Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Blog Tag!


My work-in-progress has been tagged by author Judy Alter --visit her at Judy’s Stew and read about her work in progress tentatively titled "Innocents in Danger" (although we all know how titles change). It sounds like fun, and I certainly enjoyed her first book Skeleton In A Dead Space, a Kelly O’Connell Mystery. 

Now it's my turn to answer the same ten questions. Here’s your first look at my fifth Thea Campbell Mystery!


What is the title of your book?

The working title is “Other People’s Money” but it will change, of course.

Where did the idea for the book come from?

Several places. Since I work part time in a veterinarian’s office, and know the drama that can go on in barns, as well as the dangers inherent in many of the medications I felt it was a perfect set up for a crime. Then I read an article about a totally different type of crime that intrigued me. I can’t tell you about the it because it would give away my story. Also, all the publicity lately about Super Pacs made me think something along those lines would make an interesting twist to the plot. Yes, I can make it all fit together!

When genre does your book fall under?

Mystery. But there’s also a good bit of romance in it. The main characters, Thea Campbell and Paul Hudson, are rather intensely involved. They verbally spar in a manner that reminds some readers of Spencer Tracy and Katherine Hepburn.

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

Hugh Jackman as Paul and Audrey Hepburn as Thea. Obviously a little time travel will be required.

What is the one-sentence synopsis of the book:

Thea and Paul are blackmailed into investigating the murder of her horse’s vet for the purpose of clearing the person they know is guilty.

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

Self published. After 4 books I’ve become very comfortable with this avenue for getting my mysteries to readers and have worked out my resources and team members.

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

Still working on it. I outline first, and that can take a while. The first draft can take me up to two months to complete.

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

Some of my favorite authors who write mysteries with family, close friends, humor and romance are; Evelyn David, Kate George, Nancy Martin, Ann Charles, Janet Evanovich to name a few. 

Who or What inspired you to write this book?

There’s lots of credits to go out. The characters themselves often suggest the next book, and the readers of the earlier books are always nudging me along to the next adventure.

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

Thea’s horse Blackie plays a bigger role in this latest adventure. Some believe he’s psychic. He certainly has an expansive personality. Also, many favorite characters will return in this book – some just to stir up trouble! And wait! Could I be hearing wedding bells? And if I am, who are they for?


4 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. Thanks William! I'm having a good deal of fun writing it. When I was in the outline stage I was thinking this story was going to be much darker than the others, but leave it to my characters to insist on telling the story their own way, and still stick to the plot!

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  2. I love your books, Susan. And I especially like that Blackie's personality comes through. Not enough writers allow for the personalities of anyone but their human characters.

    I like the title. Are you sure you're going to change it?

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    1. Thank you, Norma! Blackie will play a bigger part in this next story. I love books where all the characters's personalities -- human and otherwise -- come out to play. I think it pulls the reader into the story's inner circle, so to speak, rather than simply being an observer.

      I never know what the ending title is going to be for a book, even after I've outlined it. I think this is because the themes of the story become more apparent once it is actually written and I try to connect the title to a major theme.

      In Death By A Dark Horse, the "Dark Horse" is ultimately not a horse at all.

      In Levels of Deception, none of the characters, including Thea, are innocent of deception, although the motivations differ dramatically.

      In An Error in Judgment, several of the characters make mistakes of varying magnitude that steer the course of the story.

      In BushWhacked ... okay, play on words here, too, not only is the body of a murdered man found under a bush, but Thea, Paul and a number of the other characters are deliberately misled in order to further another character's agenda.

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