Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What is your writing schedule?
A. I try to belly up to my desk between 8:30 and 9:00 most weekdays. I'll write until I've finished a chapter, or a section, or until I'm exhausted and my brain can't churn out another thing. Generally that means quitting time is between 4:30 and 5:00. Weekends are for having fun.
Q. Why do you write suspense fiction?
A. I was blessed with a mother who, from the time I was five, never gave me a firm bedtime. (Some may gasp). As long as I wasn't yawning when I went to school the next day, I could stay up late. That being said, my earliest favourite shows were Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Checkmate (remember Sebastian Cabot and Doug McClure?), The Twilight Zone, The Outer Limits, Night Gallery, 77 Sunset Strip and Hawaiian Eye. Yes, I'm that old. Those programs got me hooked on crime, in a vicarious way, of course. Then came the books: again, a nod to Alfred Hitchcock with his Mystery Magazine, followed by Stephen King and John Saul. I've never read a sweeping family saga that spans generations and tugs at my heartstrings, and have no immediate plans for doing so, with apologies to writers and fans of that genre. I do, however, keep humourous books in my bathroom.
Q. What would you do if you weren't a writer?
A. My Grade eight career project was on becoming a psychiatrist. I'm still fascinated by the workings of the human mind. I've often said too, that I'd like to be one of those women who plays electric violin for a rock band. But since I don't play the violin, that could put me out of the running at audition time. Now, I admit I covet Rick Steeves' job--imagine traveling all over the world, staying in hotels and B&Bs, eating in restaurants then writing about it and putting it on television. Paradise!
Q. What's the hardest part about writing?
A. All of it. It's a challenge every day to hunker down at the keyboard and try to make black magic happen. Some days are better than others. I love doing research but feel very uncomfortable asking people for help. "I'm a writer and I need to ask you about ..." or "Can you spare some time to give me insight into ..." --these things don't roll off my tongue easily. Most people are eager to help, but I always dread the day someone will shoot me a look that conveys "Who are you anyway?"
Q. What are your all-time favourite books?
A. I have a few that leap to the forefront: Stephen King's Salem's Lot; Thomas Tryon's Harvest Home; Thomas Harris's Silence of the Lambs; and Peter Abrahams' The Tutor. Those books frightened the you-know-what out of me to the point where I was actually talking out loud as I read. "No!" "Get out!" "Oh my gosh!" A casual observer might have deemed me certifiable (which could harken back to my fascination with psychiatry). Dennis Lehane's Shutter Island is another favourite. I was sorry when each of those stories came to an end. Fabulous books are being written every day by main streamers and indie authors, but those books made me fall repeatedly and hopelessly in love with the suspense genre.
Q. What do you do when writer's block strikes?
A. I've never been a huge believer in writer's block. As I said, some days are easier than others, and I give myself permission on rotten days to write very badly, knowing I can fix it later. If I happen to hit a wall, that's usually a signal that I haven't worked hard enough in an area--so I ask myself: "Have I fleshed out my characters?" "Is the setting vivid to me?" "Can I introduce a complication to layer in some tension?" "Have I researched thoroughly enough?" Sometimes I have to go back and lay more groundwork before I can move ahead. Occasionally, just rereading the previous few chapters gives me a jump start and gets the rhythm going. But I've never been one to use writer's block as an excuse to not show up for work. Worst case scenario: if the words just aren't coming in a satisfying way after a few hours of trying, I call it a research day, and engage another part of my brain while the creative side takes a sick day.
Q. What advice do you give to aspiring writers?
A. Turn off the television. Inhale the printed word. A great quote from Groucho Marx: "I find television very educating. Every time somebody turns on the set, I go into the other room and read a book." Learn as much about the craft of writing as you can; there are scads of wonderful how-to books out there. Once you learn all the rules, you'll get a sense of which ones you can bend or break. If you're the social type, go to conferences and meet with other aspiring writers, exchange e-mails and get yourself a support system, at least a friend or two who will read your work in its early stages and offer honest critique (note: "honest" doesn't mean "brutal." Nor does it means that someone hangs off every word you write with epic admiration). If you're feeling academic, take a creative writing class. Immerse yourself in as many aspects of writing as your schedule will allow. Embrace the challenge and have fun!
Q. Any help for indie authors?
A. The same as above, PLUS: realize that, now that you've become chief cook and bottle washer, you've got a tough job ahead. Learn everything you can about marketing your novel. Familiarize yourself with forums and sites where indies congregate and get a feel for the culture. Participate where you feel comfortable. Understand that just because you can publish a book on-line in minutes, doesn't mean you should. Polish your manuscript until it shines, leave it for awhile, then polish it again. When you're darn near sick of it, it may be almost ready to publish. Polish it again. Decide what services you can do for yourself, and what you'll need to spend money on. Can you design a professional-looking website? A book cover? Do you want to take the time to format your novel? Create a realistic budget for starting your own business. In the indie writers' world, I've found people to be more than generous with their expertise, and I hope you have the same experience.
Still have a question? Go to my contact page and I'll try my best to answer you, or I'll post it here.
A. I try to belly up to my desk between 8:30 and 9:00 most weekdays. I'll write until I've finished a chapter, or a section, or until I'm exhausted and my brain can't churn out another thing. Generally that means quitting time is between 4:30 and 5:00. Weekends are for having fun.
Q. Why do you write suspense fiction?
A. I was blessed with a mother who, from the time I was five, never gave me a firm bedtime. (Some may gasp). As long as I wasn't yawning when I went to school the next day, I could stay up late. That being said, my earliest favourite shows were Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Checkmate (remember Sebastian Cabot and Doug McClure?), The Twilight Zone, The Outer Limits, Night Gallery, 77 Sunset Strip and Hawaiian Eye. Yes, I'm that old. Those programs got me hooked on crime, in a vicarious way, of course. Then came the books: again, a nod to Alfred Hitchcock with his Mystery Magazine, followed by Stephen King and John Saul. I've never read a sweeping family saga that spans generations and tugs at my heartstrings, and have no immediate plans for doing so, with apologies to writers and fans of that genre. I do, however, keep humourous books in my bathroom.
Q. What would you do if you weren't a writer?
A. My Grade eight career project was on becoming a psychiatrist. I'm still fascinated by the workings of the human mind. I've often said too, that I'd like to be one of those women who plays electric violin for a rock band. But since I don't play the violin, that could put me out of the running at audition time. Now, I admit I covet Rick Steeves' job--imagine traveling all over the world, staying in hotels and B&Bs, eating in restaurants then writing about it and putting it on television. Paradise!
Q. What's the hardest part about writing?
A. All of it. It's a challenge every day to hunker down at the keyboard and try to make black magic happen. Some days are better than others. I love doing research but feel very uncomfortable asking people for help. "I'm a writer and I need to ask you about ..." or "Can you spare some time to give me insight into ..." --these things don't roll off my tongue easily. Most people are eager to help, but I always dread the day someone will shoot me a look that conveys "Who are you anyway?"
Q. What are your all-time favourite books?
A. I have a few that leap to the forefront: Stephen King's Salem's Lot; Thomas Tryon's Harvest Home; Thomas Harris's Silence of the Lambs; and Peter Abrahams' The Tutor. Those books frightened the you-know-what out of me to the point where I was actually talking out loud as I read. "No!" "Get out!" "Oh my gosh!" A casual observer might have deemed me certifiable (which could harken back to my fascination with psychiatry). Dennis Lehane's Shutter Island is another favourite. I was sorry when each of those stories came to an end. Fabulous books are being written every day by main streamers and indie authors, but those books made me fall repeatedly and hopelessly in love with the suspense genre.
Q. What do you do when writer's block strikes?
A. I've never been a huge believer in writer's block. As I said, some days are easier than others, and I give myself permission on rotten days to write very badly, knowing I can fix it later. If I happen to hit a wall, that's usually a signal that I haven't worked hard enough in an area--so I ask myself: "Have I fleshed out my characters?" "Is the setting vivid to me?" "Can I introduce a complication to layer in some tension?" "Have I researched thoroughly enough?" Sometimes I have to go back and lay more groundwork before I can move ahead. Occasionally, just rereading the previous few chapters gives me a jump start and gets the rhythm going. But I've never been one to use writer's block as an excuse to not show up for work. Worst case scenario: if the words just aren't coming in a satisfying way after a few hours of trying, I call it a research day, and engage another part of my brain while the creative side takes a sick day.
Q. What advice do you give to aspiring writers?
A. Turn off the television. Inhale the printed word. A great quote from Groucho Marx: "I find television very educating. Every time somebody turns on the set, I go into the other room and read a book." Learn as much about the craft of writing as you can; there are scads of wonderful how-to books out there. Once you learn all the rules, you'll get a sense of which ones you can bend or break. If you're the social type, go to conferences and meet with other aspiring writers, exchange e-mails and get yourself a support system, at least a friend or two who will read your work in its early stages and offer honest critique (note: "honest" doesn't mean "brutal." Nor does it means that someone hangs off every word you write with epic admiration). If you're feeling academic, take a creative writing class. Immerse yourself in as many aspects of writing as your schedule will allow. Embrace the challenge and have fun!
Q. Any help for indie authors?
A. The same as above, PLUS: realize that, now that you've become chief cook and bottle washer, you've got a tough job ahead. Learn everything you can about marketing your novel. Familiarize yourself with forums and sites where indies congregate and get a feel for the culture. Participate where you feel comfortable. Understand that just because you can publish a book on-line in minutes, doesn't mean you should. Polish your manuscript until it shines, leave it for awhile, then polish it again. When you're darn near sick of it, it may be almost ready to publish. Polish it again. Decide what services you can do for yourself, and what you'll need to spend money on. Can you design a professional-looking website? A book cover? Do you want to take the time to format your novel? Create a realistic budget for starting your own business. In the indie writers' world, I've found people to be more than generous with their expertise, and I hope you have the same experience.
Still have a question? Go to my contact page and I'll try my best to answer you, or I'll post it here.