17 Questions with A.R. Baumann
Under a Cloud of Rain: A Nick Noelle Mystery
Rather than the normal blog post, I’m changing things up a bit! I wanted to write a more personal post to give you a chance to get to know me better, so below I’ve answered seventeen questions to give you a glimpse into my life as a writer, dreamer, and lover of life. I’d love to hear what you think, and feel free to send me any questions you have!
1. You were born and raised in Texas. Why do you love the Lone Star State?
I love Texas because it's my home. I come from a long line of Texans on my mother's side, which makes me a fifth-generation Texan. I was raised that my word is my bond. And I find a lot of people in Texas feel that way. I got my street smarts from my dad, who was born in Chicago.
2. What’s the one interesting fact you’d like readers to know about you?
I am a gypsy. I have lived in several cities including London, Milan, New York City, and Los Angeles, and I currently reside in San Francisco. I’ve also had several careers. I was a beauty model in London and Milan at eighteen. I was a stage actress in New York City for ten years. I was a maker of short films in Los Angeles. I didn’t even start writing novels until I was thirty-six years old.
3. What’s the question you get asked most by readers?
Readers are most interested in how I build my characters. I tell them I go about this by observing the many different people I meet on the road of life. I feel I can talk to anyone and learn something from all the people that come my way each day.
4. Why do you love writing?
I am the youngest in a big Texas family. When I was a child, my parents owned a bar, and all of us kids would hand out there before dinner. Everyone talked over me, so I love writing because it’s my chance to be heard.
5. How, when, and where do you enjoy writing?
I can write anywhere at any time. I have written waiting for a plane, on a plane, and in my office at home. This creative urge can, and does, strike at any time.
6. What are your favorite movies?
My favorites go way back to Citizen Kane, The Third Man, The Godfather and The Godfather Part II, The Razor’s Edge, and Hitchcock's Marnie.
7. What’s the most important lesson you learned while writing Under a Cloud of Rain: A Nick Noelle Mystery?
The most important lesson I learned was to trust myself during the process of building the bones of the book structure. I am great at dialogue, characters, and description, but I don’t always know the right order for where to place the scenes I write.
8. Any advice for new authors?
Follow your gut instincts. I believe in trusting in your instincts and letting the book go where it takes you. Trust the process without overanalyzing it all in your head.
9. What was the biggest challenge while writing Under a Cloud of Rain: A Nick Noelle Mystery?
I believe my biggest challenge was rewriting and rewriting many parts of the book and knowing when the editing was enough.
10. What was the biggest reward while writing Under a Cloud of Rain: A Nick Noelle Mystery?
The biggest reward was seeing the delight in some of my readers’ eyes when they told me that they couldn’t put my book down.
11. Where do you see yourself in ten years?
I see myself as a well-read author who has time to contemplate a great lifetime of work and love.
12. What’s your favorite mystery novel that you’ve read so far in 2016?
Dazzled by Maxine Nunes.
13. How do you develop characters?
I develop my characters by getting into the heads of all different kinds of people. I create the personalities of my characters using bits of everyone I meet—especially the characters who are the spiciest. When I start out with a character, I find I get more and more clarity on who they are as I write the scenes. These characters start to live with me. It can be a very intimate process.
14. Who is your favorite character in Under a Cloud of Rain: A Nick Noelle Mystery?
My favorite character is the detective Nick Noelle. Noelle is down-to-earth and imperfect to the point of being addicted to alcohol, babes, and gambling, but he has common sense, honor, and a big heart.
15. What was your dream job growing up?
You’re going to laugh, but really I wanted desperately to be a star!
16. What are some of the quotes from famous writers that inspired and motivated you while writing Under a Cloud of Rain: A Nick Noelle Mystery?
There weren’t any specific quotes that inspired me, but there were characters from films and books that inspired me to create my characters. Popeye, the detective from the film The French Connection, which was a big movie back in the 1970s, defined my Nick Noelle character. He was as gruff and at times as thick as Nick Noelle. My Mrs. George Brunswick character was taken from the great evil queen in the English movie The Queen of Spades. The other characters were created from many different people I have known or have been acquainted with through the years.
17. Coffee or tea? Coke or Pepsi?
All of the above as long as there is enough caffeine to get me on my way!
Do you have a question for me? Feel free to post them on my Facebook page !
Rather than the normal blog post, I’m changing things up a bit! I wanted to write a more personal post to give you a chance to get to know me better, so below I’ve answered seventeen questions to give you a glimpse into my life as a writer, dreamer, and lover of life. I’d love to hear what you think, and feel free to send me any questions you have!
1. You were born and raised in Texas. Why do you love the Lone Star State?
I love Texas because it's my home. I come from a long line of Texans on my mother's side, which makes me a fifth-generation Texan. I was raised that my word is my bond. And I find a lot of people in Texas feel that way. I got my street smarts from my dad, who was born in Chicago.
2. What’s the one interesting fact you’d like readers to know about you?
I am a gypsy. I have lived in several cities including London, Milan, New York City, and Los Angeles, and I currently reside in San Francisco. I’ve also had several careers. I was a beauty model in London and Milan at eighteen. I was a stage actress in New York City for ten years. I was a maker of short films in Los Angeles. I didn’t even start writing novels until I was thirty-six years old.
3. What’s the question you get asked most by readers?
Readers are most interested in how I build my characters. I tell them I go about this by observing the many different people I meet on the road of life. I feel I can talk to anyone and learn something from all the people that come my way each day.
4. Why do you love writing?
I am the youngest in a big Texas family. When I was a child, my parents owned a bar, and all of us kids would hand out there before dinner. Everyone talked over me, so I love writing because it’s my chance to be heard.
5. How, when, and where do you enjoy writing?
I can write anywhere at any time. I have written waiting for a plane, on a plane, and in my office at home. This creative urge can, and does, strike at any time.
6. What are your favorite movies?
My favorites go way back to Citizen Kane, The Third Man, The Godfather and The Godfather Part II, The Razor’s Edge, and Hitchcock's Marnie.
7. What’s the most important lesson you learned while writing Under a Cloud of Rain: A Nick Noelle Mystery?
The most important lesson I learned was to trust myself during the process of building the bones of the book structure. I am great at dialogue, characters, and description, but I don’t always know the right order for where to place the scenes I write.
8. Any advice for new authors?
Follow your gut instincts. I believe in trusting in your instincts and letting the book go where it takes you. Trust the process without overanalyzing it all in your head.
9. What was the biggest challenge while writing Under a Cloud of Rain: A Nick Noelle Mystery?
I believe my biggest challenge was rewriting and rewriting many parts of the book and knowing when the editing was enough.
10. What was the biggest reward while writing Under a Cloud of Rain: A Nick Noelle Mystery?
The biggest reward was seeing the delight in some of my readers’ eyes when they told me that they couldn’t put my book down.
11. Where do you see yourself in ten years?
I see myself as a well-read author who has time to contemplate a great lifetime of work and love.
12. What’s your favorite mystery novel that you’ve read so far in 2016?
Dazzled by Maxine Nunes.
13. How do you develop characters?
I develop my characters by getting into the heads of all different kinds of people. I create the personalities of my characters using bits of everyone I meet—especially the characters who are the spiciest. When I start out with a character, I find I get more and more clarity on who they are as I write the scenes. These characters start to live with me. It can be a very intimate process.
14. Who is your favorite character in Under a Cloud of Rain: A Nick Noelle Mystery?
My favorite character is the detective Nick Noelle. Noelle is down-to-earth and imperfect to the point of being addicted to alcohol, babes, and gambling, but he has common sense, honor, and a big heart.
15. What was your dream job growing up?
You’re going to laugh, but really I wanted desperately to be a star!
16. What are some of the quotes from famous writers that inspired and motivated you while writing Under a Cloud of Rain: A Nick Noelle Mystery?
There weren’t any specific quotes that inspired me, but there were characters from films and books that inspired me to create my characters. Popeye, the detective from the film The French Connection, which was a big movie back in the 1970s, defined my Nick Noelle character. He was as gruff and at times as thick as Nick Noelle. My Mrs. George Brunswick character was taken from the great evil queen in the English movie The Queen of Spades. The other characters were created from many different people I have known or have been acquainted with through the years.
17. Coffee or tea? Coke or Pepsi?
All of the above as long as there is enough caffeine to get me on my way!
Do you have a question for me? Feel free to post them on my Facebook page !
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