Serial Thrillin': Conclusion and Bitchinest Surprise

Welcome  back.

Five knights. One theme, of interest to writers and readers alike: the rewards and challenges of a writing a mystery series...and succeeding at giving it legs. The five knights are listed in alphabetical order. 

Carolyn Arnold
International bestselling and award-winning author, as well as a speaker, teacher, and inspirational mentor. She has four continuing fiction series and has written nearly thirty books: from cozy to hard-boiled mysteries, and thrillers to action adventures.

Claude Bouchard
USA Today Bestselling author of the fourteen volume Vigilante Series as well as Nasty in Nice, ASYLUM and Something's Cooking. Other interests include reading, playing guitar, painting, cooking, traveling and trying to stay in reasonable shape.

Joe Clifford
He is the author of several books, including Junkie Love, Lamentation, December Boys and Give Up the Dead, as well as editor of Trouble in the Heartland: Crime Stories Inspired by the Songs of Bruce Springsteen. He lives in Oakland, CA.

Bill Kirton
University lecturer, TV presenter, wood carver, playwright, actor, director, RLF Writing Fellow, novelist. Crap at marketing or promotional work and possibly the laziest knight at the table (so says he). 

Brad Strickland
Author of 80 published books, including the ones he writes under the pen name of Ken McKea. These follow Florida detective Jim Dallas, who despite being retired on disability somehow can’t help running across murders. Brad lives in Georgia with his wife Barbara and a small assortment of varmints.






7) Any truth to the claim that readers want to see at least 5-6 entries in a mystery series before they’ll invest in a new author?

ARNOLDPersonally, I’ve never heard that before. And not to create any debate here—well, maybe some is good—but I read in a recent reader survey (not from my readers) that it doesn’t matter to most readers whether a book is part of a series or a stand-alone. And, yes, I realize this contradicts my earlier statement about readers being able to attach themselves to series characters. But I think what really matters to readers are strong and relatable characters that they want to spend time with and get to know better.

BOUCHARD
That’s hard to say because when I first published in 2009, I already had three titles and was at the 5-6 mark by the time Amazon opened Kindle to non-American writers in late 2010. I can certainly say having a number of titles has had a favourable impact on my sales when promoting a particular book or releasing a new one. Invariably, sales increase across the board.

CLIFFORD
I don’t know what that even fucking means. My sales have been good. Not great. But good. Very good. The people who like me seem to really like me. And like my ex-wives, there are plenty who don’t.

KIRTON
I have no idea. What occurred to me when answering the previous question, however, was that such topics are as much about the author as his/her creations. Carston might be quite happy to carry on his successful career as a detective, but do I want to be the one who reports his thoughts and actions? Would I rather probe into the mind of a mud-spattered, 35-year-old woman who rides a unicycle, works in a crematorium and knits rainbowMaybe, maybe not. I hit problems with number 5 that have nothing to do with the books—a close relative went into hospice care and I was one of the primary caregivers for three years. Then I suddnely got a couple of irresistible contracts for other books, so, man, I’m WAY behind. Check back with me when six books are out!


STRICKLAND
Maybe, maybe not. I hit problems with number 5 that have nothing to do with the books—a close relative went into hospice care and I was one of the primary caregivers for three years. Then I suddnely got a couple of irresistible contracts for other books, so, man, I’m WAY behind. Check back with me when six books are out!



8) How important is writing speed to a mystery series writer? And have you had to compromise to achieve that speed?


ARNOLD
Quality always trumps speed. I compromise nothing.

BOUCHARD
I understand the concept that a higher frequency of new releases can have a positive impact on sustaining sales (though quality obviously remains an important factor). However, I’ve always taken the time required to write each of my novels and I do not set deadlines. I don’t work with outlines so my writing speed varies depending on how quickly the storyline comes to together or not. As a result, I have ended up releasing three titles within a year at some point and only releasing one in a year at other times. I don’t compromise.

CLIFFORD
The biggest perk to writing a series is the speed. Soon as I start a Porter novel, I am back in that skin. For better or worse. Meaning, Jay Porter is not the most pleasant man to spend time with. He encapsulates the more frustrating aspects of my personality. That said, I know him like I know me. So the drafting process by book 5 is pretty quick.

KIRTON
Once I get into writing a new novel, it takes over. I want to know what happens. Most ‘normal’ activities (socializing, eating, sleeping) are an interruption of the fictional reality I’m living. I have no sense of time passing, of speed or lethargy. I’m in that moment of constant narration which can last many hours yet seem like an instant.

STRICKLAND

Well, I’d rather write it good than fast, but times winged chariot does hasten nigh, so basically it’s a question of get up, have a cup of coffee, write, wake up my wife, have breakfast, write, and then knock off to deal with real life—yardwork, repairs, paying bills, and so on. So it’s a compromise, really. If I buckle down, I can really knock out prose—in three years, for another project that I can’t say much about except it was written under contract, I did nearly three-quarters of a million words. However, that’s a lot of writing AND rewriting!

9) How much of you does your hero contain? Would you like to hang with him or her—and why? If you don’t, then why should we?
ARNOLDGuess I better say I want to hang out with them then! LOL But, of course, I want to hang out with my characters. That’s why I write stories with them over and over again. They all have qualities that, in part, reflect my own to an extent. So who doesn’t like hanging around with themselves? But, in all seriousness, my characters have many redeeming qualities and traits. I’ll touch on the main characters from my series.
Madison Knight is strong-willed and has a desire to right wrongs. She’s not going to let anyone pressure her into cutting corners on a murder investigation or stop her from following every single lead. She’s committed to finding justice no matter the sacrifice required from her.
Brandon Fisher is objective, while at the same time, he has empathy for the families of murder victims. I love his ragged determination to better himself, both as a person and as an FBI agent.
Sean and Sara McKinley are such genuinely nice and down-to-earth people, and their self-sacrificing spirit is something that really draws me to them. That and how they work well together, complimenting the other’s strengths.
BOUCHARDIf by hero, you mean my main protagonist, Chris Barry, I’d say he contains 100% of me albeit in a better looking and fitter package. We share the same initials, although that’s likely coincidence, and we think very much alike. I tend to believe he picked up his smart-assery and wit from hanging around with me for a number of years. We get along marvellously and he clearly trusts me enough to let me plan most of his life.

CLIFFORD
I seem to be anticipating these questions. Jay Porter is me. But I am not Jay Porter.  

KIRTON
There’s lots of me in him – good and bad. Maybe putting our own fears and feelings into a fictional character is a form of therapy. I think if you put these questions to Carston, he’d say the same sort of things I’ve been saying. (But, equally, he might tell you to mind your own business.)

STRICKLAND
The qualities that I give to Jim are those I’d like to have myself. Yeah, I’d like to have a beer with him, shoot the breeze—but since I know him, I know he wouldn’t reveal too much of his inner thoughts and opinions to me or to anybody. He has a dark side, and he keeps it dark for his own reasons.

Me, what you see is pretty much it. Not saying I’d LIKE to have a dark side like Dallas—but I can see it would intrigue his friends (especially Sam, who is bright, cheerful, and brutal, though his brutality is packed away, and above all—curious). Might intrigue his women, too—though if one pries too much into what makes him moody, that will lead to a break-up.

What I’m saying, he’s flawed. Admirable in many ways, but—yeah, he’s flawed.



10) The death thing. Hell, let’s hit it too. Do you ever feel tempted to kill of your lead because s/he’s taking over?
ARNOLDI’ve never felt like killing them. I have had to step away from my computer because they’ve done something that either angered or saddened me. But it’s those instances when they “derail” from where I think they’re headed that make for the best scenes!
BOUCHARDAs mentioned in the previous response, Chris pretty much lets me run his life so I can’t accuse the man of trying to run the show. I have another character, Leslie Robb, who showed up in Book 5 and ended up taking much more room than I expected. While I thought she would be present only in that installment, she decided otherwise and has played integral roles in each book ever since. I’d never even think of killing her off though because she’d likely find out and I would be the one to go.

CLIFFORD
Tempted? Sure. Everything is on the table. But if you know, like me, that you are signed through at least five books, you can rest assured I’m not (*SPOILER ALERT) killing Jay Porter in book four.

KIRTON
In connection with the need to write the final Carston, I said to my wife I wasn’t sure what sort of ‘ending’ it should be. Her suggestion was that his wife should die. I was appalled. Kath is a terrific foil for Carston. Killing her (or him) would be like condoning all the evil things some of my villains have got up to.

STRICKLAND
Nope. He stays where he is until I need him, so I don’t feel tempted.

11) Be a villain for a moment, please. Might any parts of your history or personality add up to a memorable foe for your series hero?
ARNOLD
Maybe… But on the grounds of incriminating myself, I’ll keep quiet.