by Bill Kirton
Continuing my chat with writer-friend
Eden Baylee, whose debut mystery novel Stranger
at Sunset was published in June.
Right, Eden, last time we talked about
your first venture into the mystery genre,
Stranger at Sunset. What’s the next step?
I hope it sells, of course, both to people who enjoyed my previous books and to those who’ve never read my writing. I know I’m competing for a different readership now, but that’s not something I can control. In a way, it feels like starting over, but the advantage is I’ve amassed a wonderful network of writers and readers and supporters, so it’s a matter of continuing to write.
I hope it sells, of course, both to people who enjoyed my previous books and to those who’ve never read my writing. I know I’m competing for a different readership now, but that’s not something I can control. In a way, it feels like starting over, but the advantage is I’ve amassed a wonderful network of writers and readers and supporters, so it’s a matter of continuing to write.
Stranger
at Sunset is planned as the first of a trilogy. I’m laying the foundation of the
next books, and I’m currently writing book two called A Fragile Truce. There’s a taster at the end of my book.
I know that, in your
erotica, you frequently use first person narrative and the strength of the
narrator is always evident. Here, though, it’s all third person. How much did
you feel any identification with any of the characters?
I lived the life of my main character, Kate Hampton, while I wrote the book. I had to crawl under her skin to be able to write her and speak as her. Actors call it method acting, a technique to create in themselves the thoughts and feelings of their characters in order to develop lifelike performances. As a writer, I tried to do the same thing by connecting to Kate. It forced me to draw on personal emotions and memories, which allowed me to write realistic scenes and have her behave in a way that was plausible.
I lived the life of my main character, Kate Hampton, while I wrote the book. I had to crawl under her skin to be able to write her and speak as her. Actors call it method acting, a technique to create in themselves the thoughts and feelings of their characters in order to develop lifelike performances. As a writer, I tried to do the same thing by connecting to Kate. It forced me to draw on personal emotions and memories, which allowed me to write realistic scenes and have her behave in a way that was plausible.
And,
apart from the pleasure of reading it, what do you hope readers will take away
from Stranger at Sunset?
First and foremost, it’s fiction and should be entertaining. It’s the same feeling as spending two hours at the movies or going to a concert—you want to feel like your time wasn’t wasted, that you enjoyed the experience because it connected you to something interesting, new, or enlightening.
First and foremost, it’s fiction and should be entertaining. It’s the same feeling as spending two hours at the movies or going to a concert—you want to feel like your time wasn’t wasted, that you enjoyed the experience because it connected you to something interesting, new, or enlightening.
Beyond this, the theme of
the book speaks to the intolerance of its many characters. I call the book a
psychological mystery because it addresses our perception of others as people.
Human beings are extremely complex, and what’s seen on the outside isn’t always
indicative of our true selves. Most of us live our lives filtered by what
society and others think of us. Laws and morals dictate our behavior. In Stranger at Sunset, I explore what
happens when we’re not bound by these restrictions.
From
all you’re saying, and from my readings of all the other stories of yours which
I’ve read, I’d say your interest is mainly in your characters. Is that right?
Definitely. My emphasis is on characterization. For me, it trumps plot, setting, and imagery. I feel if my characters are fully and authentically developed, then the rest will fall into place. There’s no point in having a great story if the characters are stereotypes, wooden, or elicit no feelings from the reader.
Definitely. My emphasis is on characterization. For me, it trumps plot, setting, and imagery. I feel if my characters are fully and authentically developed, then the rest will fall into place. There’s no point in having a great story if the characters are stereotypes, wooden, or elicit no feelings from the reader.
In reading literary erotica,
(and I mean the classics of the genre, not some of the modern-day tripe), I’ve
learned to write to appeal to a reader’s senses. Make them FEEL for your
characters. I don’t necessarily want all my characters to be likeable because
they’re not, but whether they trigger feelings of love, lust, like, or hate, it’s
important that they evoke something.
My biggest failure as a
writer would be to have characters that readers could care less about. Once
they stop caring, they will stop reading.
As an aside, that answer
gives me the opportunity to comment on a Canadian/American turn of phrase which
has always puzzled me. We say ‘couldn’t care less about’ which seems to me the
more logical form of the expression. And yet, bizarrely, they both mean the
same thing. Anyway, as a final, trivial question, tell us something personal
about your writing, some quirk, some ritual. Do you have any?
Hmm…Bill. Regarding that expression, I’m probably just saying it wrong! It’s amazing how many words and phrases I’ve been saying incorrectly for years, and I would’ve never known until someone told me. That’s the power of seeing words written down.
Hmm…Bill. Regarding that expression, I’m probably just saying it wrong! It’s amazing how many words and phrases I’ve been saying incorrectly for years, and I would’ve never known until someone told me. That’s the power of seeing words written down.
No, I’ve spent quite a lot
of time in the USA and my friends there all use your version of it. It’s another
example of us being ‘separate nations divided by a single language’.
As for my quirk … In the
cold weather, I wear a wool hat to write. That’s about eleven months out of the
year in Canada (just kidding)! Actually, it’s a ‘comfort’ thing for me like a
favorite blanket. I hate the cold, and I can’t think, let alone write, when it’s
cold.
Other than that, I think
it’s important to write daily. Exercising the brain by writing is what feeds my
imagination. If I don’t do this, I’m afraid the muscle will wither and I’ll run
out of ideas. The hat helps to keep all the good ideas warm too.
Interesting. Well, since
Aberdeen’s hardly tropical, maybe I’ll give it a try. Eden, it’s been a great
pleasure. Thanks for the insights and good luck with the book.
Thanks Bill for having me here. I really appreciate it.
Thanks Bill for having me here. I really appreciate it.
Stranger
at Sunset
Vacation can be a killer.
Dr. Kate Hampton, a respected
psychiatrist, gathers with a group of strangers at her favorite travel spot,
Sunset Villa in Jamaica. Included in the mix are friends of the owners, a
businessman with dubious credentials, and a couple who won the trip from a TV
game show.
It is January 2013, following
the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. The luxury resort is struggling, not from the
storm, but due to a scathing review from caustic travel writer, Matthew Kane.
The owners have invited him back with hopes he will pen a more favorable review
to restore their reputation.
Even though she is haunted by
her own demons, Kate feels compelled to help. She sets out to discover the
motivation behind Kane’s vitriol. Used to getting what he wants, has the
reviewer met his match in Kate? Or has she met hers?
Stranger at Sunset is a slow-burning mystery/thriller as seen through
the eyes of different narrators, each with their own murky sense of justice. As
Kate's own psychological past begins to unravel, a mysterious stranger at
Sunset may be the only one who can save her.
Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1wmygEY
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1pDH9ry
Amazon worldwide: http://authl.it/B00L7BVDFM
Music playlist for Stranger at
Sunset – sold via iTunes http://bit.ly/1kdQdDX
Links
to Eden’s pages:
Website and blog: http://edenbaylee.com/
Amazon
Author page US http://www.amazon.com/Eden-Baylee/e/B004Z8Q6UQ/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1
Amazon
Author page UK http://www.amazon.co.uk/Eden-Baylee/e/B004Z8Q6UQ/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/edenbaylee
Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4563150.Eden_Baylee
Pinterest http://www.pinterest.com/edenbaylee/
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