MLC: Do you remember the first mystery you ever read? If so, what was it, and what pulled you into it?
AUTHOR: I’m afraid I can’t remember that far back. It was likely a Nancy Drew or Hardy Boys mystery, but that was a long time ago.
MLC: When did you first decide you wanted to write a mystery, and what led you to that decision?
AUTHOR: I’ve always loved mysteries, but I finally had time to write one when I retired from a full career in teaching.
MLC: Do you write in any other genres? If so, which ones?
AUTHOR: No. I have no desire to write anything but mysteries.
MLC: Which comes first for you, the plot or the characters?
AUTHOR: Ah! That’s a tough one. I think the first thing is the plot twist: the “but what if it was actually …?” Then I develop characters who might do a thing like that, and the story comes out of them. After I pretty much have the whole story figured out, I start writing.
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: No. I could solve the one I’m writing because I made it up to begin with, but I’m no good at all when it comes to solving real-life crimes.
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: Every day I either write or outline or research or do some promo stuff, or something that relates to writing. I start about seven o’clock, right after breakfast, and work until about ten then I brush my teeth and get dressed. Back to work until one or two. In other words, half of my work is done in my jammies.
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 love to travel and read. I live in a place (Hampton Roads, Virginia) where just taking a walk is a delight. The most important thing I do daily is talk to my daughter and friends.
MLC: Who are your favorite mystery authors? Do you try to emulate them in your own writing?
AUTHOR: Agatha Christie, Dorothy L. Sayers, Peter Lovesey, Graham Greene, Ngaio Marsh. I try to learn from them, but emulating them really wouldn’t work, would it?
MLC: In your present book, is this part of a series, or is it a standalone book?
AUTHOR: The last book I wrote was number three in the series of Dotsy Lamb travel mysteries. I’m currently thinking about doing a different sort of thing, which could also become a series.
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: Both. If I go on for several years with Dotsy Lamb mysteries, it will still come to an end sometime.
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: I’ve occasionally resorted to kicking a character completely out of the book. Rather than reining them in, I think it’s easier to replace them.
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 didn’t mean to but, me and my big mouth, I did tell. She was flattered when people told her, and she came to one of my signings with her baby granddaughter.
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: Two years. Dozens. No. The difference? I think making contacts in the publishing/writing world helped.
MLC: Do you ever attend any conferences? If so, which ones?
AUTHOR: I’m a conference junkie. I go to all of them.
MLC: Do you have to promote your own work, or does your publisher do that for you?
AUTHOR: My publisher, Five Star, concentrates its promotional efforts on the libraries. That’s their market. Getting the word out to regular people is up to me.
MLC: If you have to do marketing, what methods have worked the best for you?
AUTHOR: I really don’t know. You do whatever you can, and sometimes it seems to work and sometimes it doesn’t.
MLC: Do you have any idea how your book is selling?
AUTHOR: Death of an Obnoxious Tourist has had a second printing.
MLC: What has been the best review you have gotten, and why?
AUTHOR: Library Journal, June 06. I say it’s the best because it’s the biggest in terms of its influence.
MLC: Have you won any awards, either as an author or for your books? Please tell us about them.
AUTHOR: I was a finalist in the Murder in the Grove first mystery contest and got an award for nonfiction in the Christopher Newport University Writer’s Conference.
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: “I read your book and I loved it.”
MLC: What is your next project, and when will it be out?
AUTHOR: Death of a Lovable Geek, the second Dotsy Lamb mystery, will be out next spring.
MLC: If you could write anything at all, ignoring what editors and publishers say they want, what would it be?
AUTHOR: Traditional mystery. Lucky me, that’s what I am writing.
MLC: Do you have any words of wisdom for aspiring mystery authors?
AUTHOR: Keep writing. Don’t take yourself too seriously.
MLC: Do you have any teasers for your readers and fans about the next book?
AUTHOR: Good question! It involves Scotland, archaeology, a crumbling old castle, poison mushrooms, Macbeth, and driving on the wrong side of the road.
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 it would stay in print forever.
MMLC: Please give us your website url and your email address where people can contact you.
AUTHOR: www.mariahudgins.com and mhudgins1@cox.net. How’s that?
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.
AUTHOR: You're welcome!