MLC: Do you remember the first mystery you ever read? If so, what was it, and what pulled you into it?
AUTHOR: I’m sure it was a Nancy Drew mystery, although I don’t recall the title. My best friend had all of them, and I went through her entire collection. What pulled me into it? Probably Nancy’s independence, her neat car, and her doting boyfriend.
MLC: When did you first decide you wanted to write a mystery, and what led you to that decision?
AUTHOR: I used to enjoy science fiction, but don’t know enough about science to write a plausible one. Then I got into mysteries, particularly cozies. A few years ago, I found myself temporarily underemployed. For quite a while, I had been reading books that I thought I could write better, and would say, “If only I had the time …” Well, I had the time and realized I couldn’t continue to criticize unless I tried to write a novel. I wanted to write a book I would enjoy reading.
MLC: Do you write in any other genres? If so, which ones?
AUTHOR: I have written quite a bit of non-fiction, both in academia and as a newspaper columnist for a local paper. Also, last year Adams Media published a non-fiction humorous look at the Yiddish language title Talk Dirty Yiddish: Beyond Drek. (It’s part of their “Talk Dirty” series.)
MLC: Which comes first for you, the plot or the characters?
AUTHOR: It’s a symbiotic relationship. The characters tell me how the plot should unfold. As the plot develops, more characters come into being to move it along. I don’t outline, so I’m never quite sure what will be happening, or who will be doing it.
MLC: When you are all wrapped up in the story, do you feel like you could solve the crime, or maybe even solve all the world’s mysteries?
AUTHOR: It’s a symbiotic relationship. The characters tell me how the plot should unfold. As the plot develops, more characters come into being to move it along. I don’t outline, so I’m never quite sure what will be happening, or who will be doing it.
MLC: Do you write every day, or what kind of a schedule do you have? Do you write fulltime, or do you have a “day job”?
AUTHOR: I wish I could write full time, but I do have a “day job,” as a spiritual support counselor for a hospice. It can be very emotionally draining work, although also very rewarding. I try to set aside time every day to write, but “life” often interferes with my plans. Once I get started, though, it’s difficult to stop, and when the plot begins to come together and the characters are clearly delineated in my mind, I want to keep going.
MLC: Other than your writing, what do you enjoy doing? What is the most important thing to you in your day-to-day life?
AUTHOR: My husband and kids, of course. I’m also a birder, and enjoy getting outdoors to go bird watching whenever I can (and the weather cooperates). And I garden, although these days I find myself doing more container gardening on the deck and hiring someone to do the heavy work.
MLC: Who are your favorite mystery authors? Do you try to emulate them in your own writing?
AUTHOR: My favorites tend to be whoever I’m reading at the time. In general, I enjoy women writers, cozy mysteries, and “exotic” (to me anyway) or unfamiliar cultures and locations. Nevada Barr and Dana Stabenow are always must reads.
MLC: In your present book, is this part of a series, or is it a standalone book?
AUTHOR: It is the first in a series, featuring Rabbi Aviva Cohen. I’m currently writing the second in the series, Unleavened Dead.
MLC: If you are doing a series, do you see an end to it sometime, or do you plan to go on for several years with it?
AUTHOR: Aviva is in her mid-50s and will be retiring at some point. I do have a plan, though, as to how I can continue the series beyond her retirement, with a different locale and cast of characters.
MLC: Do your characters ever drive you a bit crazy by going off in their own direction? If so, how do you rein them in, or do you just let them run off on their own?
AUTHOR: As I mentioned before, I’m never sure what they’ll come up with. They don’t drive me crazy, though, as whatever they do seems to be right and consistent and logical. If things ever do get absurd, there’s always the delete button!
MLC: Do you pattern your sleuths after yourself or someone you know? If so, do you let that person know they were your “pattern”?
AUTHOR: I use a first person narrator, and people who know me say they hear me in Aviva’s words. We are different people in many respects: she’s been divorced twice, and has no children while I’ve been married to the same man for 33 years and have two sons; she has an older sister and I’m an only child; her father has been dead for several years and her mother is in her nineties while my parents are in their early eighties. But Aviva does respond to situations in the way I would – or hope I would.
MLC: How long did it take you to get published? How many rejections did you have to suffer through first? Were you ever tempted to give up? What do you think made the difference when it was accepted?
AUTHOR: It took about 18 months to find a publisher. I had sent out about 30 query letters to agents (not a large number compared to many authors) and decided to change tack and try small, independent publishers who did not require agent submissions. Swimming Kangaroo was the first to respond, and wanted to publish the book. What made the difference? Finding that one person who believed in the book as much as I did.
MLC: Do you ever attend any conferences? If so, which ones?
AUTHOR: Yes. In yearly chronological order: Sleuthfest, Malice Domestic, Deadly Ink, Crimebake. This year, for the first time, I will attending Bouchercon.
MLC: Do you have to promote your own work, or does your publisher do that for you?
AUTHOR: Both. I do a lot of it on my own, but the publisher backs me up and helps me with leads, review copies, postcards for conferences, etc.
MLC: If you have to do marketing, what methods have worked the best for you?
AUTHOR: Networking at conferences is a good way to build up name recognition, especially participation in panels, either as a member or a moderator. I have a web page, although it’s not interactive. I set up a Facebook page only a few weeks ago, and saw a dramatic change in my amazon rating (although it may have been only a statistical blip). I also do as many readings/signings as I can, at bookstores, libraries, JCCs, synagogues.
MLC: Do you have any idea how your book is selling?
AUTHOR: Only quarterly, when I get a royalties report from the publisher!
MLC: What has been the best review you have gotten, and why?
AUTHOR: Almost all the reviews have been positive. The best are those from strangers! It’s gratifying to read that a reviewer loves Aviva and wants to see more of her.
MLC: Have you won any awards, either as an author or for your books? Please tell us about them.
AUTHOR: I was nominated for the Deadly Ink David Award for Best Mystery of 2007; myshelf.com listed Chanukah Guilt as a Top Ten Read for 2007, and the book was a Reviewer’s Choice on midwestbookreview.com.
MLC: Is there any one certain thing that a reader has written to you that made you just want to jump up and shout “Yes!!!!”?
AUTHOR: From Christine Speakman on Muse On Line Book Reviews: “I love Chanukah Guilt. It was recently brought to my attention that my family knows when I'm crazy about a book -- I don't shut up about it. I haven't stopped talking about Chanukah Guilt."
MLC: What is your next project, and when will it be out?
AUTHOR: As I mentioned before, Unleavened Dead, the second in the series, is being written. It will be out as soon as I finish the writing and find an agent and/or publisher!
MLC: If you could write anything at all, ignoring what editors and publishers say they want, what would it be?
AUTHOR: Exactly what I’m writing now.
MLC: Do you have any words of wisdom for aspiring mystery authors?
AUTHOR: Keep it real. Avoid too many red herrings. Don’t “cheat” the reader by revealing a detail at the end that they could not have predicted.
MLC: Do you have any teasers for your readers and fans about the next book?
AUTHOR: It’s about weddings and unemployed older baby boomers (too young and in debt to retire, too old to be hired) … and murder.
MLC: If a genie suddenly appeared and said they would grant you just one wish for your books, what would you wish for?
AUTHOR: To be both a critical and commercial success.
MMLC: Please give us your website url and your email address where people can contact you.
AUTHOR: The web site is www.rabbiavivacohenmysteries.com or www.facebook.com/rabbi.author and the e-mail is rabbi.author@yahoo.com
MLC: Thank you so much for giving us a little glimpse into your books and your life. We look forward to a lot more books from you.