What genre do you write and why?
I
never chose a genre to write in. As the author/ghostwriter/collaborator on more
than 120 books, the genres were determined by the publishers of many of those
books. I have, however, for the past 25 years been writing almost exclusively
in the murder mystery/thriller genres, starting with the Margaret Truman
Capital Crimes series set in Washington, D.C. (currently writing the 30th in
that series), and the "Murder, She Wrote" series (finishing up the
46th novel). I suppose I'm the quintessential journeyman writer--and proud of
it.
What
advice do you have for other writers?
Too
many writers talk about the book they're going to write and never actually
write it. I know writers who strive for "perfection" in the first
draft and don't seem to ever get around to finishing it. Write it! That first
draft may be lacking, but at least you have a blueprint for refining and
polishing it. I believe in that saying, "All good writing is
re-writing."
What's your favourite quote about
writing/for writers?
The
above saying is one of my favorites. I also believe in "If I had more
time I would have written less." Get rid of the excess verbiage and give
the reader credit for understanding what you've written without having to
belabor it with unnecessary words. I also understand what Kurt Vonnegut meant
when he said, "I hate writing but I love being a writer."
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Being
a writer means that I can continue what I do well into my dotage, as opposed to
having spent a working life digging ditches or collecting tolls on the Jersey
Turnpike. Being a writer allows me to share with others (readers) my
imagination, as well as expressing my own thoughts, which come out through the mouths
of my characters. The problem is that you never stop writing, at least in your
mind, never can walk away from a story until you've typed THE END. It's with
you day and night, plotting the next scene, coming up with distinctive features
for your characters, and wondering whether what you're writing will please both
your editors and the reading public. But I love it!
Where
can people find out more about you and your writing?
I
have a website, www.donaldbain.com. The problem is I fall behind on
keeping it up-to-date. I've been interviewed on myriad sites, however, and have
been the subject of numerous newspaper and TV interviews. For me, the best and
most satisfying way for a potential reader to discover my works is when another
reader reads one and is pleased enough to recommend it.
Did
you learn anything from writing that was unexpected?
What
I learned was that writing is hard work. If you aren't tired after a day of
writing the chances are good that what you've written isn't very good and will
have to be rewritten the next day. I've also learned that the publishing
industry is in turmoil and sometimes doesn't make any sense. But I suppose
that's true of most industries. Finally, I've learned that a good agent is a
writer's best friend and advocate. I'm blessed with a top-notch agent, Bob
Diforio, who's always there to make some sense out of the publishing world.
How
do you research your books?
I've
built up an extensive research library, which with the Internet provides plenty
of sources for whatever research I need while working on a given project. But
when it comes to setting a book in a locale away from where I work there's no
substitute for actually visiting that place, soaking in the atmosphere, and touching
what makes that place unique. With few exceptions, when setting a "Murder,
She Wrote" novel in a place other than Jessica Fletcher's beloved Cabot
Cove, Renee and I have visited that place, walked its streets with a tape recorder,
and wove what we'd learned into the story.
What
are your thoughts on self-publishing verses traditional publishing?
Self-publishing
is here to stay, for better or for worse. On the one hand many worthwhile books
that had been rejected by mainstream publishers have been self-published to
great success, which is good for the author and for the reading public. The
problem is that self-published authors don't usually have a good editor working
with them, nor do they have the corporate backing of a publisher and its
marketing muscle.
Who
or what inspired you to become a writer?
My
cousin Jack Pearl, who wrote more than 100 books including the definitive
biography of General Patton, got me started as a writer. He started me writing
articles for the men's adventure magazines, and arranged for me to rewrite
a book for S&S, THE RACING FLAG, the history of stock car racing. The
editor on that book, knowing I was working for American Airlines at the time,
called and asked if I'd be interested in collaborating with two Eastern Airlines
stewardesses on a lighthearted tell-all about the stewardess life. I got
together with them and the result was COFFEE, TEA OR ME? which went on
sell more than 5-million copies worldwide, became a made-for-TV movie, and
spawned numerous sequels. That book gave me the financial comfort to devote
full-time to writing, which I've been doing ever since.
Does
your family support you in your writing career? How?
My wife, Renee, certainly supports my writing life. After
all, she's a writer, too, and has collaborated with me on the last 20 or so
"Murder, She Wrote" novels. If she didn't support what I do we'd be
in deep trouble. My two daughters are also supportive, although one of them
wonders why her father spends his days "putting little black marks on paper."
Actually, Kurt Vonnegut once said the same thing about what he did for a
living.
When
you’re not writing, how do you spend your time?
I spent many years working as a jazz musician (vibes and
drums) and found my ultimate professional happiness and fulfillment when
playing with a variety of jazz groups. Today, I always have recorded jazz
playing in the background while I write. I enjoy reading, of course, doing
crossword puzzles, and eating out in good restaurants.
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