Kathy: In Shadow of Doubt we meet Carol Childs, a reporter for a local talk radio station. How did you decide upon that career for your protagonist?
NCS: Carol Childs was an easy protagonist for me to come up with because I worked in radio, news and talk for nearly twenty five years and it felt very comfortable for me to place her inside a radio station.
Kathy: The media, both "legitimate" and social play, huge roles when someone is murdered. How have these roles changed to what we, and Carol, have to deal with today?
NCS: Time and instant gratification drive so much of what the media can provide and does today. News must turn a profit for all media and time is money. Consequently, news stories we might want to see with more in depth coverage are limited and squeezed out to make room for the next big breaking news story.
Kathy: A Hollywood psychic warns Carol of more deaths. Have you ever consulted a psychic?
NCS: In my youth, yes. Today, no. But I think writers are all a little psychic. Maybe it comes with age, I’m not certain. But the fact that Carol encounters a psychic is typical of the types of people that come through a radio station, or find a way to get in front of a reporter covering a story.
Kathy: What first drew you to cozy mysteries?
NCS: I think Carol’s voice is most given to Cozy. She’s a middle aged woman, balancing a career and two growing kids. She also is wise in that she knows that her strengths are her brain not her brawn and as a result is very careful about how she goes about her investigations, insuring there are never shots fired. There may be hearts broken, but she avoids violence at all costs.
Kathy: Do you write in any other genres?
NCS: Some of my short stories and novelettes are more of a mixed genre; mystery/thriller/science fiction. In addition to Michael Connelly, I like Stephen King and Dean Koonst.
Kathy: Tell us about your series.
NCS: The Carol Childs Mystery Series is about a middle-aged woman in the throes of a career change. Her life is a balancing act, as are most working women. I think that makes interesting and believable. In Shadow of Doubt, we meet her as she begins her second act at the radio station, where she has been given the opportunity to do what she wanted to do with her career years earlier and work as a reporter.
Kathy: Do you have a favorite character? If so, who and why?
NCS: Without a doubt it would be Carol. In many ways she is very much like me, only much ballsier.
Kathy: Did you have a specific inspiration for your series?
NCS: The series began with a self-published book, When in Doubt, Don’t. That book was inspired by a situation I had when I tried to sell my home and it was taken over by a group of rightwing extremists with ties to the Montana Freemen. For years I wanted to write that story. I must have written it as a thriller, as a comedy and finally as a mystery. After I wrote the second book, Shadow of Doubt, Henery Press asked me to do a series and I of course agreed. I pulled When in Doubt, Don’t temporarily and I’m considering rewriting it as a prequel. I’m not sure when I’ll finally get around to writing it. Right now I’m finishing up the sequel to Shadow of Doubt, with a new book, titled, Beyond a Doubt.
Kathy: What made you decide to publish your work?
NCS: I wanted to someone to read it.
Kathy: If you could have a dinner party and invite 4 authors, living or dead, in any genre, who would you invite?
NCS: That’s easy; Michael Connelly, Stephen King, Daniel Koonst and Gillian Flynn and Sandra Brown. I know that’s more than four and I could go on, but I’d make room for 5 because dinner parties are better with an even number and I’d be the sixth.
Kathy: What are you currently reading?
NCS: The Burning Room by Michael Connelly.
Kathy: Will you share any of your hobbies or interests with us?
NCS: I love to cook, movies, theater, hiking and when possible horseback riding.
Kathy: Name 4 items you always have in your fridge or pantry.
NCS: WINE! Cheese, nuts and apples. I’m always ready for a cocktail hour.
Kathy: Do you have plans for future books either in your current series or a new series?
NCS: Yes. I’m currently working on a new book for the Carol Childs mystery series.
Kathy: What's your favorite thing about being an author?
NCS: The time I get to spend by myself exploring my thoughts and getting to know my characters. They tickle me.
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Sounds like a great book
ReplyDeleteSounds like a good first book of a series.
ReplyDeleteI listen to local talk radio all the time and feel like I've really got to know some of the announcers. I think I could really relate to this book Thanks for the contest.
ReplyDelete