A Visit with Margaret Coel

Tony Hillerman's heir apparent, award-winning and bestselling author, Margaret Coel, writes about the Arapaho people of Colorado and Wyoming's Wind River Reservation. Her latest release, The Spider's Web, is the 15th book in her series.

Margaret, you’ve said that the Arapahos are your dream people. Why are you so fascinated with them?

The Arapahos lived on the plains of Colorado in what they call “the old time.” I’m a 4th generation Coloradan who grew up on the stories of our area, including stories about the native peoples. Something about them just drew me in, and the more I researched and got to know them, the more fascinated I became. My first book was a non-fiction book, titled Chief Left Hand, which is a biography of one of their leading men in the 19th century and a history of the people in Colorado. That was the book that took me into their world. It was published in 1981 by The University of Oklahoma Press and has never gone out of print.

How were you able to research the crimes and customs of the tribe? Have they allowed you to interview them or have you researched them mainly in libraries and newspaper articles?

All of the above. I do a lot of research in newspaper articles, and I spent 5 years in library archives researching the Arapahos. I visit the Wind River Reservation every year, and have for the past 30 years, and I visit with my friends.

How did your protagonists, Father John O’Malley and Vicky Holden come about? Were they based on real people?

They were the kind of sleuths I needed for my novels. Amateurs, yet the kind of people that those in trouble would turn to and would trust. Father John is an outsider, like me. I wanted a character who would come to know the Arapahos and appreciate their history and culture, as I did. My thought was that the reader could come along on his journey. As for Vicky I wanted to write from a woman’s point of view, and I wanted a strong Arapaho voice in the stories. No, they are not based on real people, but I’m told one of the ongoing games on the rez is trying to figure out who they really are!

What is the most interesting fact that you learned about the Arapaho tribe?

They were traders, called the “businessmen of the plains,” in the early days. They were very sharp business people, and still are. They are also very spiritual.

Why did you leave Father O’Malley in Rome to write Blood Memory, a departure from your Arapaho series?

I thought he should go to Romewhile I write Blood Memory, and then I would have a tax-deductible excuse to visit Rome as well.

Were Tony Hillerman’s books your inspiration to write your own series?

Oh, yes, and so was Tony Hillerman. He really created the market for mysteries set among native tribes. Peope who read all of his books—and loved them—started looking around for similar mysteries in different locations. And there mine were!

What’s your writing schedule like? 

I write 6 days a week—this is a real job. Usually I write for 4 or 5 hours, then spend a couple hours on the “business” part of the writing business—dealing with editors, agents, publicist, requests for interviews and speeches. The type of thing I am now doing. Then I also do a lot of research and reading for each book.

How many books did you publish before you acquired an agent? And was acquiring an agent difficult?

With the mystery novels, I acquired an agent right away. The agent liked the manuscript of The Eagle Catcher, my first novel, and sold it to Berkley Publishing, still my publisher. I signed a 3-book contract, and I was off and running.

Which of your nonfiction books or novels was the most difficult to write? Which is your favorite? And why?

I wouldn’t say my non-fiction book, Chief Left Hand, was difficult, but it required a tremendous amount of research and documentation, as well as travel to the places I wrote about. So it took a chunk out of my life. But it was a terrific experience, and it allows me to write the mystery novels. As for my favorite book, it is always the book I am in the midst of writing. It fills up my head and consumes my life. When it is done, I send it on its way into the world and hunker down with my next “favorite” book.

Advice for aspiring writers?

One important word: Persistence. You have to keep at it no matter what. Keep writing and honing your craft. Keep getting better and better. Keep searching for the readers out there who are waiting for your stories.

Thank you, Margaret, for taking part in the series.

Margaret's website: http://www.margaretcoel.com/about.php
She's also on Facebook and invites everyone to join her there: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001416618752&ref=ts

A Visit with British Crime Novelist Martin Edwards

Martin Edwards is a Liverpool attorney (soliticitor) who writes English crime novels. He's a  member of the Murder Squad and is chairman of the nominations sub-committee for the most prestigious crime novel award, the CWA Diamond Dagger. He's also the archivist for the Crime Writers Association.

Martin, what does membership in the Murder Squad entail? 

It’s a group of six Northern crime writers, set up by Margaret Murphy. Members include Ann Cleeves and Cath Staincliffe, who have both had their books televised in recent years. We do events either jointly, in duos, or singly, all around the UK. We’ve produced an anthology, ingeniously entitled Murder Squad, and a CD sampler of our work. We have a website, www.murdersquad.co.uk I’m proud to be part of such a super gang.

How do crime novels in the UK differ from those written in the US?

Difficult to generalise, I think. We have plenty in common,, and I am certainly delighted with feedback on my books from the US. Americans like Deborah Crombie write very good crime novels set in the UK. Lee Child is a Brit who sets his bestsellers in the States. I suppose that there are fewer good private eye novels in the UK, and perhaps not quite as many serial killers – though we are catching up!

What was it like growing up in Knutsford, Cheshire, England, and did you write as a child?

I was born in Knutsford, famous as Elizabeth Gaskell’s Cranford (a Victorian era novelist and short story writer], though in fact I grew up a few miles away in Northwich. I still live close by. It’s a terrifically attractive market town, packed with history and there’s plenty of culture too. I’ve featured the town briefly in one novel, and more extensively in a short story featuring Mrs. Gaskell. I did write as a child. I think my first detective story was written when I was about 10, heavily influenced by the Basil Rathbone Sherlock Holmes films.

Are you still practicing law in Liverpool and how has your legal background influenced your novels?

Yep, I still have the day job. My first series, featuring Harry Devlin, also a lawyer, was set in Liverpool, a truly unique and fascinating city which everyone should visit! The most recent book, Waterloo Sunset, is a personal favourite. My legal background also influenced a stand alone novel of psychological suspense, Take My Breath Away, but it is less relevant to the Lake District Mysteries, although sad to say, a lawyer does meet a very unpleasant fate in The Serpent Pool.

You’re involved in a number of crime writer organizations. Tell us about them.

I was elected to the Detection Club a couple of years ago, which was gratifying, because of its fantastic history and the fact that almost all the members except me are superstars of the genre.

I’ve been a member of the Crime Writers’ Association for over twenty years, and I edit their annual anthology. I’m also chair of the CWA Cartier Diamond Dagger nominations committee. It was via the Northern Chapter of the CWA that the members of Murder Squad first met. It’s a very good social organisation.

You have an interesting, informative blog site titled, “Do You Write Under Your Own Name?” How did the name come about and has blogging helped sales of your books?

Glad you like the blog! When people – such as clients – meet me and learn that I write books, they often ask if I write under my own name. A polite way of saying they have never heard of my novels! I’m sure blogging has been good for my profile. Since it started I have won a Dagger and been elected to the Detection Club, but I’m not sure it’s cause and effect...

Tell us about your series and your latest novel?

My main current series is the Lake District Mysteries. The first book in the series, The Coffin Trail, was shortlisted for the Theakston’s prize for best crime novel of 2006. The series features cold case cop DCI Hannah Scarlett and the historian Daniel Kind. The developing relationship between them is a key element in the series, and so are the landscape, history and literature of the Lakes. The fourth and latest book in the series is The Serpent Pool, which draws on Thomas De Quincey’s years in the Lakes and above all on his fascination with murder as a fine art, has received terrific reviews since publication earlier this year.

What’s the most important ingredient in a crime novel?

Tricky question, but I’m tempted to say the key ingredient is making the reader want to keep turning the pages.

What’s your writing schedule like?

Overloaded! Because I work full time, I tend to write whenever I can snatch a few minutes in the evening and at weekends.

Advice to fledgling crime writers?

Keep at it, and don’t be disheartened too much by rejection.

Thanks, Martin.

Martin's website: http://www.martinedwardsbooks.com/


His blog site: www.doyouwriteunderyourownname.blogspot.com/

A Visit with Elizabeth Spann Craig

Elizabeth Spann Edwards writes two diverse mystery series, her Myrtle Clover novels and  cullinary mysteries set in Memphis, written as Riley Adams for Berkley.

How did your latest novel, Delicious, Suspicious, come about? Also Lulu, your Memphis barbeque-restaurant-owning, grandmother-sleuth?

I think, like so many things in life, I was at the right place at the right time. Berkley Prime Crime was interested in acquiring Pretty is as Pretty Dies (I’d queried them with the manuscript), but it got buried in a slush pile and instead was published by Midnight Ink. But Berkley was interested in having me write a different book—a culinary mystery set in Memphis, a city they thought would provide a rich setting for a mystery. I set to work right away writing the book. Lulu is an amalgam of all the strong, southern women who helped raise me. I love her humor and common sense.

You’ve written under your own name for your Myrtle Clover novels but this new series is billed as Riley Adams. Why the pseudonym?

As a writer with another series with a competing publisher, Berkley asked me to write under a pseudonym.

You’re a writer with young children at home. Why have you decided to write about senior amateur sleuths?

As a reader, I’ve always been drawn to older sleuths and love the wisdom they bring to the table when they investigate a crime. Miss Marple was one of my all-time favorites. My grandmother, who was strong and smart and funny was also a tremendous inspiration for me. Currently, I’m working on writing the third Memphis barbeque book and also working on a separate project…and yes, it does involve an elderly sleuth!

How did you go about acquiring an agent?

It wasn’t easy! I researched agents for weeks—checking their preferences and client list against my manuscript to see if it was a match. I was rejected...probably fifty-sixty times over the course of a couple of years. Some agents were queried more than once, for different projects. I actually ended up with a publisher before I acquired an agent and negotiated my own contract. Fortunately, I found my agent, Ellen Pepus, before hazarding my negotiating abilities (more like inabilities) with a second publisher.

What’s your writing schedule like and do you outline your novels?

My writing schedule is nuts. There’s actually no schedule at all—just a daily goal. As long as I make my goal, I fit my writing in where I can—in the carpool line at the elementary school, late at night, early in the morning, while taking my kids to the skate rink…wherever. I prefer not to outline my novels, but sometimes editors like to see a full synopsis. And I aim to please! But if left to my own devices, I make up my mysteries as I go along.

What’s the hardest part of writing for you and the aspect that brings you the greatest pleasure?Do family members serve as consultants and first readers?And does anyone else in your family write professionally?

My mother is my first reader and my father will read for me, too, time permitting. My mother is an avid reader and my father is an English professor. It helps! My father and grandmother have always written—articles, newsletters, etc, but weren’t novelists.

Tell us briefly about your writing background.

Starting out, I worked as an intern at a magazine in London when I was studying abroad there. After graduation, I married and moved to Birmingham, Alabama, and wrote articles (and did whatever else they needed…help selling ads or laying out copy) for an art magazine there.

Advice to fledgling writers?

 My advice would be to figure out what you want, in terms of your writing. Are you happy just writing for yourself? Could you be happy just sharing your work with a small group of people? Once I figured out my direction and what my intent was for my writing, I was a lot more determined and treated it more seriously.

Thanks, Elizabeth.

You can find her online at http://mysterywritingismurder.blogspot.com/ and http://mysteryloverskitchen.com/

A Visit with Karen E. Olson

Karen Olson worked as a journalist for twenty years before retiring from news gathering to edit a Yale medical journal.  Her two mystery series feature a tattoo artist-sleuth and journalist Annie Seymour. Her quirky characters have been compared to those of Janet Evanovich; her latest release, Driven to Ink: A Tattoo Shop Mystery, will be available September 7 from Signet.

Karen, how did you research your tattoo artist Brett Kavanaugh? And why did you decide to set the series in Las Vegas?

Since I don't have any tattoos, I had to start from scratch with Brett. I visited a tattoo shop with a friend's daughter, who is tattooed. I spent a lot of time online: YouTube is great for "learning how to tattoo." I also learned all the parts of a tattoo machine online. I spoke with many friends who are tattooed about their experiences. I also read a fascinating book about the history of women and tattoo, which was invaluable in understanding Brett, a woman in a typically man's profession. As for Las Vegas, well, my editor wanted the locale to be one that was warm with palm trees. Miami and Southern California were tossed about, but I finally decided on Vegas because everything in Vegas is just bigger than life and I could write some really fun stories that might only happen in a place like Vegas.

You have some quirky characters. Has your work been compared to that of Janet Evanovich?

My Annie Seymour series has been compared to Janet Evanovich's work, although I think the secondary characters in my tattoo shop series are much more Evanovich-like!

Tell us about your latest release, Driven to Ink.

Driven to Ink is the third tattoo shop mystery. Brett has lent her car to her friends Sylvia and Bernie for a drive-through wedding at the That's Amore wedding chapel. When the book opens, she discovers that they've left the body of a Dean Martin impersonator in the trunk and they've vanished.

In your first series, Annie Seymour  is a journalist. Tell us about your protagonist. 

Annie Seymour is a police reporter in New Haven, Connecticut. The plots in all four books were gleaned from the headlines, as you might expect a series set in a newsroom to be. Annie is tough, but vulnerable, and she believes everything is black and white, there's no gray area at all. I was a journalist for more than 20 years, so it was easy to start with the Annie books, since it was what I knew. Brett was much more of a challenge, since I was writing everything I didn't know.

When did your writing begin?

I always wanted to be a writer and began writing stories when I was 9. I was an English major in college, but realized I couldn't support myself writing fiction, so I became a newspaper reporter. When I was about 30, I decided to write my first mystery novel. It was the first book I completed, and no one will ever read it. It was my learning book. It took two more tries before I wrote Sacred Cows.

How difficult was it for you to find an agent?

I went through the query process and it was incredibly frustrating. I finally decided to take the bull by the horns and called a writer I'd interviewed 10 years earlier for the newspaper and asked if he would be willing to help me. He read the book then called me with his agent's name and number. That was not Sacred Cows, though, that was the second mystery I attempted. The agent did not agree to represent me but encouraged me to try again. When I sent him Sacred Cows, he did agree to represent me.

How long was it from completed book to publication?

It took me two years to write Sacred Cows . I started it in 1999. My agent agreed to represent it in 2001...two weeks before 9/11. Publishing virtually shut down, then the rejections began pouring in. I wrote another book. Then in 2004 I heard about the Sara Ann Freed Memorial Award competition and submitted the manuscript. It won. The book was published in 2005.

What’s your writing schedule like?

I work part time in the mornings and get home around 1:30 in the afternoon. I usually write for an hour before my daughter gets home from school, or when she's at her various after school activities. I usually write for about two hours a day, or as long as it takes me to write five pages. I try to write every day, but sometimes it's just not possible, and I don't beat myself up over it.

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

I love starting to write a book, when the story is new and the characters are new. I love putting my characters into different situations and see how they handle them. But I hate writing the endings. Not because I have to leave everything behind, but because I have to figure out how to wrap everything up. I don't outline, so sometimes my plots take twists and turns that might not be so easy to wrap up and I end up rewriting and moving whole chunks of the book around. Maybe I should outline, but I like the free-ness of just seeing where the story goes.

Advice to fledgling writers?

Perseverance pays off. It may take a long time, but it will pay off eventually.

Thank you, Karen.

Karen's website: http://www.kareneolson.com/

Her blog site: http://kareneolson.blogspot.com/