Why did you decide to set the stories in the 1970s?
I grew up in the 1960s and 70s. I loved the TV shows, the automobiles, and everything about it. I have always enjoyed writing retro stories. My first book was set during the Vietnam War. It was a love story. But I found that the kind of romance novel I wrote wasn’t a big seller. My story wasn’t a bodice ripper or erotica. I wrote a short story that took place during WWII. My father was in the Army and won the Silver Star among other medals. I wondered what it would be like to be on the other side: a German but with the resistance. It was published but it took me over 300 times to find a home for it. I am attempting to turn that story into a novella or novel and pitch it to you. I think it’s part of history that many people would like to forget and that is wrong. But back to the 1970s. Today, TV is very graphic. Showing autopsies, body parts all over the place, rapes. The 1970s didn’t have the forensics they have now with DNA so detectives had to work harder to solve a crime. Use their brains. Kind of like Columbo. In fact, at my first author signing, someone asked me if the book was like a Columbo and I hadn’t thought of it because there are two detectives but I gave it some more thought. Yes, you could compare Miller and Kelby to Columbo because both have to use their brains to solve the crimes.
I was kind of interested in motives. Why does a person do what they do? Why do they kill? Were they a good person and suddenly something happened that turned them bad or were they mentally ill. Were they a victim of a bad homelife? I want the readers to find some pathos with the murderer if there is any to find. If they are psychopathic or sociopathic then no, there is no redemption but some of my murderers were victim of circumstances that you or I could have had happen to us.
I have a three of favorite stories. Two in this book and one that has been published with CaféLit. In this book, I like 'The Alphabet Murders' and 'The Prostitute Murders' and the one on CaféLit is Murders in the Hospital Morgue. The Alphabet Murders was a prostitute taking revenge on her Johns for the way she was treated. 'The Prostitute Murders' was an unknown assailant killing prostitutes and their Johns for some unknown reason. The story on CaféLit was 'Murders in the Hospital Morgue'. This one is special because I was hospitalized last year and was treated so poorly by one of the nurses that all I could do was think about how I wanted to kill her if given the chance. A good friend encouraged me to write the story and submit it to CaféLit. That goes back to what I said earlier about being a good person but having something happen that pushes you over the edge and then you turn into a murderer. Would I have done it if given the chance? I’ll never know because it never happened. I believe for me, no, but that little voice inside me said she needed to pay for being a mean, rotten person. Writing a letter to the hospital wasn’t enough but had she done to another person what she did to me, well, let’s say one day she might not be around. But it did give me enormous satisfaction killing her in my story. Her and the nurse’s aide.
I wish I had a routine to talk about. I write when I can. I have a pad and pen that I keep near me to write down ideas. I lie in bed for about an hour before I go to sleep trying to work out plot lines. I’ve gotten up at odd hours of the night to write down possible story lines and then the next day trying to work them out.
As I mentioned historical fiction. I like to write darker short stories but not horror. I’ve written a western script. Had a bit of romance in it. I love the western genre but have not pursued it because that’s another genre nobody seems to want. I am in some fan groups from a British TV show from the 70s, The Professionals so I’ve written fan fiction. It’s just for fun. I wrote a short story about a woman having to commit her mother to a psychiatric floor and the hardship they both endured. That was based on a true story. I committed my mother six times before was I forced to put her into a nursing home. I was told a writer should write what they know. I certainly did.
I actually don’t have one as strange as that sounds.
The people I have talked to seem to like murders. Many people only want to read true crime and have asked me if my book is true crime, which it isn’t. They seem to want to see if the person is going to get away with it. What is the perfect crime?
I’m actually working on the WWII albeit slowly. I am working on the sequel to my first fan fiction. And of course, I am constantly trying to think up new adventures for Miller and Kelby. I must keep my hard-working detectives solving crimes. And I have some short stories that have never been picked up that when I have spare time, I look for places to pitch them to.
Yes, I will be at The Last Bookstore, Studio City, California on Sunday, October 26 from 2-4. The Open Book, Northridge, California on Saturday November 8 from 12-3 and Camarillo Library, Camarillo, California on November 22 from 2-3.
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