AN INTERVIEW WITH ELAINE VIETS

by Montiese Mckenzie

Elaine Viets is the author of two national bestselling mystery series. For the Dead-End Job series, Elaine's character, Helen Hawthorne, works those low-paying jobs. And so does Elaine. Marilyn Stasio of the New York Times called her latest Dead-End Job mystery "clever."

Her other series features mystery shopper and single mom Josie Marcus. "Dying in Style," the first book in the series, tied with Stephen King on the Independent Mystery Booksellers Association bestseller list.

Elaine lives in Fort Lauderdale  with her husband, author Don Crinklaw, their two cats, Harry and Mystery, and two vintage '86 Jaguars.

Q:  What is your approach to writing a novel: that is, do you outline or not? Do you keep files and piles of notes?

A: Yes. I write an outline as long as 90 pages, and then cut it down to seven or eight pages for my editor. I have file holders on my desk with information about "pornaments" (pornographic ornaments),  St. Louis restaurants and tips from my friends' children for the Josie books.

For the Helen Hawthorne series, I have files with information about field testing kits for drug, sleazy jobs, and favorite Florida restaurants.   

Q:  What are some of the tricks, pitfalls, etc. that you need to keep in mind when writing a mystery novel/story?

 A: A mystery is an intricate puzzle, and writers have to play fair with our readers. I give readers all the clues to solve the mystery, but try to bury the clues and make them hard to find. I love to get letters that say, "I couldn't figure out who the murderer was until the very end," or "I thought it was the husband and I was wrong."

Q: W hat is it that kick starts a project for you: a character, a situation, or…?

A: In the Dead-End Job series, my latest low-paying job kick-starts the series. For CLUBBED TO DEATH, I worked at a very snooty country club, and the way the members treated the staff was what started the book.

For my Josie Marcus series, I try to use situations that could really happen in her life. For instance, in MURDER WITH ALL THE TRIMMINGS, Josie Marcus is a single mother. She meant to tell her daughter, Amelia, that she'd never married the girl's father, Nate, for a good reason, but  somehow the time was never quite right. Now Nate is standing on Josie's doorstep, drunk and with a bag of drug money. Josie has a lot of explaining to do.

Q: What started you in writing? (Was it always a dream of yours?)

A: I wanted to be an investigative reporter and worked more than 25 years at a newspaper. Then I lost my job and I spent a lot of time cleaning house and thinking up ways to kill my bosses. The house was so clean, my husband and the cats were tiptoeing around, afraid to sit anywhere, in case I started cleaning again.

When a plasterer came to repair the dining room ceiling and I gave him a shoe shine, I realized it was time to either clean houses professionally or start writing. I wrote my first mystery in four months and it was bought by Dell.

Q:  What keeps you writing? What inspires you?

A: My MasterCard bill.

Seriously, writing is the best job in the world. I enjoy creating characters. When I write a book, I am God in the world I created, with the power of life and death. It's fun to tell stories and hear from readers -- especially if they like the book.

Q: C an you tell us a bit about the first story you had published -- how did that come about? And how do you feel about it now, i.e. would you like to change it and how?

A: I was so proud of my first mystery, "Backstab," I had the cover framed. I still keep it on the wall. My Aunt Betty made a baby carrier for it as a joke.I now see that my new baby was not perfect. If I had to do it again I would have shortened the novel and sharpened the plot, but I still love that book.

Q: How have you grown as a writer? What has gotten better?

A: My plotting has improved. I try to make the writing tighter.

Q:  What things have you dropped along the way?

A: I'm learning to curb my urge to preach. It's easy to climb up on a soapbox and hard to get off.

Q:  What helped most in your growth as a writer?

A: My publisher asked me to write two books a year, which is hard work, but helps hone the writing skills. I've been lucky to work with good editors at Penguin. They tell me what they think works and what doesn't. Many editors are too busy or overworked to really edit. 

Q: W hat are the three most important pieces of advice you'd give to writers?

1) Learn to cut and polish.

2) Learn to stop editing. Harlan Coben once said, "When you find yourself changing 'a' to 'the' it's time to stop."

3) Don't make excuses to avoid writing. Sit down and do it.

Q: How long does it generally take you to complete a novel – from conception to completion?

A: F our to six months.

Q: How many revisions do you normally go through when writing a novel?

A: At least two.

Q: What's the most difficult stage in the writing for you?

A: Starting the book and introducing the characters without overloading the readers with biographical information. It can be difficult to keep the plot moving when I'm doing that.

Q: Who are the authors who you admire most, who inspire you, whose writing you think is most beautiful, moving, exciting?

A: That a tough question, because there are so many good writers. Michael Connelly writes fine prose. I like Nancy Martin's books. Charlaine Harris has done groundbreaking work with her Sookie Stackhouse series. I could fill the rest of this blog with more names of men and women mystery writers. I think we're in a golden age of mystery writing.

Q:  What do you find most satisfying in a book: a great plot, beautiful writing, fully realized characters?

A: I am wary of "beautiful writing," which all too often is another name for self-indulgence. I like believable characters in situations that seem possible -- no soccer Moms who suddenly pick up machine guns and kill hit men.

Q: In your own work, what do you think you are strongest at: plot, beautiful prose, character? Or something else?

A: I hope to give my readers a good sense of place and character and an enjoyable read.

Q: How do you plot a mystery or a thriller – what stymies you most, what do you find easiest?

A: The hard part is telling the story and putting in the clues. I like dialogue. I was a reporter for many years, and enjoyed talking to people.

Q: W hat advice can you give on plotting a mystery?

A: Sue Grafton wrote five or six novels before she wrote her first mystery, because plotting is so difficult. Make sure all the parts fit and the people act in believable ways, instead creating characters who are  chess pieces the author moves around.

Q:  When doing a series, how "into" the world of that series do you get? Do you constantly think about that world and compare it to reality, changing it or fixing it as you go along?

A: Oh, yes. I often see a "help wanted" ad and think "This would make a good Dead-End Job for Helen," or  "Josie needs to mystery shop this store." In my mind, my characters are very real people and they have lives outside my book.

Q:  What scares you about doing a series?

A: Trying to tell an exciting story without the characters turning into cartoons. As some series go on, the hero has seen way too many murders and been beaten up or shot at, yet he/she gets up the next day as if nothing had happened and no one had died. That character has lost the capacity to react in a human way. 

Q: What are the advantages/disadvantages of series characters?

A: Series characters are like old friends. I know them well. I have to be careful that they don't become too familiar and my readers grow tired of them -- or I fail to give them enough background to be real in each book.

Q: W hat other kinds of writing do you do?

A: I blog once a week on Wednesday for The Lipstick Chronicles at http://www. thelipstickchronicles.typepad. com/  My blog sisters are Nancy Martin, Sarah Strohmeyer, Michele Martinez, Kathy Sweeney, and Harley Jane Kozak. I also write commentaries for the National Public Radio station, KWMU, 90.7 FM in St. Louis .

Q: What tips do you have for beginning writers?

A: Writing is an art and a business, and a successful career needs both. Writing-based conferences, such as Sleuthfest in South Florida , can give your career lots of help.

Q: What about readers – how have they received your books – do you hear from them, have any problems arisen, or any good/funny/touching experiences happened with regard to readers? What kind of fan mail do you get? Have you developed any friendships with fans over the years? What do your fans most like about your books?

A: I have friendships with a number of regular readers, and they tell me what they like and dislike about each book. My books seem to have special appeal to younger readers, and my first Dead-End Job book, SHOP TILL YOU DROP, was the most stolen book at an East Texas high school. After six copies vanished, I sent one to the teacher for the library.

Q: Is the publication of each book as thrilling as that first one?

A: First books are like first loves. Nothing is quite as thrilling. But each new book is a satisfying experience, and I always take time to hold it and admire it.

Q: What are your goals as a writer?

A: To write the best books I can and pay my bills.

Q: Why do you think mysteries are so popular?

A: Because it's the one genre that offers readers a sense of justice, which rarely happens in real life. Mysteries also can enlighten readers to careers and problems. My Dead-End Job mysteries are a look at the minimum wage world.

Q: Why has mystery spawned so many sub-genres?

A: It is an endlessly flexible form. There are mysteries featuring private eyes, amateur sleuths, lawyers and police officers. They range from tense thrillers to warm cozies.

 My Dead-End Job series is about the minimum wage world, and Helen Hawthorne has worked as sales clerk ("Shop Till You Drop"), book seller ("Murder Between the Covers"), telemarketer ("Dying to Call You"), in a bridal shop ("Just Murdered"), and a dog boutique ("Murder Unleashed"). She was a hotel maid in "Murder with Reservations," and at a posh country club for "Clubbed to Death."

Q:   Talk about your most recent book and what it means to you.

A: My current Josie Marcus book is  "Murder with All the Trimmings." It's a Christmas mystery with a hidden message -- shopping can be the death of the holidays. My editor asked me to write a Christmas mystery, and I thought I'd try it.

Q:  Did you feel compelled to write this book? About this subject?

A: I felt compelled to try something different. I wanted to write a Christmas mystery that was entertaining but unconventional. For those who love Christmas, there's my character Alyce, who channels Martha Stewart during the holidays. Josie and I are a little more skeptical about trudging through the malls listening to "Little Drummer Boy" once too often, but we know there are good times during the holidays, too. 

Q:  What do you like best about it? Which are your favorite characters and why? Which are your favorite moments in the story?

A: I like the way Josie handles a tough situation. She did not marry the father of her child for good reasons, and she basically lied to her daughter for nine years about his whereabouts. Now she has to explain herself. We've all had situations where we don't live up to the best we can be, and Josie tries very hard to make amends for her failure.

A sample first chapter for each book is on my Website. So are reading discussion questions, if you have a reading group. Just go to www.elaineviets.com You can email me at eviets@aol.com . I like to hear from readers.