Ask the Author: R.E. Donald
Answered Questions (6)
R.E. Donald
Thanks so much for asking. It's encouraging to know there are readers waiting for book six! I've disappointed myself (and readers, I guess!) the last several years by being so slow and not meeting my self-imposed deadlines . All I can tell you is that I am currently still working on the next Hunter Rayne novel but there's almost no chance it will be out before next spring at the earliest.
R.E. Donald
I spent much of my life working in the transportation industry in the Vancouver area, first at a company call Emery Air Freight (eventually bought by CF) and then at Alltrans Express. I met my late husband Jim while working at Alltrans Express when he was the manager there. As a young man, Jim had worked briefly as an undercover operative for the RCMP, and his "cover" was being a truck driver. He was my inspiration for Hunter Rayne. I had written the first book in the series prior to his cancer diagnosis in 1995.
R.E. Donald
To tell the truth, I would go to the world in my own books. I would love to be with the characters in my mystery novels, because they are based on real people that I knew, many of whom I loved dearly, and who are no longer with us. It was a good time to be alive, to have experienced the exciting social changes of the 60s and 70s, the growth of the 80s and to be at a time and place where computer technology was making life easier without yet becoming ominously indispensable. It was a good time to live on the west coast of North America, experience relative prosperity in what felt like a safe environment, to enjoy Mother Earth's natural beauty and not yet fear for her future.
R.E. Donald
Yikes! I don't know how I missed seeing this question for so long! My apologies, Andrée. I am working on the fifth book in the series but just can't seem to get into a good writing schedule with everything else going on in my life. I'm about 2/3 of the way through and although I was hoping to finish it in 2017, looks like it will be next year before it's ready to publish. Thanks for your question and for your kind words.
R.E. Donald
I've always been an avid reader (although I confess to finding less time for reading now than I used to) and have been particularly attracted to murder mysteries. I love the puzzle, and I love the satisfaction of solving the crime and seeing justice done. Since grade school, I've also had a compulsion to write - journals, poems, songs, stories - I've enjoyed it any type of writing I've tried.
In the 90s, I found myself drawn to a particular type of mystery novel, and tried to describe to myself why I enjoyed those novels more than others. When I began to write, it made sense that I would write the type of novel I love to read: multiple viewpoints, realistic characters with flaws and a personal life that sometimes distracts them from their goal, a complex plot with a challenging puzzle, and enough descriptive detail that I could be drawn right into the scene.
So now, in addition to reading mysteries to solve the puzzle, I get to work the puzzle backwards to figure out how best to create a challenging mystery.
In the 90s, I found myself drawn to a particular type of mystery novel, and tried to describe to myself why I enjoyed those novels more than others. When I began to write, it made sense that I would write the type of novel I love to read: multiple viewpoints, realistic characters with flaws and a personal life that sometimes distracts them from their goal, a complex plot with a challenging puzzle, and enough descriptive detail that I could be drawn right into the scene.
So now, in addition to reading mysteries to solve the puzzle, I get to work the puzzle backwards to figure out how best to create a challenging mystery.
R.E. Donald
If I'm stuck on a scene, or stuck between scenes, there are a couple of ways I can give myself a jump start. One is to start by reading over some earlier scenes and doing some editing or revision. Often that will get me back on track with the plot. Another way is to start making notes about possible scenarios. I might explore two or three different directions for the plot to take, or the characters to react. Usually one of them will feel right and will get me inspired to go back to work on the manuscript.
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