MLC: Do you remember the first mystery you ever read? If so, what was it, and what pulled you into it?
AUTHOR: No, I don’t remember the very first but I do remember how much I loved matching wits with Agatha Christie. When I first found out about her I raided the used book store and simply devoured everything I could find that she had written. She’s the queen of misdirection.
MLC: When did you first decide you wanted to write a mystery, and what led you to that decision?
AUTHOR: I read a writing advice column about how you should write the kinds of things you like to read. My first reaction was “oh, I couldn’t possibly!” I’m glad I went with my second reaction. Making a puzzle is more work than solving one, but it’s a lot of fun.
MLC: Do you write in any other genres? If so, which ones?
AUTHOR: I also write science fiction and fantasy. There’s an excerpt of my fantasy novel “Heart of the Tengeri” on my website.
MLC: Which comes first for you, the plot or the characters?
AUTHOR: The characters, definitely. Sometimes I have a little trouble figuring out something for them to do. Sometimes they jump out at me already going and in the thick of things and they come with their own plot.
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 depends. Generally when I start a mystery I know what the crime is and who did it. However, in the middle part of the story, I try to stay as confused as the reader.
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: Unfortunately I still work as a graphic designer during the day. I think it is extremely important to write every day. I get up an hour early in the morning so I can get in a page or two and I always have a notebook in my purse in case I have some moments when I’m waiting for someone in a restaurant or standing in line at the store. During those unscheduled times I rarely write fiction, but just free write whatever comes into my head. It’s the writing equivalent of going for a walk.
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: Writing is my #1 priority. However, I love to belly dance and I belong to an informal troupe that dances at art fairs and charity fundraisers. And I have recently returned to doing art.
MLC: Who are your favorite mystery authors? Do you try to emulate them in your own writing?
AUTHOR: I love Agatha Christie the most but I also enjoy Dorothy Sayers, Robert Parker and Kathy Reich who writes the character the TV show “Bones” is based on.
MLC: In your present book, is this part of a series, or is it a standalone book?
AUTHOR: It was originally intended as a series. However, no new books with the same characters have appealed to me. I have written several short stories—all of them published in various places on the web—based Lady Margaret & Friends. Two of the stories have been sold to Amazon.com as Amazon Shorts. You can find them by typing my name in their search engine. Eventually I will collect all of the Countess stories into an anthology.
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: I think I may not have the temperament to maintain a series character. If someone offered me enough money, I might grow the temperament but so far that hasn’t happened!
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 don’t get that enmeshed in my characters. I have a strong sense of being them. It’s like acting all the parts in a play.
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: Inspector Monahan is patterned after a retired cop I know and I did let him know about it and gave him a copy of the book. He was pleased, but thought it was . . . strange. He never did tell me whether I’d captured him or not. I have a feeling it just wasn’t how he sees himself. Lady Margaret is an uber version of me—an “in your dreams” version of myself. In fact all my characters are modeled after some piece of myself, some fantasy of what I’d like to do or be if the world were different.
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 a long time, more than a dozen years. I don’t think anything I did made a difference. I just kept plugging away at it. I didn’t keep track of all the rejections, but I think I could have wallpapered a good-sized house with them.
MLC: Do you ever attend any conferences? If so, which ones?
AUTHOR: I don’t get to attend conferences much. I’ve only been to two and they were both associated with the University I work for. They are excellent for making contacts and even those brief encounters were very fruitful.
MLC: Do you have to promote your own work, or does your publisher do that for you?
AUTHOR: Both of my books were published with small presses, which leaves the author the main sales force. Sales is not my strong suit, to put it mildly, but I have worked at it.
MLC: If you have to do marketing, what methods have worked the best for you?
AUTHOR: I have done direct mail, solicited reviews (which are just free advertisements), done author signings, constructed web pages, handed out hundreds and hundreds of bookmarks, written press releases which I sent to all the newspapers in my state (“local author does good”) Since I do everything I can think of, I’m not sure what’s worked the best.
MLC: Do you have any idea how your book is selling?
AUTHOR: I still get a small check on a regular basis. I’m not ready to quit my day job, though!
MLC: What has been the best review you have gotten, and why?
AUTHOR: The editor of “Over My Dead Body” loved Murder on the Waterfront and gave it a stunning review that was better than I could have written myself. It’s posted here: http://www.overmydeadbody.com/ladymarg.htm
MLC: Have you won any awards, either as an author or for your books? Please tell us about them.
AUTHOR: I’ve won a couple of short story contests, but nothing major. This is mainly because I seldom enter them. I now think that has been a mistake and am entering all I can as long as there is not a stiff entry fee.
MLC: If you could write anything at all, ignoring what editors and publishers say they want, what would it be?
AUTHOR: I already do that. Hmmm. That may be the problem! I like to read genre novels, so I write them. My next novel will probably be a sort of sci-fi adventure.
MLC: Do you have any words of wisdom for aspiring mystery authors?
AUTHOR: Read everything. Write every day even if it’s not fiction. Take as many writing classes as you can stand. Read books on grammar and the technical end of writing. Always spend a lot of time polishing and cleaning up grammar and spelling. Competition is so keen if a manuscript is full of typos, even it it’s brilliant, editors will just toss it and go to the next one. Do everything you can to present yourself in the best light.
MLC: Do you have any teasers for your readers and fans about the next book?
AUTHOR: My next mystery is called “The Man Who Needed Killing” and I don’t know when it will be out. There is a first chapter on my website for an advance peek.
MLC: If a genie suddenly appeared and said they would grant you just one wish for your books, what would you wish for?
AUTHOR: For lots and lots of people to read them. People don’t generally think of writing as a performance art, but it is. It’s a quiet performance that you do alone and the audience is out there watching long after you are done. Ideally. It’s the audience that completes the art of writing.
MLC: Please give us your website url and your email address where people can contact you.
AUTHOR: sbcogan@cox.net and www.coganbooks.net I am always delighted to hear from people.
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.