The Evening’s Amethyst A Nora Tierney English Mystery #5 By M K Graff

10/30/2021

Multi-volume, multi-series, mystery author, Marni Graff introduces us to the fifth volume in The Nora Tierney English Mysteries series, “The Evening’s Amethyst”:
Who is Verity? That becomes the central question for American writer Nora Tierney, who has moved to her new Oxford home with her fiancé, DI Declan Barnes, and her young son. Declan's new case at Exeter College coincides with a frantic call from Nora's stepsister, Claire Scott: a fellow graduate student has died in a fall, and Claire begs Nora to help her prove her friend didn't commit suicide. The sisters conduct their own snooping, while Declan and his tam juggle this death with a cold case that proves to be more surprising than Declan could ever imagine.

I love Nora, don’t tell my wife or Declan. Her supporting cast adds so much depth to the story. Her life seems to be on the upswing in many ways.
The author is very talented in weaving multiple stories into a cohesive and interesting plot! I was on the edge of my Kindle much of the way.
The characters seem alive and quite three-dimensional. They struggle with everyday stresses and have worries just like us. Even the minor characters seem very organic in the story. A lot of the dialogue is witty and sometimes it is heartbreaking. The investigation proceeds at a reasonable pace and every step is realistic.
I award 5 stars to "The Evening's Amethyst"!

You can buy this book:
https://smile.amazon.com/Evenings-Amethyst-Tierney-English-Mysteries-ebook
https://www.goodreads.com/-the-evening-s-amethyst

You can follow the author:
https://twitter.com/GraffMarni
http://www.auntiemwrites.com
http://facebook.com/bluevirginmysteries

Tags: amateur sleuth, police procedural, women sleuths, dogs, toddler, action, mystery, suicide or murder, England, Oxford

I reviewed other books by Marni:
“Death at the Dakota” and interviewed her beneath that review: https://www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/death-at-the-dakota-a-trudy-genova-manhattan-mystery-book-2-by-m-k-graff
“The Golden Hour” we had an interview there also:
https://www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/the-golden-hour-by-marni-graff

Copyright © 2021 Mark L. Schultz except for the author’s introduction

39 Comments

Marni Graff link

10/30/2021 01:40:01 pm

Thank you for this wonderful review!

Mark

10/31/2021 09:17:13 am

You are welcome. You wrote an excellent book and I really enjoyed it.
We are going to pick up right where we left off from "The Golden Hour". We started the review with the promotion of "Death at The Dakota" for any visitors who wish to see the entire interview.
First questions.
Have you ever created a throw-away character that developed into a major player?
Do you ever put a story aside and come back to it at a later date; if so, how long before you return to it?

10/31/2021 07:59:15 pm

The only time I've written a throwaway character who became something more was in the first book, The Blue Virgin. A friend of Nora's best friend, known for her shortbread, soon becomes known for something much more. In the first draft, this gal was just a red herring character. But by the end of that draft, I realized this person had a far better motive to be the baddie, instead of the person I'd initially chosen. So far, six more mysteries in, that hasn't happened again! But I've learned that my opening plot outline is just that, an outline, and to allow for happenstance if something better comes along!

I have only put a story aside due to circumstances that prevent me from writing, like health or family issues. Of course, there are cycles to active writing: I take time off at the holidays except for promotional stuff (which never ends) but give myself that respite from writing. The rest of the year I'm either doing research for the next book in the queue, or working on the current one. I write heavily from January through June and then workshop the book in progress with my writing group. This coming year will be our 18th year working together. Knowing I have to have something for them to read gives me a deadline, self-imposed as it is. Then I'll take that draft home and work on it in the fall until my holiday break. That may change a bit if I have a book getting ready to publish, which is itself a time-consuming process at different points, so I may stray from the story I'm writing to work on the set-up for the one about to come out. I juggle two series, so when I'm readying say, A Nora Tierney English Mystery for publication, I'm actually writing the draft of the next Trudy Genova Manhattan Mystery.

10/31/2021 08:06:45 pm

I find that so interesting how that minor character became so important. I find it very interesting and many authors have reported similar events occurring in their writing.
You have an organized and effective system for writing and self-publishing your books. You are correct in that writing the first draft is only one part of the process. Editing and revising are important followed by publishing and promoting. The cycle of writing books never ends.
New questions.
Why do most authors write in 3rd person POV instead of first and second POV?
Were you a plotter or a pantster when you started writing? How about now, has that changed?

11/1/2021 01:00:18 pm

Third person is most commonly used because it allows the write the most latitude, acting as an omniscient observer to everything that occurs. A character may not be aware of something that the author shows the reader in another scene. Second person is difficult to write well and most readers are not fans of it. First person brings the reader the closest to the character, inside his/her head. But the caveat there is that the author can only show the reader what that character can see. That can present a difficulty depending on the type of novel being written. I chose to keep the Nora Tierney series in third person, so while the majority of scenes are from Nora or Declan's POV, there are also scenes from secondary characters sprinkled in. However, in the Trudy Genova Manhattan Mysteries, a newer series, I decided to challenge myself and write Trudy's scenes in first person, and those from Ned, her detective boyfriend, in third. That varies the scenes and works for that series well, to my mind. Sometimes when a writer is struggling with a new book, it may help to rewrite a scene that's in first in third, or the converse, and see if that works better to the writers' ear.

I always start in my notes and research with the end of each book, so I know who is the bad guy and work toward that end. I have a vague outline that is the story thread that gets me to that point, but not an exhaustive outline. There is plenty of room for change, needed subplots, and tangents to come in, so I'd say I'm a hybrid author, a bit of both! I feel more secure having a kind of framework for the story, but I allow for changes to it if a better thought comes along. Leaving yourself open to changes comes easier the more you write, as you trust yourself more.

11/1/2021 01:36:28 pm

Third person is very common and makes a lot of sense for beginning authors.
I like how you handled using the exclusivity of a character's POV while remaining in third person. I found it refreshing.
I am a fan of first person POV and I understand how limiting it can be for an author. You pulled it off quite well in the Trudy Genova series. The mix of first and third POV is fun.
Being a hybrid makes a lot of sense to me. If I were a writer I think my outlines would not be highly detailed also. When the muse speaks it is important to listen.
New questions.
Do you think you were born to write or did you have to learn the craft?
What is the most difficult part of your artistic process?

11/1/2021 03:00:15 pm

I read from an early age on, thanks to a mother who read to me every day. That allowed me to already be reading well when I entered kindergarten. So I have always had an affinity for books, words, and reading. In school, writing essays or stories was always a joy for me, not the chore it was for other friends. But I had a successful career as a nurse for 30 years, I always wrote "on the side" for a nursing journal and other articles. So I think I have a natural inclination toward writing. I'm the person who can't go to a lecture of any kind without taking notes!
But I am a believer in learning a craft. Just as I had to go to nursing school, I studied writing in many different forms over the years, and wrote and published poetry and essays, even dabbled in screenplays, before settling on crime novels. When I retired from nursing it was with the full intent to write full time, which I've done. Each course I took or studied added to my knowledge base, and I've always enjoyed learning. So again, I'm a hybrid!

The most difficult part of my process is the beginning of a novel. Writing a mystery means I need a hook in the first chapter to interest readers, but not always a murder, because I want to do character development. So that's the part that I tend to rewrite the most until I feel I'm starting in the right place. I've learned to just plunge in with a first draft and not worry about the start until I'm revising. Indeed, in The Evening's Amethyst, the opening chapter didn't appear in the first draft until after page 30 or so! But the opening I had started with, while it contained interest and might have served well, didn't carry the same feel I had when I moved that subplot chapter up the opening. I think that's something I alluded to when we were talking about voice. Writing a novel is not a linear project. Yes, you are following a trajectory in terms of the story, but for the writer, you may go back and back and back and changed points of view or change the order of scenes until you are satisfied that you've reached the right combination. This is where you will find beta readers a big help. If several have the same feeling about a character or a place where the plot lags, or the opening not grabbing them, you pay attention and work and mold it more.

11/1/2021 03:25:45 pm

We both had a mother that read to us and we both had an affinity for words at an early age. I started school in the first grade and was already reading at the third grade level.
Learning your craft is what separates a writer with talent from a good writer. You have to keep your learning hat close by all the time. I am learning all the time also.
The beginning is the most third most crucial part of a book after the cover and title. That usually needs and deserves a lot of attention. When you get it right then you hear comments such as "I couldn't put it down!"
New questions.
What is the easiest part of writing a book in general?
What did you buy with your first royalty check?

11/1/2021 05:05:51 pm

For me, the easiest part would probably be when I'm gathering the ideas and doing the research before I plunge into the actual writing. I'm sorting out the setting, and distances from each place where my characters will travel to and from; I'm deciding on where certain scenes I know I'll need will be set and researching areas; I'm deciding on characters who will be new to the series for this particular one and giving them backgrounds. I'm choosing and learning and discerning in a way I find fascinating that leads up to the first draft. Not all of the research and pre-writing makes it into the book. To do that would make it sounds like a travelogue in places and an armchair psychologist in others. But it's the part that takes me places and allows me to flex my fictional muscles and therefore the most fun for me, along with playing the "What if?" game with the plot.

For the first (small) royalty check I received, I took my husband out for Chinese food! We live in a very rural area and so going out to eat is a real treat. There are NO places that will deliver to us. It's an 18-mile roundtrip just to get our mail! So eating out is a definite treat for us.

11/1/2021 05:12:57 pm

You make the research sound like fun. I know I would enjoy it, I love running down rabbit trails.
You do exercise great restraint. Something a lot of new writers could learn from you about information dumps. Info dumps really bog a story down and many readers will close the book when they come across a seemingly endless info dump.
That was a nice treat!
New questions.
How many times did you rewrite the first page, the first chapter of this book?
Do you have a “favorite” filler word or two that you have to keep taking out of a story, like “just” or like “like”? 😉

11/2/2021 10:32:01 am

I probably rewrite the opening pages at least three times; and then tweak more in subsequent rounds of polishing. This is the part that gets changed the most for me. Sometimes I’ll realize the story needs to start earlier. Other times I may start it later and fill in the earlier thread in a conversation or character’s thought. And as with The Evening’s Amethyst, on occasion I’ll bring forward a later scene and use that to kick off the action.

Every writer has words they overuse that need to be carved out. “Just” used to be my worst offender. Recently it’s been “very” and “really.” I use Find to comb through the manuscript on my editing rounds, usually after the first big revision. Super easy that way; and knowing I have that in my toolbox for down the road allows me the freedom to plunge into the first draft to get the story down.

11/2/2021 12:00:33 pm

I think most writers are like you, they labor over the first line, page and even the first chapter. For good reason, an author has a brief window to hook the reader.
All three of those words are really overused. ;-) In a recent manuscript I proofed, there were over 100 instances of really and actually. I recommended removing most of them from narration and a few from the dialogue.
Find is a wonderful tool. I use it extensively when I am proofreading.
New questions.
What was the earliest experience that made you realize that you could influence and change lives with the power of writing?
Do you have a hidden message in your writings for a particular person or group?

11/2/2021 02:46:53 pm

I was writing a feature column for the NY version of Nursing Spectrum. One month my article was about the Look Good, Feel Good program, which offered wigs and makeup lessons for women undergoing cancer treatment. The makeup was designed to disguise sallow or pale skin, hide deep, under-eye circles and such. Wigs allowed women who’d lost their hair to feel more like themselves, especially when they had young children home; or provided a chance to experience a completely different style or color, tiny bit of wildness.
That article garnered a wide response, as many women wrote to tell me how they’d not been aware of the program, and how it had helped them cope.
In my fiction writing, I was at a library doing an event for my first Nora Tierney, The Blue Virgin, and spoke to the library’s book club, who had all read the book in preparation for my visit. One man told me how touching the funeral scene that ends the book was; how he’d lost his wife recently, and how it had helped him with his grief. That was a totally unexpected outcome.

I don't have a hidden message per se, but close readers will notice every book has someone walking a Scottie dog wearing tartan, be it a sweater, bowtie, or jaunty cap!

11/2/2021 02:53:47 pm

That is a marvelous way to learn that you have some ability to write. It sounds like many were touched deeply.
That kind of a background surprise is very cool. I have heard that Scotty dogs are very smart and alert. Is it a specific clan tartan? Which one? Are you related to that clan?
More questions.
Who are your favorite dead authors?
Who are your favorite living authors at this time?

11/2/2021 09:29:22 pm

I don't mention a specific clan, just say 'tartan' and leave it up to the reader's imagination. I don't even have that dog! Ours are Australian Labradoodles. But I've always loved the jaunty look of a Scottie dog and my Christmas dishes have a plaid ground with a black Scottie in the center. So I put one in the first book and it just became a thing...

My favorite dead authors: Dame Agatha has to be mentioned first, who I first read at a young age and gobbled up. Josephine Tey a close second, then Ngaio Marsh, Dorothy Sayers, Margery Allingham, all the Golden Agers. My favorite period. Conan Doyle, and last but not at all least, PD James, who I am so blessed to have known and to have counted as a mentor and friend for the last fifteen years of her life. She was remarkable on all counts.

Favorite living authors, wow, that list is long. Nicola Upson and Mandy Morton, Elly Griffiths, Susan Hill top the list with Val McDermid, Ann Cleeves, Jane Casey, Margaret Murphy, Roz Watkins and Kate Rhodes Ausma Zehanat Khan, Kate Rhodes, Catriona McPherson, Marion Todd, Aline Templeton, Louise Penny, Alex Grey and Lori Radar-Day on the female side, if I'm allowed to say that. Then for males: James Oswald, Ian Rankin, Stuart MacBride, John Harvey, Michael Robotham, Tony Parson, MW Craven, Steve Cavanagh, Doug Skelton, Mark Billingham and the Peters: Peter Robinson, Peter Lovesey, Peter James. I'm sure I'm leaving someone out whose work I love, but these come to the top of my mind as authors whose books I pre-order and look forward to reading ALL the time!

11/3/2021 08:54:46 am

I love that idea of the undeclared tartan and a Scotty dog. Extra mystery at no charge!
That is a great list! So many authors have Agatha Christy at or near the top of their list.
Yes, you can say that, women and men. Those are wonderful writers all!
New questions.
What is the message, moral, or takeaway that you hope people will get from reading your book? Is there more than one?
Do you believe that a good book will sell itself?

11/3/2021 04:43:35 pm

There are two main messages that are takeaways from The Evening's Amethyst. One is that obsession, of any kind, usually doesn't end well. The main plot has that echoed in the subplot twice, first with the kidnapped baby, and then with the family member of different character who became carried away when he lost the woman he loved.

The second message is about kindness. a theme that runs through the entire book. The victim, Bea Jones, was known for her belief in kindness, illustrated in acts to others. Her parents are direct opposites, one kind and the other...not so much. Then, too, her thesis about Roald Dahl, a man who espoused kindness, even as he threw about anti-Semitic remarks at one time in his career. Different characters are shown pursuing kindness, too, even the scout who works at Exeter and keeps the secrets of the students in her wing. Kindness is never lost on anyone who receives it, and often can make someone's day or week or even year, depending on the largesse of the act. Sometimes a simple smile or a compliment can brighten someone's day. But to have a natural bent toward acting kindly to others, that to me is a hallmark of what we should be reaching for in our actions toward other humans from all walks of life.

Sadly, I'd like to say good book will sell itself, and it will probably delight those are fortunate enough to read it, but if no one knows about it, it won't have a broad audience. That's why it's so important, even as terribly frustrating as it is to take time away from writing, for authors to participate in marketing their books. It can be guesting on a blog, being interviewed, using social media to tell others about your book. It's a necessary evil, unfortunately, along the lines of the squeaky wheel gets the oil! If no one knows your book is out there, it won't be read, no matter how outstanding it may be.

11/3/2021 06:12:23 pm

Obsession is a dangerous thing. It's very easy to perseverate over something so important to you that may mean little to nothing to other people.
The kidnapped baby was a fascinating subplot. Figuring out how and why Bea died was brilliant. I couldn't put it together until you did at the end.
I loved the kindness factor, the legacy of Bea's life. That is such an important message and is getting shoved aside more every day, it seems.
The democratization of publishing has two sides, two effects. The first is everyone can publish. The second is everyone can publish. Publishing is easy but getting your book noticed is not because there are so many books on the market. A million new books are published each year and have been for quite a while now.
Authors have to take time from writing to attend to the business of writing which includes marketing and promoting their books.
New questions.
Do you think good marketing can overcome the limitations of a mediocre book?
What is the biggest myth about writing that would help aspiring authors?

11/3/2021 06:53:19 pm

Hmm, that's a question that I had to think about. There's no question good marketing will bring a mediocre book to more people's attention, that sort of 'let's see what the buzz is all about" factor at first; but the word-of-mouth will be lost and the reviews will be poorer when readers who do bother soon realize the goods are not there and are loathe to push that book on to others. So good marketing can only retrieve a poorer book so far, in my opinion.

For me, the biggest myth about writing is "Write what you know." How do writers who write Sci-fi or Magical Realism write then? They use their imaginations. Write what you know should apply, again in my opinion, to human qualities for well-rounded characters in any genre. Or perhaps a setting if you are familiar with it that gives a depth to the descriptions. But I feel it's a fallacy to apply that to all aspects of writing.

11/3/2021 07:55:23 pm

Good marketing will get the horse out of the gate, but a weak horse will not place well at all. You are very right. Disappointed readers will leave poor reviews or no review at all.
That is an excellent take on that common advice. I love it. Proscribing it to relationships makes a lot of sense. We all know something about that and it's such an important part of life. We are social creatures at the core and many of us suffer damage if we don't have enough quality or quantity of relationships.
New questions.
Some authors go to great lengths to get inside the heads of their characters. Some create a biography, find photos that match the picture in their head, fill out psychological profiles. What do you do in that regard, if anything?
Do you have any problems when writing about characters of the opposite sex, why or why not?

11/4/2021 07:05:47 pm

I actually do quite a lot before I plunge into writing. I keep a running log of my recurring characters, so that I know what color I've made Declan's eyes to start, for instance, and did extensive bibles on he and Nora and a bit less for others who recur, like her friend, Val. These are backgrounds, family life, schooling, personality, etc. For each new book, I know some of the new characters I'll need and design them with a similar but not-as-extensive background. Maybe a page or two. Knowing where a character came from, what their family situation was, really sets them up for me in terms of how they will react in certain situations. I have a personality trait book I use, to, which gives helpful psychological insights. So I do all of that in my research phase before I start writing. When a character comes up during the writing, I do a timeout and make up a briefer background for them, depending on how much they will appear. Of course, not every single character needs this, like a waitress seen once or a porter who gives information, but any who give clues or plot points have at least some kind of background developed for them. I've found it helps with dialogue, too. For instance, in this book, there is an Irish scout who is only in one scene, a long one where she talks about the other students on the wing where the victim lived. I did research on Irish slang and dropped a few phrases into her dialogue so she would sound authentic without hitting the reader over the head with too much in the way of colloquialisms. Sometimes in the research phase I will see a photo in a magazine of an interesting face and tape that up to refer to for a character. I did that for Claire, Nora's stepsister, and had the photo in my folder as I was writing the prior Trudy book, but that image was there when I was developing her background, and that solidified Claire to me in my mind.

I don't think I have an issue writing men, in terms of their internal thoughts, but I have to watch the things I assign them as interests, as those can sometimes be too fussy. Usually I pick that up in the first revision and iron it out.

11/4/2021 07:19:50 pm

You have a great system in place. It's necessary when a series is being written. Without a character profile in place little errors such as eye color are bound to creep in.
That was a great decision for the Irish scout. Throwing Irish slang in solidified the character for your readers on both sides of the pond.
Men tend to be very direct in their activities and usually focus on one at a time.
New questions.
Do you base your characters on people you know or use mostly your imagination?
How do you balance the demands on your time as a writer with personal relationships?

11/5/2021 02:48:02 pm

The majority of my characters are from my imagination. I think about what that characters purpose is, and try to develop a well-rounded person readers can identify with--even when I wrote a psychopath in The Golden Hour, I had him remembering to call his gardener back in Russia to prune his roses! Even a psychopath can have one thing he loves, and if it's a ruthless disregard for humans, in this case it is his garden. On occasion I have used a habit or facial expression from someone I know, but mostly my characters are from the crazy recesses of my mind.

It's a tough situation when you are writer working from home. That's probably why so many writers who live in more populated areas try to work in a coffeeshop, where there's noise but a sense of camouflage and you can turn your phone off! Since I write from home, and most often in the afternoons, I've learned that if I put my headphones on to listen to music, my husband knows that's my signal that he is to answer the phone and tell anyone wanting me I'll get back to them. We take care of my 88 yr-old mom, who still lives on her own, and I often will call her and give a quick check and then tell her I'm going to write and we will chat after dinner. That way I've reassured myself she's fine and that buys me a few hours of peace to write. But having had cancer last year, there are often doctor's appts. and checkups that take us out of town for the day, and I just chalk those days up to 'no writing days' as I know taking care of myself is also a priority.

11/5/2021 04:07:36 pm

I recall that from The Golden Hour. It had exactly the intended effect. The character was more human than previously and changed the complexion of the story a little. I thought it was a nice touch.
It has been nearly two years since we entered the Covid hell and social unrest. Everyone was forced to stay home for a long time. For a lot of writers it was very difficult to connect with their muse and put words on paper. Quite a few writers pushed their proofreading schedule to the side. A few were delayed.
The headphones are a good idea, even if music isn't playing the signal is unmistakable.
New questions.
How long have you been a full-time writer, and how much time did it take you to make the transition from part time?
Did you have pieces of the story that were removed from this book? If, so why did you remove them?

11/5/2021 08:49:57 pm

I've been able to turn to writing and studying writing since 2000, after years of writing part-time. I finally retired from nursing, leaving on a high note after what would turn out to be my favorite job, the one I gave to Trudy Genova, as a medical consultant for a NY movie studio. Since I wasn't in the city every day, I went back to school a few years before that and got a degree in English Lit. The summer of 2000 I was able to study at Exeter College in Oxford, Gothic Literature and that was when I decided to set my budding mystery series there, with an American who lives in England. I plunged into full time writing, excited to finally be working at the career I'd always promised myself I would have. Still, I studied the craft of writing while learning how to research and design a novel. I took classes at the University of Iowa Summer Writing Festival, in several modalities, including writing mysteries and one for novelists. Meanwhile, I started writing The Blue Virgin and in 2003 working with a writing group I still workshop drafts with every summer. When I finished the first Nora Tierney book, I found an agent, and set about writing the next one. He wasn't able to sell that book at first; but then one of the writers in my group started her own indie press, Bridle Path Press, and I finally brought out The Blue Virgin in 2010. And I've never looked back, bringing out another Nora Tierney every 18 months or so and now alternating them with the Trudy Genova's. So far there are 5 in the Nora Tierney series, and I'm currently writing the 3rd in the Trudy's. So 7 books in 11 years isn't bad.

I didn't have pieces of The Evening's Amethyst that were removed. I always start with knowing the end: who did it and why, a key component for me. And then I'm writing toward that end. So I'm adding more than I'm subtracting, sub-plots, new characters, threads I may pick up on in future books. For instance, in this one, Nora mentions that she needs to start planning her smallish May wedding right after the holidays. It will be no surprised to readers of the series that the next book then will start with her wedding. The bulk of the action takes place in that one in Cornwall, no title yet and only a vague plot, as the new Trudy Genova will come first.

11/5/2021 08:57:38 pm

How nice that Trudy could take over your old job! A perfect example of writing what you know.
I think 7 books in 11 years is good production. I imagine the last couple of books went much quicker than the first 2 books.
I think that is brilliant. Knowing the end of the book makes writing everything else easier.
One of my guest bloggers, Rick Hall, wrote a great piece about non-linear writing. He recommended that exact thing. If you hit the search box at the bottom of the page and put his name in, you will find it or just jump over to the Guest Blog page and scroll.
New questions.
Do you have any other passions or creative outlets to pursue if you didn't write?
Is there a cause you are passionate about?

11/6/2021 01:41:38 pm

If I didn't write, I think I would invest time in learning about photography. I'm drawn to images captured, especially in black and white, and indeed all of the covers for the Trudy Genova series are photos. The first, Death Unscripted, is a classic Manhattan skyline. I wanted readers to pick up the book and know they were going to New York City. The second, Death at the Dakota, has an image of that famed NY landmark, and apartment building that has housed celebrities and millionaires. It's where John Lennon was living when he was killed, it has a long history. A friend of mine who takes wonderful photos took several of the outside of the building. I chose the one I liked and we cropped it to the image of the outside facade with its turrets and crenellations. When we put it into black and white, the cloudy sky that day gave the image an ominous feeling that I love. So photography greatly interests me.

I'm passionate about animals and dogs especially. We currently have two Australian Labradoodles we adore, Seamus and Fiona, and I am always on the lookout for learning about the breed. I love all dogs. They give you unconditional love, and are always happy to see you at the end of the day. And if you've been gone from the house for an hour or six, they act just as excited to see you! I'm also a big supporter of encouraging women to get their yearly mammograms. That's how my own breast cancer was found, and I was so fortunate that it hadn't spread and I was a stage 1. Every woman needs to have one yearly.

11/6/2021 01:49:51 pm

We have the love of photography, in general, and black-and-white photography in particular in common. My bio-dad was a professional photographer, I learned a great deal about composition and darkroom work from him.
The cover of Death At The Dakota is stunning and stark, perfect. I also studied architecture for several years and appreciate that subject matter quite a bit.
The devotion a dog shows is wonderful. A dog thinks you are god, a cat thinks you are staff. ;-) That explains a lot of the differences between those two pets quite a bit.
Yearly mammograms are important for men also, they get breast cancer as well.
New questions.
Have you any favorite literary journals?
Do you experiment with writing or prefer to stay in the safe zone?

11/6/2021 04:28:12 pm

I don't right now. I used to read a ton of them and then found myself getting lost in experimental literature. I'm a classics kind of gal. Give me story with a beginning, middle and end, particularly a satisfying one. Once the books started coming, I found I had enough to do writing, researching and doing marketing work on my own books. I do read a lot, though. About three novels a week, mostly crime, but others, too, to vary it up. Reading other crime writers seems a far better use of my reading time, as I'm not going to writing for journals and by reading what's done well in crime, or even not, I learn from other writers in the genre.

Which leads right into this question. I do vary the way the story is told, as with The Evening's Amethyst, there is a cold case as a subplot. But I would say in general that readers have certain expectations when they pick up a cozy mystery, and my aim is to fulfill those expectations: a darn good puzzle and justice at the end, or at least resolution of some kind. So I view if as fitting the conventions of the genre, rather than saying in the safe zone.

11/6/2021 04:52:53 pm

I agree with you. I like a story to begin, take me somewhere I am not and them drop me off on my porch. Entertainment, struggle, resolution are all important. I don't read to be talked down to or be browbeat.
The cold case subplot was a nice touch. It was shocking for the adult to think he was the baby that had been kidnapped so long ago. Recently realizing that your parents may not be your parents taps into a deep fear within many. We all feel a little bit foreign, that we don't really fit in, one way or another. It's very visceral.
You are doing a great job of meeting the genre expectations.
New questions.
Did you have a favorite book or type of book as a child?
What type of scenes do you find hard to write and why?

11/6/2021 08:26:09 pm

I was always drawn to mysteries, starting with Nancy Drews and Cherry Ames. My father would be so frustrated with me, as I'd get my weekly allowance on a Friday and run to the local stationary store to buy the next Nancy Drew. Then I'd read it that night and again over the weekend. "Now you've spent all your money in one place and don't have anything for the entire week," he'd complain, not being a reader. 'Oh, but I have my new book." I'd find things I'd missed on the first read with a subsequent read or two. I think the idea of a puzzle intrigued me, and I thought I could be clever and figure out before the end who the culprit might be. The more I read, the more I could see where writers played fair with the reader (and even more when they didn't!) in giving clues that were there but might be missed. I started reading Agatha Christie when I was about 9, as I read far above my grade level, and quickly ate them up!

Hmm, the tough scenes. I think that depends on how far I am in where I need to go and know where I'm going. The center of the book, the part between my sort-of outlined beginning and the end I already know is one I call the 'muddled middle', and that's probably the part that takes the most time and concentration. It's where I need to call on my writing chops the most to figure out how to get to the end while adding red herrings, and keeping characters in sync but juggling their personal relationships, and figuring out if this or that is the right way to go, and, and, and....you get it!

11/7/2021 07:41:06 am

We have much in common. I was reading far above my grade level also. But I was buying comics. I had several relatives that were sending me books to read. I tended to reread the books more often than the comics.
I can imagine that the middle is difficult. It is the beginning when the spaghetti must be straightened out enough to pull the right strand out for the reveal.
New questions.
What did your family say when you announced your desire to be a writer?
What do they think now?

11/7/2021 01:42:26 pm

My family always knew of my desire to be a full time writer, from my studying and writing part-time. I was always the one who was asked to check over essays and creative writing for edits. So they knew my eventual goal was to write full-time. My husband has always been incredibly supportive of my dream; I am so fortunate to have him in my corner.

When I brought out my first book, everyone was thrilled. As I've written more and more, they seem to be very proud of me. Our middle son is the Executive Director of a library in Maine, and on one of my book tours, he hosted me for an event. When he introduced me, he said told the assembled audience that he was very proud to introduce his mother to them, as he was so proud of my writing accomplishments. This was a banner event I hold close to my heart, as in reality he is my stepson.

11/7/2021 01:59:30 pm

Your creative writing bent was set at a very young age. Many take a long time to discover their creative purpose in life.
That is a wonderful event to treasure in your heart.
I am very grateful to my step-father also.
New questions.
How do you maintain the excitement for yourself? Your excitement will impact others around you.
What area of your writing has the greatest need for improvement at this time?

11/7/2021 03:57:19 pm

I am excited at each stage of a new book. I've found that always having the next on in progress at some stage means I never had nothing to do, so that in itself helps to maintain a certain level of excitement. Then, too, when a new book is out, I am anxious to share it with readers, so that is a high excitement time. Each new book is like birthing a baby!

I think I learn a bit more with each subsequent book, like how to carve out words I overuse using "find" or correcting my antiquated Britspeak. Probably the area I will concentrate on next will be strengthening of my male characters and loosening up their dialogue to be more natural. I notice when my main characters are having a discussion, there is a more natural flow between them, perhaps reflecting their chemistry; but at times the men sound too formal I think. So I need to watch out for that.

11/8/2021 08:44:04 am

Working on multiple projects is a great idea to keep the excitement going for a writer. I have heard it's also a cure for writer's block most of the time. If the muse is silent on one book working on another can get the creative juices flowing again.
Presenting a new book to readers has to be very exciting! The excitement level is high for the fans also.
Almost all writers overuse filler words. Like, just, actually are commonly overused in many books, to name only a few. I use find to ferret those words out also and alert the author to their presence.
Men do talk differently with other men than women talk with women much of the time. That is a good opportunity to learn and incorporate defining characteristics into different characters in your stories. Improving your writing skills is a never-ending story, an author can always find something to improve in the next book.
Last questions.
Is there a non-writing skill you would like to have that might help you as an author?
When do you think your next book will be published?
What will you do differently with this next book, in terms of publishing, if anything?

11/8/2021 09:15:18 am

I think I'll answer the last question first: I would get the cover done early as I did this time so that I can start pre-pub word going before the book is actually out. It gives readers of the series something to look forward to and keeps them apprised of where I'm going.

The next book will be Death in the Orchard in the Trudy Genova Manhattan Mysteries. It's early days and I've just started the first draft. I would estimate it coming out in the spring of 2023.

I thought long and hard about a non-writing skill that might help me as an author. We've already talked about my love of photography, and by the way, I love architecture, too, which is why I chose The Dakota as the setting for the second Trudy, Death at the Dakota. To be able to use that wonderful building as a setting was too good to pass up! But to really help me as an author, I'd say after that painting might be a good one--the use of color and light in descriptions would serve me well, I think.

11/8/2021 10:29:22 am

Having the cover made early is a good idea. I have seen some authors take that step to the next level. They hold a contest for their readers to help choose the next cover. Usually there are minor differences among the two or three choices. These kind of things help knit the fans closer to the book and the author.
Painting is a wonderful hobby. I am particularly fond of watercolors. Like photography, framing and lighting is everything.
Thank you for being a fabulous guest this week on the Word Refiner channel. I have enjoyed our conversation a great deal. Your fans and I are looking forward to the next book.
Until then, keep on writing.

11/8/2021 03:47:04 pm

I’ll keep writing and you keep on helping writers get their best books out! Your edits really picked up on things I’d missed and made TEA a better book!
Thank you for hosting me and having me dig deep to answer your questions ~

The Evening’s Amethyst A Nora Tierney English Mystery #5 By M K Graff

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