Christmas is usually a holly-jolly time, right?
All those carols, and cookies, and…

But it's "bah, humbug" when someone takes the joy out of the season in PREACHING TO THE CORPSE (Berkley, 12/07), the second book in the psychological detective/advice columnist series by author and psychologist/therapist Roberta Isleib . ( http://www.robertaisleib.com - http://www.jungleredwriters.com )

Isleib is one author who's taken the adage "write what you know" quite literally- she first wrote about her obsession with golf via pro golfer/amateur sleuth Cassie in Burdette in her golf mystery series, which ended with FINAL FORE (Berkley, 2/06).

The latest in her new advice columnist series ASKING FOR MURDER (Berkley, 9/08) has Dr. Rebecca Butterman searching for answers as to who beat and killed a Connecticut sand-play therapist. (See the book trailer for ASKING FOR MURDER - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vdYZMWzdxy4 ).

No complaints from Isleib about taking her work home.

"When my editor at Berkley Prime Crime asked to see something new, I jumped on the opportunity to write about a psychologist detective," she says. "The work of the detective in a mystery has quite a bit in common with long-term psychotherapy: start with a problem, follow the threads looking for clues, and gradually fill in the big picture. So this move turned out to be a natural progression. The advice column angle is purely fun."

Funny thing is, Isleib never intended to become a writer, though with her years of schooling, (she has a doctorate in clinical psychology and practiced for years as a therapist), she was doing enough of it. She began writing about golf psychology. The challenges of freelance writing then led her to try her hand at fiction, and something clicked.

"I was a student for so many years that I should say I've always written," she half-jokes. "I began writing in order to make something useful out of my obsession with all things golf. I've always loved reading mysteries and I imagined it would be fun to write one with a neurotic lady golfer as a protagonist (write what you know and all that!)"

Readers seemed to agree, and one book became a series of five golf mysteries and now a second series. But that doesn't mean it came easy and that she didn't have to put in the time and work.

"I've taken classes wherever I find them and even hired an independent editor for a few of my books," she says. "I considered this 'on the job training' because I never intended to write fiction and had no training whatsoever other than loving mysteries and reading them like crazy. Becoming a successful writer takes some talent, some luck, and a whole lot of persistence. And don't forget networking! Meeting other writers has made the view from my desk more fun and less lonely."

Though Isleib's full-time job is now writing, she shows that, yes, you really can have fun with your occupation. And who better to come up with characters than someone skilled in observation?

"Characters are everywhere--I just have to watch and listen, and then ask that wonderful writer's question - What if?" she says. "I like to weave some aspect of being a psychologist into each book whether it's the daily work of a therapist, a particular ethical dilemma, or some unusual kind of therapy. In ASKING FOR MURDER, I explored sand-play therapy, which is based on Jungian principles. Fascinating--and it provided me with some wonderful clues and red herrings!"

Readers and others including well-known advice columnist Margo Howard, have praised the new series. But that doesn't mean Isleib's taking anything for granted. She still wants to learn, grow, and keep on writing.

"I know I have so much room to grow as a writer because I started late," she says. "I work hard at improving my writing for each book. I never want to be the kind of author that people shake their heads over saying, 'she started out with some promise, what happened?' I've realized that there are no shortcuts. I only wish I had begun earlier, like taken the creative writing classes offered at Princeton when I was an undergraduate. But I wasn't ready to write then and I sure am now."

 

Favorite Quote:

"I drove slowly home, passing the church on the way. Spotlights illuminated green wreaths with red bows on massive wooden doors, and candles gleamed through the wavy window glass, projecting an aura of peace and beauty. Wouldn't that be shot to hell by morning?" – From PREACHING TO THE CORPSE.