Make Note of Debra H. Goldstein
Greetings, Noters!
This post finds me in the trenches of #NaNoWriMo or National Novel Writing Month. I am working away at the next Court of Mystery novel, Ardent Ascension, and, so far, things are going fairly well. Unlike my previous books, I’m approaching this one a little differently. I’ve already written Jax’s storyline, and now, I’ve gone back to write George’s adventure. Those of you who have read the later books in the series know that George and Jax share points of view throughout each mystery. However, in the past, I’ve always written them sequentially. This time, since George is on a mission unrelated to Jax’s mystery, I felt that it would be best for me to capture their different experiences as a whole, rather than bouncing back and forth while writing. So far, it seems to be working, although I will admit this book has been trickier than others to write. The mystery is one of my most complex to date!
This week on my Make Note Of feature, I’m joined by an author who knows a thing or two about the complexities of mystery writing.
Without further ado…
A Bit About the Author: Judge Debra H. Goldstein writes Kensington’s Sarah Blair mystery series (Five Belles Too Many, Four Cuts Too Many, Three Treats Too Many, Two Bites Too Many, and One Taste Too Many). Her novels and short stories received an IPPY award and have been named Agatha, Anthony, Derringer, and Silver Falchion finalists. Debra served on the national boards of Sisters in Crime and Mystery Writers of America and was president of the Guppy and SEMWA chapters. Find out more about Debra at https://www.DebraHGoldstein.com.
I’ve had the pleasure of working alongside Debra and getting to know her more through our blogging group, Writers Who Kill. Her astute observations paired with her kindness, encouragement, and good humor make her a truly fabulous human being, and I can’t wait for Noteworthy readers to learn more about her.
Debra, thank you so much for taking the time out of your schedule to be here today. Tell us, what book made you first fall in love with reading?
For me, there isn’t a single book to which I can point. My parents read to me every night and my mother took me to the library every Saturday – even when all I could check out were picture books. Because I was reading by the age of three, I zipped through the library shelves. The other thing that influenced me was that when I was five or six, my father and I began reading poetry every evening to help me learn to enunciate words (Besides reading quickly, I spoke too quickly, and this was an idea to slow me down). It was during those sessions that I fell in love with the sound of words.
I definitely have a habit of taking words that I love to say or love the sound of and putting them in my books. Anytime the word “shenanigans” pops up, it’s done so with a little wink. I love how that word rolls off the tongue! So, let’s jump from a love of reading to a love of writing. How did you begin your writing journey?
By the time I was six, I was the one who wrote the neighborhood skits and authored my first formal short story as my version of a class assignment (the teacher expected one to three sentences, but she got one to two pages from me). In junior high school and high school, I did some creative writing, but also got involved with their journalism activities. I yearned to write, but I also was practical. After graduating college early, I went to New York two days later to land a job in publishing and get on Jeopardy. In case things didn’t work out, I spent the evenings preparing and submitting law school applications. I was lucky and accomplished my two goals, but I realized I didn’t want to be at the bottom of the publishing heap, so I went to law school. During the years I was a lawyer and then a judge, I continued writing organizational and party skits and talking about writing...and then I finally did it.
What a fascinating origin story! I really admire your focus on your goals. I also imagine that your career as a lawyer and judge really gave you insight into the procedural side of crime. So, how did your cozy mystery heroine, Sarah (great name!), from your Sarah Blair Mysteries fit into the picture? How did you meet her?
My first two books, Maze in Blue and Should Have Played Poker, were orphaned by their respective publishers. In both instances, I was told to write something new. I decided I wanted to write a cozy mystery. I knew I could create an amateur sleuth and a confined setting, but the idea of writing about crafts or cooking terrified me. Those are things I hate. And then, it dawned on me, there are other people in the world who abhor crafts and cooking. Enter Sarah Blair, who is more afraid of the kitchen than she is of murder.
I must say, there are sometimes I see the name “Sarah Blair” and think “Sarah Burr,” and my heart skips a beat that I’ve become a cozy mystery heroine (what a dream). I applaud you for going in a different direction and “breaking” the cozy mystery mold. I’m certainly one of those people who fears the kitchen. My MC, Coco Cline, does, too. She even has a special hashtag dedicated to all her baking fails. But Sarah Blair is more than just the sum of her hobbies. What’s a trait about her that you admire most?
How she left a bad situation shellshocked but has managed to grow into a kind, caring woman who gains a sense of confidence in each book.
Character development is always so important, especially in a prolific series like the Sarah Blair Mysteries. It keeps readers learning more about the world you’ve created and falling deeper in love. When it comes to writing about Sarah and her town, what is the most challenging part of a first draft? How do you tend to tackle it?
For me, sitting down and writing on a consistent basis is problematic. I write well with deadlines, so I self-impose phony deadlines to keep me going. Being a pantser at heart, this works well for me.
I live and die by my self-imposed deadlines! Much like the goals you set for yourself professionally, they are a way to help us keep moving forward. When you do meet a goal or deadline, how do you treat yourself? How do you celebrate a big professional accomplishment?
I celebrate big professional accomplishments with family and friends. My favorite writing accomplishment was when Maze in Blue, my mystery set on the University of Michigan’s campus in the 1970’s was published, and I was able to get it stocked at Politics and Prose. The book was lying on a table and also was shelved. I took two grandchildren (I’m the reading grandmother) to the store telling them they could buy books and as they shopped, I managed to get one copy of the book on the table and one on the shelf turned so my face showed. Their faces when they realized Mimi wrote books that were in the store were priceless. That was a celebration for me!
I bet they were beyond proud of you. What’s been your favorite “research” moment or activity?
For the Sarah Blair series, Sarah is afraid of the kitchen, but she has a twin sister who is a gourmet professional chef. For me to get things right, I had several friends take me through their restaurants teaching me about everything from light fixtures and professional dishwashers to walk-through freezers and refrigerators. In each instance, there was usually a taste of something that went along with the research.
I hope you got to try some amazing food while you were researching. Tell us three things that are always on your writing desk/writing space.
Wherever I write, there is a laptop, usually a beverage (it used to be Coca-Cola, but I have been cutting back so now it tends to be water or tea), and my phone.
What is your favorite, can’t-live-without writing tool?
I’ve tried many, but don’t find them useful for me. Having Google and access to an online dictionary/thesaurus is my go-to tools for research, synonyms, and making sure I’m spelling or using a word correctly.
It’s time for our final question. You stumble across a crime scene. What literary character are you alerting first? Why?
This is a difficult question because all of the characters I’d alert are good at different things. For stodgy examination of the situation, Inspector Gamache; Miss Marple for dry observations; Cherry Ames for getting herself stuck in the middle of everything.... but in the end, Sarah Blair because she is a combination of all of these characters and a reluctant sleuth unto herself.
A fabulous choice, for sure! Debra, it’s been wonderful getting to know you more. Thank you for sharing your time with us here at Noteworthy. Noters, make sure to check out the Sarah Blair Mysteries, available at Barnes & Noble, Amazon, or wherever you buy your books!
Five Belles Too Many: When Sarah Blair’s mother is a finalist to win the perfect Southern Wedding in a reality TV show competition, Sarah is pressed into service as Mother Maybelle’s chaperone. After the show’s producer is found dead, with Sarah’s greatest nemesis kneeling by the body, Sarah must find the true killer before any other contestants or crew are permanently eliminated.