Suzanne M. Trauth's Blog, page 2

Dodie O’Dell – October Blog Post

Bouchercon World Mystery Convention 2017: “Passport to Murder”

Toronto was a blast! Bouchercon 2017 was a wonderful opportunity to renew acquaintances, meet new folks, and to get introduced to unfamiliar writers. I even met a detective from the Toronto Police Forensic Identification Services. His specialty is footprints and footwear! Hmmmm…wouldn’t be surprised if my next Dodie O’Dell mystery features some clues from the footsies of a victim or perp…
There were wonderful panels on female sleuths, doing research, psychopaths and serial killers (!), and newspaper reporters. I participated on a “Recipe for Death: Cooking Up Culinary Mystery Plots” panel in addition to signing copies of RUNNING OUT OF TIME, my latest mystery, which was available October 10.
We also took a few hours to tour the city of Toronto, a beautiful, energetic, artistic, and friendly community. And, of course, there was a required stop at Niagara Falls – Canadian side – on the way back to New Jersey. All in all it was a terrific conference…can’t wait until next fall and Bouchercon 2018 in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Dodie O’Dell – September Blog Post

It’s an exciting fall…Running Out of Time, book number four in the Dodie O’Dell Mystery Series, makes its debut October 10. Can’t wait to get it into the hands of all my supportive readers! I’ve been asked which comes first…the murder or the play in each novel of the series. Kind of like the chicken or the egg…I’ve discovered that the “play’s the thing.” Once I know what theatrical mayhem the Etonville Little Theatre will be up to, the rest of the story naturally follows—murder, suspects, clues, Dodie’s snooping, and, of course, the Windjammer theme food to complement the current theater production. Running Out of Time features concession snacks from another century! That’s the only hint I will share right now…

Meanwhile, you can pre-order from Amazon or Barnes & Noble. And check my Facebook page for upcoming giveaways! Happy reading…

Dodie O’Dell – August Blog Post

The dog days of summer…August is a transition month for me. It signals the end of summer and the beginning of fall…sweltering hot, sticky afternoons that become moderately warm days and cooler nights. As I work my way through Dodie O’Dell mystery #4 (#3 is due out October 10, but more on that in my next blog post) I am tempted to inject a Spanish element into the story, having spent time in Barcelona in July. You know, tapas, Rioja wine, Gaudi architecture. I have even considered having Dodie replace her constant daydreaming about the Jersey shore with a Mediterranean fantasy. Of course, Bill has never been to Europe…I might have to push him out the door! Still, Spain is a world away from Etonville, the Windjammer, the theatre, and Snippets. Sometimes there’s no place like home…

Dodie O’Dell Mystery Series - June Blog Post

I have been asked what I read while I am writing…if, because I am writing a mystery series, do I read other mystery writers? The answer is yes and no. I love a range of mystery/thriller writers (Louise Penny and Elizabeth George are two of my favorites) and really love nothing better than hunkering down with one of them. But not while I am writing a mystery! While I am writing a mystery, I prefer to read either non-fiction or books not in my genre. Right now I am reading a biography on Meryl Streep and just finished an introduction to basic physics. While both of them keep my mind engaged—and help to fill me up with words, words, words!—they do not distract from the plot construction, scene description, or character development of my current writing project. But I do like to keep expanding my vocabulary so reading in a variety of genres helps. However, it fascinates me when something I’ve read—like the basics of Einstein’s theory of relativity or the details of Meryl Streep’s journey to a magnificent acting career connect in some unpredictable way to the process of my protagonist solving a murder! Go figure…

Dodie O’Dell Mystery Series

So…I am settling in to begin my fourth book in the Dodie O’Dell mystery series. I am thinking of injecting a new point of view—third person—into this one. Just to create early suspense, but not to tip my hand with regard to victim, murderer, motive, or manner of death. It’s interesting to think about having two points of view in a novel – not sure first person Dodie would agree with me, but sometimes it feels right to keep a few things hidden from her. But I like the idea of a third-person-party tiptoeing around the edges of the story, keeping the characters in sight. But who knows, in a month or so, I might decide to abandon the text of this new point of view altogether. First, third…it’s still all about moving the story forward. And keeping the reader on her toes…

Thoughts on Bouchercon Mystery Writers Convention

It’s been ten days since the Bouchercon Mystery Writers Convention ended but the terrific memories are still with me: meeting other writers on panels, seeing wonderful mystery novelists interviewed, and having the opportunity to read from my book Show Time. Of course there is always New Orleans and all it has to offer by way of food—the French Quarter—and music—Frenchman Street, and the parade down Canal Street! The sights and sounds of the convention will stay with me for many days to come. But I look forward to next year. The Bouchercon Mystery Writers Convention is in Toronto, Canada! It will be an international gathering of writers and readers. I’ll keep you posted…

Becoming a writer

I never imagined I’d be sitting here and writing a “blog” but guess what? Life surprises and sometimes dreams do come true. I am on the cusp of seeing my first novel published this month. I’ve been a writer most of my life in one way or another. My earliest memory is writing short stories and essays in grade school, and then entering contests in high school thanks to an inspiring young English teacher. And winning one. But I got waylaid doing theatre—treading the boards can do that to you—and only seriously returned to writing in the latter part of my
academic career. I tried my hand at screenplays, plays, and a serious novel, and finally hit my stride with a mystery series.

Why a mystery series? Write what you know, right… Well, I spent many, many hours as a kid reading Trixie Belden and Nancy Drew and the habit stayed with me. I am a mystery reader and after feeling like I needed a break from an emotional, serious work I’d spent eight years writing, I turned to something that I thought would be fun to write—and to read. A cozy mystery.

But before my novel was a mystery, it was a “women’s book” about a group of book club friends who end up investigating a murder in a small town. I discovered I was straddling genres, according to a very savvy editor and had to decode which direction to go in. What shelf did I imagine my book would be displayed on in the bookstore? It was a seriously important question. When I answered it sufficiently, I had made a decision: this book was a mystery. Plain and simple. The other subplots would all thrive in service to the murder investigation. I kept some of the main characters, adjusted the setting, rewrote relationships, and set to work.

Voila! Two years later I have Show Time on pre-order through Amazon as I sit here wondering what the response will be. I encourage friends to lower their literary expectations—some of these folks are serious readers and work their way down the New York Times bestsellers list. It’s nerve-wracking and exciting…but nonetheless, the book will be available to the world shortly. I will be judged, if enough people take a look at it. And maybe I’ll earn a little bit. But more than anything, I will have fulfilled one of my life’s dreams. I’m a writer.