best-seller list, but that’s exactly what happened in March 2009 to OCC/RWA member Kate Carlisle’s HOMICIDE IN HARDCOVER.
praised Carlisle’s “delightfully eccentric character” and “droll dialogue,” and called heroine Brooklyn Wainwright “brilliant, feisty and funny.”
This month, Signet released the second book in Carlisle’s Bibliophile Mystery series – IF LOOKS COULD KILL – and she has generously agreed to talk about her inspiration, writing process and what she’s learned along her road to publication.
What was the inspiration for this novel?Book two of my bibliophile mystery series takes place in Edinburgh, Scotland, and the inspiration for the book was … Edinburgh! It’s one of my favorite cities in the world. I love the people, the pubs, the history, the castles and the energy in the air. So when I first proposed the Bibliophile Mysteries to my agent, I knew I wanted my bookbinder protagonist, Brooklyn Wainwright, to visit the Edinburgh Book Fair as soon as she could. Another bit of inspiration was the fact that 2009 was the 250th anniversary of the birth of the great Scottish poet Robert Burns. What better book could Brooklyn stumble upon that a secret book of poems written by the man himself?
What was your writing process? Did you outline, or do you write by the seat of your pants?
I first write an extensive synopsis, then forget to refer to it. Halfway through the book, when I’m floundering and freaking out and flying by the seat of my pants, I’ll suddenly recall that I wrote a synopsis once upon a time, and I drag myself back from the brink. It’s quite a process.
How much time do you spend writing each week?
I try to write every day. On the three mornings I go to work, I get up early and write for a few hours. The other four days, I usually write six to eight hours, including the weekends.
How do you get yourself in a writing frame of mind?
Well, first I dance skyclad and howl at the moon. No, actually, first I drink some coffee, then I sit down at my computer and start writing. I can’t check email or the Internet first or I’ll be lost for hours.
What was the best advice you’ve received about writing?Write every day. And write fast.
What is something you know now about writing or publishing in general that you wish you had known when you started?I wish I’d known what a marketable hook was. I spent years writing books with fun protagonists and evil villains and cool murders and hot sex and yet, there was no hook. Seriously!
How do you overcome writer’s block, or any rough patch as you’re working on a story?If writer’s block exists, I can’t afford to catch it. When I hit a rough patch, it’s usually because my head is spinning with all the other stuff that I’m caught up in, and I lose my concentration. I eventually have to step back from all the stuff I can’t do anything about. I re-read my synopsis and reconnect with the story, take lots of deep breaths to clear my brain, clear off my desk, and get back to the book.
Do you work with a critique group? If not, do you seek any feedback before submitting your manuscript?I have a brilliant writer friend who reads my chapters and makes comments. My DH [darling husband] reads the final version for continuity and to catch any weird stuff that slipped through the cracks. It’s amazing how much weird stuff can slip through the cracks.
When your creative batteries run low, do you have any tricks or techniques for jump-starting them and staying motivated?
If I’ve reached an impasse in the book, I’ll often try to write dialogue, just dialogue, for a few pages. The banter that emerges between the characters usually perks me up and helps to motivate me. Then I’ll go back and fill in the blanks with narrative and description and detail.
What are 5 of your favorite novels?Only five? Okay, this week I choose AIN’T SHE SWEET by Susan Elizabeth Phillips, NAKED IN DEATH by J.D. Robb, CATCH OF THE DAY by Kristan Higgins, THE PRINCE OF TIDES by Pat Conroy, and SUGAR DADDY by Lisa Kleypas.
What is your favorite book on the craft of writing?Before I start a new book, there are three books I refer to for ideas and inspiration. WRITING THE BREAKOUT NOVEL WORKBOOK by Donald Maass; THE COMPLETE WRITER’S GUIDE TO HEROES & HEROINES, SIXTEEN MASTER ARCHETYPES by Tami Cowden, Carol LeFever and Sue Viders; and ON WRITING, by Stephen King.
What books are currently on your to-be-read list?I’ve got one of Karen Marie Moning’s Highlander books, Day LeClaire’s latest Silhouette Desire, Lorna Barrett’s BOOKPLATE SPECIAL, and Courtney Milan’s debut, PROOF OF SEDUCTION.
For more about Kate Carlisle and her books, visit
http://www.katecarlisle.com/.
It’s not often that a debut novel hits the New York Times best-seller list, but that’s exactly what happened in March 2009 to OCC/RWA member Kate Carlisle’s HOMICIDE IN HARDCOVER. RT Book Reviews praised Carlisle’s “delightfully eccentric character” and “droll dialogue,” and called heroine Brooklyn Wainwright “brilliant, feisty and funny.”
What was your writing process? Did you outline, or do you write by the seat of your pants?
What is something you know now about writing or publishing in general that you wish you had known when you started?
The lovely people who organize the Huntington Beach Friends of the Library Romance Authors' Tea have invited me to speak at their annual event, along with paranormal romance writers Susan Squires and Jennifer Lyon.
What's red and gold and jingles all over? 
