How difficult is it being a writer firstly, a crimewriter secondly?
It's not hard at all. If you love something - and I love to write - than it's not hard at all. The writing part is a breeze. The proofreading/revising/editing part is a bit harder because you've got to separate yourself from the work. It's tough being your own critic. Often when you make a boo boo, you just don't see it because you're so close to your work. Consequently, this part is a little harder.
As far as being a crimewriter, I don't find this difficult at all. I love suspense and this genre is a natural for that. In fact, there isn't any writing where suspense doesn't play a part in it. To me, I love reading and creating mysteries because that's an easy way to escape the realities of life.
The hardest aspect of writing is publicity. You've got to spend a lot of time on this if you want to succeed in this very competitive field.

"Of all art forms in human history, the mystery is the most sexually integrated. No other branch of literature, music or art, serious or popular, has had such full equality for women, or such intensive participation by women artists" (taken from A Guide to Classic Mystery and Detection). Why do you think this is the case?
Women love to read mysteries, and it's my understanding that women prefer mysteries written by other women. Is it perhaps because we women know and understand other women better than men do?
This equality wasn't always the case. Even though women wrote more mysteries than men, it was the men's book which got reviewed. Now thanks to such organizations such as Sisters in Crime, equality has not only been introduced, but demanded.

Why are women writers so attracted to crime compared to other genres?
There's an aura about mysteries. It's intriguing and mysterious (naturally!). In this world of mystery we can visit exotic places, cheer our protagonist to great victories, do things beyond our realm, live different types of lives. Yet, at the same time, we're still part of this world (as opposed to science fiction) and era (as opposed to westerns). In mysteries we still have romance and adventure which incorporates two other genres. I suppose because mysteries are so versatile, they tend to be women's favorites.

Which is the first mystery book do you think someone should read?
Why mine, of course!! Seriously, I would say Agatha Christie's books - any of them. She was a master of suspense. As a reader and as a writer, you can learn a lot from her and be entertained at the same time.

Which book has surprised you more either positively or negatively?
Nothing to do with mystery, the Bible. On second thought, it does have a lot of mysteries in there. Right?

What five books would you take with you to a desert island?
I'm rather strange when it comes to stuff like this. My favorite is always the book I am currently reading. If I don't enjoy, I simply cast it aside. So trying to come up with five books is really a toughie. I suppose I'd take one of the classics (Christie or Poe) then the other four would be nice, thick current best sellers or books recommended by my friends.

Thank you very much.

© Copyright Bastulli Mystery Library 1999