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Booking It: Interview with Mystery Author MM Gornell

Interview with mystery author MM Gornell reveals how she creates her characters and how she found her publisher.

MM GORNELL, author of several mystery novels, joins us today. Her first novel, PSWA award-winner “Uncle Si’s Secret” hit the shelves in 2008. She has two other published mysteries, “Death of a Perfect Man” (2009), and “Reticence of Ravens” (2010) her first Route 66 mystery -- which was a finalist for the Eric Hoffer Fiction award, the da Vinci Eye (best book cover), and the Montaigne Medal (most thought provoking book), and ended up receiving an honorable mention in Commercial Fiction. Her latest Route 66 tale, “Lies of Convenience,” the first in a trilogy, is in editing, and she is hoping for a Winter 2011 release date.

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CWF: It’s such a pleasure to talk with you after reading your engrossing novels. What compelled you to write your first novel?

MADELINE: Oh, Colleen, I’m honored you want to chat with me. Thanks so much for asking, and especially for your kind words. To know you liked my novel is the absolute best feeling!

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The short answer to your question is— my now-or-never time snuck up on me. Fortunately I was at a point in my life where I was ending one career, and had no excuse not to become a published author. Otherwise, I needed to move on to something else. And it was more a question of fine-tuning and polishing my writing skills enough to finally be accepted by a publisher. Up until that time, I’d written short stories (several published in Alfred Hitchcock more years ago than I want to mention!), and several attempts at really awful novels—I cringe even now—remembering I had the gall to send them to publishers.

So, with now-or-never-time staring me in the face, I took more writing classes, and had my latest “creation” professionally edited. From that point to now—with my forth novel in editing and rewriting—besides being lucky enough to be published, I continue learning “how to write.” It has become a wonderful journey.

I think it would also be accurate to say I’ve been an author my whole life—and “compelled” to write a novel that one day would be worthy of publication. I’ve always had the “soul” of an author, but having the time to develop the “craft” has only come in the last few years. Where art and craft intersect, is a question I’m still pondering.

CWF: I’ve found your stories to move quickly; and I feel a smile at the corners of my mouth over the observations your characters make—especially your female characters. They retain their femininity while asserting themselves, but sometimes wink along with the readers as they let the men run around in circles. How did you dream them up?

MADELINE:  Your observation on my female characters is an aspect of my writing I’ve never before thought about—and honestly never consciously made an attempt to achieve. Oddly enough, my protagonist’s sex is usually not one of the sparks that have started my stories. But what my unconscious mind is doing, I probably don’t want to know! Gender issues aren’t something I consider, except for authenticity in a character’s actions, motives, or perspective—and if required by the storyline.

How I dream them up, is also not a purposeful act. Sounds squishy, but my characters “just come.”

The first excitement and kernel of an idea for each of my books has come from a location that has reached out, grabbed me, and wouldn’t let go. That sounds a bit silly, and it’s not the whole story, but truly, so far, my novels have started because a location said, “Me! Me! Write about me!” From the location, I’ve then wondered—who would have lived there, or come that way? What is their story? And in the case of my first, Uncle Si’s Secret—there was the compelling thought of “What a perfect spot for a murder!”

Next, are the characters. To say my characters come from the “jumble” in my head is not being flippant. My life experience has been that “stuff” goes in, but doesn’t remain as specific facts (i.e. terrible memory for historical facts, names of books I’ve read, etc.). The best way I can explain it is, bits and pieces out of that conglomerate in my brain, reappear when I write—as characters, events, locations, situations, snapshots—all different from what “went in,” but for sure tied-to and based upon my life experiences and events. Currently, there are still many such characters and ideas jostling around in my head, waiting for their moment on paper, so to speak. I just have to find a way to let them out in one of my stories...

Visit Eve Laments Blog to read the interview, and comments in their entirety.

CWF: What drew you to the mystery genre?

MADELINE:  The second most overworked author phrase is, “Write what you like to read!” I love mysteries, I love being taken away into another world, and I love trying to figure out “who done it!” My first favorite author was Agatha Christie, and now P.D. James is my guiding light—in my mind, a great female author—regardless of genre. I also think every good story has to have a bit of mystery—just not necessarily a murder!

CWF: Many authors talk about working at their craft. What does that mean to you?

MADELINE: For me it means: writing, writing, writing; reading, reading, reading; rewriting, rewriting, rewriting; finding good editors who understand your voice—then learning when to listen to them; and always striving to improve your writing...

Visit Eve Laments Blog to read the interview, and comments in their entirety.

 CWF: How long did it take you to go from your first finished manuscript to a finished novel?

MADELINE: My first finished manuscripts way-back- when, probably don’t really count. They were awful and never saw the light of day except in unfortunate publisher’s slush piles. With my current works, it’s taken me a year each to write, edit, rewrite, and get published. My publisher is Aberdeen Bay, an imprint of Champion Writers. They are a small independent publisher. I also have an agent, Kladstrup and Associates, and feel very lucky in both respects! My agent and I did send out many queries for my first, Uncle Si’s Secret, so that adds some more time until publication there. (I have, like most authors many rejections in a special folder!)

CWF: Yes I’ve unfortunately experienced that Slush pile and have an ever-growing folder similar to yours! The ground seems to be shifting in the publishing industry, with so many titles available electronically. Do you have any predictions about how things will all shake out between paper and bytes?

MADELINE: No predictions, but I have noticed my e-book sales, Kindle mainly, are larger than paper books. From my personal perspective, I like reading on my Kindle, but I still love the feel, the smell, the look of BOOKS! So, if I’m ending up with some authors (particularly if I’m at a signing), with a signed book, and a file on my e-reader! Of course, I have all of P.D. James books. I keep running out of bookshelf space… “Everyone” says digital will lead the way. I’m guessing they’re right—but from my experiences, my reading-group experiences, and at signings—real books aren’t yet completely dead.

CWF: Do you have any advice for writers just getting started on their first manuscript...

Visit Eve Laments Blog to read the interview, and comments in their entirety.

 CWF: Why did you choose to write about the historic Route 66 area?

MADELINE: I now live in a town on Route 66 in the California Mojave Desert. There are so many “locations” on the old route that fascinate me. I’m very much intrigued by the people who came before me, the places they built, the endeavors they started—some successes, some failure. What were their stories? What was their legacy? My flights of fancy are endlessly inspired by The Mother Road.

My current work-in-progress, a trilogy, with the first book Lies of Convenience completed and in editing, connects the two locations, Chicago and California, and two woman relatives living in different worlds, affected and changed by a murder, and lies—convenient and otherwise. Book two and book three’s working titles are, Lies of Necessity, and Lies Most Hidden.

Here’s the preface from Lies of Convenience which covers some of the things we’ve been talking about:

The world of this author’s mind is populated with a multitude of places and characters—many composites, and many imaginary. Occasionally, some of these imaginary people and places escape—intermingle with reality—and become backdrops and inspiration for tales of mystery.

Situated on Route 66 as it crosses California’s Mojave Desert, NewTown is a fictional place representing one of the multitudes of “small dots” spreading themselves across the world’s map. This particular NewTown tale—even though populated with imaginary characters involved in fictional events—is nonetheless, triggered by the realities of High Desert terrain, weather, and the fortitude of its very real inhabitants.

CHICAGO, on the other hand, more than halfway across the country from NewTown, and at the start of Route 66, is on a capital-letters-scale, a world renowned, sophisticated, and larger than life city. Indeed, to experience Lake Michigan’s unparalleled waterfront, especially under the magical shroud of night, with city lights a-sparkling—is to be bedazzled, awed, and visually imprinted for life.

Besides their shared Route 66 heritage, how do these places and people—real and imaginary—intersect?Therein lies the story…

CWF: Okay, I’m hooked and ready for more!

Madeline, I want to thank you for taking time during this hectic period to talk with me and Eve Laments’ readers. Your story is inspiring. Your books are captivating. Your kindness comes across in your words here and through the characters you create. All best to you for a long career as an author!

MADELINE: Colleen, thank you so much for your interest in my work and thoughts. It’s been a pleasure talking to you. Continued success with Eve Laments, it’s a great website!

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