As a reader, I’ve always loved a good mystery. Most of the
books I’d read were standalone mystery/suspense novels. But, several years ago,
I picked up a cozy mystery, which took place in a small town, and I was hooked
on cozies. Now, I still love a good suspense novel but I find that I read more
cozies than any other mystery sub-genre. Some are standalones and some are part
of a series.
As a writer, I never know where inspiration for a story will
come from. But it’s always from people, places and things that have crossed my
path. Sometimes they’re recent and other times they emerge from my memory bank.
When I finished writing my fifth Malone mystery, Marnie Malone, I wasn’t sure what my
next book would be. I’d spent so many years on the series and had become so
involved in the lives of the characters. I knew I’d miss the Malones but I also
realized it was time to end the series and to do something totally different.
My Malone mysteries are all written in the third person and
they are set in real locations, places that really exist. An old Victorian in
my neighborhood was the inspiration for the series.
For a long time, I’d wanted to write a cozy mystery in the
first person and set it in a fictional small town. Now I had my chance. Secrets in Storyville is completely
separate from and different than my Malone mysteries but the books have one
thing in common: an old house inspired me. As it turned out, I
didn’t use that house as the main setting in my new book but it
is a secondary setting and important to the plot.
The other elements of the book came to me in the usual way –
bits and pieces that somehow eventually coalesced to form a book. A book that
was so much fun to write!
I hope you enjoy reading Secrets
in Storyville as much as I enjoyed writing it.
Love how old houses inspire you. They bring to mind all kind of great ideas, stories, history... Keep 'em coming.
ReplyDeleteI love old houses - I guess that's obvious. So much history and potential mystery!
DeleteI've only used an old house as inspiration once--for my novel DARK MOON RISING. It's a Gothic romantic suspense mystery. The house in the story is based on the Kansas plantation house my husband's aunt and uncle lived in for many years.
ReplyDeleteThere was a TV show years ago, If Walls Could Talk. I think of it whenever an old house captures my interest and, eventually, the story and the characters take over from there.
DeleteA couple of old houses inspired stories for me. One was very old and became a house in an old ghost town. The other was an abandoned house in Washington state that set a story in motion. Excellent post, Pat, and a wonderful book. Readers will love it and its secrets.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Marja. I know you share my love of old houses. I've read the books you're referring to and they're both fantastic!
DeleteI always like to hear how/why writers are inspired to write a particular book, or about a particular character or setting. Old houses seem to hit your creative bone, Patricia!
ReplyDeleteI've only recently begun to read some cozy mysteries, and I realize I'm more comfortable with them, than suspense/mystery books that have a bit too much "ugliness" in them. I look forward to reading yours.
Thanks for stopping by, Pam! I think (hope) you'll enjoy Secrets in Storyville. :)
ReplyDelete