A Visit with Anne K. Albert

Winner of the 2011 Holt Medallion Award of Merit, Anne K. Albert is a former art teacher and display ad sales person. She also worked for a major water company before writing her first novel.

Anne, when and why did you decide to organize the Mystery We Write Blog Tour and is this your first tour?

After the release of my debut novel last fall, I signed on to a blog tour with 20 other writers. Unfortunately, I dropped out within a few weeks for personal reasons, but knew another blog tour would be in my future.

In March 2011 someone on the Sisters-in-crime egroup bemoaned the price advertising companies charge to arrange blog tours to promote an author’s books. I contacted the writer and asked if she’d be interested in a blog swap. She was. We sought out other mystery writers, and within days, the 2011 Mystery We Write Blog Tour was born.

Has teaching art classes and selling display advertising helped you in any way with writing fiction?

I believe everything I’ve experienced has effected my writing as well as my personality and how I choose to live each day. I’m the sum of all that’s happened to me, and would not be who or where I am today if I’d chosen a different path.

Whether teaching, selling, writing or promoting, I strive to consider the other person’s needs and wants before my own.

As a teacher, I emphasized that learning can a fun, life long activity. When selling advertising for a local newspaper, I designed ads I hoped would instantly grab the reader’s attention and promote that particular business. As a writer, I want to entertain my readers. I want to take them away from the real world for just a few hours. If I provide them with a puzzle to solve, characters to care about, as well as bringing a smile to their faces, I’ve done my job.

I love your title, Frank, Incense and Muriel. What’s the story behind it?

My goal was to write a lighthearted mystery. I knew the story would take place the week before Christmas and I wanted the title to convey that. I already had the hero’s name (Frankie Salerno), and I knew he infuriated the heroine when they were in their teens. Wth a little tweaking I changed frankincense and myrrh to Frank, Incense and Muriel.

Btw, I’m thrilled this book is the recipient of the 2011 Holt Medallion Award of Merit. (link: http://www.virginiaromancewriters.com/Contests/holtwinners.html)

What makes your protagonist special?

Muriel Reeves is the intellectual in a family of thrill seekers. They even hand out the annual D-DAY (Death Defying Act of the Year) award to prove it. Muriel’s always felt like the black sheep of the family, but in reality the majority of her family are black sheep and she’s the lone white one! Part of the fun in Frank, Incense and Muriel is watching her confidence grow as she steps out of her comfort zone and helps Frankie search for a missing woman.

Why did you decide to write mystery novels?

I grew up reading Nancy Drew, Trixie Belden, and the Hardy Boy books. From there I discovered Agatha Christie and other mystery writers. I’ve always loved cozy mysteries and when I decided to write a book it was a forgone conclusion it would be a whodunit.

Do you have a strict writing schedule and do you outline?

I wish I did! Unlike some writers, I can go weeks or months without actually writing a single word. The words eventually build up, however, and like a volcano I’ll burst!

As to outlining, when I began writing I was strictly a seat of the pants writer. I loved the thrill of not having a clue what would happen next. The only problem is it takes a fair amount of time to figure a story out. Now that I’m published I have deadlines and at my editor’s request, I wrote the synopsis to my next release first.

In the past, knowing all the twists and turns ruined the fun of writing for me. This time, however, I’m finding it a benefit. I no longer have to stop and think what should come next. It’s like having a road map. I know my destination, but there’s still a lot of discovery of new places and things to see along the way.

Who most influenced your own writing?

I’m unable to pick just one person, but Stephen Cannell’s fast paced writing style has always impressed me. I love it when I forget to analyze the author’s writing style and become engrossed in the story. When that happens, I know I’m in the midst of genius!

Which author, past or present, who you like to be trapped in an elevator with?

Mark Twain would be fun because of his insight and wit. I’d also like to have met Robert A. Heinlein.

Advice for aspiring mystery writers?

Write. Finish what you write. Polish it until it shines. Read, then write some more. Oh, and never, never give up.

Thank you, Anne.

You can visit Anne at her website: http://www.AnneKAlbert.com

and her blog site: http://anne-k-albert.blogspot.com, http://muriel-reeves-mysteries.blogspot.com
Her book is available at: http://www.amazon.com/Frank-Incense-and-Muriel-ebook/dp/B004CLYDRO/

A Visit with Vivian Zabel

Vivian Zabel is a member of the Mystery We Write Blog Tour team who will be appearing here each week until August 14. She's a writer who operates a family-owned publishing company. She also lectures, teaches about various aspects of writing and publishing, conducts readings, presentations and arranges blog tours, among other pursuits.

Vivian, why did you decide to start a small press?

The major publishing companies don't give many unknown authors a chance because they accept only agented manuscripts. Agents with access to the major publishing houses don't accept many unknown authors. The only other courses open to writers are self-publishing (which still has a bad reputation because of the poorly edited material that is out there) or independent publishers (which charge authors for publishing their books or editing or other essential services) or vanity presses (which print anything). I wanted to help fill the gap between the two wide ranging levels with a small traditional publishing company (the company takes all the risks) but that offered quality books. So, although not a gambler, I took the largest gamble of my life -- I started 4RV Publishing. Three months later the economy crashed. Great timing, huh? Of course books are low on priority lists of what people need, but I feel books are needed and keep plugging away.

Your company has an unusual name. How did that come about?

Four (4) Rs are in the family: my husband Robert, daughter Rene, son Robert Jr., and son Randy, and one V, me. Makes the company name more personal: 4RV Publishing.

Which writing subjects you usually speak about?

I can speak on writing, including grammar needs to formatting, and publishing. But I can also speak on the benefits of speech, debate, and drama in the scholastic life and in real life. I can speak on the importance of newspapers, yearbooks, and literary magazines in high schools and how to do them. I also do school in-service presentations on teaching across the curriculum and how good writing can be used in all courses.

How do you manage to accomplish all your various activities?

I’m slowing down, I’m afraid. I have to be careful how much I do without long periods of rest. Lupus does that to a person. However, since I can’t sleep some nights, I use that time for writing or on 4RV. When I have a speaking engagement or other presentation, I try not to overdo for a week before, and then I don’t do much the week after.

Since I’m a speaker/presenter at the Alaska Writing Conference in September 2012, I may have to take more time for recovery after that trip.

Mainly I manage because I’m a very determined person.

You certainly are. Tell us about your latest novel, Stolen. 

My latest novel, Stolen, is a mixture of mystery, suspense, and even love, but it is not a classic mystery. Torri Adamson discovers her playboy husband has a second wife and takes her children home to Oklahoma. She rebuilds her life with her grandparents, mother’s brother and his wife, and closest friend, until her friend dies of cancer. Torri rebuilds her life again and shared grief with her friend’s widower develops into love. Then her life is torn apart when her children are stolen.

The story is one I had to write after I couldn’t find a way to deal with the pain of two grandchildren being taken by their father. When the novel was written, we didn’t know if they lived or not or where they were. I took the agony, loss, and frustration and gave them to Torri. Of course I still felt the loss, deeply, but at least could better deal with it.

Do you find it difficult to write in more than one genre?

Wearing several hats has been a habit of mine for most of my life. Therefore, writing in more than one genre isn’t that hard. When I write children’s books or for tweens or teens, I imagine myself that age again or go back to when my children or grandchildren were. I then write for myself at that age or for them at that age.

When writing for adult readers, I go into “that’s what I want to read” mode.

What are the biggest mistakes you find in submissions to your publishing company?

The biggest problem and first reason for rejection of a submission is writer’s not following submission guidelines. The next comes from submitters believing their work is so marvelous they don’t need to follow the rules.

Advice to fledgling writers?

Read, read, read. Learn, learn, learn your craft. Write, write, write. Revise, revise, revise. Then begin all over again.

How do you promote your own books?

I have a blog and a website. I participate in a writing site: Writing.Com. I’m a member of several email groups. I have blog tours. I attend book festivals. I speak and do presentations. For someone who has never been good at promoting herself, I discovered I had to learn how to do so.

Are ebooks going to revolutionize the publishing industry?

Ebooks are energizing the publishing industry, but they are not making publishing easier for publishers. As much work goes into preparing files to become electronically published as books traditionally published, except the for the printing process. Yes, it’s easier if the person uploading to reader services doesn’t care how professional the book appears on the reader. However, good quality takes time and effort, just as preparing for print versions.

I’m not sure that ebooks are improving the publishing industry, but the process is here to stay.

Thanks, Vivian.

You can visit Vivian at her website: http://vivianzabel.blogspot.com

Her publishing company site: 4RV Publishing http://4rvpublishingllc.com
Orders (other than from bookstores, online suppliers) http://4rvpublishingcatalog.yolasite.com and Stolen:  http://Stolen.yolasite.com 

Lawrence Block revisited

Mystery Writers of America Grandmaster Lawrence Block has won four Edgar and Shamus awards. The bestselling author's wide range of characters: from private investigator Mathew Scudder, burglar Bernie Rhodenbarr, insomniac Evan Turner to assassin Keller have made him one of the most versatile crime novelists on the planet. He's also published four how-to writing books as well as short fiction and articles in American Heritage, Redbook and The New York Times.

What in your background prepared you to write crime novels? Did you hold any writing jobs before writing fiction?

Nothing---outside of extensive reading. After two years of college, I got a summer job at a New York literary agency as an editor. I dropped out of school to keep it, and stayed for a year. Then I went back to college, but I was already writing and selling short stories and novels, and couldn't take school as seriously as it needed to be taken. I wrote full-time, until in 1964 I took a job as an editor with a numismatic magazine in Racine, Wisconsin. After a year and a half I returned to full-time free-lancing, and I haven't had honest work since.

How did your protagonist Mathew Scudder come into being?

I developed the character for a three-book paperback original series for Dell, at the suggestion of my agent. Dell didn't do much with the books, but the character remained alive for me, and a few years later I wrote a fourth book and Arbor House published it. A Drop of the Hard Stuff, coming from Little Brown in April 2011, will be the seventeenth novel about Scudder, so I've been writing about him for over 35 years, which I find astonishing when I think about it. He's older now, but who isn't?

Your gentleman burglar Bernie Rhodenbarr is an intriguing protagonist. How did you feel about Whoopi Goldberg playing the role in “The Burglar in the Closet?”

Whoopi was by no means the worst thing about that movie. The gender change was something the filmmakers had every right to make; it's not their job to reflect and reproduce the novelist's vision, but to make something that works as a film. Unfortunately, what wound upon the screen wasn't very good. Whoopi's a fine actress and could have been good if she'd had something to be good in. The writer/director is the genius who gave us the Police Academy films, so what could we expect?

How did your character Evan Michael Tanner originate and do you plan to write additional novels about him?

I wrote seven Tanner books in the 1960s, then nothing until Tanner On Ice in 1998. Tanner seems to have the life-cycle of a cicada, and I figure the next book is due in 2026. I don't think there'll be more Tanner books, but I've been wrong about this sort of thing before. I never know what the future will offer.

What’s the best advice you can give to aspiring mystery/crime novelists?

Write to please yourself. And don't expect too much.

What’s your writing schedule like and how has it changed over the years?

No schedule. Now and then I write something. Less now than years ago.

How many books of writing advice have you written?

There have been four: Writing the Novel from Plot to Print, Telling Lies for Fun & Profit, Spider Spin Me a Web, and Write for Your Life. I figure that's plenty.

Have you ever suffered from Writer's block?

Only in interviews.

How do you overcome it?

Doggedly.

Which writer(s) influenced your own writing and why?

I don't know. I read tons of things early on. Jazz musicians talk in terms of influences, because when they begin they try to sound like someone whom they admire. Writers try to find their own voice, which is different.

How would you like to be remembered?

I don't expect to be remembered. The world has a short memory, and that's fine. Those of us who think we're writing for posterity are deluding ourselves. And why give a rat's ass about posterity? What has posterity ever done for us?

I'm sure your work will be long remembered. Thanks for taking part in the series.

Lawrence Block's website: www.lawrenceblock.com

A Visit with Alafair Burke

Alafair Burke "is a terrific web spinner" who "knows when and how to drop clues to keep readers at her mercy," according to Entertainment Weekly. Her two series feature  NYPD Detective Ellie Hatcher and Portland Deputy District Attorney Samantha Kincaid. A former prosecutor in the Portland, Oregon, DA's office, she currently teaches criminal law and procedure at Hofstra Law School  in New York.

How did NYPD Detective Ellie Hatcher come into being as well as Portland Prosecutor Samantha Kincaid?

I was a prosecutor in Portland, Oregon, for several years. After leaving to move to New York, I missed my office. I missed Portland and my friends. And as a long-time mystery reader, I had always wanted to write a crime novel. I thought I’d finally learned enough about the world to give it a try, so I started with Samantha Kincaid, who is a prosecutor in the very office where I served.

By the time I was working on my fourth novel, I’d been living in New York for a few years. I thought the anonymity that comes only in a city this big was exciting territory for me as a writer. I was also ready to write a faster paced book with an investigator, instead of a lawyer, at the center. I had a story I wanted to tell that involved Internet dating, and I thought a young New York City detective was the perfect narrator. I actually meant for that book (Dead Connection) to be a standalone, but I knew when I wrote the final chapter that I’d still be hearing more from Ellie.

I love your Duffer Awards. What prompted them?

The only thing I love more than reading books is talking about them. Sometimes I think I only write so I’ll have a work-related reason to talk all day about mystery novels.

I’m traveling less this year for book tour, so I wanted to do some fun things online that would involve interaction with readers I might not get to see in person. A couple of months ago, I gave out some so-called “Duffer Awards” in my newsletter, and my readers thought it was a big hit. I thought it would be fun to let readers vote on a new award every day for a month. And since I don’t like real competitions like smartest sleuth, where feelings can be hurt, I decided that the awards had to be for silly stuff like Best Hat and Most Likely to be Institutionalized. I hope crime fiction readers will stop by every day to cast a vote on each category. And to sweeten the pot, anyone who posts a comment is entered to win signed books and gift certificates to booksellers. The more comments, the more chances for loot!

The awards are at www.alafairburke.com. As I type this, Michael Connelly’s Mickey Haller appears to be locking in a win for Most Likely to Marry His Ex-Wife (over Robert B. Parker’s Jesse Stone).

How do you manage to write two crime series while serving as a Professor of Law at Hofstra University? What’s your writing schedule like?

I honestly don’t know how anything gets done. I Facebook, Tweet, and eat constantly, yet at the end of the year, I usually have a book and a couple of law review articles on my computer. I do try to write every day, and very rarely miss two days in a row. That continuity makes a big difference. Even if I only write a couple of paragraphs on a busy day, I can jump in the next day, fully aware of where I am in the story, how my characters’ voices sound, and how they feel in that moment.

Tell us about your latest release.

I’m very excited about Long Gone. It’s my first stand-alone thriller. I guess I said that about the first Ellie Hatcher book, too, but this time, I think I really mean it. And it’s the first time I’ve written about a character who is outside the criminal justice system.

After a layoff and months of struggling, Alice Humphrey finally lands what she thinks is her dream job managing a new art gallery in Manhattan’s Meatpacking District. Everything seems perfect until the morning Alice arrives at work to find the gallery gone—the space stripped bare as if it had never existed— with the man who hired her dead on the floor. Overnight, Alice’s dream job has vanished, and she finds herself at the center of police attention with nothing to prove her innocence. There’s also a missing girl from New Jersey, a rogue FBI agent, and Alice’s nightmare family running around the pages, but I promise it’s all one story.

This is a higher concept book than my series novels, and sometimes those don’t end as successfully as they start. I’m very proud of how all the threads come together here, though.

How much of an influence on your own writing was your father, James Lee Burke?

With a father who was writing and mother who was a librarian, we were a family that not only told stories, but thought it was perfectly natural to write them down. My mother would take me to the library every Saturday for a new stack of books. The rhythms of story telling and character creation become ingrained when you read all the time.

Advice to fledgling crime writers?

Read. Read a lot. But don’t try to copy anyone. Figure out what you can offer the genre. And then write every single day – without starting over – until you finish. Once you have a beginning, middle, and end, it is much easier to make adjustments than you’d ever believe. The hard part is getting it done.

How, in your opinion, is the ebook revolution affecting major publishing practices?

I’m a bit like the ostrich in the sand on this one. Or a kid with fingers in ears saying, “La, la, la, I’m not listening to you.” I try to focus on the books and appreciating the readers I have instead of figuring out the business. That said, my sense is that publishers were more panicked two years ago than they are now. They still believe that writers need a conduit between them and retailers (whether electronic or paper). In my case, they are really pushing the idea of growing my readership through e-books. For example, they’re currently offering Angel’s Tip for $1.99. (See how I worked in that plug. Wily, huh?)

What has brought you the most pleasure and satisfaction?

Knowing that someone is reading your work is a grand high. When I hear from readers who say they stayed up all night because they couldn’t put down one of my books, I still want to scream out loud.

Any publishing regrets?

I don’t believe in regrets. Maybe my very first book would have been better if I’d cut back on some detail, but debut novels are detailed for a reason. New writers share some of the same habits. I like to think that every book I’ve written has been better than the rest. As someone who cares more about the longevity of my publishing career than dollars and cents, that makes me pretty content.

Thank you, Alafair.

You can visit Alafair at her website: www.facebook.com/alafairburkebooks
At Twitter: www.twitter.com/alafairburke
and at: http://www.alafairburke.com/ (where Duffer voting is taking place)

Her latest novel, Long Gone, can be preordered from Harper Collins.