Tim Hallinan Revisited

Timothy Hallinan is the Edgar and Macavity-nominated author of the traditionally-published Poke Rafferty Bangkok thrillers (most recently, The Queen of Patpong) and the Junior Bender mysteries, which are ebook originals. Earlier this year, he conceived and edited a volume of original short stories by twenty first-rate mystery writers, Shaken: Stories for Japan, with every penny of the $3.99 price going to the 2011 Japan Relief Fund. He lives in Santa Monica and Southeast Asia, and will be featured in the book, The Mystery Writers, with Sue Grafton, Lawrence Block and others, scheduled to be released in March 2012.

Tim, why did you decide to go the indie route with your new ebook series?

The real answer is that the money we were offered by the publishers we approached wasn't very good. I looked at the offers and thought, “I'd rather own the books.” And I'd already put up some of my Simeon Grist series from the Twelfth Century—sorry, the 1990s—and people were actually buying a few hundred copies each month. I figured if those books were selling, new ones would sell even better. And they have.

In fact the first one, Crashed, sold so well that we got a substantially bigger offer for Little Elvises and reprint rights to Crashed. After a life spent lingering outside publishers' doors in the hope someone would offer me a glass of lukewarm water, it was kind of nice to say no.

What inspired your Junior Bender series?

While I was trying to finish the third Poke Rafferty book, Breathing Water, I kept hearing this voice in my ear, trying to tell me a story in the first person, and every time I listened, it entertained me. I finally put Breathing Water aside for five weeks and let Junior tell me the story of Crashed, which is the fastest I've ever written a book. I put the first draft in a drawer, gave a couple of additional months to Breathing Water, and then edited Crashed and went straight to work on Little Elvises.

Part of the appeal was Junior himself; he's a burglar with a moral code who works as a private eye for crooks. In one sense, he's just a middle-class guy who's unhappily divorced and loves his teenage daughter more than anything in the world, and in another, he's risking his life trying to help clients who will not be good enemies if he fails, and he's trying to catch people who are crazy enough to commit crimes against criminals. He's at risk no matter how things come out.

Tell us more about your ebooks.

Well, they're the funniest books I've ever written, and that counts as something for me, because laughing, for me, is right up there with eating. They're meant to be funny and thrilling at the same time, and I'm not the best judge, but the reviews are 99.5% 5-star (only one 4-star in the batch), so that must mean something.

I've always loved to write crooks, and Junior gives me the chance to fill entire books with them. In Crashed, the main crook is Trey Annunziato, a beautiful woman in her early thirties who runs the biggest crime family in the San Fernando Valley and is trying to take everything legal because she's looked at the techniques the government has developed in the war on terror, and she knows that when the cops get back to catching criminals, criminals won't stand a chance.

And in Little Elvises, we meet an old-time, mobbed up Philadelphia record producer who took handsome Philly kids and turned them into pallid imitations of Elvis, plus the oldest still-dangerous gangster in the world, who is based on a very real person who was the California pointman for the Chicago Jewish mob. (One of Capone's guys said, “If it wasn't for the Jews, we'd still be hiding money in mattresses.”) This man, whom I won't name, who was for about 40 years the most powerful person in the state. No contest. Half the banks in Southern California were originally opened to launder money.

How well have your ebooks sold so far? Are you pleased with the results?

They've done okay, The reviews have been great and it's a few thousand dollars every month. I'd like them to do better, but I just HATE promoting myself. I can't drop in on every online conversation in the world and say, “Speaking of the economy, my book Little Elvises takes an offbeat look at the underground economy.” It makes me wince when I see other writers do it, and I won't.

I also loathe Twitter, which is undoubtedly hurting me. I've got like a thousand followers and I have no idea what to say to them.

How have you promoted your ebooks?

Well, that's sort of the issue. I really haven't, other than blogs like this one. I accidentally did a very successful promotion for Little Elvises. I had two covers and couldn't make up my mind, so I put them on Facebook and asked people to choose. And did they ever. And then I did the same thing on my website and in my almost-nearly-sort-of-monthly newsletter, and literally 800 people stopped their lives long enough to cast votes. So I gave away a bunch of the e-books, and that was the promotion. And Little Elvises really took off in its first week out.

My primary promo device is the newsletter. My website is loaded with information for beginning writers – it's about 80% of the site, and people have been writing to thank me or ask questions for years and years. And I also get a surprising amount of fan mail. All those people are on my newsletter mailing list now—about 6,000 of them—and I see a sales jump every time I send one out.

I work hard to make the newsletter more than just a plug – each has a theme and got reviews of good books and nice images, and nobody unsubscribes, which is saying something. Anybody who wants it can e-mail me at thallinan@gmail.com.

What advice do you offer writers contemplating the indie route?

Pretty much the same advice I have for everyone. Write the book you want to read and when you're finished, make it better. Proof-read everything ten times.This book is supposed to be you at your best, so you don't want it to be riddled with dumb mistakes.

And do a better job with promotion than I do.

Thanks, Tim. You  can visit Tim at his web/blog site: www.timothyhallinan.com, my site/blog/Finish Your Novel  area. He's also on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000623782839 
and Twitter: TimHallinan on Twitter.

M. M. Gornell Revisited

Madeline (M.M.) Gornell has three published mystery novels—PSWA awarding winning Uncle Si’s Secret (2008), Death of a Perfect Man (2009), and Reticence of Ravens (2010). Her first Route 66 mystery, Reticence of Ravens, is a 2011 Eric Hoffer Fiction finalist and Honorary Mention winner, the da Vinci Eye finalist, and a Montaigne Medalist finalist.She continues to be inspired by historic Route 66, and has recently completed Lies of Convenience, a tale that fictionally connects murder, truths untold, and Chicago’s Lake Michigan with California’s high desert on the opposite end of The Mother Road. Madeline is also a potter with a fondness for stoneware and reduction firing. She lives with her husband and assorted canines in the Mojave Desert in a town on internationally revered Route 66.

Madeline will be among those featured in the forthcoming book, The Mystery Writers, scheduled for release in March 2012.

Why mystery novels, Madeline?

I can’t imagine writing anything but a mystery. I grew up with Agatha Christie, Margery Allingham, Dorothy L. Sayers, Martha Grimes, Marion Chesney (M.C. Beaton), etc. So my brain is not only steeped in mysterious doings—but Brits and British mystery traditions have a most special place in my heart and imagination. Indeed, I’ve gone on-and-on ad nausea about P.D. James in interviews and blogs. She continues to be my inspiration and guiding light. To experience England through her character’s eyes is a most marvelous treat and adventure.

For me, murder mysteries are unique in that the underlying pinning for the story is solving who done it, which in turn provides much of the impetus for the protagonist’s emotions, activities, and interactions—while simultaneously offering the reader a tricky puzzle to solve. But, solving the murder and bringing the bad guys and gals to some kind of justice is not the whole story. For me, the sense of place (especially enjoyable in British locals), the layers of back stories, the human emotions exposed, the characters’ psychological or emotional advancement—these are the key ingredients in a good mystery—and why I love them!

What's so fascinating about Route 66 that you use it as a backdrop for your novels?

When my husband and I moved back to California from a twenty plus year stay in Puget Sound, somehow, we ended up in a small town in California’s Mojave Desert on Route 66. I am continually fascinated by the sights, sounds, weather, history, terrain, ruins—and so much more—in the Mojave. Interestingly, I was born and raised in Chicago—where Route 66 starts. So, I’ve got both ends of The Mother Road covered.

And my imagination is captured by thoughts of those who have come before me—what challenges they must have had! Reticence of Ravens, my latest published novel, and Lies of Convenience, due out soon, are both set in fictional towns on Route 66; and their inspiration comes from my immediate area.

Tell us about your latest release.

Here’s the book jacket synopsis for Reticence of Ravens which I think not only gives you a feel for the story, but also the Mojave.

“Time and events have turned Hubert James Champion III into a morose man trying for the last year to escape into California’s Mojave Desert—somewhere a little north of Route 66 on the way to Arizona. No longer a practicing psychologist and FBI collaborator, Hugh now owns Joey’s mini-mart, a half-defunct gas station with no gas, no supplies, and little food for customers. Opening hours variable.

He has become a man hiding out from the world, and himself—trying to seek redemption among the creosote and Palo Verde trees. His main companions these days are an aged desert dog, and the unkindness of sometimes raucous, but usually reticent ravens.

But Hugh soon senses that he can’t escape—especially when a “special” young woman with red Medusa-like hair, and covered in her father’s blood is brought to him one Sunday evening. Turner Jackson has been murdered, and LoraLee Jackson is the main suspect. In quick order Hugh is drawn into proving LoraLee’s innocence by both locals and unwanted East Coast intruders. Add the sudden appearance of LoraLee’s previously unknown brother, a bulldog FBI agent with an agenda of his own, and Hugh’s cousin Della’s love-sick ex-husband—not to mention multiple shootings, exploding drug-labs, and most importantly, Hugh’s past demons rearing their ugly heads once again.

No, Hugh cannot escape having to find a murderer—or his own past.

Have any of your characters shared your pottery avocation?

In my second novel Death of a Perfect Man, the protagonist, Jada Beaudine, and the first murder victim are potters. Several suspects are too.

Advice to aspiring mystery novelists.

I think every author is unique, so I don’t have any “rule type” advice. Just never, never, never give up!

Thanks, Madeline.

You can visit Madeline at her website: http://www.mmgornell.com
and her blog site: http://www/mmgornell.wordpress.com or email her directly at
mmgornell@earthlink.net

A Visit with Cheryl Kaye Tardif

Cheryl Kaye Tardif's work is called Canadian suspense with a killer twist. The bestselling suspense author from north of the border tackles sensitive and terrifying scenarios that most people wouldn't want to consider. From psychic investigations to serial  killers and assisted suicides, she delves into the human psyche and spotlights our worst fears.

Cheryl, how did your first novel, Whale Song, come about and had you written/published anything prior to it?

Whale Song was in my head for two years before I ever wrote down the title. In fact, I wasn't even sure I was going to write it. At the time, I had pretty much given up hope of getting published; I had tried for years. But the story of Whale Song haunted me. I couldn't shake the characters or the plot. Finally, a friend said, "Cheryl, don't worry whether it gets published.Write it for yourself. Write it because you have to." That was the best advice I've ever been given.

Since Whale Song, which was first published in 2003, I've had six more novels published  (Children of the Fog, Devine Intervention, Devine Justice, The River, Lancelot's Lady and Whale Song: School Edition), as well as Skeletons in the Closet, Other Creepy Stories, and Remote Control, a novelette. All my works are available in ebook editions and all but the novelette are out in trade paperback. I've also had a short story published in What Fears Become: An Anthology From the Horror Zone.

You've written in a number of genres and under a pseudonym. Which genre do you prefer and which has been the most successful?

Suspense is my forte. And any combination of suspense, mystery, paranormal has been  successful for me.

Why do you think all your novels have made the bestseller lists?

In general, readers don't like predictable, formulaic works. They'll never have that with my novels. I strive to be unpredictable and I don't use any kind of formula when writing my books. My stories are a mix of plot-driven and character-driven tales. And I bring emotion into each story, whether it's fear, sorrow, happiness, excitement or another emotion. I want my readers to feel  like they're right there in the story, seeing everything, feeling everything.

How do you promote your work?

I have two main websites and a blog, plus I belong to various social networks. Most of my marketing is done online through various websites and promotions. And my books are promoted via Imajin Books, my publishing company.

Why did you decide to go the indie route with your own publishing company and how long was it before you began publishing the work of other writers?

I began my career as an indie published author, self-publishing three titles from 2003-2005. With their success I was able to secure a New York agent and a traditional publisher. I recognized a lot of serious problems with my publisher early on and ended up removing my books just before they went under. My experience wasn't entirely negative though; I learned a lot from them--especially what NOT to do as a publishing company.

After leaving my publisher, I decided to return to indie publishing and set up my books again under my publishing company, Imajin Books. Over the next year or so I was approached by other authors who asked me if I'd consider publishing them. I said no, but it made me think. I realized there was a need for what I could offer.

So, on January 15, 2011, I opened Imajin Books to accept other authors. We now have a great group on board; some will be publishing their second book with us this spring/summer.

How does your publishing company differ from other small presses?

Imagin Books is an innovative company. We offer a hybrid form of publishing, kind of a cross between indie publishing and traditional. We offer a small advance and much higher than average royalties on ebooks and trade paperback sales. We consider ebooks to be primary rights, with print a subsidiary right. We only secure these rights so authors are free to purse film and other rights.

Our authors have more input into the creation of their books. We go through various editing stages, which they're part of, and they have input into their cover and trailer as well. We treat our authors like partners. Yet they pay nothing up front. We are NOT a subsidiary publisher. We focus on ebooks sales and market accordingly.

How do your print books sales compare with ebooks? And when did your ebooks begin outselling print editions in Canada?

Print sales are a small percentage of what we sell. Our ebooks far outsell our paperbacks. Last time I looked at the numbers we were selling 50 ebooks for every paperback. We have always sold more ebooks than print.

What's your work schedule like?

I work six to seven days a week. My hours vary, but I rarely work less than eight hours a day and often more. I love what I do and I take frequent breaks, so it doesn't really seem like I'm working that long. The great thing is that I can take days off when I need them.

My schedule is divided between answering email, reading submissions, coordinating editors and authors, assigning covers to designers, checking back with everyone, arranging our promotions, updating the website and blog, and anything else that comes up.

Advice for novice writers?

Facebook account BEFORE you query a publisher or agent. A book won't sell without consistent marketing on the part of the author.

Thanks, Cheryl. You can learn more about Cheryl at her websites: http://www.cherylktardif.com and http://www.whalesongbook.com and http://www.imajinbooks.comHer blogs: http://www.cherylktardif.blogspot.comand http://www.imajinbooks.Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/cherylktardif and http://www.twitter.com/imajinbooksFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Cheryl-Kaye-Tardif-novels/29769736630 and https://www.facebook.com/imajinbooks

A Visit with Mark Troy

Mark Troy lived in Thailand for five years as a Peace Corps volunteer, teaching English and supervising student teachers. He also traveled extensively in South East Asia, India and Nepal. After earning his doctorate from the University of Hawaii, he worked for several years in education research before joining the staff of Texas A&M University.

Mark, you’ve lived in a number of exotic places. Which setting sparked your interest in writing fiction?

The first spark occurred while living in Thailand. I was doing a lot of reading and discussing books with other volunteers. I tried some stories, but they were terrible. I caught the spark again after we moved to Hawaii and I had finished my dissertation. By that time I decided that I wanted to write mysteries. The fact that there were very few Hawaiian mysteries struck me as something that needed rectifying. I was also inspired by the Halekulani Hotel in Waikiki, which is the spot where the first Charlie Chan story was set. The bar at the Halekulani is named for The House Without a Key and is the best place in Honolulu to grab a martini at sunset.

How did your Hawaiian woman private investigator come about?

My first attempts at mysteries had a main character who was an amateur sleuth and a lot like me. He had a job as a junior researcher at a large university. He wasn’t any kind of an action hero so I added a secondary character, an ex-cop, to supply the action. Thinking there ought to be some romance, I made this character a kick-ass babe. The first smart thing I did with the story was submit part of it to a writing workshop. This was shortly after moving to Texas. The workshop was led by Joe R. Lansdale, whom I was not familiar with at the time. Lansdale hated the main character, didn’t think much of the story, but he liked the woman, Val Lyon. His first two suggestions were to keep the story in her point of view and to write it in the first person. After talking to him about it and giving it a lot of thought, I decided to try it. It turned out to the best thing I did.

The Shamus Awards convinced me to make Val a private eye. I was following Lansdale’s advice, writing the story from Val’s POV when I learned about the Shamus Awards. I looked up the past winners and nominees and realized I’d read most of the books and that the authors were writers I greatly admired. I decided at that point that I should write what I liked to read, so I changed from writing amateur detective stories to private eyes stories.

Did your own participation in sports convince you to write your recent release, Game Face?

I don’t participate in many sports. My main sport is running, which I have not written about. I did skydiving for a few years and that inspired one of the stories in the collection, but that’s the only one. My wife and I watch a lot of sports, though, especially basketball. When I created Val Lyon, my wife suggested that since so many female sleuths were runners, Val should have a different sport. So, I made her a basketball player who had played in college and professionally in Europe. That background and a lot of armchair sports-watching led to these stories. Three of them were inspired by articles in Sports Illustrated.

Tell us about the book.

Game Face is a collection of eight short stories, all featuring Val Lyon as the detective. Seven have been previously published in various magazines, e-zines and anthologies. One story is original to this collection. I wrote that story because I wanted readers who had read the published stories to have a reason to buy this book. There’s also some great interior art. It’s available for all the major ebook readers and in trade paperback.

Although sports provide the backdrop, I don’t consider these sports stories in that they are not about winning and losing. They are about greed, lust, and murder. More cheating takes place in bed than on the court in this collection. The title refers to Val’s dominant attitude of competing to win. The games are afoot and Val had better have her game face on because her opponent is Death and he scores first every time.

What’s your day job and when do you schedule your writing?

I do research on institutional effectiveness at Texas A&M University. Most of my work involves surveys of students and faculty, course evaluations, and assessment of academic programs. Eight to five I’m heavily involved in statistical analysis. Outside of work, I do my writing. I think the two—statistical analysis and writing fiction—are complementary. Statistics is all about people. It’s one way of learning about people. So is writing fiction. I write to learn about these characters.

Do you outline your fiction or do you wing it?

Both. I start with a few notes about the story, which usually include some background on the characters and some statements about the main plot points and the central idea. As I write, I’ll add more information on the characters and list more plot points as they occur to me. From time to time I will look at the plot points and rearrange them as necessary. I used to put the points and the notes on index cards, but now I use Scrivener, which has virtual index cards. By the time I finish the first draft, I have a pretty good outline to aid in the revision.

What’s the most difficult aspect of writing for you and what do you enjoy most?

The first draft always seems to bog down at some point. I start to question the story and the writing. Sometimes I find it hard to get motivated. If I don’t have a set time to write, I might not get anything done.

I enjoy revising. Once I have a draft completed, I enjoy turning it into something good and exciting. I also like letting a story take me to new places and discover new things. A lot of that comes with research.

Who most influenced your own work?

Joe Lansdale set me on the path I’m on now. John D. MacDonald, Robert Crais, Robert B. Parker, Greg Rucka and Marsha Mueller are some of the writers I really admire.

Advice for fledgling writers?

Don’t write what you know. Write what you don’t know. [Research your subject]

Thanks, Mark.

You can visit Mark Troy’s website: http://wwwl.marktroy.net and his blog sites: http://hawaiian-eye.blogspot.com and http://makeminemystery.blogspot.com    He’s also on Facebook: Mark Troy as well as Twitter: Skywritermt

A Visit with Ann Charles

Ann Charles is a technical software writer-editor by day and award-winning mystery novelist by night. Her books are filled with mayhem, fun, romance and humor. When not writing fiction she's busy working on articles about the craft of writing at  her blog site.

Ann, tell us about Dance of the Winnebagos that you wrote with C.S. Kunkle.

I’m actually the sole author of all of my fiction books. C.S. Kunkle is my illustrator (and my older brother). Dance of the Winnebagos is the story of Claire Morgan … When Claire's grandfather and his Army buddies converge in the Arizona desert to find new wives, it's her thankless job to keep them out of trouble with the opposite sex. But when she finds a human leg bone and partners with a reluctant geotechnician to dig up secrets from the past, trouble finds her. If she doesn't stop digging, she could end up dead. 
How did your Jackrabbit Mystery series come about?

Once upon a time, I was playing hangman at work with one of my coworkers. It was her turn to come up with a word, and she added a lot of spaces on the white board. After I landed two consonants and a vowel, the board looked like this:

T _ E    _ _ _ N _    _ _    T _ E    _ _ _ _ E _ _ _ _ _ E _

I was feeling pretty ambitious that day. I took one look at this puzzle and yelled, “The Dance of the Winnebagos!” (I know, the letters don’t match up—I’ve never done well in spelling bees.)

My coworker laughed and hung my poor stick man—the actual answer was The Hound of the Baskervilles. She then wondered what in the heck The Dance of the Winnebagos was.
I said, “I don’t know, but it would make a great book title, don’t you think?”

This game of hangman kick-started my brain. A weekend of plot storming with my critique group fleshed out the story even more. Before I knew it, I had a fun cast, an intriguing mystery, and a book that practically wrote itself. This book landed me my agent, who asked me when I’d have book 2 in the series finished. I hadn’t planned on a second book, but saw where I could tweak the story just a little and make it into a fun series, so I did. And that was all she wrote—well, not really, since I am still writing this series.

How has the ebook revolution affected your book sales?

I’ve sold over 17,000 ebooks this year, my first year of publication. In comparison, I’ve sold around 1,000 printed books. The ebook revolution has served me well, and I personally love reading ebooks on my e-reader. As the co-owner of Corvallis Press, I can also say that ebooks are much easier to publish, sell, and track.

Do you have a day job and what’s your writing schedule like? Also, do you outline?

I am a technical writer by day and a fiction writer by night. Both are full-time jobs and keep me hopping—but not as much as my two young kids. My schedule is crazy, and I carve out moments to write and promote whenever I can, which is mostly at night after my family goes to bed because I am soooo not a morning person.

I am more of a right-brained, write-by-the-seat-of-my-pants author (aka a “pantser”), so my outline is very high level. I rarely stick to it. I like to write a scene and learn what comes next as it fills the pages. It makes the story more fun to build and share.

What are the best and worst parts of writing for you?

Let’s start with the bad stuff. The worst part is just the constant struggle to find time to write, not to mention do all of the promotion and marketing needed to find new readers. It’s not a marathon—it’s more like a triathlon. Some days, I just want to hide under the covers.

As for the best part, it’s the peers, the friends, and the fans. I love meeting new people (even if it’s just online) and building new relationships.

Advice to fledgling mystery writers?

Treat everything as an experiment, which allows you to use failure as a learning device. Be patient and persevere. Remember, this is not a get-rich-quick business. The writing is just a piece of the whole endeavor—an important piece, mind you, but you will need to learn about all aspects of the business like any other entrepreneur.   

Who most influenced your own work?

The list is long, but to name a few of the authors: Stephen King, Rachel Gibson, Dean Koontz, Janet Evanovich, and Jane Austen. I also am greatly influenced by movies, which I use to learn more about elements like dialogue and pacing. 

In the event of a fire, which three inanimate objects would you save?

My husband has trained me to grab the hard drive that has all of our family pictures on it, so that’s the first thing. Next, I’d probably save the printed photos of old. Third, I’d take my laptop to save me a big headache later. 

Thanks, Ann.

You can learn more about Ann at her website: http://www.anncharles.com/
Her blog sites: www.1stturningpoint.com
and www.plotmammas.com

John M. Daniel Revisited

John M. Daniel was born in Minnesota, raised in Texas, and educated in Massachusetts and California. He was a Wallace Stegner Fellow in Creative Writing at Stanford University and a Writer in Residence at Wilbur Hot Springs. He has taught fiction writing at UCLA Extension and Santa Barbara Adult Education and was on the faculty of the Santa Barbara Writers Conference for nearly twenty years. He now teaches creative writing for Humboldt State University Extended Education.

John’s stories have appeared in dozens of literary magazines. His thirteen published books include four mysteries: Play Melancholy Baby, The Poet’s Funeral, Vanity Fire, and Behind the Redwood Door.

John, you have an impressive background in teaching creative writing. When did you first realize your interest in literature?

When I was five years old my mother read me The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. She explained the irony in that remarkable book, and I knew then that forevermore I would be a reader. About ten years later I started reading the novels of Richard Bissell, and I knew then that, whatever it took, I would be a writer.

You’ve worked as a bookseller, freelance writer, editor, entertainer, model and innkeeper as well as a teacher. Which of those jobs did you enjoy and which would you rather forget?

I think I got my highest moments as an innkeeper and a bookseller, because in both cases I was dealing with people and supplying them with what they most wanted at the time. Teaching, too, come to think of it. My least favorite job was as an academic editor for the Stanford University Press. I essentially flunked out, because I wasn’t good enough. That job was hard, borrrrring, and I wasn’t up to the task.

Have you incorporated any of your work experiences into your novels?

 Of course. I’ve written fiction about hotel managers and bar musicians, and my newest one (not yet published) is about a bookstore clerk. My main work experience, as a small press publisher, is what fuels the Guy Mallon mystery series, or at least the first two books thereof, The Poet’s Funeral and Vanity Fire.

Who most influenced your own work?

 I’ve already mentioned Richard Bissell, my favorite writer because of his honest, humorous, wry, cynical yet compassionate voice. He writes about simple folk and makes them into small-time heroes. I should also give a nod to science fiction writer Ray Russell, with whom I corresponded weekly. He was my mentor during my thirties, and he helped me become the writer I became. I also must acknowledge Wallace Stegner and Nancy Packer of the Stanford Creative Writing Program.

Tell us briefly about your small press and how it came about.

I moved to Santa Barbara in 1983 with the goal of being an entertainer, singing old standards and accompanying myself on the guitar. I got a few gigs, but I needed a day job. I’d worked as an editor and a bookseller, so I hired on at Capra Press, a distinguished independent publisher. My position was assistant to the sales manager, Susan Winton. Within a few months, Susan and I were a couple, and we left Capra, pooled our meager resources, and started our own publishing business which (after we married in 1987) became Daniel & Daniel. We’ve never looked back, even in moments when the business drives us nuts.

Have you published any of your own books and how do you feel about indie publishing?

 I have a lot of respect for indie publishing, which comes in many flavors. Yes, I’ve published three books under one of our own imprints, Fithian Press: One for the Books: Confessions of a Small-Press Publisher; Structure, Style and Truth: Elements of the Short Story; and The Ballad of Toby and Lark: A Cat Fantasy. I’ve also epublished three novels with Kindle and Nook: Swimming in the Deep End, Geronimo’s Skull, and Elephant Lake.

Advice to aspiring writers?

Write for the joy of writing. Other reasons to write (for money, for fame) may not pay off, but if you love the pleasure of telling stories, you’ve already won the game.

What are the biggest mistakes your writing students have made?

The word “very” in every other sentence. Beginning writers tend to think the word “very” strengthens a sentence, when in fact it more often than not does the exact opposite.


What inspired your latest book, Behind the Redwood Door?

When Susan and I moved to the North Coast of California, famous for its rocky shores, its towering Redwood trees, its mountains inland, and (yes, for better or for worse) its illegal cash crop, I was enchanted. Then I started hearing gossip about the area’s shady past: exploitive lumber barons, the poor treatment of Native peoples, family feuds, etc. I got hooked. I knew I had to write about this place. And I knew I had to make the murder take place behind our favorite bar, which I renamed the Redwood Door.

Thanks, John.

You can visit Joihn at his website,
His blog site: blogsite,
On Facebook: Facebook
And Amazon.com

A Visit with Ann Parker

Ann Parker is a California-based science/corporate writer by day and an historical mystery writer by night. Her award-winning Silver Rush series, featuring saloon-owner Inez Stannert, is set in 1880s Colorado, primarily in the silver-mining boomtown of Leadville. The latest in her series, Mercury's Rise, was released November 1. Publisher’s Weekly says, “Parker smoothly mixes the personal dramas and the detection in an installment that’s an easy jumping-on point for newcomers.” Library Journal adds, “Parker’s depth of knowledge coupled with an all-too-human cast leaves us eager to see what Inez will do next. Encore!”

Ann, how do you conduct your Leadville, Colorado, historical research from San Francisco?

I have a pretty good collection of books and photographs of the area now, after more than a decade of writing about Leadville and its environs. My bookshelves include such items as Leadville: Colorado’s Magic City, by Edward Blair; the humongous 2-volume The History of Leadville and Lake County, Colorado, by Don and Jean Griswold (and I have it on a searchable CD!); and Historic Leadville in Rare Photographs and Drawings by Christian J. Buys. I love looking at old photos… you can pick out such interesting little details with a close examination! I also “walk the streets” when I can manage to get up there, and take a lot of photos and scribble down a lot of notes. I peruse the old newspapers at the online Historic Colorado Newspapers, and am a regular Internet visitor at the Lake County Public Library’s Local History site. And I pester the research librarians at the library regularly by email, when I have questions.

 Tell us about Mercury’s Rise.

When the book opens, it’s the summer of 1880, and Inez Stannert, part-owner of the Silver Queen Saloon in Leadville, is on a stagecoach Manitou, Colorado. Many come to Manitou to “chase the cure” for tuberculosis, but Inez has a different reason for visiting this fast-rising health resort: she is on her way to reunite with her young son, William, and her beloved sister, Harmony. However, the journey turns lethal when East Coast businessman Edward Pace mysteriously dies under the horrified gaze of Inez and Pace’s wife and children.

As Inez digs deeper into the wherefores and whys of his death, she uncovers shady business dealings by those hoping to profit from the coming bonanza in medicinal waters and miracle remedies, medical practitioners who kindle false hopes in the desperate and the dying, and deception that predates the Civil War. Then Inez’s husband, Mark Stannert, reappears after a year-and-a-half unexplained absence. Even as she fights to hold on to her child and the life she has built for herself, Inez comes to realize there is no “cure” for murder....I know that many readers of the Silver Rush series have been curious as to what happened to Mark Stannert, who mysteriously disappeared before the start of the series. Mercury’s Rise answers that question, at least in part!

I know that your 1880s protagonist, Inez Stannert, was named for your grandmother, but was she also the strong woman you portray?

 Granny was definitely strong, in her own way, but not the gun-carrying, whiskey-drinking, card-playing Inez portrayed in my fiction. I believe she must have had a rough childhood--she never talked about her years as a child and a teenager, so I believe that says something in itself. She raised three children during the Depression, when my grandfather couldn't find work (not an uncommon story back then, I'm afraid). What's more, even though she never finished high school, she made sure her children got good educations and entered worthwhile professions; my uncle because a mechanical engineer, my aunt was a legal secretary (back in the day when women didn't generally do that sort of work), and my father became a physician.

Why would someone with a degree in Physics decide to write a series about the Leadville mining town?

My decision to write about Leadville is due to a family history mystery: Granny was raised in Leadville, and never talked about it… even though she loved telling us grandkids stories about her later life in Denver! My Uncle Walt urged me to research Leadville and think about setting a novel there. I took it on as an assignment, and before I knew it, I’d fallen in love with Leadville’s rich history and its current-day incarnation. As to how this ties to the degree in Physics… I’ve always been fascinated by science and technology, and that led me to research topics such as silver mining and assaying in 1880s Colorado (for Silver Lies). From there, it was easy to apply the same research skills to a host of historical subjects for the other Silver Rush books: Colorado railroads, the Reconstruction, women’s rights in terms of divorce and property law, the medical views/research/treatments of tuberculosis, and so on—all in the proper time frame, of course.

 What’s your day job and when do you find time to write an historical series? Do you outline and have a regular writing schedule?

I’m a science and technical writer/editor and write about darn near any topic you want to throw my way, from nanotechnology to solar energy to cosmology or hydrodynamics or the latest, greatest in supercomputer architecture for data-intensive computing. I also do regular “corporate” writing projects: developing employee handbooks, safety manuals, website content, proposal writing … if it has to do with words, I’ll tackle it. I’m self-employed, for the most part, so take on whatever comes my way.

As for finding time to write fiction… yes, it’s difficult. I don’t have a regular writing schedule—work comes first, because it pays the bills. The fiction I write to “feed my soul.” I joke that I’m driven by deadlines and panic, but it’s actually more truth than not. I’m a caffeine addict, who prefers writing late at night when things are quiet around the house. Sometimes, I will take a weekend and go hide in the guest room of good friend and fellow mystery writer Camille Minichino. I can pound out up to 30 to 50 pages on such a weekend, sometimes even more. I don’t write an outline, but I’m required to write a synopsis for each book before starting, and my synopses tend to run about 10 pages long, so if I get stuck, I turn to the synopsis or brainstorm with other mystery writers.

How has the ebook revolution affected your book sales?

I think the jury is still out on that. My publisher, Poisoned Pen Press, has the first three out in various ebook formats, so that’s great. I can’t say I’ve gotten rich off of the sales, but I’m pleased that the books are available in so many ways, including in audio format, for the most recent two: Leaden Skies and Mercury’s Rise.

Who has been your most read historical author and which writer most influenced your own writing?

Since I read so much non-fiction, I’m hard put to name a most-read historical author. I always look forward to books by Martin Cruz Smith, and I very much admire his writing and how he can put me right into any time and place! Right now, the historical fiction book I’m looking forward to reading next is Michelle Black’s Séance in Sepia. I’m also a closet fan of steampunk, and thinking I’d like to try my hand at that genre someday.

Advice for fledgling historical writers?

Write, write, write. Remember to use all the senses in your writing. Have some honest and blunt “beta readers” who will let you know when you’ve let your research take over your book (a definite hazard of being an historical writer!).

Thank you, Ann. It was a pleasure to have you visit us here.

You can visit Ann at her website: http://www.annparker.net/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/annparker.writer

Twitter: http://twitter.com/TheSilverQueen

and Mercury's Rise and the other Silver Rush mysteries are available from independent booksellers, amazon.com, and Barnes and Noble.

Leave a comment on this post to be eligible to win a Silver Rush mystery prize! To see the rest of Ann’s blog tour schedule, check out her News page.