Articles and Interviews
Keep Your Readers Reading by
L. C. Hayden
(written and published in SW Mystery Writers Newsletter: 2006)
Sometimes I pick up a book and after a couple of pages, I toss it aside. It failed to keep my interest. Other times, I can’t seem to put the book down. The author has hooked me. I began to wonder why this was so and I analyzed the writing to see what the successful authors do. Here’s my results.
First of all, I found that the best way to increase suspense is to do the unexpected. When you’re plotting your book, think of a solution, then immediately discard it. Why? Because chances are that if you thought of this solution, so did the readers. To keep them guessing, go with your second choice-or even better, think of a third solution and go with that one.
Another device I found authors often use is that whenever possible, they add the element of time. They give their characters some type of a deadline. For example, Little Susie has been kidnapped and her father only has 24 hours to find her. As the father desperately watches the clock tick away the time, the readers interest increases.
I also found that the most successful books use weather. However, the authors don’t simply say that it’s raining. They show how the rain affects the character and even complicates the plot. The author tends to use weather more as a minor character than an abstract element.
Still another way that successful authors add suspense to their novels is by having the character make a mistake which the reader recognizes as a mistake. For example, sometimes they throw suspicion on someone the main character trusts and whom the reader knows is an evil person.
Bio:
L. C. Hayden, current MWA-SW secretary, is the creator of the Harry Bronson mystery series. The fourth book in the series, What Others Know, was nominated for Left Coast Crimes prestigious Best Mystery Award. The fifth book in the series, Why Casey Had to Die will be released in November 2006.
Sarah Bewly
From families.com:
Courtney Mroch: Do you have any pets now? If yes, names, species, breeds, ages, etc please.
L.C. Hayden: Right now, I'm down to the bottom. I only have one dog, Killer. My son found him and the rest of the litter in a dimsey dumpster. He rescued them and found a home for all but two. Ginger died about four years ago and we still have Killer. Killer is now ten and since his tongue is part black, we feel he's part chow. However, every place we go where people are familiar with dogs, they say he's a Newfoundland. I tend to agree with them because he looks exactly like one, except that he's not as big.
CM: You mentioned you're starting a new series where one of your dogs (Chloe) will be featured. What will the series be about? LCH: The book centers around a reporter who lives in South Lake Tahoe. She's given a puppy as a gift and she names the dog Chloe. Unfortunately, [the real] Chloe passed away last November. She was nine years old. In the current series that I'm writing, the Harry Bronson Mystery Series, Killer is going to make an appearance. Who knows, Bronson might just adopt Killer. What would be more appropriate than to have an ex-cop owning a dog named Killer?
CM: What kind of dog was Chloe? What will the dog be (breed-wise) in the series and what will he/she do?
LCH: My Chloe was part German Shepherd and so will Amie's (the reporter.) Chloe was a mischievous dog and extremely smart. Some of the capers she pulled will end up in the book, but at one time or the other, Chloe will save Amie's life.
CM: How many different kinds of animals have you had at one time? (You mentioned you've had hamsters, dogs, birds...)
LCH: We're animal lovers. At one time we had twelve dogs, two hamsters, a Conure, two parakeets, and an aquarium filled with fish. We also had two kids and sometimes they behaved like animals! They're all grown now and have pets of their own.
CM: How do (or how have) your animals affected your writing and your life?
LCH: As far as they've affecting my writing, I like to incorporate their misadventures into my writings. As far as they've affected my life, they've enriched it. People who have no animals miss a big part of life--the warmth, the love, the joy they give can never be fully described. It's something that must be experienced in order to be understood.
The Page 69 Test
Friday, April 20, 2007
"Why Casey Had To Die"
L.C. Hayden applied the "page 69 test" to her Agatha-nominated novel, Why Casey Had to Die: A Harry Bronson Mystery, and reported the following:
I bow my head in shame. I gave my latest release, Why Casey Had To Die, the Page 69 test and I flunked. If a reader were to open the book to Page 69 and read only that page, the essence of the book would bypass him.
Ellery Queen Magazine wrote about me and Casey: "... her knack for gripping the reader is undeniable. This page tends to set up the suspense that’s going to follow rather than thrust the reader in that web of suspense.
The only tiny part of suspense that might grab the reader appears on the last five lines of the page. Bronson, my detective, has learned that the so-called fictional murder puzzle that the attendees of a mystery convention are supposed to solve is actually a real cold case. In fact, it is Bronson’s first unsolved case.
Bronson asks one of the conference attendees if any of the previous fictional murder cases has ever been set in Texas. The last three lines read:
Katherine shook her head. "Not that I can remember. Far as I know, they all have been set here in Arizona. "Then why the change this year?"
Hopefully, the reader will want to turn the page and find the answer. It is, after all, the backbone to the suspense that will send Bronson down a path filled with terror one that places not only him in mortal danger, but also his beloved wife, Carol.
--Marshal Zeringue
Posted by Marshal Zeringue at 7:04 AM
Interview for Inkwell Newswatch:
July ’06
Background:
As far back as I can remember, I’ve always enjoyed writing. I was one of those kids who when the teacher assigned a composition, I turned in a two-to-three page essay while everyone else turned in a two-to-three sentence paragraph. In fact, my first published article had originally been written as a term paper.
I received my Master’s Degree in Creative Writing from the University of Texas at El Paso and have published over 400 articles, six books, have one with my publisher, and another one to be released late this year.
My fourth Harry Bronson mystery was nominated for Best Mystery of the Year at a recent Left Coast Crime Convention. My third book has been optioned for a movie. The second one in the series was an Oprah Online Reading Café Selection and the first was a Barnes & Noble Top Ten Best Seller.
Besides mysteries, I’ve also penned a nonfiction, inspirational book about miracles and angels. It became a WordWright Best Seller.
I’ve also written two children picture books (not published) and a horror novel (published.)
Influences:
Two U. T. El Paso professors have influenced my writing. Dr. John West encouraged me and showed me how to break into print. Mr. Francis Fugate nourished my early writing career. Other than these two individuals, members of the writing community-especially those in the mystery field-have been a true inspiration to me. They have served as my mentors, friends, and constant role models.
Advice:
Proofread, proofread, proofread, and then proofread again. Be proud of your work and always strive for perfection. Proofread once for content. Does the dialogue sound realistic? Is proper viewpoint maintained? Are the characters actions logical? Are the characters properly motivated?
Proofread a second time for grammatical errors. Pay close attention to subject/verb agreement, run-ons, fragments, capitalization, and spelling. The third time you proofread concentrate on style. How does the piece read? Are there any awkward passages? Did you avoid using the passive voice as much as possible?
Set the piece aside for a day or two. When you pick it up again, read out loud what you have written. By now it should read smoothly. If not, add, delete, do whatever needs to be done. The more you proofread, the more likely you’ll have a piece that sparkles.
Internet:
Readers have sent me e-mails telling me that they have just visited my website (lchayden.freeservers.com) and are now interested in reading my books. Consequently, I find the Internet to be a very useful instrument that helps spread the word.
Also, when I do book signings, attend conferences, or I’m going to be the guest speaker, or do anything along these lines, the person in charge of the event visits my website and gathers information about me or gets the necessary pictures off my website. This simplifies my work as well as the event coordinator’s job. Having a website is a definite plus.
Future:
My fifth mystery based on the award nominated Harry Bronson series, Why Casey Had to Die, will be released in December 2006. I’m currently writing the next Harry Bronson mystery, have started a new series about a reporter, and am working on a sequel to my angels book.
In addition to writing, I plan to continue offering workshops and speaking at conferences, for writers groups, and organizations and clubs.
I also plan to write more children’s books. Once my grandson, who is now one year old, grows a little more, I will start looking for a publisher. This way, I can promote the books at his school. I get to promote and spend quality time with my grandson. How cool is that?
Works:
Why Casey Had to Die, Five Star Mysteries, December 2006
The Drums of Gerald Hurd, WordWright, 2004
What Others Know, Top Publications, 2004
A Second Helping of Murder, Poisoned Pen Press, (contribution to), 2003
When Angels Touch You, WordWright, 2002
Where Secrets Lie, Top Publications, 2001
When Colette Died, Top Publications, 1999
Who’s Susan?, Top Publications, 1998
Who’s Susan?, Commonwealth Publications, 1995
