the title of Best Male Author. His first two novels in the Inspector Darko Dawson series, Wife of the Gods and Children of the Street, were published in 2009 and 2011, respectively. The third, Murder at Cape Three Points, will be released on March 18, 2014. Death at the Voyager Hotel, a mystery e-novella not belonging to the series, was published in July 2013.

Dr. Quartey is a member of the Los Angeles chapter of Sisters in Crime, a fiction writers’ organization. He writes about Ghana and sub-Saharan Africa for the online publication Foreign Policy in Focus and has been a guest columnist for the Huffington Post.

Today's Mystery Author Guest: Cathi Stoler

As promised yesterday, fellow mystery author Cathi Stoler is visiting my blog today, with answers to my interview questions. To read her bio and see her photo, please page down to yesterday's post. Also, Cathi is running a contest for a free autographed copy of the second mystery in her Helen and Laurel New York Mystery series, Keeping Secrets. Cathi will select the winner tomorrow evening from among those who leave a comment today or tomorrow and will announce the name in a comment on this post.

In the book, Laurel Imperiole, a reporter for New York’s Women Now magazine, has just received a series of emails from Anne Ellsworth, a young woman in fear for her life. Anne has discovered that her fiancé has several aliases and is terrified of what he will do if he finds out. Laurel, who empathizes with Anne, sees an opportunity to rescue her and write a story on hidden identities that will help her readers avoid similar predicaments. Helen McCorkendale, a private eye and close friend, agrees to investigate both Anne’s fiancé, David, and Laurel’s banker boyfriend, Matt. Laurel had planned to use Matt as the good guy in the story—the one with nothing to hide—but Anne’s situation and Matt’s sudden strange behavior are making her paranoid. Soon Helen and Laurel find that they have stirred up a hornet’s nest buzzing with vengeful Mafiosi, greedy bankers, and dirty politicians. In desperation they turn to Aaron Gerrard, Laurel’s ex-boyfriend and head of New York’s Identity Theft Squad, for advice. Aaron, who has never forgiven Laurel for “betraying” him by concealing information important to one of his cases, reluctantly agrees to help. The women discover that everything is connected, and everyone has something to hide. Will the secrets Laurel and Helen disclose keep them alive or seal their fates?

Sounds like an exciting read to me! Below are Cathi's answers to my interview questions.

1. Who or what inspired you to start writing and when did you start?

I’ve loved reading since I was a little girl, especially mystery and spy stories. Nancy Drew and The Hardy Boys were among my favorites. Then when I was a little older, the James Bond books. Oh, that Ian Fleming! Since I wasn’t going to be a detective or a spy—most Bronx girls didn’t go that route—I turned my overactive imagination to advertising copywriting, which can be fiction of a different sort. Then, about six years ago, I finally decided to try writing a novel—a mystery of course—and wrote my first in the series, Telling Lies.

2. What tools and process do you use to “get to know” your characters before and while you’re writing the books?

My main characters, Laurel Imperiole and Helen McCorkendale are in Telling Lies, Keeping Secrets and the upcoming The Hard Way. Creating them was a very visual process for me.

I like to picture how my characters will look, how they will speak and behave in various situations and how they interact with each other before I write it down. I’ve occasionally found myself walking down the street having conversations with them to work out their dialog, which probably makes me look like just another crazy New Yorker.

3. How do you construct your plots? Do you outline or do you write “by the seat of your pants”?

I pretty much write by the seat of my pants. I have an idea of where I want the story to go and head in that direction. As I’m working, situations might occur to me that I’d like to include and I write them down in a sort of outline format. Later, I’ll go back and make sure the scenes are arranged in a way that makes sense and that nothing important is missing from the story.

4. In the age-old question of character versus plot, which one do you think is most important in a murder mystery and which one do you emphasize in your writing? Why?

This is a tricky question. There’s no doubt that both are important.  For me, I’d say it’s my characters. The way they behave helps inform the plot. I might come up with some bit of action for Helen, for example, such as working an undercover stakeout and observing something she didn’t expect, as she does in Keeping Secrets, which can lead to a new plot twist.

5. What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced as a writer and what inspires you and keeps you motivated?

Finding the time to write is definitely my biggest challenge. I still have a full time job writing advertising web and catalog copy, so my novel and story writing has to be done in the evenings and on weekends. Add to that the time we writers need to spend promoting our books, writing blog posts, etc. and it’s really hard to fit it all in. But, I love what I do and seeing my work in print or online makes it all worthwhile.

6. What is a typical workday for you and how many hours a day (or week) do you devote to writing?

As I mentioned, I have a full time job, so I try and write every night for a few hours and part of the weekend. It just doesn’t always work out that way, and some weeks I don’t write at all or just have very limited time.

7. What advice do you have to offer to an aspiring author?

Don’t give up! If you really want to write, keep at it. Write about things that make you happy. It’s hard to deal with rejection and not take it personally, but yours is the one opinion that matters. If you think you can do it, you will. Just don’t give up!

8. Now here’s a zinger. Tell us something about yourself that you have not revealed in another interview yet. Something as simple as your favorite TV show or food will do.

When I was a child and my class had to sing in the choir at mass, I was told I was tone-deaf and that I should just ‘mouth’ the words. So, I was always self-conscious about singing. When I was in my thirties, I decided to take singing lessons with a friend who was singer and piano player. We discovered I was not tone deaf. I just really needed to listen to the music. It was great, and I had a wonderful time learning to sing.

9. What are you working on now and what are your future writing plans?

We’re getting ready to release book three in the Laurel and Helen New York Mystery series, The Hard Way. It takes place in New York and Las Vegas, where Helen is helping an old friend investigate a mysterious murder at his new casino and resort. The story revolves around the International diamond business.

I’m also working on the first book a new series, Bar None, A Murder On The Rocks Mystery, which features Jude Dillane, a young woman who owns a bar on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. She finds the body of a murdered man in her landlord’s apartment and helps him find the killer. 

10. Is there anything else you would like to tell my blog readers?

I hope you’ll visit me at my website and check out Women of Mystery, where I blog. You can find Keeping Secrets on Amazon.com along with Telling Lies and my novella, Nick of Time. All are also available through booksellers everywhere.

Please let me know what you think of my work. I’d love to speak at your book club or reading group. Thanks for reading!


Thanks, Cathi! Now, who has a comment or question for Cathi Stoler? Good luck in the contest!

Tomorrow's Guest: Cathi Stoler

Tomorrow, fellow mystery author Cathi Stoler will guest on my blog. She answers my interview questions, and I'm sure you'll be intrigued by what she has to say. Also, Cathi will run a contest for an autographed copy of the second mystery in her Helen and Laurel New York Mystery series, Keeping Secrets. She will choose the winner from among those who leave a comment.

Cathi Stoler is a native New Yorker whose mysteries feature P.I. Helen McCorkendale and magazine editor Laurel Imperiole in her Helen and Laurel New York Mystery series. Cathi’s novels with these two protagonists include Telling Lies, Keeping Secrets and The Hard Way. She has also published a novella, Nick of Time, and is working on a new series, Bar None, A Murder on The Rocks Mystery featuring Jude Dillane, a Bronx girl like Cathi herself. She's had stories published in several print anthologies and online, including "Fatal Flaw", a finalist for the Derringer for Best Short Story. She is a member of Mystery Writers of America, as well as Sisters in Crime and posts at the Women Of Mystery blog.

Today's Mystery Author Guest: Terry Shames

As promised yesterday, fellow mystery author Terry Shames is visiting my blog today, with a post about returning to Texas as a "foreigner" after having lived in California for many years. To read her bio and see her photo, please page down to yesterday's post. Also, Terry is running a contest for a free autographed copy of her the second mystery in her Samuel Craddock series, The Last Death of Jack Harbin, the cover art for which appears above. Terry will select the winner tomorrow evening from among those who leave a comment today or tomorrow and will announce the name in a comment on this post.

In the book, with the chief of police out of commission, it’s up to trusted ex-chief Samuel Craddock to investigate the brutal murder of a Gulf War veteran who was a former high school football star. Craddock uncovers a dark tale of greed and jealousy that extends into the past, and well beyond the borders of the small town of Jarrett Creek.

Sounds like a chilling read to me! Below is Terry's guest article.

Returning to Texas

by Terry Shames

When you read this, I’ll be spending two weeks in Texas. Texas?!!

I can’t tell you the number of people who have said to me, “I wouldn’t like to go to Texas. I can’t stand the weather or the politics.” And yet those same people would jump at the chance to go to Russia, Indonesia, Iran, Egypt, England, Venezuela—or any of a host of countries where the weather and/or the politics might be extreme.

I was brought up in Texas and couldn’t wait to get out. Couldn’t stand the weather or the politics.

And yet, I love to go back and visit, not just because I have a slew of relatives there that I love, nor because “home” is always in your blood. I like to go because in its own way Texas has an exotic way of life and a cultural heritage unlike any other. When I go now, I look at it through the eyes of a tourist.

Houston, Dallas, Fort Worth, and San Antonio have wonderful art museums, ballet companies, and fine dining. Austin has its music scene. But even in the hinterlands you can come across pockets of “exotic” culture. You can run across a church that is having a performance of amazing gospel music, or a small-town fiddle contest,

or an art gallery that has discovered a local artist who produces work like you’ve never seen anywhere else.

The strong Mexican heritage of Texas means that all over the state you run into interesting adobe structures—houses and missions, and wonderful murals and art, not to mention mariachi music  and soulful serenades.

Texans have a strong need to boast—but you really can find fantastic barbecue, succulent oysters and shrimp, delicious Tex-Mex entrees and margaritas.

In the spring driving back-country highways, you want to stop again and again to feast your eyes on the blankets of wildflowers that were the passion of Ladybird Johnson.

If you are more interested in challenges, try Big Bend National Park for some of the most rugged and dramatic mountains you’ve ever faced.

Or try windsurfing or kiteboarding or just walk for miles on the beaches of Padre Island. Bird watching in the state is amazing. A few years ago, I played tourist and went to King Ranch and saw as many birds in one afternoon as I did on the best day in Costa Rica.

In the 90s I lived in Italy for a time, and you would think I would return and find Texas architecture sadly wanting. But after the grandeur and beauty of the old, old Italian cities, I found myself appreciating the austere stateliness of prairie architecture.

I go back to Texas often to renew my “feel” for the extremes of weather and culture of Texas because my Samuel Craddock series is set there in a fictional town much like any small town in central Texas. I’ve come to appreciate the state from the outside looking in. In some ways it’s as exotic as Russia or Indonesia—and a lot easier to get to.

Thanks, Terry! Now, who has a comment or question for Terry Shames? Good luck in the contest!

Tomorrow's Guest: Terry Shames

Tomorrow, fellow mystery author Terry Shames will guest on my blog. She's written a post about returning to Texas as a "foreigner" after having lived in California for many years, and I'm sure you'll be intrigued by what she has to say. Also, Terry will run a contest for an autographed copy of her recent mystery release, The Last Death of Jack Harbin, her second Samuel Craddock mystery. She will choose the winner from among those who leave a comment.

Terry Shames is the best-selling author of A Killing at Cotton Hill and The Last Death of Jack Harbin, Seventh Street Books. Her books are set in small-town Texas and feature ex-chief of police Samuel Craddock. Terry lives in Berkeley, CA with her husband and two rowdy terriers. She is Vice President of Norcal Sisters in Crime and on the board of MWA Norcal. For more information, please visit her website.

Today's Mystery Author Guest: Tracy Weber

As promised yesterday, fellow Midnight Ink mystery author Tracy Weber is visiting my blog today, with answers to my interview questions. To read her bio and see her photo, please page down to yesterday's post. Also, Tracy is running a contest for a free autographed copy of her first mystery release, Murder Strikes a Pose, the cover art for which appears above. Tracy will select the winner tomorrow evening from among those who leave a comment today or tomorrow and will announce the name in a comment on this post.

In the book, Seattle yoga instructor Kate Davidson tries to live up to yoga's Zen-like expectations, but it's not easy while struggling to keep her small business afloat or dodging her best friend's matchmaking efforts. When George, a homeless alcoholic, and his loud, horse-sized German shepherd, Bella, start hawking newspapers outside her studio, Kate attempts to convince them to leave. Instead, the three strike up an unlikely friendship. Then Kate finds George's body. The police dismiss it as a drug-related street crime, but Kate knows he was no drug dealer. Now she must solve George's murder and find someone willing to adopt his intimidating companion before Bella is sent to the big dog park in the sky. With the murderer on her trail, Kate has to work fast or her next Corpse Pose may be for real.

Sounds like a fun and fascinating read to me! Below are Tracys answers to my interview questions.

1. Who or what inspired you to start writing and when did you start?

I blame it all on a bad workout and Susan Conant. I’m a pretty faithful exerciser, but riding a stationary bike is terminally boring, so I distract myself by reading. I love anything related to dogs, so when I discovered Susan Conant’s series a few years ago, I devoured them.

 One day, after a particularly brutal workout and a passage from Black Ribbon that make me laugh out loud, I decided to learn more about her. Less than two hours later, I stumbled across a website dedicated to cozy mysteries, and thought, Huh? Wonder if I should write a cozy about yoga? I filed the idea in the too-crazy-to-be-pursued file for two years, then started writing. The rest is, as they say, history.

2. What tools and process do you use to “get to know” your characters before and while you’re writing the books?

My characters stalk me. Meaning, they live inside my head and harass me until I write them. Kate (my protagonist) is particularly insistent, though her friend Rene likes to butt in as well. They can be really quite annoying. I get to know them by typing their stories.

Sometimes they give me an idea about themselves that isn’t fully formed, but comes to me as an image or word. Then I do Google Image searches until they visually reveal parts of themselves that way.

Hopefully all of the above means I’m creative, not psychotic.

3. How do you construct your plots? Do you outline or do you write “by the seat of your pants”?

I do both. The first draft is by the seat of my pants. Who has time to outline when you’ve got characters like Kate and Rene harassing you to hurry up and write them? While I write the second draft, I outline what I’ve already written, identify plot holes and inconsistencies. I try to fix those in the third draft. After that, it’s only 27 more drafts until the finished product!

4. In the age-old question of character versus plot, which one do you think is most important in a murder mystery and which one do you emphasize in your writing? Why?

Character, character, character. But then again, according to the yoga teachings, our character is defined by the actions we take and our reactions to the world around us, and isn’t that plot? This question makes my head spin.  ;-)

5. What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced as a writer and what inspires you and keeps you motivated?

Oddly enough, my dog is the biggest inspiration in most of my life. My work is Kate’s story, but Kate adores Bella (her German shepherd) and Bella makes Kate a better person, just like Tasha does me.

My biggest challenge? Probably finding the time to write, teach yoga, run my business, and market myself as a new author. I hope human cloning is viable soon.

6. What is a typical workday for you and how many hours a day (or week) do you devote to writing?

I’m lucky. I own my own business, so I’m able to work any eighteen hours a day I want. Seriously, sometimes it feels that way. But my writing ebbs and flows based on the other competing priorities of my life. Sometimes several weeks will go by without my having time to write a word. Other times I do it nonstop. I’m most creative late at night, which drives my husband crazy. Most weeks I probably dedicate 30 hours or more to fiction writing. Blogs and other writing are on top of that.

7. What advice do you have to offer to an aspiring author?

Don’t give up! Writing is a TOUGH business. No one gets published without facing rejection. When I was trying to land an agent, I allowed myself 24 hours to feel bad about every rejection, then I forced myself to do something proactive. Send out another letter, connect with another author, write another page.

You can’t please everyone, and yet when you write, you so desperately want to. (At least I do.) Just keep writing what you love and know that your work isn’t defined by what any one person thinks of it.

8. Now here’s a zinger. Tell us something about yourself that you have not revealed in another interview yet. Something as simple as your favorite TV show or food will do.

Dogs are my love and a dog is the center of my books, but I started out as a cat person. I’ve owned cats most of my adult life, but I didn’t get my first dog (as an adult) until the age of 40. She was worth the wait. My cats disagree, but that’s another story…

9. What are you working on now and what are your future writing plans?

I’m currently writing the second installment of the Downward Dog Mysteries, tentatively titled A Killer Retreat, as well my yoga blog. I definitely plan to keep going with Kate and Bella’s stories, but another series is forming in my mind. I’m pretty sure those characters will start harassing me soon, so I’ll probably have to start working on that one as well.

10. Is there anything else you would like to tell my blog readers?

Check out my author website  and my weekly yoga blog.

And, of course, Murder Strikes a Pose is available at Amazon,  Midnight Ink,  and other major booksellers.  Autographed copies can be purchased from Whole Life Yoga.

I’d love to hear what you think of the book and/or to talk at book clubs or other venues. Keep reading, and go after your dreams!


Thanks, Tracy! Now, who has a comment or question for Tracy Weber? Good luck in the contest!

Tomorrow's Guest: Tracy Weber

Tomorrow, fellow Midnight Ink mystery author Tracy Weber will guest on my blog. She answers my interview questions, and I'm sure you'll be intrigued by what she has to say. Also, Tracy will run a contest for an autographed copy of her first mystery release, Murder Strikes a Pose, which features a yoga instructor. She will choose the winner from among those who leave a comment.

Tracy Weber is a certified yoga teacher and the founder of Whole Life Yoga, an award-winning yoga studio in Seattle, where she currently lives with her husband, Marc, and German shepherd, Tasha. She loves sharing her passion for yoga and animals in any form possible. Tracy is a member of the Pacific Northwest Writers Association, Dog Writers Association of America, and Sisters in Crime. When she’s not writing, she spends her time teaching yoga, walking Tasha, and sip­ping Blackthorn cider at her favorite ale house. Murder Strikes a Pose is her debut novel.

Today's Mystery Author Guest: Catherine Dilts

As promised yesterday, fellow Colorado mystery author Catherine Dilts is visiting my blog today, with answers to my interview questions. To read her bio and see her photo, please page down to yesterday's post. Also, Catherine is running a contest for a free autographed ARC (advanced review copy) of her upcoming January release, Stone Cold Dead, the cover art for which appears above. Catherine will select the winner tomorrow evening from among those who leave a comment today or tomorrow and will announce the name in a comment on this post.

In the book, business at the Rock of Ages is as dead as the fossils cluttering the shop’s dusty shelves. When her brother abandons the family rock shop, recently widowed Morgan Iverson reluctantly becomes the manager. Her first day in charge, two pet donkeys escape. While rounding them up, Morgan discovers the body of a Goth teen. When a newspaper article hits the streets hinting that Morgan witnessed the murder, she becomes the victim of escalating threats that make it clear the killer thinks she holds a clue to the teen’s murder. Morgan knows her life won’t be worth a pile of fossilized dinosaur dung unless she can dig up the murderer.

Sounds like a fun and fascinating read to me! Below are Catherine's answers to my interview questions.

1. Who or what inspired you to start writing and when did you start?

Boredom was my original inspiration. When I was a child, my family spent a portion of our summers visiting relatives in South Dakota. This was back in the dark ages, before cable TV, personal computers, and the Internet. On rainy days, when we couldn’t play in the lake or explore corn fields, my siblings and I would write plays and perform them for our indulgent aunts and uncles during their daily “happy hour.” We believed it was our talent that sent them into gales of laughter, but I suspect the alcohol didn’t hurt.

2. What tools and process do you use to “get to know” your characters before and while you’re writing the books?

Typically, I have an initial flash of inspiration as I see a character in a situation, possibly uttering a line that defines his or her world view. In Stone Cold Dead, Del Addison says “You hear about it every winter… Some flatlander heads out unprepared. They don’t get found until a hiker sees their frozen body in a snowbank come springtime.” After they introduce themselves to me, they develop as the story progresses. Some characters are born in my imagination whole, while others fight to let me know, “I wouldn’t do that!”

3. How do you construct your plots? Do you outline or do you write “by the seat of your pants”?

I am definitely a Plotter. However, my carefully constructed outlines and timelines always change, sometimes dramatically. I have to have a road map, but I’m not opposed to veering off-road if it takes me where I need to go.

4. In the age-old question of character versus plot, which one do you think is most important in a murder mystery and which one do you emphasize in your writing? Why?

Character, definitely. Jeffery Deaver spends months devising his convoluted plots, but what engages the reader, in my opinion, is his character Lincoln Rhyme. I believe I’ve had some unique experiences in my life, and met some genuine characters. I like to introduce readers to people they may not have met in real life. Oh, plot is essential in a mystery, but without engaging characters, who will care about who done it?

5. What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced as a writer and what inspires you and keeps you motivated?

Letting go of my fears. Fear of offending someone. Fear of exposing myself emotionally. Killing that self-censoring editor inside my head that destroys every creative impulse. My inspiration is my family, who supported and encouraged my dream of being an author even when it seemed impossible.

6. What is a typical workday for you and how many hours a day (or week) do you devote to writing?

Defending the planet by day, plotting murder by night. That’s my life in an organically grown nutshell. I have a day job as an environmental scientist, which sounds exciting, but actually involves mostly regulatory paperwork. I squeeze in fiction writing by getting up early and writing for 15, 30, or maybe 60 minutes before heading to work. When I get home, I might get another 2 or 3 hours in on a good day. I average 30 to 40 hours of straight fiction writing a month. It’s not enough, but it’s what I can manage for now.

7. What advice do you have to offer to an aspiring author?

Don’t. Not unless you have to. It’s an ego-busting business with little financial reward. Take up bowling instead. How do you know if you have to write? Quit for a week. You’ll know. If you are truly a writer, you’ll sacrifice leisure time, social events, sleep, and maybe a little sanity, to get words down, to tell a story just right. And you’ll love every frustrating, challenging, triumphant step of the journey.

8. Now here’s a zinger. Tell us something about yourself that you have not revealed in another interview yet. Something as simple as your favorite TV show or food will do.

I have a morbid fear of forklifts.

9. What are you working on now and what are your future writing plans?

I am writing book two in my Rock Shop Mystery series, and polishing a short story involving a forklift.

10. Is there anything else you would like to tell my blog readers?

Thank you for inviting me to your blog, Beth! My novel Stone Cold Dead – A Rock Shop Mystery makes its debut in January, 2014. It is available through Barnes and Noble and Amazon, but if you like supporting independent bookstores, you can find it at the historic Denver Tattered Cover Book Store. I also have short stories appearing in Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine from time to time, which now offers subscriptions for electronic readers like Nook and Kindle. And please visit me at my website!


Thanks, Catherine! Now, who has a comment or question for Catherine Dilts? Good luck in the contest!

Tomorrow's Guest: Catherine Dilts

Tomorrow, fellow Colorado mystery author Catherine Dilts will guest on my blog. She answers my interview questions, and I'm sure you'll be intrigued by what he has to say.  Also, Catherine will run a contest for an autographed ARC (advanced review copy) of her first mystery release, Stone Cold Dead, which features the manager of a rock shop. She will choose the winner from among those who leave a comment.

To Catherine Dilts, rock shops are like geodes – both contain amazing treasures hidden inside their plain-as-dirt exteriors. Publishers Weekly calls her novel Stone Cold Dead – A Rock Shop Mystery, an “enjoyable debut,” and that “readers will look forward to seeing more of this endearing and strong protagonist.” Catherine works as an environmental scientist, and plays at heirloom vegetable gardening, camping, and fishing. She has published short fiction in Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine. I know Catherine personally, and she's a great gal!

Today's Mystery Author Guest: John Gaspard

As promised yesterday, fellow mystery author John Gaspard is visiting my blog today, with answers to my interview questions. To read John's bio and see his photo, please page down to yesterday's post. Also, John is running a contest for a free autographed copy of The Ambitious Card, the cover art for which appears above. John will select the winner tomorrow evening from among those who leave a comment today or tomorrow and will announce the name in a comment on this post.

In the book, the life of a magician isn’t all kiddie shows and card tricks. Sometimes it’s murder. Especially when magician Eli Marks very publicly debunks a famed psychic, and said psychic ends up dead.  The evidence, including a bloody King of Diamonds playing card (one from Eli’s own Ambitious Card routine), directs the police right to Eli.

As more psychics are slain, and more King cards rise to the top, Eli can’t escape suspicion. Things get really complicated when romance blooms with a beautiful psychic, and Eli discovers she’s the next target for murder, and he’s scheduled to die with her. Now Eli must use every trick he knows to keep them both alive and reveal the true killer.

Sounds like a very intriguing read to me! Below are John's answers to my interview questions.

1. Who or what inspired you to start writing and when did you start?

I started writing film scripts as a kid in junior and senior high; I liked shooting movies and I needed something to shoot. So I wrote scripts. This continued for years, as the scripts got longer and more complex.

The author of one the great filmmaking books, Breaking Through, Selling Out, Dropping Dead (and Other Notes on Filmmaking), William Bayer, wrote about how he turned to novel writing as he got older, as an adjunct to scriptwriting. So that always seemed like an option in the back of my mind.

2. What tools and process do you use to “get to know” your characters before and while you’re writing the books?

I’m not a magician. However my main character is a magician, as are several minor characters. So I spent a couple years learning everything I could about the life of a magician. That meant reading books and biographies, going to magic conventions, hanging out with magicians … even taking lessons from a magician in order to learn how to perform the ambitious card routine.

This process continues throughout and even after the book is written. I’m still learning new things, which leads to ideas for the next book in the series, The Bullet Catch.

3. How do you construct your plots? Do you outline or do you write “by the seat of your pants”?

I always know the ending and all the key elements that need to happen along the way. However, when it comes to specifics, I generally only know what’s happening in the chapter I’m writing and have a general idea of what will happen in the next chapter. I keep it very loose, so I can adapt to ideas that pop up while writing.

4. In the age-old question of character versus plot, which one do you think is most important in a murder mystery and which one do you emphasize in your writing? Why?

Well, it has to be a good mystery, or else the reader is going to feel cheated. However, it’s the characters that bring the mystery to life and make you want to keep reading. So I start with what I think will be a good mystery and then find ways to get my main character involved in the mystery as deeply as possible.

5. What is a typical workday for you and how many hours a day (or week) do you devote to writing?

Surprisingly little time is spent actually writing. Most of the time is spent thinking about the writing – what specifically will happen next, how can I add a twist, what humorous elements can I come up with? I let all that roll around in my head, take notes when ideas occur to me, and then find a few spare hours to actually sit down and write it.

6. What advice do you have to offer to an aspiring author?

Write a book that you’d like to read. Don’t try to write a best seller – write what you find interesting. If you’re passionate about it, that will come through in the writing and people will respond to that.

Oh, and don’t take all the rejections personally. That will make you crazy.

7. Now here’s a zinger. Tell us something about yourself that you have not revealed in another interview yet. Something as simple as your favorite TV show or food will do.

I’m a big fan of the movie Harold and Maude. I’ve seen it countless times; that’s true. I have lost count. At least a hundred times. Anyway, when I was in high school, the movie played for over two years at the same theater here in Minneapolis. For the two-year anniversary, the film’s stars – Ruth Gordon and Bud Cort – came to town. I was able to have dinner with Bud Cort … and the next day, received a kiss on the cheek by Ruth Gordon.

8. What are you working on now and what are your future writing plans?

I’m working on the next book in the Eli Marks series (The Bullet Catch) and making notes for the one that comes after that.

9. Is there anything else you would like to tell my blog readers?

Please check out my film blog, where I interview filmmakers. Also, take a look at my publisher's website page about The Ambitious Card.


Thanks, John! Now, who has a comment or question for John Gaspard? Good luck in the contest!

Tomorrow's Guest: John Gaspard

Tomorrow, fellow mystery author John Gaspard will guest on my blog. He answers my interview questions, and I'm sure you'll be intrigued by what he has to say.  Also, John will run a contest for an autographed copy of his first mystery release, The Ambitious Card, which features a magician sleuth. He will choose the winner from among those who leave a comment.

In real life, John’s not a magician, but he has directed six low-budget features that cost very little and made even less – that’s no small trick. He’s also written multiple books on the subject of low-budget filmmaking. Ironically, they’ve made more than the films.

His blog, Fast, Cheap Movie Thoughts, has been named “One of the 50 Best Blogs for Moviemakers” and “One of The 100 Best Blogs For Film and Theater Students.” He’s also written for TV and the stage. John lives in Minnesota and shares his home with his lovely wife, several dogs, a few cats and a handful of pet allergies.

Today's Mystery Author Guest: Mark W. Danielson

As promised yesterday, fellow mystery author Mark W. Danielson is visiting my blog today, with an article about how he developed the plot for his latest release, Spectral Gallows. To read Mark's bio and see his photo, please page down to yesterday's post. Also, Mark is running a contest for a free autographed copy of Spectral Gallows, the cover art for which appears above. Mark will select the winner tomorrow evening from among those who leave a comment today or tomorrow and will announce the name in a comment on this post.

In the book, Maxx Watts and partner Blaine Spartan blow through the door of The Chuck Wagon Diner, grabbing a table before the lunch crowd hits. They quickly pick up on a heated dialog at the next table concerning police fabricating a suicide ruling. "I tell you, it was murder!" spits out a hulky man dressed in black, slamming his fist on the table. Confronting the two men, "Hulk" bails out, leaving his companion behind. The detectives are told the argument concerned an uncle who hanged himself in the Scott Theater over forty years ago. Riveted by the man's claim, Watts and Spartan visit the dungeon where the death occurred. The phenomena they see and whispers of murder commit them to resolving the case. Had the dead man's spirit been leaving clues or had this all been a diversion so another murder could take place? Uncertain whether to believe in the netherworld, Watts must confront his father's past to determine his future with CSI tech Daisy Woods.

Sounds like an interesting read to me! Below is Mark's article.

Spectral Gallows

By Mark W. Danielson

I’m probably going out on a limb by saying that every novel is inspired by real-life events, but I do believe it.  I found this especially true for my latest release, Spectral Gallows – a story I never planned to write.  At the time, I was well into the sequel for Writer’s Block, the first in my Maxx Watts detective series, when I returned from an international trip, exhausted.  For those who have spent long hours on an airplane, you know how changing time zones and endless vibration can transform you into a Zombie.  Multiply that times ten and you can understand how physically demanding an airline pilot’s two week trip can be.

As I lay in bed, my body trembling, my brain struggling to shut down, an idea came to mind.  Why not write about a character who is drunk on sleep?  The premise excited me so much I jotted it down before I drifted off.  When I was mentally prepared to resume my writing, I set the first sequel aside.  Who knew that agonizing unrest could be a muse for murder mysteries?

For reasons I cannot explain, my shattered physical state easily transferred to a down-and-out Vietnam Veteran suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.  In the opening scene, the vet and his much younger buddy are arguing over a forty-plus year old death in Fort Worth’s Scott Theater.  The veteran was insisting it was murder, not suicide when Homicide Detectives Maxx Watts and Blaine Spartan walked in, referring to the actor who hanged himself in the theater’s basement.  Later, as the detectives visit the theater to see where the death occurred, they hear unexplained sounds like someone calling out murder, except there is no one else around.  By the way, the Scott Theater is a real location that has been certified as haunted by a dead actor’s spirit.

As I said, I didn’t stumble onto this story – it was sent to me in my sleep.  And since my writing comes from subconscious thoughts, I allow my characters to lead me through their stories.  Of course, I could not write this novel without first researching paranormal activity and quantum mechanics.  My paranormal and physics experts’ contributions were stunningly illuminating.

By coincidence, paranormal themes seem to be “in” right now, but that isn’t why I wrote Spectral Gallows.  Not a day goes by when I don’t think about our suffering veterans, past and present, and imagine how difficult their lives must be.  Hopefully my readers will recognize these veterans’ sacrifices as they are drawn into this story.  It was fun pitting believers against non-believers while keeping the reader guessing as to its outcome.  I should mention that although I’ve never had a ghostly encounter, evidence suggests there is far more to our existence than our present dimension.

While every author’s writing style differs, there are only two ways to create.  You either outline or you don’t, and from my experience, the split is nearly equal.  But regardless of which technique is used, a well-written story will always transport its reader to another place.  That’s the beauty of fiction.

Beth, thank you for having me as your guest.  Spectral Gallows will be released on November 15, 2013 in published and e-book formats.  More information about me and my books can be found on my website.

Thanks, Mark! Now, who has a comment or question for Mark W. Danielson? Good luck in the contest!

Tomorrow's Guest: Mark W. Danielson

Tomorrow, fellow mystery author Mark W. Danielson will guest on my blog with an article about how he developed the plot for his latest release, Spectral Gallows. Also, Mark will run a contest for an autographed copy of Spectral Gallows. He will choose the winner from among those who leave a comment.

Currently a FedEx pilot, Mark began taking flying lessons at age thirteen with money earned from delivering newspapers. He earned his Commercial Pilot's License prior to entering the University of Northern Colorado in 1970. He went on to fly the F-4 Phantom II fighter with the 80th Tactical Fighter Squadron in Korea. After moving to Lubbock, Texas, to serve as a T-38 advanced instructor-pilot, Mr. Danielson put his writing career on hold while completing his 300 hp Steen Skybolt bi-plane. He flew that airplane in numerous airshows over Texas. Mark left active duty in 1980 to pursue a civilian pilot career, but later returned to active duty, this time in the U.S. Navy. He earned his MA degree while serving as a jet-strike flight instructor in Beeville, Texas.

While assigned to Miramar Naval Air Station, Mark revamped his non-fiction writing career with numerous periodical articles and was twice recognized as the US Navy's top author. His writing was never limited to military publications, though. Novels provided Mr. Danielson with an outlet that non-fiction could not. Using real events as a basis makes his writing both believable and enthralling.  An actual FedEx DC-10 fire inspired Danger Within. The suspicious crash that claimed the life of US Secretary of Commerce Ron Brown inspired The Innocent Never Knew. His third novel, Diablo's Shadow, was based on a child disappearance and was released in 2008 to critical acclaim.

Mr. Danielson frequently participates in author events, which include the Los Angeles Times Book Festival, Men of Mystery event in Irvine, CA, Barnes and Noble Mystery Author's Night, Cutting Edge Murder, Kids Love a Mystery, and High Jinx on the High Seas. His interests include hiking, fine arts, tennis, and restoring cars and boats.

Library Journal Weighs In With a Great Review for A Basket of Trouble!

A Basket of Trouble, the third book in my Claire Hanover gift basket designer series, officially debuts on November 8th, though many retailers already have the book in stock and are shipping copies.

A Basket of Trouble will be publishing a review for A Basket of Trouble in their November issue today that ends with the following pull quote:

"Groundwater’s third series entry (after To Hell in a Handbasket) is an action-packed cozy that successfully weaves in her small business and disability awareness."
  -- Library Journal

That means this book has hit ALL FOUR of the big 4 review publications (Booklist, Kirkus Reviews, Library Journal, Publishers Weekly)!! Only one other release of mine has hit all four, and that was the first in my other series (RM Outdoor Adventures), Deadly Currents. Needless to say, I'm very pleased with the reception that A Basket of Trouble is receiving from reviewers so far.

And, please check out my interview that was published today in The Big Thrill on-line magazine put out by the International Thriller Writers! The interviewer has some very interesting questions for me to answer. Go HERE.

Today's Mystery Author Guest: Kathleen Ernst

As promised yesterday, fellow Midnight Ink mystery author Kathleen Ernst is visiting my blog today, with an article about her protagonist Chloe Ellefson's boyfriend. To read Kathleen's bio and see her photo, please page down to yesterday's post. Also, Kathleen is running a contest for a free autographed copy of the latest release in her Historic Sites mystery series, Heritage of Darkness, the cover art for which appears above, or one of the other books in the series. Kathleen will select the winner tomorrow evening from among those who leave a comment today or tomorrow and will announce the name in a comment on this post.

In the book, for curator Chloe Ellefson, a family bonding trip to Decorah, Iowa, for rosemaling classes seems like a great idea—until the drive begins. Chloe’s cop friend Roelke takes her mother’s talk of romantic customs good-naturedly, but it inflates Chloe’s emotional distress higher with each passing mile. After finally reaching Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum, Chloe’s resolve to remain positive is squashed when she and Roelke find Petra Lekstrom’s body in one of the antique immigrant trunks. Everyone is shaken by the instructor’s murder, and when Mom volunteers to take over the beginners’ class, Chloe is put in the hot seat of motherly criticism. As she investigates, Chloe uncovers dark family secrets that could be deadly for Mom . . . and even herself.

Sounds like an exciting read to me! Below is Kathleen's article.

The Boyfriend

Kathleen Ernst

Chloe Ellefson, the protagonist of my Historic Sites mystery series, is a museum curator.  She is also thirty-two years old, single, and in the process of leaving behind an old relationship that failed in a particularly colossal way.  I knew from the start that I wanted Chloe to have a man in her life.  Enter Roelke McKenna, local cop.

I also want the series to continue indefinitely.  That means sustaining a believable relationship over a long arc.  It means letting Chloe and Roelke grow and change in each book, both singly and as a twosome.  And it means finding the right pace—not rushing things, but also not drawing things out to the point of annoyance for readers.  I want people to feel satisfied at the end of each volume, but still eager to see what comes next.  Based on mail from readers, the complicated interactions between these two is one of the most enjoyable aspects of the series.

Chloe and Roelke spend most of the first book in the series, Old World Murder, getting to know each other.  He’s interested; she’s wary.  They seem to have nothing in common.  She’s made mistakes in the past.  She doesn’t want to make any more.  He comes up with a pretty cool plan to help her move forward.

Fast forward to the fourth (and brand new!) book, Heritage of Darkness.  Chloe and her mom travel to Decorah, Iowa, to take concurrent painting classes at Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum.  When Roelke sees that a woodcarving class is being held at the same time, he signs up and comes along.  Chloe and Mom have a sometimes-prickly relationship, and he’s pretty sure he can help smooth out the tension.

Things don’t go as planned, of course.  Mom takes a shine to Roelke, which is great!  But when she bombards him with hints about traditional courtship and marriage customs, Chloe is mortified.

Then there’s the whole problem of how Chloe should introduce him to her mother’s friends.  Here’s how Roelke handles the conversation:

“Listen,” Chloe said, “this will probably sound stupid, but I need to ask you something.  How do you want me to introduce you to people?  What should I call you?”

“How about your boyfriend?  That works for me.”  It worked quite well, actually.

“That would make me feel like we’re in junior high.”

He considered.  “Is there some historical term you’d like?”

“Beau?  Suitor?  Gentleman caller?”

OK, that idea wasn’t as clever as he’d hoped.  “Those would make me feel like we’re living in some PBS show.”  And if one of his friends ever heard Chloe refer to him as her “gentleman caller,” he’d never live it down.

Despite the awkward moments, it was time for Roelke and Chloe’s relationship to make a real step forward.  By the end of Heritage of Darkness, it does.  (Right after they manage to prevent a killer from striking again.  This is a murder mystery, after all.)

While launching Heritage of Darkness into the world I’m also feverishly working on the fifth Chloe Ellefson mystery, so I’ve been giving this topic renewed thought.  How can Chloe and Roelke keep growing?  What new challenges will they, and their relationship, face?  I’ve still got a lot of ideas about that.  In real life, even the strongest partnerships require attention and care.

What do you think about relationships in long-running series?  Do you have a favorite fictional couple?  Do you look for peaceful equilibrium, or ever-evolving growth?  It’s a topic most mystery authors confront, and I’d love to hear your thoughts!  Leave a comment, and you’ll be entered in a drawing for your choice of Chloe Ellefson mysteries:  Old World Murder, The Heirloom Murders, The Light Keeper’s Legacy, or Heritage of Darkness.


Thanks, Kathleen! Now, who has an answer, comment or question for Kathleen Ernst? Good luck in the contest!

Tomorrow's Guest: Kathleen Ernst

Tomorrow, fellow Midnight Ink mystery author Kathleen Ernst will guest on my blog. She writes about The Boyfriend of Chloe Ellefson, the protagonist in her Historic Sites mystery series. Also, Kathleen will run a contest for an autographed copy of the fourth release in her Chloe Ellefson Historic Sites mystery series, Heritage of Darkness, or one of the other books in the series. She will choose the winner from among those who leave a comment.

Heritage of Darkness is Kathleen’s twenty-sixth published book. In addition to the Chloe Ellefson Historic Sites series, she has written many books for American Girl, including seven books about the newest historical character, Caroline Abbott. The latest is a Caroline mystery, Traitor In The Shadows.  Several of her titles for young readers have been finalists for Edgar or Agatha awards. Kathleen lives in Wisconsin, but loves to travel to new locales for research!  Visit her at her website, her blog, or her Facebook page.

Today's Mystery Author Guest: Sheila Webster Boneham

As promised yesterday, fellow Midnight Ink mystery author Sheila Webster Boneham is visiting my blog today, with answers to my interview questions. To read her bio and see her photo, please page down to yesterday's post. Also, Sheila is running a contest for either a free autographed copy of her latest release, The Money Bird, or a Kindle ebook copy, the cover art for which appears above. Sheila will select the winner tomorrow evening from among those who leave a comment today or tomorrow and will announce the name in a comment on this post.

In the book, for Janet MacPhail, photographing retrievers in training is the perfect way to spend an evening. But a photo session at Twisted Lake takes a peculiar turn as Drake, her friend Tom’s Labrador, fetches a blood-soaked bag holding an exotic feather and a torn one-hundred-dollar bill.
When one of her photography students turns up dead at the lake, Janet investigates a secretive retreat center with help from Australian Shepherd Jay and her quirky neighbor Goldie. Between dog-training classes, photo assignments, and romantic interludes with Tom, Janet is determined to get to the bottom of things before another victim’s wings are clipped for good.


Sounds like a very interesting read to me! Below are Sheila's answers to my interview questions.

1. Your Animals in Focus series obviously involves animals. Are these animal-as-sleuth stories, or something else?

The animals in my books behave like real animal. They are essential characters in that they are companions to Janet MacPhail, my accidental amateur sleuth, and to other people in the books. Janet’s Australian Shepherd, Jay, and her orange tabby cat, Leo, are members of her family, just as my dogs and cats have always been part of my family. So the animals in the books do bring clues to light and play essential roles in the plots, but only because Janet is smart enough to make connections. In The Money Bird, for instance, black Lab Drake retrieves a bag that turns out to be an essential bit of evidence, but he didn’t know that. It smelled interesting, so he brought it to his master, as any self-respecting Labrador Retriever would!

I’ve been involved with animals, particularly dogs, for many years in a variety of roles—rescuer, competitor, shelter volunteer, breeder, obedience instructor, and author of seventeen books about dogs and cats. I feel very strongly that many of the problems people have with their pets, problems that too often lose pets their homes, are partly because some people think of animals as funny little people. So I strive to make the animals in my mysteries realistic, complex, loving and loveable, messy…. Just like the ones who live in my house!

2. What tools and process do you use to “get to know” your characters before and while you’re writing the books?

When I started writing fiction, I tried creating elaborate background files on my characters, but I discovered pretty quickly that they didn’t work for me. I’d put a lot of time in on them, then forget the details or find that what I created in what amounted to a vacuum didn’t work in the story. So I stopped.

I do much better when I let myself get to know my characters as we get to know other people—bit by bit and in context. As the story unfolds, characters act and react, and slowly reveal themselves and their backstories. I record what they say and do, and I have a spreadsheet that helps me keep track of everyone, especially the series characters who come back book after book.

3. How do you construct your plots? Do you outline or do you write “by the seat of your pants”?

I begin with a sense of where the story is going, who is involved, and what’s at stake. I don’t outline, but I do use a spreadsheet (yes, another spreadsheet!) to plan and then track where the crucial plot turns need to occur to keep things moving. In the first book in the series, Drop Dead on Recall, I did more plotting than I have done since, and I set out knowing who the villain was. I finished the book and put it down for a couple of weeks. Then I woke up one morning and said, “No! That’s not right. She didn’t do it!” So I rewrote most of the book. With The Money Bird, I began with a setting and my characters, and I knew that the plot involved wildlife trafficking. I had no idea when I started who would be killed, or why, or who done it. I just followed along, and the characters did what they needed to do. For me, waiting to see what’s going to happen is half the fun of writing fiction!

4. In the age-old question of character versus plot, which one do you think is most important in a murder mystery and which one do you emphasize in your writing? Why?

I think character is always primary regardless of genre. Plot is intriguing, but what really matters is not the events and other elements in a story, but how the characters respond to them. We know this in our own lives. Put two people into the same situation, the same series of events, and they will not have the same experience, nor do the same things, nor tell the same story later. So characters make the plot work.

5. What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced as a writer and what inspires you and keeps you motivated?

The biggest challenge for me is deciding what to work on. I always have way more ideas than time to work on them. As for motivation, I’ve never NOT been motivated to write and I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t writing something. Even as a kid I wrote all the time. I’ve gone through short periods when I just needed to take a break, and I’ve changed direction with my career more than once, but I can’t really imagine not writing, not working on something.

6. What is a typical workday for you and how many hours a day (or week) do you devote to writing?

I write almost every day, and have done so for many years. When I was teaching at universities and working as an editor, I carved out writing time in the evenings and weekends. Now I write every morning for 3-5 hours, depending on circumstances and the stage of the project, and I often write in the afternoon or evening as well. Every once in a while I take a break, but I find that if I go more than 4 or 5 days without writing, I get itchy.

7. What advice do you have to offer to an aspiring author?

- Read, read, read. Read in your chosen genre(s), and read widely outside your chosen genre(s). Read mostly works that speak to you, that you enjoy. Occasionally read something you don’t like, and read it critically, as a writer, to figure out why it doesn’t work, at least for you.

- Write, write, write. Put your writing sessions in your weekly calendar as you would anything else that matters to you. Show up.

- Go to readings and other book and author events when possible, even if you aren’t very interested in the topic. You will still learn something, even if it’s how not to present yourself when your own time comes.

- Writing is by nature a solitary venture, but there is also a community of writers and readers out there for inspiration and support. Join that community, and give more than you ask for.

- Stay in the world—travel, play, learn new things, volunteer, do things!—so that you have something to write about.

8. Now here’s a zinger. Tell us something about yourself that you have not revealed in another interview yet. Something as simple as your favorite TV show or food will do.

I’m ridiculously terrified of heights and falling, and my fear has gotten worse over the past few years. It’s really pretty embarrassing at times. I’ve been known to get down and crawl on trails when I’m hiking. But I still go out.

9. What are you working on now and what are your future writing plans?

As usual, I have several dogs in the grooming area! First, I’m finishing up the third Animals in Focus mystery, which is scheduled for September 2014. I can’t tell you much about it at present, but Leo, the protagcat, would like you to know that dogs aren’t the only ones who have their days in this series. I’m also working on a stand-alone environmental suspense novel, and some literary nonfiction and a few poems. I love working in different forms—it keeps them all fresher.

10. Is there anything else you would like to tell my blog readers?

If you would like to learn more about me and my work, or follow my journey, you can find me at my website, my Facebook page, or my blogs – for writers and readers and for animal-related stuff.

I enjoy visiting book clubs as well as groups for writers, animal fanciers, and more. I am also available to teach workshops and speak at conferences. Although I currently live in North Carolina, I travel a lot, so if you’re interested, please ask! I just might be headed your way.

Thanks, Sheila! Now, who has a comment or question for Sheila Webster Boneham? Good luck in the contest!

Tomorrow's Guest: Sheila Webster Boneham

Tomorrow, fellow Midnight Ink mystery author Sheila Webster Boneham will guest on my blog. She answers my interview questions, and I'm sure you'll be intrigued by what she has to say. Also, Sheila will run a contest for either an autographed copy of the second release in her Animals in Focus mystery series, The Money Bird, or a Kindle ebook copy. She will choose the winner from among those who leave a comment.

Sheila Webster Boneham is the author of 17 nonfiction books, six of which have won major awards from the Dog Writers Association of America and the Cat Writers Association. She is also the author of Drop Dead on Recall, the first in the Animals in Focus Mystery series. For the past two decades Boneham has been showing her Australian Shepherds and Labrador Retrievers in various canine sports. She has also bred top-winning Aussies and founded rescue groups for Aussies and Labs. Boneham holds a doctorate in folklore and MFA in creative writing and resides in Wilmington, N.C., with her husband Roger, Lily, their yellow Lab, and Sunny, their Golden Retriever.

Today's Mystery Author Guest: Deborah Sharp

As promised yesterday, fellow Midnight Ink mystery author Deborah Sharp is visiting my blog today, with answers to my interview questions. To read her bio and see her photo, please page down to yesterday's post. Also, Deborah is running a contest for a free autographed copy of her latest release, Mama Gets Trashed, the cover art for which appears above. Deborah will select the winner tomorrow evening from among those who leave a comment today or tomorrow and will announce the name in a comment on this post.

In the book, after a tipsy Mama tosses out her wedding ring with the trash, she drags daughter Mace to the city dump to search. When they stumble upon the body of librarian Camilla Law, the straitlaced town is scandalized. Not only is a killer on the loose, but prudish Camilla is all done up in sexy black leather. Foul play and fetish wear in little Himmarshee? Mama's blushing fifty shades of pink!  


Sounds like a very fun read to me! Below are Deborah's answers to my interview questions.

1. Who or what inspired you to start writing and when did you start?

I was a journalist for almost two decades, mainly with USA Today. I'd been writing non-fiction for what seemed like forever. By age fifty, though, I'd really burned out on a steady diet of sad news and tragedies (One of my last assignments was writing profiles of all the military personnel killed in Afghanistan and Iraq). I left the paper in 2004, and I took a stab at making things up. It's a lot more fun to be able to say how the stories end. Even better, in my books I get to punish the bad and reward the good -- which isn't always how real life turns out. My own family served somewhat as inspiration for the series I ended up writing -- the Mace Bauer Mysteries, featuring Mace's wacky mama.

2. How do you construct your plots? Do you outline or do you write “by the seat of your pants”?

I'm definitely a plotter, though sometimes my characters will make a u-turn, and I end up on a road I hadn't thought to travel. I typically do an outline of about 30 pages before I even start a book.

3. In the age-old question of character versus plot, which one do you think is most important in a murder mystery and which one do you emphasize in your writing? Why?

Plot seems most important in traditional mysteries, as readers are keen on solving the puzzle of whodunit. Character takes precedence in my own books, though, and in the mysteries I like most. Give me interesting personality and strong character motivation over an intricate plot any day. Maybe my interest in character-driven fiction is due to my background in psychology. I earned a master's degree, and was working on my doctorate, when I dropped out to become a journalist. Uh-oh, am I revealing here that quitting is a recurring theme in my life?

4. What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced as a writer and what inspires you and keeps you motivated?

My own mother has a bearing on both elements of this question, my inspiration and my challenge. I stole so many of her traits for my books' Mama character: multiple marriages, a taste for sherbet-colored pantsuits, an affinity for sweet pink wine and gambling with the Seminoles. She's never actually ''done time'' like Mama in the first book, and I've never had to rescue her from a gator, like Mace did with her mama. But Mom's only 98, so I guess it could still happen. Not to mention, a spry old guy has been giving her the eye at their assisted living facility, so she might just catch up yet to Mama's serial marriage lead.

Part of my joy in writing this series was seeing my mom react to the stories. Writing the first four books, I'd finish a chapter, then visit her house for coffee to read her what I'd written. About halfway through book four, I got this question, repeatedly: ''Now, who's Mace again?'' Her memory was really failing, and I knew she was in trouble. Within a year, she began to fall down and wander. I had to move her out of her home -- my childhood home -- and into assisted living.

She's still in fairly good physical shape, but she has dementia. Some days she's sharper than others, but she's not the same mom she was when the first book came out in 2008. The challenge is in finding motivation to still write about ''Mama'' without the gleeful participation of my muse and biggest fan.

5. What advice do you have to offer to an aspiring author?

Aside from advising them to READ (you might be surprised how many people who say they've always wanted to write can't mention a single author they like to read), I have three tips for would-be authors:

A. Join a writers' group, for the experience of sharing your work and learning from critiques.
B. Try to attend seminars or conferences in your genre, whether it's mysteries, romance, or travel writing. Joining Mystery Writers of America and attending the Florida chapter's national conference got the fiction ball rolling for me, way back when.
C. This one seems obvious, but WRITE. Paul Theroux said, ''You can't want to be a writer. You have to be one.''

6. Now here’s a zinger. Tell us something about yourself that you have not revealed in another interview yet. Something as simple as your favorite TV show or food will do.

I have talked before about playing a zombie in George Romero's ''Day of the Dead,'' and then writing about it as a cub reporter in Fort Myers, Fla. What I've never revealed is that Romero left my scenes on the cutting room floor. It's kind of embarrassing. Apparently, I lacked the acting talent to lurch convincingly.

7. What are you working on now and what are your future writing plans?

See answer above about my real-life mama being my inspiration AND my challenge. I'm taking a bit of a breather, waiting to see what the tea leaves reveal about future writing plans.

8. Is there anything else you would like to tell my blog readers? 

I'd like to say I'm grateful to Beth for her friendship, and for the chance to visit here today. Folks can find more information about me and my Mace Bauer Mysteries on my website. You can also find me on Facebook. Also on Facebook, Friends of Mama From the Mace Bauer Mysteries lets the Mama character blow off steam about how I'm treating her. Lastly, I love to hear from readers and chat with book groups, through my website and via Skype.

Thanks, Deborah! Now, who has a comment or question for Deborah Sharp? Good luck in the contest!