A Question Behind the Question
Since my debut novel, A KILLING AT COTTON HILL, was
published two weeks ago, I’ve done a few readings and talked to a lot of people
who are excited about my books. One thing I was surprised about was some of the
funny questions people ask me. Here are a few of my favorites:
1) At a bookstore reading, a man asked if I took up crime
writing because it’s easier than writing mainstream fiction. His question made the assumption that crime
writing is easier than writing mainstream novels. At one time, I thought the
same thing. When I first started writing, I dreamed of being a “literary”
writer. But, knowing how hard it was to break into print, I thought maybe if I
wrote an “easy” mystery, it would at least get me in print. And then I
discovered reality. At the heart of every good novel is a mystery. The
difference is that readers of crime fiction, these days demand tight, rich
prose and interesting characters in addition to a compelling plot with just the
right mix of red herrings and real clues. Easier? I don’t think so.
2) Where did (name a character) come from? Is he based on a
real person? I think what people really want to know is, how does a writer
think up characters? Do we take them from real life or do we dream them up? My
characters are usually a mix of people I’ve known—liberally sprinkled with a
bit of myself. Every now and then
someone I’ve known from the past is a perfect match for a character I need. One
in particular stands out in A KILLING AT COTTON HILL—but I’ll never tell who it
is!
3) How long does it take to write a book? It took only two
months for me to write the first draft of “KILLING.” William Styron sometimes
took seven years to write a book. Most people say nine months to a year. So the
answer is all over the place. The question behind the question is, “Could I
write a novel?” The answer is that it takes a lot more than time to write a
novel. And the thing that most people won’t do that a novelist must do is sit
down, apply hands to keyboard and write!
4) What kind of car is that on the cover? Where did I find
it? The assumption behind this question is that I had something to do with the
cover. Unless an author is self-published he doesn’t have much, if anything, to
do with the cover choice. Luckily, I loved my cover. When I first saw it, I
spent hours looking at different photos of car grills trying to figure out what
kind of car it was. One man told me firmly that he knew exactly what the car
was—a 1963 Dodge Dart. But it wasn’t. So I had a contest to find out what kind
of car is was. It’s a 1966 Plymouth Belvedere.
5) Still, my favorite question was one that I couldn’t
answer, one that was asked at my very first reading. It was along the lines of,
“How was I so cocky that I thought I could write from the viewpoint of a man?”
I mumbled something vague, and then somebody from the audience, a woman I’d
never laid eyes, on piped up with a wonderful, astute answer. Everyone clapped.
Unfortunately, I was so rattled that don’t remember what she said!
I’d love to hear from readers what some examples of funny
questions you’ve gotten—about your writing, or any creative endeavor.
Blurb: A KILLING AT COTTON HILL: A Samuel Craddock Mystery
The chief of police of Jarrett Creek, Texas, doubles as the
town drunk. So when Dora Lee Parjeter is murdered, her old friend and former
police chief Samuel Craddock steps in to investigate. He discovers that a lot
of people may have wanted Dora Lee dead—the conniving rascals on a neighboring
farm, her estranged daughter and her surly live-in grandson. And then there’s
the stranger Dora Lee claimed was spying on her. During the course of the
investigation the human foibles of the small-town residents—their pettiness and
generosity, their secret vices and true virtues—are revealed.
Terry Shames |
Bio:
Terry Shames grew up in Texas. She has abiding affection for
the small town where here grandparents lived, the model for the fictional town
of Jarrett Creek. A resident of Berkeley, California, Terry lives with her
husband, two rowdy terriers and a semi-tolerant cat. She is a member of Sisters
in Crime and Mystery Writers of America. Her second Samuel Craddock novel, THE
LAST DEATH OF JACK HARBIN will be out in January 2014. Find out more about
Terry and her books at www.Terryshames.com.
Reviews:
“…if you’re as fond of good writing as I am, it will be the
characters in Cotton Hill that will keep the pages turning until late in the
evening…”
Mysteryfile
“Shames’ novel is an amazing read. The poetic, literary quality
of the writing draws you in…”
RT
Book Reviews
“Readers will want to see more of the
likable main character, who compassionately but relentlessly sifts the
evidence. Convincing small town atmosphere and a vivid supporting cast are a
plus.”
Publisher
Weekly
Terry
Shames offers readers a wonderfully-told tale that kept me turning pages… what
kept my interest more than anything was the writing. It was absolutely
superb. Lee Lofland, The Graveyard Shift
Blurb from Carolyn Hart:
“A KILLING AT COTTON HILL enchants
with memorable characters and a Texas backdrop as authentic as bluebonnets and
scrub cedars. A splendid debut by a gifted writer who knows the human heart.
Definitely a candidate for both the Edgar and Agatha Awards for Best First
Novel.”
Comments
Lelia Taylor