Murder, She Encountered, book #3 in my Murder, She Reported series, is the latest. So
 |
| Peg Cochran |
For a review of Murder, She Encountered, click here.
How did you develop your character and choose your location?
I had the idea of a “reluctant debutante” – a girl who wanted more than to come out to society, get married and have babies. My agent and I batted the idea around and eventually she became a crime photographer. Originally I was thinking of setting the book in the 1950s, but eventually settled on the late 1930s—post-Depression but pre-war in the US. I always knew I wanted to set it in NYC.
What kind of research do you do, and how long do you spend researching before beginning a book.
This book took a lot of research. A lot of it was great fun—like watching movies from that time period to understand the way people spoke, dressed, acted, etc. I continued to research while writing the book. Despite living in NYC for 10 years and then working there another 20 years, I still needed to refresh my memory occasionally—especially to learn what was and wasn’t around in the late 1930s—the El was still running, but some areas weren’t developed until later. Where there were tenements in the 1930s, there are now high-rise apartments! I also spent a lot of time looking up expressions—did they use certain phrases back in the 1930s or are they more recent? It was great fun!
What books did you read as a child?
I devoured all the Nancy Drew books, Donna Parker books, Bobbsey Twins and classics such as Jane Eyre, The Moonspinners and My Brother Michael.
What drew you to writing?
I always wanted to write. I loved to read and decided I wanted to write stories and bring pleasure to readers the way my favorite authors had brought great pleasure to me.
If you could tell your younger writing self anything, what would it be?
Start early and make lots of mistakes! You can’t learn to write a book overnight or in one go. It takes a lot of time but if you keep trying, you’ll get there!
Who is your favorite author?
I don’t have any particular favorite—there are too many I enjoy.
If you could invite five people – living or dead – to a dinner party, who would they be?
This is a tough question! I’d love to have my father who has been gone for 27 years. I’d add Mary Higgens Clark—I suspect she could match my father drink for drink! Helen Mirren because I think she is quick-witted and interesting. Ruth Bader Ginsberg too—would she fit in with the others? I think we’d need another man—how about Kurt Vonnegut—I think he’d throw an interesting curve ball into the discussion.
If you could not be an author, what would like to do as a career?
Well, when I was really young I wanted to be a prima ballerina! Sadly, I lacked sufficient talent. I studied journalism and wanted to be a reporter but didn’t follow it up. I’m fascinated by medicine and might have liked being a doctor. Lately I’ve been thinking a position in the foreign service would have been interesting. I did end up in the art world for many years and then marketing communications before I finally got published.
What was the most recent book you read?
I had to check my Kindle! It was the Secrets She Keeps by Michael Robotham. I recommend it!
I had to check my Kindle! It was the Secrets She Keeps by Michael Robotham. I recommend it!
How did you develop your character and choose your location?
I had the idea of a “reluctant debutante” – a girl who wanted more than to come out to society, get married and have babies. My agent and I batted the idea around and eventually she became a crime photographer. Originally I was thinking of setting the book in the 1950s, but eventually settled on the late 1930s—post-Depression but pre-war in the US. I always knew I wanted to set it in NYC.
What kind of research do you do, and how long do you spend researching before beginning a book.
This book took a lot of research. A lot of it was great fun—like watching movies from that time period to understand the way people spoke, dressed, acted, etc. I continued to research while writing the book. Despite living in NYC for 10 years and then working there another 20 years, I still needed to refresh my memory occasionally—especially to learn what was and wasn’t around in the late 1930s—the El was still running, but some areas weren’t developed until later. Where there were tenements in the 1930s, there are now high-rise apartments! I also spent a lot of time looking up expressions—did they use certain phrases back in the 1930s or are they more recent? It was great fun!
What books did you read as a child?
I devoured all the Nancy Drew books, Donna Parker books, Bobbsey Twins and classics such as Jane Eyre, The Moonspinners and My Brother Michael.
What drew you to writing?
I always wanted to write. I loved to read and decided I wanted to write stories and bring pleasure to readers the way my favorite authors had brought great pleasure to me.
If you could tell your younger writing self anything, what would it be?
Start early and make lots of mistakes! You can’t learn to write a book overnight or in one go. It takes a lot of time but if you keep trying, you’ll get there!
Who is your favorite author?
I don’t have any particular favorite—there are too many I enjoy.
If you could invite five people – living or dead – to a dinner party, who would they be?
This is a tough question! I’d love to have my father who has been gone for 27 years. I’d add Mary Higgens Clark—I suspect she could match my father drink for drink! Helen Mirren because I think she is quick-witted and interesting. Ruth Bader Ginsberg too—would she fit in with the others? I think we’d need another man—how about Kurt Vonnegut—I think he’d throw an interesting curve ball into the discussion.
If you could not be an author, what would like to do as a career?
Well, when I was really young I wanted to be a prima ballerina! Sadly, I lacked sufficient talent. I studied journalism and wanted to be a reporter but didn’t follow it up. I’m fascinated by medicine and might have liked being a doctor. Lately I’ve been thinking a position in the foreign service would have been interesting. I did end up in the art world for many years and then marketing communications before I finally got published.
No comments:
Post a Comment