Monday, November 12, 2012

Ten Interview Questions for the Next Big Thing - A Cold White Sun


 This is fun.  I was invited to take part in a blog circle by Stacy Juba. It’s sort of a ‘tell five friends’ thing. Here’s the link to Stacey’s entry: http://stacyjuba.com/blog/2012/11/07/the-next-big-thing-young-adult-hockey-sequel-offsides/.  See below for the authors to whom I’ve passed the torch.

What is your working title of your book? 

A Cold White Sun: A Constable Molly Smith Novel

Where did the idea come from for the book? 

This is part of the Constable Molly Smith series from Poisoned Press.  It’s the sixth book in the series, so the setting and main characters were already set in my mind before beginning to write the book.  As was the basic trajectory of the protagainst’s lives.  The Molly Smith series is set in the small mountain town of Trafalgar, British Columbia, and the crimes in each book are on a small individual scale. Fatal car accidents, missing people, local politics, betrayals in marriages or friendships. In A Cold White Sun, I’ve continued with this theme, looking at the fall-out to a family (what we call an ordinary family – middle class, Mom, Dad, two kids) when one family member is murdered while walking the dog in the woods on a snowy morning.  To make it difficult for my police characters, they can find no clues, no suspects, no motivation.

What genre does your book fall under? 

Mystery

Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?

I’m not going to answer that, because I really don’t know, or care.  However, I will mention that the series has been optioned for Canadian TV.  And if it does come to pass, it’s totally up to the producers to do the casting.

What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?  

When Cathy Lindsay, high school teacher, is shot by a sniper while walking her dog in the snowy woods Sergeant John Winters has more than a few questions: he has no clues, no suspects, no motivation.

Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency? 

The book is published by Poisoned Pen Press (www.poisonedpenpress.com

How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript? 

A Cold White Sun is my thirteenth novel, so I rather have the hang of it now.  It took about three months for the first draft.

What other books would you compare this story to within your genre? 

Traditional British-style police procedural novels such as those by Peter Robinson, Susan Hill, Louise Penny or Deborah Crombie.

Who or what inspired you to write this book? 

I love exploring family and personal dynamics.  Put people under unbearable stress and see what happens.  Some will do the right thing… some will not.

What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest? 

I hope it’s an exciting crime drama as well as an exploration of the family and personal relationships of my characters.

And here are the wonderful authors I’ve tagged. Have a look at their web pages now, and check back on November 19th when they've answered the questions and tagged five more authors:

Rick Blechta is a novelist and musician who brilliantly merges the two in his standalone crime novels: http://www.rickblechta.com/

Barbara Fradkin writes the multiple-award winning Inspector Green novels: http://www.barbarafradkin.com/

Donis Casey is the author of the historical Alafair Tucker series from Poisoned Pen Press:  http://www.doniscasey.com/

Betty Webb writes both the gritty Lena Jones series and the lighter Gunn Zoo mysteries: http://bloggingwebb.blogspot.ca/ (Betty isn't able to participate, but you can still check out her great books!)

Violette Malan writes fantasy, both high and urban: http://www.violettemalan.com/

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