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Laurraine:
When did you realize you were interested in writing?
N. C.:
At one time most of my story-telling was done by using pencil and sketchpad or paint and canvas to create realism with hand and eye; then I got hooked on reading romance and mystery novels. I found myself constantly changing the outcome of many of those novels and adding characters to give the hero or heroine tougher obstacles to deal with. Then I challenged myself to write a novel. Not forewarned that like any other art form once a person started writing it would become an instant addiction, I found myself happily succumbing to the addiction.
Laurraine:
What inspired you to become a writer?
N. C.:
Great stories that I have read and the wonder of letting go into the world of creativity, into that story's time and space.
Laurraine:
Was your writing influenced by your reading?
N. C.:
I think I've already answered that question. The challenge of going from painting on canvas to painting with words was certainly influenced by losing myself in the great stories I had read.
Laurraine:
What authors do you feel influenced you most?
N. C.:
A lot of them -- Mary Higgins Clark, LaVyrle Spencer, Tom Clancy, Tony Hillerman, Minette Walters, John Grisham, Rosamunde Pilcher, Lilian Jackson Braun, Anne Mather, Margaret Rome, Dorothy Cork, Flora Kidd, Janet Daily, all authors with great stories. I believe the authors influencing my 'gothic' attitude in my stories and characters were most likely Tennessee Williams, Jane Austen, Agatha Christie, and William Faulkner.
Laurraine:
How long did it take before you were published?
N. C.:
I began writing in 1984 and was one of the first authors published in e-book form in 1999. However, in 1995, two of the companies that contracted to do the paperback form of my books and one e-book publisher went out of business before my books made it to the shelves; so it doesn't count towards being published but certainly counted toward my education. I have to say I was beginning to believe I was a jinx to publishers. Humorously, I wondered how much authors might pay me "not" to submit my manuscripts to "their" publishers.
Laurraine:
Are you a full-time writer?
N. C.:
Yes, and poor artist still applies.
Laurraine:
If you were not a writer, what profession do you think you would like to do?
N. C.:
If I were young enough, there are a couple besides continuing as an artist -- a Private Investigator or a serious-to-find-the-truth-and-expose-it investigative reporter.
Laurraine:
What profession do you feel you would hate?
N. C.:
High school teacher
Laurraine:
How did you become interested in writing mysteries?
N. C.:
My mind works in a constant analyzing way. Movies or books, I'm always determined to know the outcome before I get to the end.
Laurraine:
Do you write outside the mystery field?
N. C.:
Yes
Laurraine:
If yes, what other types of writing do you do?
N. C.:
I have written reviews for a review publication. This was before the publication of my first book and for a short time after. I have one Romance contracted to be published and a few non-fiction articles. I also have a paranormal historical work in progress that was not a mystery--but, unexpectedly, it has now turned into a mystery/suspense too....
Laurraine:
What types of writing that you haven't done are you interesting in doing?
N. C.:
Right now, I can't think of any.
Laurraine:
Do ideas for books just come to you?
N. C.:
I start writing and the story evolves.
Laurraine:
Do you do a lot of research before you write?
N. C.:
I usually do the research after the writing starts, since I've no idea what it's about until the first chapter is finished. That is when I do character interviews and the research begins.
Laurraine:
What kind of things inspire your writing?
N. C.:
Emotions, all the senses, getting inside the character and feeling, sensing everything that is happening. Having the radio tuned to the all love-song station while I work.
Laurraine:
Do you pattern your characters after people you know? Yourself?
N. C.:
If I do either, it is subconscious. The main characters introduce themselves to me in the first chapter. They usually have problems and careers I know little about, hence the research. At least one of the characters will have what I call a 'paranormal aura.' I haven't the slightest idea where that comes from--except perhaps from myself.
Laurraine:
Do you enjoy reading?
N. C.:
Yes.
Laurraine:
What kind of books do you enjoy reading?
N. C.:
Romance, Mystery, Suspense, Life, Paranormal
Laurraine:
Who are (some of) your favourite authors?
N. C.:
I named them in your question about influence, because my favorites all influenced my love of reading and creativity--with a "really good story".
Laurraine:
Where do you see your writing headed in the next ten years?
N. C.:
Butt in chair, fingers on keyboard--if life will allow. I have a mystery series character who keeps nagging me in the middle of the night to get busy.
Laurraine:
Do you follow a routine when you write?
N. C.:
If "butt in chair, fingers on keyboard" is a routine, then I follow one. I would love to be in the chair each day with an exact routine as many successful authors such as Nora Roberts have, but life hasn't been allowing me that benefit.
Laurraine:
What are your feelings toward the publishing industry?
N. C.:
Sometimes I believe its tunnel vision for what is chosen to be "marketable" is left up to too few who might really be paying attention to what readers love. I'm a reader, and I don't want the authors choked to conformity....
Laurraine:
Do you feel that the author must take more responsibility than in the past to market his own books?
N. C.:
Yes.
Laurraine:
Do you resent having to do this?
N. C.:
Yes, I guess I do. The publisher gets the biggest benefit from the sale of a book and wants to spend the least time and money on the marketing. If anything, I believe it should at least be a team effort.
Laurraine:
What are your feelings toward reviewers?
N. C.:
Honest reviewers, I love. Critiquing reviewers, are not honest reviewers. There are rules to reviewing. I know, I've been one; and the publication I worked for insisted those rules be followed. Harriet Klausner should write a book used to train reviewers--what a remarkable asset that would be--if she can't finish a book, she does not review it but passes it on to someone else--which of course is one of the first rules....
Laurraine:
Do you feel that criticism can be useful in improving your writing?
N. C.:
Criticism, no, thought processes, yes. Criticism is nothing more than an opinion, but "questions" -- now that is where usefulness begins. Would that character really do that? But, can someone twist an arm that way? Did they have a phone like that that year?
Laurraine:
What's your opinion on the direction of the publishing industry, especially the influence of e-publishing?
N. C.:
I was one of the first to go toward e-publishing as a career move. I could see the wonder of it and was in awe of the pace technology was/is moving with. It seemed that if a person didn't try to keep up with this technology, the "person" would soon be obsolete. The pace is so tremendous that it seems only the very young will be fast enough to keep up at all. I've learned that educational material has always been "first" to make it in any type of publishing technology. Once it is in the schools, then the fiction market kicks in. The schools have increasingly embraced e-book technology, converting text books, using readers, building libraries for downloads. Electronic publishing is not going away and can do nothing but advance. History proves that: Fiction will begin making authors a living when the educational works have finished breaking the ground.
Laurraine:
What works of yours should we look forward to seeing in the near future?
N. C.:
The Fiction Works has promised to get my last three novels into print soon, RISKY ALLIANCE, already available for download; Romantic/Susp LIABILITY; Yester-year Romance SECRETS AND LIES but there are no dates firmly set.
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