What genre do
you write and why?
Traditional mystery. I’ve loved that genre since I was a kid
reading Nancy Drew and as a teenager reading Agatha Christie, Dick Francis, Ed
McBain and Ngaio Marsh. While my books are amateur sleuth, they are not “cozy”:
There are no cats, crafts, or cookie recipes in my books (though my characters
do like to eat cookies!)
Tell us about your
latest book.
Calamity (Callie) Barnstable isn’t surprised to learn that
she is the sole beneficiary of her late father’s estate: she’s the only child
of two only children, and she hasn’t seen her mother since she walked out on
Valentines Day, 1980. What does surprise her is that she’s inheriting a house
in the town of Marketville—a house she didn’t know existed—and the condition
attached to the inheritance: move to Marketville, live in the house, and find
out who murdered her mother.
Callie’s not keen on dredging up a past likely better left
buried, but if she doesn’t do it, there’s a scheming psychic named Misty Rivers
who is more than happy to do the job.
Determined to thwart Misty and uncover the truth, Callie
accepts the challenge. But when her first encounter in the house is a skeleton
in the attic, she wonders just what she’s gotten herself into.
What marketing methods
are you using to promote your book?
The usual suspects: my website, other blogs,
Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.
What formats is the
book available in?
Trade paperback and eBook.
Who are your favourite
authors?
In no particular order: Sue Grafton, Giles
Blunt, John Sandford, Tana French, Sara J. Henry, Kristina Stanley and Louise
Penny.
What advice do you
have for other writers?
Make time to write every day. The writing
muscle is like every other muscle; the more you use it, the stronger it
becomes.
What's your favourite
quote about writing/for writers?
To quote Agatha Christie: “There was a moment
when I changed from an amateur to a professional. I assumed the burden of a
profession, which is to write even when you don’t want to, don’t much like what
you’re writing, and aren’t writing particularly well.”
What's the best thing
about being a writer?
Making up stories and getting paid to do it.
Where can people find
out more about you and your writing?
My website, www.judypenzsheluk.com. I blog very
honestly about my writing journey: the good, the bad, and the heart breaking.
Who is you
favourite character in your book and why?
My protagonist, Calamity (Callie) Barnstable. She’s placed
in a difficult situation but she doesn’t give up or give in. She’s independent
and intelligent.
Why do you think
readers are going to enjoy your book?
I think it’s different than a lot of mysteries out there; it’s not a
classic whodunit, it’s about Callie’s journey of discovering her past while
trying to solve a decades old mystery.
How long did it take you to
write your book?
About a year.
Who designed the cover?
Ryan Thomas Doan. Didn’t he do an amazing job? He incorporated all
sorts of clues into the cover. Look for the locket: it plays a big part in the
story.
Did you learn anything
from writing your book that was unexpected?
I learn something unexpected from any story I write! In Skeletons, I
found myself looking into ancestry. I only touched the surface, but I enjoyed
it enough that I’m going to use that as a premise in the sequel.
Where can a
reader purchase your book?
You
can find the links here: http://www.imajinbooks.com/skeletons-in-the-attic
What are you doing to
market the book?
The usual suspects. My website, other blogs, Facebook, Twitter and
Pinterest, as well as local interviews. I’m also going to be participating in a
library event, and I welcome book club inquiries. Even if I’m not in the area,
we can work something out.
Who inspires you?
I take my inspiration from everything that has happened in my life,
but I don’t wait for inspiration to write. If I did that, I might never get
anything written.
How do you research your
books?
It depends. In the book I’m writing now, there is some legal stuff I
was unsure about. One of my friends was a criminal lawyer, so I asked him. For
Skeletons, I did most of my research online. There’s usually some sort of
antiques angle in my books as well. Since I’m the Senior Editor of New England
Antiques Journal, I have a fair bit of knowledge in that area. I try very hard
to get my facts right, and will check a few sources.
What is your work in
progress? Tell us about it.
I have two in progress. One is the sequel to my first book, The Hanged
Man’s Noose, which was the first in the Glass Dolphin Mystery series. It’s
written in the third person with alternating POVs between the protagonist,
Arabella Carpenter, an antiques shop owner, and her sidekick, Emily Garland,
her partner in the business. In book one, Emily was the protagonist, and
Arabella was her sidekick. I thought it would be fun to switch roles.
The second book is the sequel to Skeletons, and is the second book in
the Marketville Mystery series. It’s told in first person, one POV, and this
time the protagonist is one of the characters in Skeletons, Chantelle Marchand.
What are your thoughts on
self-publishing verses traditional publishing?
I think one size does not fit all. I have self-published a couple of
short story collections, but my novels are traditionally published by small
press (Barking Rain Press for the Glass Dolphin Mystery Series and Imajin Books
for the Marketville Mystery Series).
Who or what inspired you to
become a writer?
I’ve wanted to be a writer since I was a little girl and read Emily
Climbs by L.M. Montgomery (Anne of Green Gables). It’s the story of Emily Starr
of New Moon, PEI, who writes in her “Jimmy book” by candlelight and grows up to
be a journalist. I named my first protagonist (in The Hanged Man’s Noose)
Emily.
Does your family support
you in your writing career? How?
My husband, Mike, is very supportive. He even bought me an LED pen
that lights up, so if I get an idea in the middle of the night, I can jot it
down without turning on the light! When I’ve finished writing a book, I have it
printed and coil-bound and he reads it and makes notes. He can find the tiniest
plot hole. I can remember in Skeletons, I have one character say, “Thank you
for the tea,” and he wrote in the margin “She never poured the tea!” He was
right.
What are you currently reading?
A Season for Killing Blondes by Joanne Guidoccio. She’s a Canadian
writer, from Guelph, Ontario. The book is laced with humor, but it’s clever,
not silly. I’m also reading 13 O’Clock a collection of short mysteries by the
Mesdames of Mayhem.
What books or authors
have most influenced your life?
Without question, Agatha Christie. I have read every one of her books.
After her, Truman Capote. I was haunted by In Cold Blood when I read it; I
remember thinking, “so that’s how you paint a picture with words.” I’ve watched
the movie, Capote, about a dozen times. The late Philip Seymour Hoffman nailed
Capote.
When you’re not
writing, how do you spend your time?
In summer, I love to golf and belong to two nine-hole ladies leagues.
I also golf outside of leagues with other friends. I enjoy running, and have
completed four marathons and several half marathons, though these days, I
prefer shorter distances. I’m an avid reader, mostly mystery, but I do read
other genres. I like to walk my dog, Gibbs, a golden retriever. I’m happiest
when I’m outside, even in the winter. And we do get winter an hour north of
Toronto, Canada, where I live.
author interview
authors
books
Interview
interview feature
Jo Linsdell
Judy Penz Sheluk
mystery
publishing
writers
writing
3 Comments
Thanks so much Jo, for hosting me again. I'm more than happy to answer any questions your readers might have.
ReplyDeleteJudy, great article and thanks for the shout out!
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome Kristina!
DeleteI love to hear from you. So feel free to comment, but keep in mind the basics of blog etiquette — no spam, no profanity, no slander, etc.
Thanks for being an active part of the Writers and Authors community.