Ellen Byron Interview

Interview with Ellen Byron

How many books have you published?

Two now. BODY IN THE BAYOU is the second in my Cajun Country Mystery series. But I have four published plays, over 200 published magazine articles, and a ton of produced television credits.

Under what names do you publish? 

Ellen Byron - stayin' consistent!

Do you plot the entire book first, then write or plot as you go? 

I create what I like to call a fluid plot. The basics are all there, but it changes and grows or shrinks as I go. I feel like I need a general guideline to follow, but allow a lot of room to move. Yet I find at the end of a manuscript, a lot of what I laid out in the beginning totally sticks.

How do you keep continuity on backstory? For example I read a book recently where the lead character said she had three brothers, several books later, she was an only child. 

Oh man, that's tough! I'm starting to run into it myself. A lot of it is in my head, which is not the safest place for it. I do a lot of double-checking with previous books (just finished my third ms in the series), and keep running notes on characters I add. There are people who you can pay to keep track of your series, but I don't have that kind of money right now. But maybe if people keep buying my books???? ;-)

Who is your favorite author? 

Emily Bronte and Agatha Christie are two favorites. I also love Louise Penny.

Editor's note: Love Louise Penny's book as well, but alas, they take place in Canada, so not eligible for MapYourMystery yet!

Do you write with pen and paper or a computer?

I'll scribble notes anywhere and everywhere, with whatever's on hand. I even do voice memoes. But I definitely write with a computer.

Checkout the review for Plantation Shudders and Body on the Bayou