Interview with Mystery Author Carolyn Haines

Online, July 28, 2010 (Newswire.com) - "When I was growing up in the small town of Lucedale, Mississippi, I had big dreams," says Carolyn Haines on her Mississippi Delta website at www.carolynhaines.com. "I wanted to be a cowgirl, a writer, and Nancy Drew... Today, I'm all three - sort of. Of course the only mysteries I solve are in Zinnia, Mississippi. And I have the help of Sarah Booth Delaney, Tinkie, Cece, Coleman, Millie and a host of other characters. They'll be quick to tell you they do all the hard work--I'm just the writer."
Author Joanna Campbell Slan recently interviewed Carolyn Haines, one of the six featured authors at the 12th Love is Murder Mystery Writers & Readers Conference being held in Chicago February 4-6, 2011 in Chicago. Following are excerpts from the interview, as well as some of Carolyn Haines thoughts about the Love is Murder conference where she has been a featured author in previous years.
Joanna Campbell Slan: Talk about fully developed characters.
Carolyn Haines: Most good plots come from character, so if you've got a mismatch, the book isn't going to work. I do think most writers hit streaks when the characters are fully alive and in the moment with them. When I write, I almost have to get to that place-I have some subconscious control, but it seems as if I'm merely watching, not engaged in the action.
How to bring this about? I think it's a matter of focus. Knowing your story, knowing your characters, and a real regard for language. Writing isn't about slapping words together. It's about thinking. And language is very delicate. We forget that sometimes. Word choice is vital to character development.
JCS: Carolyn, you create truly vivid, one-of-a-kind characters. What are some of the techniques you use? I notice that Jitty's clothes are always a highlight, as are Sweetie Pie's sunglasses and scarf. You seem to be able to vary the cadence of your characters' speech.
CH: Well, thank you very much. I think clothing and accessories are one of the easiest ways to characterize. They can show a character's humor or quirkiness or hint at the character's motive (and sometimes this is a deliberate misdirection). I think what makes a unique character is what's in his heart, his spirit. Is he greedy, selfish, mean, generous, afraid, desperate? What does he desire? Motive is what makes us do the things we do, and motive stems from our unique psychology. Why do some people feel they must have designer labels and others are confident in thrift shop finds? Why are some people happy in the country and others in cities? These are the questions at the heart of a character. It is often helpful for new writers to do intensive character studies. Write it down. Read it often and remember the moments in the past that have brought your character to this particular place and time where the story begins.
Since I clearly hear how my characters speak, I can write their dialogue most of the time without too much trouble. Long ago I was shy, and I listened a lot. It's a good thing to do. In fact, I make it a habit of eavesdropping almost everywhere I go.
Haines then talked about her involvement with Juli Schatz from Love is Murder.

CH: "My first LIM came at a point in my life when I was changing. I'm basically very shy (no one ever believes this), but I had decided, at that conference, that I wasn't going to lurk in the background. As a result, I spoke to lots of people and had a terrific time.

There was a huge snow storm, my luggage was lost for almost the entire conference. Mary Welk, one of the conference organizers, and I went back to O'Hare to try to track down my luggage and had a fabulous adventure in the bowels of the airport.

We had a snowball fight (I'm from the Gulf Coast - THAT was exciting! .... It was just terrific. I'm honored to be asked back.

LIM: At past conferences, have you met any particularly interesting authors whom you "kept an eye on" or stayed in touch with following the con? Who?

CH: I've met a lot of wonderful writers through the years. Some have become very dear friends, and others are just people I enjoy watching succeed. But how can I stalk them if I tell you who I'm watching?!

LIM: One reason (of many, we hope!) that people attend Love is Murder is to learn about writing, publishing, etc. What have you learned from participating in LIM?

CH: I was fortunate enough to hear Lee Childs speak. And Barry Eisler. And so many more wonderful writers. I became aware for the first time of Alison Janssen and Benjamin LeRoy of what was then Bleak House and later became Tyrus Books. I ended up editing an anthology of short fiction, DELTA BLUES, for Ben and Alison. It's always interesting to hear writers and editors and publishers talk about how certain stories or books came to be. The process always contains an element of magic as well as tons of hard work. What I constantly take away is the idea that hard work is the foundation, and then a smidgen of luck brings it all together. We have to believe in our story, and in our ability to tell it. That's reinforced again and again at each conference I attend.

LIM: What are you looking forward to at the 2011 conference?
CH: It will be great to see some of the wonderful people I met the last time I was in Chicago. I'm also eager to teach one of the master classes on writing. I love to talk about writing, and I have learned a few things (mostly by being rejected) that may help someone. I'm one of those hard-heads who has to learn everything the painful way, but maybe I can spare some other writers a bit of pain.

Carolyn Haines is also the Editor of Delta Blues (May 2010, Tyrus Books) and author of Bone Appetit (July 2010, St. Martin's Minotaur). Learn more about Carolyn Haines and all of her books at www.carolynhaines.com
The Love is Murder on Dark & Stormy Nights 2011 Conference brings together some of the most renowned mystery authors and editors from major book and periodical publishers with aspiring mystery authors and readers from all over the world, for three days of interactive workshops, master classes, opportunities to pitch editors, one-on-one get-togethers with authors, and much more. The full slate of activities is at www.loveismurder.net; new events and updates will be posted as they occur on the website and on the Love is Murder blog at http://crimespace.ning.com/profiles/blog/list?user=LIMCON
Joanna Campbell Slan is the author of Paper, Scissors, Death (Sept. 2008, Midnight Ink), an Agatha Award nominee for Best First Novel; and Photo, Snap, Shot (May 2010 Midnight Ink). Her website is www.JoannaSlan.com