Make Note of Mike Nemeth
Greetings, Noters.
We’re barreling toward the end of May, and what a month it has been! Flying Off the Candle is popping up for preorder across eBook, paperback, and audiobook retailers, and early reviews are coming in. Author Leah Dobrinska writes,
“Sarah E. Burr’s storytelling prowess is on full display in Flying Off the Candle. Suspects abound in idyllic Crucible, New York, and the whodunit is at once delightfully twisty and satisfyingly cozy. The Glenmyre Girls dazzle alongside a charming supporting cast in this, an expertly curated mystery. I’ll be first in line for the next installment.”
Yay! I am over the moon that readers are enjoying their latest visit to Crucible. It’s been a long time in the making, and I’m happy the book will be released in just a few short weeks.
And with Flying Off the Candle up for preorder, this means I am deep in my next project. Trending Topic Mystery Book 4 is going along swimmingly despite my lack of outline. The more books I write, the less and less I spend my time on an outline. I think it’s due to me being so in tune with the characters by now that I give myself a little bit more freedom to follow them along on their journey.
My guest today on Noteworthy knows a thing or two about crafting characters. Without further ado…
A Bit About the Author: Mike Nemeth’s The Undiscovered Country won the Beverly Hills Book Award and the Frank Yerby Prize. The book inspired singer/songwriter Mark Currey to compose the song Who I Am. Parker’s Choice, won a Firebird Award and two American Fiction Awards. It was named one of the 100 notable books of 2023. Creative Loafing named Mike Atlanta’s Best Local Author for 2018. He lives in suburban Atlanta with his wife, Angie, and their rescue dog, Scout.
Mike, welcome back to Noteworthy. I’m delighted to learn more about your latest novel, A Tissue of Lies. But before we dive into the story and craft of writing, tell us what book made you fall in love with reading?
During my high school years, I read Boys and Girls Together by William Goldman and decided I wanted to be an author. One summer between college years, I had a job that allowed plenty of time for reading and I read every John D. MacDonald book. That’s when I decided to write mysteries.
I love hearing how reading inspires people to pick up the pen (or sit down at their computer) and create their own adventures. How did your writing take off?
Nothing much happened until I joined half-a-dozen writers’ groups and made personal appearances to talk about my work. It’s been a word-of-mouth journey.
How did you first meet your protagonist, Eddie Kovac?
A Tissue of Lies is a departure from my usual romantic murder mysteries peopled by mature adults living in Southern spaces. After four previous novels, A Tissue of Lies is finally set in the town in which I grew up—Appleton, Wisconsin. The protagonist is fourteen years old at the start of the story and nineteen at the end. I met versions of all the characters in the story in grammar school and high school. I know these people well.
It must have been rewarding to return to your roots. What themes can readers look forward to discovering in your latest book?
Kathryn Stockett, the woman who wrote The Help, said, “Write about what disturbs you, particularly if it bothers no one else.” That’s my mantra and I choose a topic or issue that concerns me and I concoct an entertaining story that highlights or exposes the problem. In the case of A Tissue of Lies, I was disturbed by stories in the media about how Baby Boomers have created a horrible world in which millennials and Gen-Zers are struggling. Supposedly, Boomers had all the advantages and failed to pass them on to later generations. So, I set the story amidst the turmoil and dangers of the 1960s when nineteen-year-old boys were forced to risk their lives in a controversial war. The nation was divided and families were ripped apart by the chaos of the ‘60s and that chaos forged the worldviews of Boomers who were determined to survive, thrive, and prosper. The point is that the world is always a mess and presents a challenge to every generation.
What’s one thing you know about Eddie that your readers don’t?
For the rest of his life, Eddie will contend with a tendency to overindulge in food.
What was one of the toughest lessons you learned while writing A Tissue of Lies?
It’s said that personalities and consciences are formed by the age of seven, but I have come to believe that how we deal with our shortcomings and those of our family members is a product of our high school years.
Is there anything you need for a successful day of writing?
Coffee. My dog Scout on the carpet behind my desk. A good idea of what I’m writing today.
I would agree that coffee and a dog make for a wonderful day, any day! Mike, what book (other than your own 😊) have you been recommending to people lately? Are there any must-reads you have to share?
I read Erasure by Percival Everett before I saw the movie “American Fiction.” The actors’ performances in the movie were outstanding, but all writers should read the book.
A fabulous recommendation! Mike, thank you so much for sharing your insights about A Tissue of Lies and what readers can look forward to when exploring this new work. Noters, A Tissue of Lies is available now!
At a time when political leaders were brazenly assassinated, inalienable civil rights had to be guaranteed by legislation, race riots disfigured the American landscape, and a controversial war shaped social consciousness, the blue collar Kovacs family struggled to achieve the American Dream. In 1966, fifteen-year-old Eddie, the neglected middle child, harbored a dream that strained the family’s limited resources and sparked a contentious relationship with Dad. Danny, the eldest son, dreamt of becoming a professional baseball player, a dream Dad vowed to make come true at any cost. Mom wanted to escape her hand-to-mouth existence and was not above deceit to achieve her goal. When Danny received his draft notice, everyone’s dreams evaporated like ice cubes in the Nevada desert. During that fateful summer, Eddie, with the help of his rebellious friend, Marcy, discovered Danny’s explosive secret, unraveled Mom’s buried lies, and uncovered Dad’s underhanded tactics to rescue Danny’s career. In a vain attempt to win Dad’s approval, Eddie contrived a risky scheme to evade the draft and restore his brother’s dream. Eddie had no idea how his ploy would change his and his family’s lives forever.