Rosemary, tell us what you like most about writing your
books?
I love the idea of being in control of all the
situations...it happens so rarely in real life..:)
Give us some insight into your writing day.
I try to write in the morning. I write longhand (and in pencil!) first, then put on the
computer. Rewrite the next day.
What advice do you have for the novice mystery writer?
Just start. . and get those scary first few pages out of the
way..You'll rewrite it anyway.
Who gave you the best writing advice you ever received and
what was the advice?
I read something that Elmore Leonard said about
writing...something like "just try to leave out the boring bits." I
hope I did!
Do you believe in writer's block?
Happily it hasn't happened to me yet, but I can see how it
might 6 or 7 books into a series..
Tell us about your characters and your setting.
Springfield is a CT town very much like Stamford where I
live, but I fictionalized the town because I wanted to be as flexible as
possible. I didn't want someone to tell me "that building wasn't there in
1962.."
Funnily enough, a lot of the story revolves around the
Springfield Historical Society and the Stamford Historical Society has just
asked me to be the honorary chairman at their fundraiser this spring. Seems
they like the idea of readers thinking they're in the book!
My main character is Paula Holliday, a transplanted city
girl who moves to the suburbs after being edged out of her job. She decides to
buy the little bungalow she's been renting for the summer and start a gardening
business. Paula's prepared for all manner of pests, but not for the mummified
body she finds the first day of her first big job.
Paula's casual snooping turns serious when a second body is
found and one of Paula's friends is arrested for the crime. Aided by the
still-hot aging rocker who owns the local diner, a wisecracking former
colleague and a sexy Mexican laborer with a few secrets of his own, Paula works
to free her friend and find the real killer.
Okay now for the getting to know you better questions. What
is your favorite meal, dessert,movie, a few of your favorite books and places
to travel?
Roasted chicken with rosemary and balsamic vinegar
Greek yogurt with honey and walnuts
The Godfather, with honorable mentions to Shawshank
Redemption and Gladiator
The Razor's Edge, The Golden Bowl, The Age of Innocence, A
Prayer for Owen Meany, Out of Africa. Mysteries - the Moonstone, all Dorothy
Sayers, Carl Hiassen, Barbara D'Amato and whatever one I'm currently reading!
Today it's All the Pretty Girls by JT Ellison.
Love US National Parks (I've been to over 70 NPs and rec.
areas), Jost van Dyke, Rome, Tanzania
What would you like to say to your readers ?
Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Tell us about your favorite conventions.
I assume you mean mystery cons...Malice, NE Crimebake, Love
is Murder, Sleuthfest
What are your future writing plans?
I'm working on book two in the Dirty Business Mystery series
and hope to finish by this June.
Where will you be signing books this year?
I'll be at the Mystery Lovers Bookshop, CT Flower and Garden
Show, Sleuthfest in Florida, Philly Flower Show, Aunt Agatha's in Ann Arbor,
Left Coast Crime in Denver, New Canaan Library, Milford Library, Virginia
Festival of the Book, Cary (NC) Library, Newington (CT) Library, Malice
Domestic, Festival of Mystery, Hunterdon (NJ) Library. And that's just through
the end of April! Please check website for dates and times and I hope to meet
some of you!
Leave us with some writing words of wisdom.
It's all about the rewriting. Write the best book you can,
and have fun.
Rosemary Harris
Pushing Up Daisies
St Martins Minotaur Feb. 2008
www.rosemaryharris.com
Get a taste of my debut mystery at this link...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3b7rhX-f3qQ