Interview with author Stephen Seitz

We have a two-fer today with author Stephen Seitz. He’s sharing a bit about his novels Never Meant to Be (MX Publishing, London, 2013), and Secrets Can’t Be Kept Forever (CreateSpace and Kindle, 2013).

Bio:

Stephen Seitz is a journalist, author, media consultant, film critic and talk show host based in Springfield, Vermont. His varied career includes writing and editing books, radio host, advertising, newspaper reporting, and political campaign manager. He is also a lifelong Sherlockian.

Sherlock Holmes and the Plague of Dracula is Seitz' first novel. His next Sherlock Holmes-themed novel, Never Meant to Be, released in October 2013 by MX Publishing.

Seitz has recently published the first novel in a Vermont-based contemporary mystery series, titled Secrets Can't Be Kept Forever. He is revising the second novel in the series and drafting the third. In addition to that, Seitz is researching a series of nonfiction books about the art of cinema.

Seitz also hosts the cable program, "Book Talk,” seen on various public access shows, as well as on Vimeo and YouTube.

Welcome, Stephen. Please tell us about your current releases.

I have two which emerged at about the same time. In Never Meant to Be, copy editor Cynthia Kenyon has an accident with H.G. Wells’ time machine, and finds herself taken to London in 1882. An encounter with Prof. James Moriarty requires the aid of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson. Cynthia doesn’t count on her attraction to Watson, or the consequences it has for the course of history.

Secrets Can’t Be Kept Forever, is the first in a series of contemporary mysteries featuring Ace Herron, the crime reporter for a Vermont newspaper. (I’ve been covering courts and crime for going on 20 years.) I based part of the story on a real-life case where two people who would ordinarily have no business falling in love, fall in love anyway, with devastating consequences for two families. And the story doesn’t do a lot of good for Ace’s marriage, either.

What inspired you to write these books?

Never Meant to Be just sort of emerged. I wanted to write a love story, and time travel has always fascinated me; in fact, I’m researching another story involving the Lincoln assassination. The universe of Sherlock Holmes provides the perfect setting for such a story, and poor Dr. Watson, so often described as a ladies’ man, hardly ever gets to indulge that side of his character. I don’t believe I have ever written a book so quickly; it took about six weeks.

For Secrets, one reason I wrote it is that no one writing stories featuring reporters has even met one, let alone understand what reporters actually do. I wanted to have some fun with life in the newsroom, and especially correct the cliches. I also have a few things to say about modern newspaper management, which is strangling the industry. The Internet and online news outlets are not the problem.

The other reason is that mysteries are more challenging when the protagonist doesn’t have the tools of law enforcement at his disposal. Reporters can’t search law enforcement databases, witnesses are under no obligation to talk, there isn’t any penalty for lying to the press, and deadlines can’t be ignored. I like to think I portray people more realistically than usual. However, only the readers can make that judgment.

Excerpt from Secrets:

Virginia made an impromptu lunch date with Robin Ewald, her closest friend from high school, class flirt and oracle on all relationship problems. Virginia had been there for both of Robin's divorces, after all; perhaps the time had come to return the favor. They met at a quiet Italian restaurant south of town, close to Massa­chu­setts, where neither Ace nor anyone he knew (but, dammit, he knew everybody!) would be likely to overhear.

"Don't do it, Ginny," Robin told her, topping up her glass with strong, dark chianti.

Ginny, surprised, stared at her steaming plate of angel hair pasta, savored the aroma of the garlic sauce and sipped cold white wine.

"What are you talking about?" she asked. "Out of everyone I know, I thought you'd understand."

"I do understand," Robin said, her brown eyes tight and concerned. "It's an emotional and financial train wreck. Get him into couples counseling. It's what I did with Bob. That's why we're still together."

"But--"

"About fifteen years' worth of equity in your home, yes?"

Ginny nodded.

"A fair amount tucked away for retirement?"

"As long as Ace doesn't get his hands on it."

"How's the sex life?"

"Pretty middle-aged."

"Ah."

Now it was Robin's turn to hesitate, and Ginny jumped in.

"You were about to say?"

Robin sliced a meatball with her fork.

"I'm not sure I should mention this in your frame of mind."

"Too late now, snookums."

Robin smiled.

"There's a good chance that this is your midlife crisis, you know. Have you thought of that?"

"So you think this might be a fling that doesn't go anywhere?"

"Let's face it, Ace may be dull, but he's reliable. He's never cheated on you, and the two of you have raised as level-headed a daughter as any parents I've met. The things that are driving you crazy now are the things you liked about him in the first place: steady, calm, there when you need him, predictable as the sunrise. In short, security. Dump him or hurt him too much, that all goes away."

Ginny nodded.

"But I'm bored out of my mind, Robin."

"Are you capable of not taking a fling too far?"

"What?"

"You know, just have the affair for a little while, keep Ace from finding out, and then drop the guy like a hot rock once you've satisfied yourself."

Ginny laughed.

"Is that the real reason you and Bob stay together?"

"Let's just say that sometimes I've explored my options."

What!? thought Ginny, flashing Robin a surprised smile. You hypocritical bitch!

"But, seriously," Robin continued, "you do have to be careful. I think if you use this guy like a vibrator for a while and let it go when the time comes, fine. Every woman likes to be the apple of a man's eye now and then. But if you fall in love with him, you're headed for disaster."

Ginny dropped her gaze to her plate, and the two ate in silence for a while.

Finally, Ginny raised her glass.

"To adventure," she said.

What exciting story are you working on next?

This never stops. I’m writing a new Sherlock Holmes pastiche for MX, this time in the traditional mold. Ace’s next adventure follows him as he investigates a possible terrorist explosion that takes out half a city block. And there’s the Lincoln assassination story I’m researching, as well as the third Herron book. The real problem for me is picking which ideas to develop fully.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

My fifth-grade teacher, Mrs. Corliss, told me I was a writer. It seems as if I’ve been spinning stories since I learned to read. There are several novels in the trunk which will never see the light of day. I didn’t become good until a few years ago.

Do you write full-time?

I’m a full-time freelance writer. I keep pretty busy with that.

If so, what's your work day like?

It depends on what assignments I have at any given time. If it’s slow, I write fiction, or work social media in order to keep people interested in the books.

If not, what do you do other than write and how do you find time to write?

I always find time to write.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

I’d have to say repetition. I constantly have to weed certain words out of my copy because of overuse. It usually takes about three drafts before I’m satisfied.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

First Batman, then James Bond once I discovered girls.

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?

I host a show on public access cable, titled “Book Talk.” On it, I have librarians, fellow authors, bookstore owners, and readers. The idea is to promote interest in reading and writing. Anyone interested and able to come to Springfield, Vermont to tape a show is welcome to contact me and arrange it.

Here’s a link to the most recent episode: https://vimeo.com/81715347

Other links:

Website | Facebook | Blog 

Thanks, Stephen!

Tag, I'm It! A look at a work in progress

Have you seen the new blog tag going around? Mystery author Judy Alter tagged me, so today I'm answering 10 questions about one of my works-in-progress and happily refer you, my readers, back to Judy's blog to read about her writing and other musings.

So, here are the questions I was given, and my answers, such as they are.

What is the working title of your book?

So far, it's called Mark's Legacy. Nothing else has popped up yet, but I'm sure this will not be the final title.

Where did the idea come from for the book?

Creative commons use from Eric__I_E

I grew up in a home that has been in my family for generations and always had a fondness for the attic. There were several old trunks up there for many years, and since I've always had a fondness toward ghosts and time travel, after seeing an old trunk for sale, the story was triggered. 

What genre does your book fall under?

Paranormal mystery, I'd say.

Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?

Great question! I haven't thought about, but now...let's see...for Mark, the protagonist, I'd love David Giuntoli (he currently stars in the TV show Grimm), and it would be perfect for his grandfather to be played by Sam Elliott.

What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?

Mark doesn't have time to drive to Vermont and 'claim' the trunk his grandfather left him as an inheritance, but once at the rustic homestead, Mark finds himself drawn into the past in a way he never could have imagined.

Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?

I'll shoot for traditional publication first, and see what happens.

How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?

Hee hee. It's always hard for me to know when the 'first draft' is done. Actually, I'm thinking about using November's NaNo (National Novel Writing Month) to do a re-write of the novel and see what new things I discover about Mark and his grandfather.

What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?

I really don't know...maybe an old Hardy Boy's or Nancy Drew mystery where they discover something in a trunk, mixed with Back to the Future.

Who or what inspired you to write this book?

My muse. And my love for my grandparent's - this is the first story I've ever written where I focus a lot on grandparents and it's brought back a lot of fond memories of my childhood.

What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?

Hhhm. I'm a New England author writing a book set in New England (specifically NH and VT), so that might be of interest. It has elements of family relationships and what it would be like to be able to meet your grandparents *before* they are your grandparents.

So, that's a look at one of my works-in-progress. Does it sound like something you'd pick up?

Review of Into the Wilderness by Deborah Lee Luskin

Into the Wilderness
Author: Deborah Lee Luskin
Fiction
Rated: Excellent (*****)

It’s 1964 and 64-year-old Rose Mayer is living in Florida by way of New York. Rose is now a two-time widow who’s wondering what’s next in life. Sixty-four-year-old Percy Mendell is a life-long bachelor and Vermonter who takes each day as it comes.

Rose is just getting a taste of living on her own, especially after she convinces her son and daughter-in-law to leave her alone in their Vermont summer home for the winter. It’s nice to have quiet and not be responsible for taking care of anyone but herself. Percy is still adjusting to the void his sister’s death has left in his life, and in the large house they shared. And with retirement only months away, he’s beginning to wonder what he’ll do with all his new time.

The author brings the reader right into the lives of Rose and Percy by using their points of view. The writing is tight; no words are wasted. The details match the scenery – where Florida brings about an undone button, perspiration, and well-meaning neighbors; the words on the page are few, but filled with meaning that can be rung out. New Jersey and New York are bustling with people and words, yet there’s loneliness in being single; the words are short, clipped, and written with a sense of needing to keep moving – never stopping. There’s always the next activity to do, the next point to be made. In Vermont, life is friendly and easy. The words flow across the page like color in a landscape. The author also gives the characters varied musical interests, political points of view, religious experiences, and hobbies as a way to give them something to talk about, or keep them apart, which makes the story all that more intriguing and exciting to read.

Deborah Lee Luskin has been writing about Vermont life, past and present, since relocating from New York City in 1984. Learn more at her website, www.deborahleeluskin.com.

Into the Wilderness is an excellent read. The fictional tale has a nice sprinkling of historical facts woven in. Having the story take place mostly in Vermont is personally appealing to this life-long New Englander. It’s a well-told story, and I enjoyed the ‘mystery’ of wondering if it would be a happily-ever-after ending. It’s a different type of romance that is truly enjoyable.

I had an interview with the author back in February.

Title: Into the Wilderness
Author: Deborah Lee Luskin
Publisher: White River Press
ISBN: 978-1-935052-20-3
Pages: 292
Price: $18.00

Interview with author Deborah Lee Luskin

Today we get to learn a bit about VT author Deborah Lee Luskin.

Welcome to Reviews and Interviews, Deborah.

Please tell us a bit about yourself.
I've been writing about Vermont life, past and present, since relocating from New York City in 1984. I hold a PhD in English Literature from Columbia University and have taught literature and writing to diverse learners, from Ivy League undergraduates to prison inmates. I'm a Visiting Scholar for the Vermont Humanities Council, a freelance journalist, a skilled technical writer, and a regular commentator for Vermont Public Radio. Into The Wilderness is my first published novel.

Please tell us about your newest release, Into the Wilderness.
Into the Wilderness, set in Vermont in 1964, is a love story between 64-year olds: Rose Mayer is a Jewish widow from New York, and Percy Mendell is a Vermont bachelor.

It’s also a story about reevaluating one’s faith. Rose has never lived outside a Jewish community before, and her Vermont neighbors have never before met a Jew. Rose is challenged to figure out what it means for her to be Jewish; she can no longer simply rely on being surrounded by people who all think, live, and worship the same way – something she’s always just taken for granted. And her neighbors are curious! Answering their questions forces her to clarify her own thinking about faith.

For Percy, it’s his political faith that’s challenged. All his life, the Republicans have ruled Vermont and served as the conscience of the Republican Party at the national level. In 1964, the Vermont delegation to the GOP convention nominates Margaret Chase Smith for president – but Barry Goldwater wins the nomination, and Percy crosses party lines for the first time in his life. Vermont follows and for the first time in 150 years does not elect the GOP presidential nominee. But politics are just part of it. His widowed sister, with whom he lived, has just died, and Percy is lonely. Memory of his first love, dead for over forty years, surfaces, and he’s at odds with his feelings. Worse, he’s facing retirement in a year and doesn’t know what he’s going to do for the rest of his life.

In addition, the story is a love song to Vermont and to a sense of time and place. The Interstate Highways were being built, and Vermont’s insularity was penetrated by outsiders. So in many ways, it’s a story about how people accept (or don’t) strangers – what it takes for us all to get along.

What inspired you to write this book?
I wrote the first draft of this book after completing a dark love story set in Vermont in 1958. Elegy for a Girl tells the tragic story of Harlan Knight, a farmer, who is starved for love after his wife, Mary Grace, dies. His daughter has been raised in town by her loveless aunt and lecherous uncle. All she wants to do is return to the farm – the one place she’s been happy. But half the farm has been taken for the new interstate highway that’s being built, and her father refuses to make the technological changes required to stay in the dairy business but refuses to give up the farm. Father and daughter fall in love with each other – with tragic consequences.

Percy Mendell is a minor character in Elegy for a Girl, but one whom I liked a great deal. When the idea for Rose Mayer walked into my imagination, I knew I had mischief in the making – and it was a relief to write a happy story after writing a dark one. I’m still hopeful that Elegy will be published.

What exciting story are you working on next?
All I can say is that I’m working on a novel that involves Jane Austen – a passion of mine. It’s too soon – the work is too fragile – to say anything else.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?
I’ve been writing since I was nine. I’d read Anne Frank’s Diary, so I started keeping my own, even starting the entries, “Dear Kitty”. What I understood from Frank’s diary was the way writing could help overcome loneliness and isolation, which were part of my life as an only daughter surrounded by sons. (I have three brothers.) Writing continues to be how I meditate, how I figure things out, process new information – and earn a living.

Do you write full-time? If so, what's your work day like? If not, what do you do other than write and how do you find time to write?
I lived alone and wrote before I met my husband. I thought I’d be able to continue writing even after I had kids. Well, I did keep writing, but not during long, luxurious days of quiet and order, that’s for sure! I learned to write when I could, and one of the skills I developed was to listen to my voice when I was doing other things – like driving the kids to ballet or washing dishes. I don’t think I was a very attentive mom.

I also managed the family business, which only took just a few hours a week when I started, but grew to be nearly full time. After sixteen years, I was able to give up the job and write full time. For a while, I was free-lancing for two major medical centers, writing technical and promotional copy, which paid well. I also wrote editorial columns, essays, and features in regional publications. In order to write fiction, I accept fewer freelance jobs – and make less money. The tradeoff in time and concentration is worth it to me.

All during those managerial and mommy years, I also taught for the Vermont Humanities Council, which I still do. Teaching literature-based humanities programs gave me a chance to get dressed and get out of the house, find an immediate audience, be professional, be heard. The work has taken me into Vermont libraries, hospitals and prisons. I’m now teaching literature and writing to teen moms. I love the work – and it’s parttime.

My ideal writing day starts in the dark. I stop to breakfast with my husband before he leaves for his office, then I go back to mine. I try to take two hours at lunchtime to walk – which is often when I hear my writer’s voice clearest. I return to my desk to capture what I’ve heard. Now that the kids are grown, my days are my own – or are they? It seems as if I still allow too many interruptions, even inviting them in order to avoid writing something hard.

But I also have a column in the local independent paper and I’m a regular commentator on Vermont Public Radio – so I always have something due, even when I’m unclear about my fiction. That’s the most important thing, I think: showing up to work.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
I wish I had one. I’m deadly serious about writing.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I wanted to be a psychiatrist until I took high school biology and dissected a pig. I switched to psychologist – until I took a college course in behavioral psych. I became an English major, because it allowed me to practice psychology on characters – and allowed me to spend most of my time reading novels. But as a child? I wanted to be a princess.

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?
I completed three novels (and abandoned countless others) before Into the Wilderness was published – when I was fifty-four. Nevertheless, I’ve always considered myself a writer, even before I was published. And despite pulling my hair, gnashing my teeth and sometimes making life miserable for my family and myself, I still haven’t given up. If you have a writer’s voice inside you, listen to it; write it down; don’t give up.

Deborah, thank you so much for your time today.

Review - Still Lake by Anne Stuart

Still Lake, the newest romantic mystery from Vermont writer Anne Stuart, is a fast-paced novel centered around three 20-year-old murders.

Of the 60-plus novels Stuart has written, this is the only one set in her hometown of Greensboro, Vt.

Stuart works in three genres: historical romance, romantic suspense, and series romance. All have similar elements, usually with a dangerous man and a woman in jeopardy.

Still Lake presents 30-year-old virgin Sophie Davis living with her mother and half sister at Stonegate Farm in Vermont. Sophie's dream is to turn the abandoned farm into an inn and live an idyllic New England life.

But twenty years earlier, the body of one of three murdered teenage girls was found at the farm. The murderer, a teenage drifter, went to jail and was later released on a technicality.

The role of dangerous man in Still Lake goes to John Smith, who moves into an old house at the edge of the property just before Sophie's grand opening. Smith's mysterious need to get in to the closed-off hospital wing of the house to find any remaining evidence of the murders leads to intrigue and danger for all residents at Stonegate Farm.

"Spacey" Gracey is Sophie's 60-year-old mother, who was lively and active until relocating to the farm. Since then she has lost touch with reality. Or has she? Is her early morning stroll into Smith's house part of her dementia, or did she know where she was going?

Will "Spacey" Gracey get her wits back? Will Sophie remain a virgin?

Will the inn open as planned, and what about the old murder evidence? And what is it about John Smith? Sophie welcomes him with muffins but still feels uneasy.

Still Lake moves along quickly with point-of-view shifts from Sophie to John Smith to the murderer. Mystery fans will probably figure out "whodunit" early but will keep reading to figure out why and how.

Romance fans will find the tension between John Smith and Sophie Davis intriguing from first page to last.

Still Lake is not about a lonely woman swooning over a mysterious man. It's about an independent woman who doesn't back away when love beckons.

Title: Still Lake
Author: Anne Stuart
Publisher: Mira
ISBN: 978-1551669083
Pages: 384
Price: $6.50