MLC: Do you remember the first mystery you ever read? If so, what was it, and what pulled you into it?
AUTHOR: Gosh, that was a long time ago! It was probably one of the Nancy Drew mysteries. I really liked the character and the suspense really got to me.
MLC: When did you first decide you wanted to write a mystery, and what led you to that decision?
AUTHOR: Actually, I didn’t start out to write a mystery. THE Plot is really more of a suspense, and I was motivated by the question, “What would happen if…?”
MLC: Do you write in any other genres? If so, which ones?
AUTHOR: I have a tongue-in-cheek short story available in e-book form that centers on a down on his luck private detective who is obsessed by a mysterious woman. It’s entitled “The Gumshoe” and is available at Fictionwise. I’m also involved in a true story about the challenges and heartaches of having autistic twins
MLC: Which comes first for you, the plot or the characters?
AUTHOR: Always the plot. The characters don’t really come to life until I figure out what type of individuals would be involved in such a situation, e.g. age, gender, background, education, friendships, interests, and careers.
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: I, of course, already know the solution to the crime while I am writing the story. Since writing THE PLOT, however, I’ve developed a whole lot of insight into other puzzling situations.
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 try to write every day, but I’m also involved in helping my daughter with her two year old twins and helping to run the family business.
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: I adore watching (and helping) my twin grandsons grow and learn, and nothing takes precedence over that. I also enjoy politics and remain very active in governmental affairs.
MLC: Who are your favorite mystery authors? Do you try to emulate them in your own writing?
AUTHOR: I don’t really have a favorite. Mary Higgins Clark was a favorite some time ago and influenced my approach to writing. I also enjoy Robin Cook and Dan Brown.
MLC: In your present book, is this part of a series, or is it a standalone book?
AUTHOR: It is a stand alone story, although many of my readers would like to see a sequel.
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: n/a
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: Absolutely! They wake me up in the middle of the night and sometimes keep me up way past my bedtime. If they go too far afield, I go back and look at what I wrote that allowed them to go astray, then I go back and rewrite that portion.
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: There is a lot of me combined with other people I’ve known who made a strong impression upon me. Allowing myself to model after real people helps my characters be more true to life.
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: Oh, my. I wrote two other novels before The Plot, neither of which was ever published. I have a file cabinet filled with “thanks, but no thanks” letters, and I began to think “Rejection” was destined to be my pen name! I did give up for a number of years—while my kids were little—but eventually had to start writing again. I knew I was good enough to be published when I began receiving personal letters rejecting my work rather than form letters. The difference came when I learned how to write a really good query letter and how to direct my marketing efforts.
MLC: Do you ever attend any conferences? If so, which ones?
AUTHOR: Yes. I’ve been to Romance Writers of America, Sleuthfest, and a number of local/regional conferences.
MLC: Do you have to promote your own work, or does your publisher do that for you?
AUTHOR: Both. My publisher, Echelon Press, arranges opportunities for their authors to attend conferences and book marketing events throughout the nation, and I, on my own, arrange to attend a variety of local and regional events, arrange book signings at book stores, and am “ever ready” to tell anyone who will listen about the wonderful story I’ve written and that they MUST read. Haha.
MLC: If you have to do marketing, what methods have worked the best for you?
AUTHOR: Personal appearances, speeches, handing out promo material to utter strangers, and being willing to tell people about my book.
MLC: Do you have any idea how your book is selling?
AUTHOR: My book has consistently been among my publisher’s all time top sellers.
MLC: What has been the best review you have gotten, and why?
AUTHOR: Oh, that’s hard to say. I’ve been blessed with numerous positive, insightful reviews. Probably the most impressive, however, is that given to me by Pulitzer Prize winning author Robert Olen Butler.
MLC: Have you won any awards, either as an author or for your books? Please tell us about them.
AUTHOR: Yep. THE PLOT won First Place in the Suspense/Thriller category of the Authorlink New Authors Awards in 2002. I’ve also been honored by the Florida Assn. of Community Colleges as a top journalist and won first place in the Golden Key Honor Society’s Literary Competition. I was also recognized as Tallahassee Woman of the Year for inspiring hope and possibility after THE PLOT was published.
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: A couple of times. One was when the President of Florida State University wrote to tell me that he read THE PLOT, his reaction was “WOW!” Another was when an old high school acquaintance wrote to say that he liked THE PLOT even more than he did Dan Brown’s The DaVinci Code. Now, that is what I call an upper!
MLC: What is your next project, and when will it be out?
AUTHOR: My account of my grandsons’ autism is currently in its initial stages, and I expect it will take a few years before I complete this phase of the story. How they will turn out and learn to cope with this tragic syndrome is the greatest mystery of all to me and the outcome is not one that I can predetermine. Naturally, I expect it to be a series as we teach them and watch them grow, develop, and learn.
MLC: If you could write anything at all, ignoring what editors and publishers say they want, what would it be?
AUTHOR: The truth about the tragedy of autism.
MLC: Do you have any words of wisdom for aspiring mystery authors?
AUTHOR: I learned that “dreams are just reality waiting to happen,” but you can’t give up or quit learning from other authors. Get editing help wherever it is available, listen to your critics, and don’t be afraid to try new ideas.
MLC: Do you have any teasers for your readers and fans about the next book?
AUTHOR: Autism has become a worldwide epidemic that strikes one in every 90 children. What causes it is as great a mystery as what is going on in these children’s minds, and I believe that my book will provide real guidance to those who don’t know the symptoms and how to address them.
MLC: If a genie suddenly appeared and said they would grant you just one wish for your books, what would you wish for?
AUTHOR: That people would read them.
MMLC: Please give us your Web site url and your e-mail address where people can contact you.
AUTHOR: The Web site is http://www.KathleenMcCabeLamarche.com, and my e-mail address is kmlwrites@aol.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.