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- Author interview - |
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  Interview with Peter Abresch, author of The Jim Dandy ELDERHOSTEL Mysteries, Bloody Bonsai (1998) and Killing Thyme (Write Way Publishing, 1999) . Author's web site - E-mail: pfwriter@olg.com "Killing Thyme is an intriguing premise reminiscent of Jessica Fletcher in Murder, She Wrote, where reluctant hero Jim Dandy is eagerly awaiting a rendezvous with Dodee Swisher almost a year after their first adventure in Bloody Bonsai." - Excerpt from our review by PJ Nunn. Interview by Charlotte Austin. CHARLOTTE AUSTIN - My first impression is that you may have invented a sub-genre in the mystery category with the creation of The Jim Dandy ELDERHOSTEL Mysteries. How did the idea for the series come to you? PETER ABRESCH - I had been on a couple of Elderhostels and for a couple of years, thought about using that experience somehow in a book. I really sat down at my computer seriously when two books were rejected, the same that were liked by my small press editor, Dorrie O'Brien, though she was afraid she wouldn't be able to sell them. So in a crass, commercial determination to get into print, I gave her something that had a ready audience. With BLOODY BONSAI, A James P. Dandy Elderhostel Mystery, I hoped to attract the one or two million bonsai enthusiasts in the country, and those who take the Elderhostel catalogue - a half a million people. What I needed to do then was create a couple of characters readers would like. I hope I've done that. How is this sort of mystery different from the usual mystery? PA - It's the same in that a mystery has to be solved, like murder and mayhem, but different in that everything takes place on an Elderhostel. Since Elderhostels are all learning adventures, most of which take place over one week’s time, a theme must be developed for each, such as bonsai and cooking classes for KILLING THYME, the second in the series. This is then incorporated into the books, giving a strong flavor of the teaching and learning, without boring the reader. Also, since everything takes place in a week, the problem needs to be presented and solved in that time frame. Since each Elderhostel presents a new cast of characters, just like on a real Elderhostel, they have to created and developed over the course of the story. And finally, there is the relationship between the main two characters. The story is told from James Dandy’s viewpoint. Dodee Swisher is the lady friend he meets in the first book. Their friendship develops into more of a relationship in the second book, and maybe, maybe we can use the L word in the third. Your latest novel KILLING THYME which we reviewed recently (link to review) suddenly became popular late in 1999. Why do you think that sudden success came about? PA - For the reasons above, the ready audience was there, it was a matter of getting the word out, which I have been trying to do more and more. And a lot of Elderhostelers I've contacted have been helping me by word of mouth. Also, readers have told me they like the characters, saying they like Jim Dandy, but they love Dodee. Someone asked me if I was going to keep her around, but with a response like that I'd be crazy not to. There was also a lot of cooking stuff in Killing Thyme, and I think that attracted a lot of people. The fact that I not only try to make these novels fun to read, but also give the reader some knowledge of the subject, helps make the books more popular. And so, suddenly, you find yourself in demand and you can't write fast enough. How does that feel? PA - I agree that the books are doing fairly well, but people are hardly beating down my door. My hope is that with each new book I can win more readers, one book at a time, until the books can promote themselves, which will ease the PR work I have to do - and make me rich enough to control the world. You're now working on TIP A CANOE, your forthcoming release due out soon. Is this novel part of the ELDERHOSTEL Mysteries, or a break into something new? PA - Tip A Canoe is actually due out in January 2001, and yes, it is the third in the Elderhostel series. I've been working on a few other novels outside the series, but since these are the bread and butter books, I have to concentrate on them first. This was suddenly brought home to me when I thought I had until June to finish Tip A Canoe. Until my editor told me, on January 4, that she needed it in at least semi-finished form by March 1. I've been scrambling ever since, eating-sleeping-drinking writing - trying to get this out. What can your fans expect and how will this novel be different? PA – Ah! A new murder or two will take place, learning something about swamps and the birds that live there, always a few problems of those who have mellowed into fine wine, and Jim Dandy might use the L word. Is there a possible sequel in the works? PA - Always. Elderhostels are given on every subject all over the world, so the opportunities are endless. What's next? What are your plans for the future? PA - I have been producing a series on some bulletin boards and on my Web site called BookMarc, adventures in fiction writing techniques. This has attracted the attention of Ed Williams, the publisher of Scrivenery Press. We have signed a contract to rework, add to the BookMarc series and make it into a non-fiction book on fiction writing techniques. That should hit the bookstands sometime around March 2001. I will concentrate on that project as soon as Tip A Canoe is finished, and I'm looking forward to the challenge. Any closing thoughts or comments? PA - Success has come to me later in life, with the publishing of my first novel, BLOODY BONSAI. Now that I realize all the work I need to put into publicity alone, I'm wondering why I wanted this so badly. I'm still not a bestseller. I'm still not a millionaire. Nor do I rule the world, but my father does. |
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