Oh, Those Colorful Fish

I'm a little under 3 months from the debut of my novel, FAKE ID, and a little more than a month removed from turning in a draft of my next mystery/thriller, ENDANGERED (working title). While I'm mostly preoccupied with the fun insanity that fuels a book debut, I find my mind drifting to fish. A particular breed, though. The Red Herring.

If you're a regular Sleuths, Spies, and Alibis reader, then you're likely familiar with these clever and slippery creatures. They swim through novels, leading detectives down incorrect paths, only to circle back, stick their tongue out teasingly, then flit away to beguile the next gullible gumshoe. If you don't know about Red Herrings, then let me clear this up for you. The name is as misleading as its purpose. Here, I don't mean tasty smoked seafood, but a clever misdirection. A false clue. (And sometimes) The stuff of my nightmares.

Because no mystery is fun if you can guess the perpetrator easily! Red Herrings ramp up the difficulty for the sleuth and the reader. Lately, I find myself waking up in cold sweats because I think I haven't been managing the care and keeping of my Red Herrings properly. Did this twist work? Is the killer super obvious? Why was I ever allowed near a keyboard and a word processing program? ARGH!

So, I traveled the seven seas searching for techniques/strategies/magic (not really magic...well, maybe a little) that would help me breed the biggest, juiciest Red Herrings you can find this side of that bargain seafood restaurant with it's own dubious red mascot (don't you find the idea of Endless Shrimp suspicious? I do). Here are a few tips I was able to cobble together:

Don't Overdo It

Readers want to use a hook, not a net. If you're giving them a whole school of Red Herring to chase, it may wear them out. While many fish breed in the hundreds, it's best to keep the Red Herring population in your novel under control. Think Aquarium, not Atlantic.

The Swim Better Be Worth It

Whatever path your Red Herrings lead the reader down should not be pointless. No swimming for the sake of the swimming. The misdirection should relate to the larger story. In other words, if there's a dipping cup of savory tartar sauce at the scene of the crime, and the sleuth keys on it's smooth, spicy goodness, then tartar sauce should mean something...even if it's only there to trigger a memory of the sleuth eating Red Herring as a child with his father, who happened to be a Private Investigator, and taught him/her some long forgotten skill that does help solve the bigger mystery. That's a stretch, yes. But, there should be a connection. And, tartar sauce....yum!

Red Fish, Blue Fish

It's okay to have other fish in the tank. There are classic mysteries where every character other than the sleuth is a potential suspect, thus making them all Red Herrings. It can still work, and can even be really fun, but you don't HAVE to go there. A little variety will make your Red Herrings all the more special.

What say you diligent sleuths? Any fishing tips for this old man in the sea? If you have some thoughts on Red Herrings, leave them in the comments below.

'Til next time...

Lamar "L. R." Giles writes for adults and teens. Penning everything from epic fantasy to noir thrillers, he's never met a genre he didn't like. His debut YA mystery FAKE ID is about a teen in witness protection who investigates his best friend's murder and stumbles on a dark conspiracy that leads back to his own father. It will be published in Summer, 2013 by HarperCollins. He resides in Virginia with his wife and is represented by Jamie Weiss Chilton of the Andrea Brown Literary Agency. Find out more on his website, Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads.

Throwback Post: Time After Time

yourbrainatwork.org

We tend to focus on the aspects of mystery here at SS&A. Crimes, clues, research. Today, I want to discuss another aspect of the books we write, the 'Young Adult' part.*

The precise subjects and age ranges that justify a Young Adult classification can vary depending on who you ask. But, it's safe to say that the Sleuths on this site are a bit older than the target YA age range (for the record--and this may sound coincidental--we're all celebrating our 21st birthdays this year). Lately, I've been thinking about the ways I tap into the memories and emotions of my own teenage experiences (just a few years ago, really...yes, really) and channel those thoughts into my writing with hopes of touching today's youth.

I write darker things, so I find myself accessing the painful, angsty memories most often. When it comes to character emotions, that tactic is effective, though sometimes uncomfortable. Seriously, who REALLY wants to go back to high school, even if it's just in your memory? Obviously, that's not enough, because things do change, and unless I want to write a series of period pieces set in the [actual year/decade redacted], I need to do an accuracy check with some modern teens. And I do. With interesting revelations...

Timeless YA Attributes:

• First love hasn't changed much over the years. 
• Neither has being an outsider.
• Parents still don't know anything (until they do)

The Future is Now:

• Tech is so very important. "No one talks on the phone anymore," says my high school senior sister via text.
• The internet makes being mean a superpower.
• The world feels more dangerous (things like school shootings have more relevance when you actually go to a school everyday).

This list goes on, but I'd like to hear from readers and writers out there. If you're a young reader, are there any specific books that you feel are most true to your age and experience? If you're a not-as-young writer, how do you stay tapped into the group you write for?


*Sorry Middle Grade sleuths, just speaking from my own experience here.

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Lamar "L. R." Giles writes for adults and teens. Penning everything from epic fantasy to noir thrillers, he's never met a genre he didn't like. His debut YA mystery FAKE ID is about a teen in witness protection who investigates his best friend's murder and stumbles on a dark conspiracy that leads back to his own father. It will be published in Summer, 2013 by HarperCollins. He resides in Virginia with his wife and is represented by Jamie Weiss Chilton of the Andrea Brown Literary Agency. Find out more on his website, Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads.

Spring is in the air...

The future's on my mind lately. Maybe it's because my own middle grade mystery, THE WIG IN THE WINDOW, is coming out in June? I thought I'd take a look at the marvelous, mysterious company it will be joining on the shelves --- both current and upcoming.

Has anyone got their hands on one of these titles yet? I'd be curious to hear what you think!

 Blue Balliet's a beautiful writer who manages to create layered, complex mysteries with well-developed characters that are nevertheless suspenseful. I enjoyed CHASING VERMEER and THE DANGER BOX, so I just picked up her latest at Vroman's in Pasadena the other day. This story of a girl who falls into Chicago's foster care system and must solve the mystery of her father's disappearance sounds full of heart and compelling. In stores now.

We were lucky enough to nab New York Times best-selling and Edgar-winning author Peter Abrahams for an Interrogation Room interview last year when his first book in this series, Robbie Forester and The Outlaws of Sherwood Street came out. Sounds like Abrahams has followed up that action-packed tale with an equally thrilling mystery with a social message: this time Robbie is on the tail of a murderer who knocked off one of her friend's fathers just to build an apartment complex... Out May 16th from Philomel

The cover of this debut from Candlewick mesmerized me -- isn't it something else? Zebra Forest's description sounds dark for middle grade, but I'm intrigued by what sounds like an intricate, well-written tale about an eleven year old who uncovers family secrets when she's held hostage by a fugitive. Its flap copy says it's "driven by suspense and psychological intrigue"; Jen Robinson called it "dark and brooding" book that will nonetheless appeal to young suspense fans. Coming April 9 from Candlewick.

Colby Sharp and other fellow Nerdy Book Club members have been singing the praises of this wacky illustrated tale of two detectives, a missing teacher, and a duffle bag full of fish -- it looks like such an adorable, funny, high-interest read. Jarrett Krosoczka's Lunch Lady series is already such a hit, and I'm sure this won't disappoint. Out May 7 from Walden Pond Press.

 One of my favorite middle grade mysteries of 2012 was Kate Messner's CAPTURE THE FLAG, which introduced us to the junior members of "the Silver Jaguar Society," a group charged with protecting the world's most important artifacts. It offered a wonderful mix of fun, great characters, tight plotting -- not to mention a great educational angle and spot-on middle grade voice. I'm looking forward to the next installment, HIDE AND SEEK, which will be out in just a few short weeks!

What titles are you looking forward to?

Mystery Mashup

A big piece of entertainment news dropped on Tuesday. Disney buys LucasFilm for an incredible amount of money, thus permanently bonding The Mouse House with a Galaxy Far, Far Away. Almost immediately, beautiful pieces of art combining recognizable elements of Disney and Star Wars popped up on the web, like this PERFECT piece from theFW.com:

courtesy of theFW.com

Of course, this has absolutely nothing to do with mysteries. BUT, the combination of the two mega-fantasy worlds got me thinking...what if some of our favorite mysteries were suddenly combined with unexpected, yet complementary, universes?*

Virtual Reality Check

Reality Check by Peter Abrahams + The Matrix

Cody, a former football star, has to find his missing girlfriend, Clea. But, when he meets an enigmatic messenger named Morpheus he discovers the circumstances surrounding her disappearance are stranger than he thinks. For Clea has been 'unplugged' and shown the true nature of the The Matrix. Will Cody follow her into the 'Real World'?

I Hunt Killer Cyborgs

I Hunt Killers by Barry Lyga + The Terminator

Jazz, the son of history's most infamous serial killer, has the skills to hunt down human monsters. But, when an unstoppable killing machine from the future comes to alter history, Jazz might find himself outmatched.

Mars vs. Mars

War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells + Veronica Mars

Veronica Mars, teen super-sleuth, must uncover the truth when alien invaders descend on her town. Is the takeover real, or is it a distraction to hide darker secrets hidden behind the mansion walls of Neptune's affluent residents?

Your Turn

Got any cool mashups in mind? Leave them in the comments

*I really wish I had time to do some mashup Photoshop art to go with each of the above entries. If you all think it would be fun, and some of my deadlines ease up, maybe I'll revisit this next month with visuals (including some based on your suggestions, should you have any). Sound off in the comments below!

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Lamar "L. R." Giles is the author of FAKE ID, coming from HarperCollins in 2014. He resides in Virginia with his wife and is represented by Jamie Weiss Chilton of the Andrea Brown Literary Agency. Find out more on his website, Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads.

Murder, She Blogged

A confession: lately, through the magic of obscure cable channels and a DVR, I’ve been unwinding after a long day by watching the occasional episode of Columbo or Murder, She Wrote. Never mind the satisfaction of seeing justice done, is there anything quite so soothing for a writer than watching J.B. Fletcher put the finishing touches on a manuscript to the tune of that jaunty piano music? That’s how all my days are, after all. Go for a jog, pound out a novel, murder solve my step-step-nephew-once-removed’s murder in the afternoon… 

Since my viewing habits plant me firmly in the 80+ demographic, I figured that gives me the right to spout some of the vast wisdom I’ve accumulated while indulging in my guilty pleasure.

It boils down to this: technology and mystery have a complicated relationship.

Also: Angela Lansbury really should have had her agent negotiate a no-jogging clause.

But back to technology. A good deal of these old-school mysteries wouldn’t last two minutes, let alone an hour if any of the characters had a cell or access to the internet. Take 1971 Columbo classic “Murder by the Book.” (Don’t tell me you’ve let 30 years go by without discovering this gem?) The entire story hinges on the culprit misleading someone about where he placed a call. I’m pretty sure today’s police would be quick to get to the bottom of that one…

Does that mean it was easier to write clever mysteries pre-1990 or so? I suppose someone could make an argument for it. Maybe it explains the preponderance of historical mysteries, too. I know that I certainly have ongoing challenges finding credible ways to get technology out of my middle school sleuths’ hands when it would make things too easy. Parents and teachers seize laptops and cell phones. Thick basement walls block service. Batteries die. Passwords stymie them. Google searches turn up too much information to be useful.

At the same time, technology offers all kinds of clever ways to ferret out information: DNA evidence, online databases, caller ID, cell phone call logs, chatroom posts, voice recorders, GPS tracking, some of the cool gadgetry from SPIES AND PREJUDICE that Talia Vance talked up the other week. And that’s not even mentioning all the clues and opportunities for culprit slip-ups technology can provide. Even simple technology like lock-picking and reprogramming garage door openers sure helped me make things more fun in THE WIG IN THE WINDOW.

Of course, there are less obvious uses for technology, too. That cell phone Jessica Fletcher uses in Murder She Wrote’s final season would make a mighty fine murder weapon...

Kristen Kittscher’s debut middle grade mystery THE WIG IN THE WINDOW (Harper Children’s) will be released in June 2013. It follows the comic misadventures of two tween sleuths who suspect their school counselor is a dangerous fugitive — and just might be right! A former middle school English teacher, Kristen lives in Pasadena, California with her husband, Kai. When she’s not writing, you’ll find her running her after-school tutoring business or taking orders from her hopelessly spoiled cat and dog.

Interrogation Room Suspect #16: Middle Grade Debut Author Nikki Loftin

This week's Interrogation Room suspect is Nikki Loftin, author of middle grade debut The Sinister Sweetness of Splendid Academy. It's getting rave reviews already! Kirkus calls it an "irresistible contemporary fairy tale," and Publishers Weekly praised it as "smart, fresh, and thoroughly modern." Though most people will have to wait until August 21 to enjoy it, one lucky winner in our ARC giveaway contest will get a sneak peek.

About The Sinister Sweetness of Splendid Academy (Razorbill, $16.99, Ages 8 - 12)

When Lorelei's old school mysteriously burns down, a new one appears practically overnight: Splendid Academy. Rock-climbing walls on the playground and golden bowls of candy on every desk? Gourmet meals in the cafeteria, served by waiters? Optional homework and two recess periods a day? It's every kids's dream. But Lorelei and her new friend Andrew are pretty sure it's too good to be true. Together they uncover a sinister mystery, one with their teacher, the beautiful Ms. Morrigan, at the very center. Then Andrew disappears. Lorelei has to save him, even if that means facing a past she'd like to forget – and taking on a teacher who's a real witch. What Lorelei and Andrew discover chills their bones – and might even pick them clean!

Nikki seems far too sweet to be very sinister -- so we decided to go easy on this suspect, especially since she's giving away an ARC of her debut...but she might not be so lucky next time!

Kristen Kittscher: Creepy teachers. A school where homework is optional and candy bowls are at every desk. A mysterious fire, and one girl racing to find a friend who has disappeared. I can't wait to read The Sinister Sweetness of Splendid Academy. Can you tell us a little about why you wanted to write this story and how you came up with the idea?

Nikki Loftin: I’d love to say that I jogged over to Ideas R Us and picked up a whole case of Great Story Ideas on special… but the truth is, the idea came to me the way most of mine do: with an interesting “what if?”

I was talking to my husband at lunch one day, and I started going off on how much I’d loved scary stories when I was a kid. We both bemoaned the way fairy tales have been cleaned up for modern picture books. I mean, come on, at evening story times for our sons, I’d had to ad lib the death of the first two of the Three Little Pigs AND the demise of the Gingerbread Man, since those parts of the stories had obviously been too harsh for the current crop of kids to stomach. Whatever. I started riffing on how kids needed stories like Hansel and Gretel, but brought up to date… and then I left my husband rather abruptly at the restaurant and raced home to start writing.

Kristen: The Sinister Sweetness of Splendid Academy is part fantasy, part mystery, and part fairytale. What a wonderful combination! Since our focus here on the blog is mysteries, we're curious: what did you find the most challenging about constructing your mystery plot and how did you overcome those challenges?

Nikki: I have to admit, I had no idea I was writing a mystery. And my first draft showed it! My first readers, my agent, and even my editor had me go back in and layer the mysterious aspects in. I’ll be the first to admit, those elements of (very frightening) surprise are my favorite parts of the book!

I found it difficult to allow the mysteries to be as dark as they needed to be, but one particular friend helped me see that I needed to trust the story – and myself – and go farther, darker. And my editor, who is a genius, was able to show me where and when to deepen those mysterious elements. Without her, this would just be a fun adventure story! But I think it’s a lot more now.  

Kristen: Did you have any favorite mysteries (or books with mystery elements) as a kid?  If not, what are some of your favorite middle-grade reads that you think might appeal to mystery lovers?

Nikki: Ha! I was in LOVE with Trixie Belden (a series of books written like Nancy Drew, but with a slightly more modern and relatable main character, in my opinion). I’m not sure if she’d hold up today – I lost my entire set of the books in a move, so I can’t go re-read them to check!

But some of the most interesting mysteries I’ve read recently are Michael Buckley’s super fun The Sisters Grimm series and Lizzie Foley’s Remarkable (the title undersells this book – it’s THAT good!). My sons (both middle-grade-aged readers) recommend Three Times Lucky by Sheila Turnage (at the TP of my TBR pile!), the 39 Clues series, and (a classic) Alvin Schwartz’s Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark.

 Kristen: As a fellow first-time author, I know the journey to publication can be a long one -- and that it often takes a veritable army of supporters. What (and who) helped you along the way? Any regrets or mistakes you'd like to share to help out aspiring writers?

Nikki: What helped me most are my gray hairs. No, seriously! A few years ago, I was working at a good job, but one that took every bit of spare time and ounce of energy I had. I was raising two sons, married to an incredible man, and had a great life. But I kept thinking about what I had wanted twenty years before, what I had dreamed of -- being a writer. One day, I looked in the mirror, and saw something that shocked me. There I was, closing in on forty, but still the same girl inside, with the same dream… only now I had gray hair. I could see myself twenty years down the road, with white hair and the same dream, if I didn’t act.

I resolved not to put off my dream any longer. Now I finish about three or four novel-length manuscripts a year. Hey! I’m not getting any younger, and I have a lot of stories to tell.

Of course, my husband makes it possible by keeping the light bill paid, and not minding when I burn dinner a dozen times a month when the muse comes calling. And my sons are my first and best listeners/readers. They jump off the school bus and pester me to read them my work-in-progress. Great motivation!

Also, writer friends I’ve made in real life, like the awe-inspiring and deeply lovely Cynthia Leitich Smith, critique partners/lifelines like Shelli Cornelison and Lindsey Schiebe, and groups like the Apocalypsies, Austin SCBWI, and Verla Kay’s Blueboarders, all make up a small part of my own army of writer friends. I would be lost without them!

My advice to writers starting out is to read, surround yourself with people who love to read and write, and write as much as you can, as well as you can.

Kristen: What's next for you?

Nikki: I’m expecting an editorial letter any day now for the book my editor and I just decided will be my next, and probably will be released in early 2014. It’s the book of my heart, if you know what that means, so I’m thrilled. Nightingale’s Nest will be another fairy tale re-imagining, this time of Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Nightingale,” one of the lesser-known major fairy tales. (There’s no princess for Disney to feature.) This book deals with some disturbing themes, and is more magical realism than straight-up fantasy. But who knows? It could be a mystery by the time edits are complete! 

Kristen: What writing secret will you reveal only under the harsh lights of The Interrogation Room?

Nikki: Um… that Lindt Extra Dark Orange chocolate bars are the secret to writing three or four manuscripts a year? Yeah, it’s true. 

We'll stock up! Thanks so much for coming in for questioning, Nikki. We're all looking forward to August 21, when The Sinister Sweetness of Splendid Academy comes out. In the meantime, thanks for giving away an ARC to one lucky winner!

About Nikki

Nikki lives with her Scottish photographer husband just outside Austin, Texas, surrounded by dogs, chickens, and, small, loud boys. You can visit her online at www.nikkiloftin.com and find out more about her debut at www.SplendidAcademy.com. 

This interrogation was conducted by Sleuths, Spies, and Alibis "Detective" Kristen Kittscher, author of upcoming middle grade mystery debut THE WIG IN THE WINDOW (Harper Children's, Summer 2013)

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Under Cover #14

Time to check in and see what our detectives are reading!

Talia Vance: I'm reading If I Lie by Corrine Jackson. I love this spare, emotional story about secrets and the lengths that people will go to keep them. The characters still haunt me.  It's a story about a girl who honors her promise to keep her boyfriend's secret, but at a huge personal cost.  Heartbreaking and hopeful, this is a book that I devoured in a single sitting and can't wait to read again.



F.T. Bradley: I'm in a short story kind of mood, so I swiped my 12 year-old's copy of Neal Shusterman's DARKNESS CREEPING: TWENTY TWISTED TALES. They're not quite mysteries, but horror has to be mystery's dark cousin, right? I've only just started reading the book, but I'm totally hooked. Next up, I have GUYS READ: THRILLER on my to-read list. I guess summer calls for shorts... 

Diana Renn: Last week I made a rare foray into the paranormal by reading an ARC of debut author Gina Rosati's AURACLE. I'm so glad I did! What a great read. And while it's not a traditional mystery, mystery/crime fans like myself will appreciate the crime at the heart of this novel, as three teens get swept up in a high-stakes investigation into the murder of one of their classmates. Did I mention that one of these teens is not actually in her body? Oh. Right. Enter the paranormal. 17-year-old Anna Rogan has an unusual talent: astral projection. (It was apparently triggered by an allergic reaction to peanuts as a child). She's learned how to leave her body and travel to exotic destinations for fun. But one day, while astrally projected, she witnesses the death of a classmate, a mean girl who then takes up residence in Anna's body and refuses to leave. Anna and her friend (and secret crush) Rei have to find highly creative ways to get Anna back in her body and to help their friend Seth avoid murder charges. Rosati balances the high stakes crime issues with moments of horror, humor, sensuality and romance. The book will be published next month by Roaring Brook/Macmillan. 

Under Cover #13: Summer Reads

School's just about out, and it's time to dig into our summer reads! Here are some of the titles our resident detectives have on their recommended summer reading lists...

Diana Renn: On my list of summer reads is Angie Frazier's new middle grade mystery: THE MASTERMIND PLOT. This is the second mystery set in the early twentieth-century and starring the young detective Suzanna Snow. (The first book is THE MYSTERY TUNNEL). I love mysteries set in Boston, where I live; this is a city steeped in mysteries, old crimes, and intrigue. I'm excited to see Frazier's depiction of historic Boston, and how her young sleuth will solve the mystery of a string of mysterious warehouse fires that her famous detective uncle is also investigating.

L.R. Giles: Maybe I'm a little late to the party on this, but I'm reading STORMBREAKER, the first Alex Rider novel by Anthony Horowitz. It's a thriller with a sprinkling of mystery about a teenager who's charged with completing his deceased uncle's last job. This might be a boring read if the late Ian Rider was really a banker like everyone thought he was, but since he was actually a covert operative for MI6, well, good times abound. It's a fun, quick read, and the first book in a long running series. Alex is a likeable hero with a strong following that he more than deserves. I highly recommend.

Kristen Kittscher: "Unexplained disappearances. Suspicious deaths. There's something wrong with the woods behind St. Bede's Academy," reads the tag line for THE LITTLE WOODS by McCormick Templeman, coming out July 6th. I have to be upfront: 1) I'll read anything involving boarding school, murder, and woods. 2) I know McCormick personally and we attended the same boarding school as teens, though at different times. Still, you'll have to take it on faith that I'd be showering this fantastically creepy mystery with praise regardless. Reminiscent of Donna Tartt's THE SECRET HISTORY both stylistically and thematically, THE LITTLE WOODS is a suspenseful, and deliciously disturbing story about a girl who enrolls at the boarding school where her sister allegedly died in a fire many years earlier, and soon finds herself at the center of a new, but parallel mystery that leads back to her past.  This book pulses with eerieness and has so many gorgeous lines that I found myself wanting to copy them down. It's hard to say too much about its themes without giving away too much, but suffice it to say that it's a very rich, multi-layered mystery with characters that'll burn themselves into your memory. 

Interrogation Room Suspect #12: Shawn Thomas Odyssey

Today, author Shawn Thomas Odyssey faces the not-so-harsh glare of the Interrogation Room spotlight. His debut novel, THE WIZARD OF DARK STREET, a mystery for fans of the unusual, has been nominated for the Edgar Award. Believe me, detectives, we're going to get to the bottom of how he conjures his particular brand of magic.

Oona Crate was born to be the Wizard's apprentice, but she has another destiny in mind. Despite possessing the rare gift of natural magic, Oona wants to be a detective. Eager for a case to prove herself, she wants to show her uncle--the Wizard of Dark Street--that logic is as powerful as magic. But when someone attacks the Wizard, Oona must delve even deeper into the world of magic to discover who wanted her uncle dead. Full of magic, odd characters, evil henchmen, and a street where nothing is normal, The Wizard of Dark Street will have you guessing until the very end.

For eight mysterious years Shawn Thomas Odyssey labored extremely long hours in a 140-seat (and rumored to be haunted) professional theatre in Santa Barbara, California. There he worked as an actor, a musician, a stagehand, a set builder, a scenic painter, casting coordinator, and was the person they sent into the dank, dark underbelly of the theatre to find rusty old props and spider infested wigs.

Upon his perilous escape from this life of daring stagecraft, he began an equally death-defying career as a music composer for film, television, and video games, creating scores for HBO’s Deadwood, and the Activision/Dreamworks video game Kung Fu Panda.

As if these daunting careers were not enough, he sought out even more fearsome territory by writing all kinds of treacherous stories, plays, and books, and acquired a tireless obsession for research into a subject he likes to call “the Dark Street phenomenon.” He is married to a mysterious dancer whom he met while working at the haunted theatre, and along with a passion for collecting magic wands, he enjoys playing unusually dangerous music in a band whose name to this day remains a tightly held secret.

Without further delay, let the interrogation begin... 

Kristen Kittscher: You’ve worked for years in the theater and as a composer for film, television, and video games — and you’re in a band, as well! To what extent does your work in theater and music influence your writing?

Shawn Thomas Odyssey: Fearlessness.  From my years in the theatre I learned how to trust that everything will work out.  We would say, “On the night.”  Which meant that whatever you were trying to do (get the lighting to work, or remember your line)  it would happen on the night of the performance, even if it wasn’t working up to that point.  Somehow we always pulled it off.  And from film and TV scoring, I honed that same skill even more, to a level of trust in myself.  There was usually no time for self doubt.  And we all doubt ourselves, but it never stopped me.

Kristen: In the world of THE WIZARD OF DARK STREET, there is “natural magic” and “learned magic.” Oona is a “natural magician” who nevertheless wants to rely on logic to solve her mystery. The interplay between logic and intuition seems to be a major theme of the novel. How do logic and intuition apply to your own creative work?  Would you say your writing magic is more natural or learned?

Shawn: I’d say there are different stages.  The first draft of a book comes to me in a very intuitive way.  That’s the magic.  It flows through me as it pleases, no matter how structured my own attempts are at taming it.  That first draft is a testament to the unpredictability of magic.  But then of course there is the revising and rewriting, which in a mystery novel must be structured so that everything works out in a satisfyingly logical way.  A lot of rewriting is craftwork, skills that are learned over years and years of writing.  Of course the more skilled the writer, the more craftwork shows up in the first draft.  So magic first, structure later...and then more magic!

Kristen:You’re a native Californian who’s lived in Bakersfield and Santa Barbara, yet WIZARD is set in a magical version of 19th century New York City. Can you tell us a bit about why you chose this setting and how you created it? 

Shawn: I had two urges at once.  I wanted to write a mystery, but also I had this idea pop into my head about a magical world that consisted of a single street.  A very long street.  I began to take copious notes on who lived there, how magic worked, the history, etc.  The street was Victorian.  It came to me that way.  I didn’t decide.  And when I asked the question, “where does this magic street lead to?” it turned out it was connected to Victorian era New York City at one end, and at the other end was the land of Faerie.  A world of reason connected to a land of magic.  In the middle is this fantastic street filled with ordinary people, and not so ordinary crimes.  Most importantly, I discovered Oona Crate, the twelve-year-old natural magician who wants to be a detective.

Kristen: THE WIZARD OF DARK STREET is a spectacular debut novel. Some of our blog followers are aspiring mystery authors who hope to have their own debuts someday soon. Do you have any words of advice for those starting out writing mysteries?

Shawn: Make writing fun!  Enjoy the process!  It’s wonderful to get published, and to get recognition, but those moments go by really fast.  In the end, it’s you and your writing.  You and the muse.  It’s about growing and exploring.  Sometimes it’s hard and frustrating...but if you have the right attitude, you’ll love even those parts.  Don’t take yourself too seriously and you’ll likely find each step in the process is quite wondrous and mysterious; perhaps even more mysterious than what you are writing about. Write and read a lot, but be sure to have other things besides writing that you are into.  It will feed you.

Kristen: Who were your favorite mystery authors and sleuths when you were a kid? And now?

Shawn: I didn’t get into mysteries until I was older.  As a kid I loved Roald Dahl and JRR Tolkien, though I do remember checking out some books from the library about how to be a detective, and how to do magic.  I guess I’ve been interested in both for quite a while.  Eventually I fell in  love with Jeremy Brett's portrayal of Sherlock Holmes on British TV.  That was an enormous influence on the writing of The Wizard of Dark Street.  And though they didn’t come out until I was in my 20’s and 30’s, I loved the Harry Potter novels, especially the early ones, which had not only fantastic characters, but also a brilliant sense of plot and mystery set in a magical environment.

Kristen: Congratulations on your Edgar nomination! What was it like to hear that news?

Shawn: I found out while I was attending  the American Booksellers Convention in New Orleans.  I was checking Twitter on my wife’s laptop in a courtyard in the French quarter.  There were several posts about it (it had just been announced that morning).  I shouted out loud, and I’m sure people thought I was mad, but I didn’t care.  I was on cloud nine all the rest of that day.  My editor and the marketing team from my publishers at Egmont were at the convention, and we all celebrated at dinner.  A few weeks later I learned of my nomination for an Agatha Award as well.  I realized that I’d probably done a pretty good job of it.

Kristen: Any upcoming projects you'd like to tell us about? We’re hopeful The Wizard of Dark Street will have a sequel…

Shawn: Yes, the sequel is due out next spring (2013). Just finishing up edits (and title) now. It is so much fun!


Thanks so much for enduring The Interrogation Room, Shawn. We wish you the best of luck at the Edgar Awards today!

Fellow detectives, be sure to grab a copy of THE WIZARD OF DARK STREET here!

Interrogation Room Suspect #10: Elisa Ludwig

This week Internal Affairs is on the case! We’re turning our interrogation spotlight on our own Elisa Ludwig, whose debut PRETTY CROOKED (Katherine Tegen Books / HarperCollins) is out in stores today.

PRETTY CROOKED is the first of a three book thriller/mystery-series about Willa Fox, a teen girl who turns Robin Hood, bilking her rich classmates and re-distributing it in the form of care packages to scholarship students.

Elisa studied writing at Vassar College and Temple University. Even though she had to extensively research pick-pocketing techniques to write PRETTY CROOKED, she remains a law-abiding citizen. She likes in Philadelphia with her husband, Jess, and her cat, Beau a.k.a. Bread. When she’s not writing for teens, she’s cooking or writing about food for The Philadelphia Inquirer and other publications.

We have to admire Elisa's grace under pressure. She took being interrogated by a fellow detective very calmly...

Here's the transcript of the proceedings:


Kristen Kittscher: Your protagonist Willa Fox takes to crime in order to upend the classist social structure at an elite prep school. Though her motives are noble, she’s still a lawbreaker. To what extent was it challenging to have a “criminal” as your protagonist in a book for teens?

Elisa Ludwig: It was fairly challenging, for sure. I wanted Willa to be likable and sympathetic and I wanted readers to root for her, but I also didn't want to go condoning thievery as a real solution to problems. So it was a tricky line to walk. In the end, I like to think of it as a fantasy read—it's just fun to put yourself in Willa's shoes and imagine what it would be like to do what she does—without the risk of getting caught, of course.

Kristen Kittscher: Pretty Crooked has a tight plot and fantastic pacing. You mentioned in previous interviews that you didn’t used to rely on outlines before, but you did while writing this novel. Can you tell us a little bit about your transformation from a “pantser” to an outliner, and what you learned in the process?

Elisa Ludwig: Yes, I was a diehard pantser. Even when I had an outline, I always deviated from it, preferring to let the characters guide me. Pretty Crooked and its sequel are so action-packed that they demanded a more structured approach. For the first time I used a very detailed outline so that just about every aspect of the story was thought out ahead of time. In the end, using the outline made the writing process so much more fun. I would approach the keyboard knowing exactly what I had to do and since I'd thought it out scene by scene, there was very little angst about decision-making. That meant I could concentrate on the fun stuff, like filling in the details and sprucing up the dialogue. I still struggle with the amount of work that has to go into an outline up front, and I can't always understand the ramifications of characters' actions until I'm actually writing it through, but I think outlining has helped me understand a lot more about the structure of novels.

Kristen Kittscher: Willa Fox undertakes various complex capers in Pretty Crooked. She picks pockets and locks, and even breaks into a mansion. We’re in The Interrogation Room, after all, so we have to ask: how did you learn so much about stealingJ?

Elisa Ludwig: I researched everything online. While it probably would've been more fun to go on ride-alongs, not knowing any real criminals was kind of a limitation. Instead, I pretty much stuck to Google, blogs and some very interesting YouTube videos. I must admit that I had a great time, too.

Kristen Kittscher: Pretty Crooked sets up a tantalizing mystery that will extend into PRETTY SLY, the next in the series. What challenges did you face in setting up a mystery in one book and carrying it into the next?

Elisa Ludwig: It was tricky because you don't want to disappoint the reader by leaving everything hanging dramatically but on the other hand Pretty Crooked had so much going on as it was with Willa's story that the mystery had to remain more of a C plotline. Some mystery series are devoted to smaller more episodic mysteries in each book with one overarching mystery carrying across them. In this case, it's more like one mystery leads to the next.

Kristen Kittscher: Even though there’s a mystery at Pretty Crooked’s heart, it’s also contemporary YA. Can you talk about how you approached balancing suspense with description of Willa’s social world and conflicts?

Elisa Ludwig: Yes, at the end of the day this novel is set in high school, so it had to have all of the trappings of cliques and classes and cafeterias (though in this case, it's a fancy one). Willa's desire to become a thief comes out of her social interactions so all of that had to be in there and had to be emphasized before she could go doing any of her badass maneuvers. So I think it became a unique challenge, setting up this world in a familiar way while trying to cue readers that this book was going to take a different turn at some point. I guess the key was trying to keep the story rooted in Willa's head and what matters to her. 

Kristen Kittscher: Willa’s both a detective on the trail of a mystery and a lawbreaker. Who’s your favorite fictional sleuth? Your favorite literary rebel?

Elisa Ludwig: Hmm. Favorite fictional sleuth would have to be Cassie Maddox from the Tana French books because she's tough and smart and complex. As far as rebels go, I will go with a book I read recently: Pierre Anthon from Nothing by Janne Teller. He's the kid that dares to suggest that nothing matters and he pays the price for his rebellion, but I found him fascinating and I wanted to know more about him.

Kristen Kittscher: Lastly, what upcoming events or writing projects would you like us to know about?

Elisa Ludwig: Well, I have a bunch of readings/signings/talks lined up for March and April (details on my website, www.elisaludwig.com). And PRETTY SLY is on its way for next March. Now, onto the third book!

Thank you for having me, Kristen and fellow SSAs! It's been fun to be on the other side of the swinging light!

You'll be happy to know that Internal Affairs has cleared you of the charges, Elisa. Thanks for taking the time to talk with us.

Our PRETTY CROOKED Mystery Box Giveaway continues until March 19th. However, you now also have a chance to win a signed ARC of PRETTY CROOKED! (See below)


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