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- Author interview - |
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  Interview with Marthe Arends, author of The Lion's Shadow, the first in a romantic historical suspense series (Avid Press, 1999). The book has been extremely well-received and even before it was out, was named by Malice Domestic as a possible contender for an Agatha award. Available directly from Avid Press and from Amazon.com. Author's e-mail: Marthe@sinc-ic.org Read rave reviews - Read a review by the US Times Bestseller List Read our review by Rachel A. Hyde. The first question that comes to mind is, can you define romantic historical suspense? How is this genre particular? MARTHE ARENDS - I believe it's more a merging of genres rather than a single defined entity. Although it might be tempting to view such books by their separate components - romantic suspense, historical suspense, historical romance - a book that combines all three elements well should make readers of the individual genres happy. For example, Elizabeth Peters' The Crocodile on the Sandbank - the first of her highly successful Amelia Peabody books - combined all three elements in a manner that showed publishers and readers that you can have romance in a mystery. And yes, it can be placed in a setting which is not contemporary and still be successful, and if it's wickedly funny, so much the better! In my mind, romantic historical suspense simply means an historical novel that has the protagonists involved on two different levels - one romantic, the other involving the solution of some sort of mystery. What is THE LION'S SHADOW about? MA - It's the story of two people, a suffragette and an explorer/naturalist who, on the surface, are diametrically opposed to each other. The reality is that they are very similar, both seeking adventure, both independent and stubborn, neither afraid to flaunt social conventions. When faced with a web of deceit concerning the suffrage movement, they tackle it in their inimitable style - headlong, obstinately pursuing the solution regardless of consequences. There's intrigue, a fair amount of mayhem, escalating emotions, a macaw that shreds books, a heroine who finds herself in a number of absurd situations, and of course, the mysterious man with a gold tooth. What inspired you to write this series? MA - I had been published in non-fiction and wanted to try my hand at writing something different, something in which I could release my warped sense of humor upon the unsuspecting public. What I ended up writing was a tongue-in-cheek story that gently poked fun at both historical romances and historical mysteries. Once I completed the novel, I knew it had to be part of a series. Not only did I love the characters too much to let their story end, but their voices were - and still are - disturbingly strong in my head. What kind of research do you do on your novels? MA - I spend far too long in research, to the point where I end up with more material than I could conceivably use in this or any other lifetime. Currently I'm writing The Lion Sleeps which is set in turn of the century British East Africa. I am researching the location, era and people featured in that story. I've read biographical accounts, contemporary writings, historical overviews, fiction set in the location and era, oral histories, ethnographic and geographical studies, poetry of the period, local histories of surrounding areas, travel and journal accounts, etiquette and society manuals, first person narratives, bibliographies - you name it, I've read it. Since the story includes a few historical figures, I've also been tracking down photographs and biographies to ensure an accurate portrayal of those individuals. What's difficult to maintain is the balance between enough details to make the story believable, and an overabundance of information that threatens to overwhelm the story and leave the reader cold. It's a struggle, but I'm enjoying it. How long did this first novel take to research and write? MA - The research time was significantly less for The Lion’s Shadow than it was for the sequel. I was familiar with the location and society, but I did conduct massive research online and offline into the subject of women's suffrage. I was so impressed by the women who were willing to give their lives to this cause that I dedicated the book to them. Research for The Lion’s Shadow probably took two months. I started writing it in August of 1998, paused to write two non-fiction books, then finished and sold it in the summer of 1999. What personal challenges do you face daily as a writer? MA - Convincing my dogs to leave me alone. Really! If I've been at the computer for more than an hour, they think I must be pining away for their company. So they troop in to reassure me that they are still alive and are more than willing to play with me should I be in need of a rousing game of tug-of-war. Other than the dogs, I am very lucky to have a husband who supports me and who doesn't complain too much if I spend all day on the computer writing, researching, or tracking down bits of information online. Writing challenges are another matter. I have a dread of first drafts - which is probably why I enjoy researching so much – of anything to avoid having to actually put the words down, and a notoriously tenuous grasp of grammatical rules. I am forever pausing in the middle of sentence, asking myself: Was that a gerund or a participle? And if so, did I just dangle it? In your opinion, how can writers become successful authors in today's challenging marketplace? MA - Now that is a loaded question! Successful is a relative term. What I might consider successful - Steven King-type advances, NYT Bestseller List mentions, Pulitzer Prizes, mobs of fawning, adoring fans - might not be what other people consider successful. If success is measured as being published, I say look beyond the old standards of know the market, know what you're writing about, know what a publisher wants, and write from the heart. Have fun, enjoy the unique ability to translate thoughts into words - and shoot for the Moon. How is the Internet helpful for your work? MA - It would be possible for me to research my books without the Internet, but I'd spend incredibly vast amounts of time doing so. The Internet has been a boon for me - writers' resources such as mailing lists, e-zines, critique groups, online chapters of writers' organizations, industry news, and more - have been extremely useful. Even more so are the sites with references I need, such as online library catalogs, bibliographic lists, digital resources (for out of copyright books), Web sites devoted to specific topics I'm researching. And of course, the people. I've received a great deal of help from individuals who have gone out of their way to provide me with details or references that are invaluable. The ability to communicate with people around the world is one of the greatest benefits of the Internet. What advice would you offer an aspiring writer? MA - My seventh grade English teacher used to say, organization is the key. I think writers would do better to use "Perseverance is the key" as their mantra. I have a drawer full of rejection letters from agents and publishers - the usual collection that every serious writer has - but despite receiving thumbs down from people who know the industry, I put my faith behind my work and kept submitting. It's that persistence and confidence in oneself that I believe pushes writers into print. One of the best pieces of advice I read when I was just starting to send out The Lion’s Shadow was not to take rejection personally. An agent who rejects your book does not reject you as a person or as a writer. It simply means that your book wasn't this agent’s cup of tea. Move on to the next agent. If a publisher turns you down, buy large quantities of chocolate, examine the rejection letter for possible reasons why it was rejected, then move on to the next publisher. Take heart in every positive comment you receive, even if it's in the form of a rejection. An agent I approached once wrote that she loved my work, thought it was witty and captivating but didn't think she could sell it. It was a rejection, no doubt about it - but there was so much enthusiasm in that rejection that I felt confident enough to continue submitting the book elsewhere. Are you working on the next book in the series? What surprises will there be? MA - The second book entitled The Lion Sleeps is with a New York agent right now, and the third book is already in the works. The Lion Sleeps is bursting at the seams with surprises. Some even startled me. I had no idea my characters were up to such things. My favorite surprise is a baby warthog named Zuri – a Swahili name meaning pretty - who thinks he's a puppy. Any closing thoughts or comments? MA - Before I was offered my first book contract, I used to imagine how wonderful it would be to be published - to have my book in local libraries, to be on Amazon, to have people write reviews about it (glowing reviews, mind you!). Then I was asked to write a book and I spent the next year in hard labor working my behind off. Finally the book was published, and it actually was great to have my book in the library, it was great to see it on Amazon, and I did receive glowing reviews. Then I committed myself to writing another book, and soon after that, another book. I dabbled my toes in fiction, and although that was a lot more fun to write, it required even more work than the non-fiction books. Somewhere in that haze I crossed the line from being someone who wanted to be published, and instead became a writer. Although it's tempting to do - we all want to be successful - I believe that too many people focus on being published and don't enjoy their unique ability to write, or worry about the quality of material they are producing. James Michener sums it up well: Many people who want to be writers don't really want to be writers. They want to have been writers. They wish they had a book in print." |
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