By Mary Pannabecker Steiner
"Flowers For Her Grave" (Poisoned Pen, $24.95), authored by local writer, Judy Clemens, was reviewed by in the New York Times Aug. 7 Book Review by Marilyn Stasio.
For Clemens, this first New York Times appearance is "pretty amazing and humbling, when you think of all the books getting published, that mine was one of the few to appear in print there.
But then, it did take me nine books to do it! I have received reviews in other large papers in the past -- the Boston Globe, the Chicago Tribune -- but to get in the NYT is every author's dream!"
Stasio's review can be seen at: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/07/books/review/crime-mystery-novels-by-r...
The Icon's 15 minutes with Clemens follows:
How did you get your start as a book author?
After writing a couple books that are still in my attic (!) I wrote the first Stella Crown novel, TILL THE COWS COME HOME. Somehow I felt that she would get me started! I took a year writing the book during my newborn son's naps, when all of the books on parenting say "sleep when the baby sleeps!" I decided that was one piece of advice I would ignore. After finishing the book, I spent some time (a year and a half!) looking for an agent, then found Poisoned Pen Press, who accepted manuscripts without an agent. They liked the book, and we went from there!
Tell us about your books. How many different series and stand-alones have you written?
My current series is the Grim Reaper series, which tells the story of Casey Maldonado, a woman who is running from a tragic past. Her companion -- sidekick, if you want to call it! -- is Death, who finds her interesting enough to stick around. The third book in that series, FLOWERS FOR HER GRAVE, just came out last week.
My first series was the Stella Crown series, which received Anthony and Agatha nominations for "Best First Mystery" when TILL THE COWS COME HOME came out. There are five books in that series.
I also wrote the stand-alone LOST SONS, which recounts the true historical story of Mennonite mission worker Clayton Kratz, who disappeared in Russia during the civil war there. This factual story is set in the midst of a fictional one about a contemporary detective who discovers the tragedy in the midst of his own personal crisis and investigates it.
I noticed that your latest book, "Flowers for Her Grave", was reviewed by Marilyn Stasio in the New York Times. Is that your first review by the Times? How does that feel?
Yes, that was my first appearance there. It's very exciting! I found out by a friend e-mailing me to congratulate me, and I went to the NYT website, and there it was! It's pretty amazing and humbling, when you think of all the books getting published, that mine was one of the few to appear in print there. But then, it did take me nine books to do it! I have received reviews in other large papers in the past -- the Boston Globe, the Chicago Tribune -- but to get in the NYT is every author's dream!
When do you write? Tell us a bit about the process of writing a book; where you write it; how you do research, etc.
I have a beautiful office in my home, where I have my Mac. I write during the day when my kids are at school. I used to have to write at night, since I was also a stay-at-home mom, but now that they're in school (and I'm getting older!) those late nights don't work so well.
Research is one of those fun parts of writing -- especially the research where I get to talk to people. I've found that people love to talk about their passions and what they're good at, and so much of the life of a story comes from those little details I wouldn't know if I hadn't talked to the folks who do it every day.
What is the most difficult part of writing a novel? How do you get through that?
I think most writers would agree that the hardest part is the middle. It's easy to get an idea for a book and get started, and the end often comes to a rolling finish, but when it's time to flesh out the nitty- gritty of the story and discovery it gets harder. Some of the way to help that is with plotting the outline of the book, and sometimes I find it helpful to set the whole project aside for a little and then go back and read it from the beginning to where it's started to get more difficult.
Where do you get your ideas?
Everywhere and anywhere! So, watch out! Seriously, I never know when something will spark an idea: a billboard, a person, something on the news... As all writers do, I have lists of ideas on my computer, all waiting for their turn!
I assume you have an agent. How did you find him or her? Did you have an agent first or a publisher first?
I do have an agent for the juvenile and young adult fiction I'm writing. I found her through a writer's organization. I did not have an agent for the mysteries, but that was pretty much just because I got lucky finding Poisoned Pen, who didn't require one. Now, with the new stuff I'm writing for younger ages, I need one in order to shop the books.
Tell us about the different writers' organizations you belong to. Do you attend writers' conferences?
I belong to two organizations right now. One is Sisters in Crime, which is an organization dedicated to promoting equity for women in the mystery writing field. I was on the board of that, and even the president, a few years ago.
The other organization is called SCBWI, which stands for the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators.
When I first began writing I went to every mystery conference I could get to. Now I go to maybe one a year -- it's a great experience, but gets too expensive to do often. The best parts about those cons are meeting fans and getting to hang out with other writers. I'll be going to Bouchercon next month, which is the largest mystery gathering in the US. This year it's in St. Louis. I've attended Bouchercons in Las Vegas, San Francisco, Alaska -- all kinds of cool places.
What type of speaking engagements do you enjoy the most?
I've done a lot of talks at libraries, book clubs, and bookstores. I enjoy talking with people about books and the writing process. I also enjoy going into classrooms and talking with kids of all ages. I have a class outline, as well, to help teach students the basics of writing a mystery.
Recently, you've moved into writing for children. Do your own kids inspire you?
Yes, as I've mentioned, I'm trying my hand at novels for junior high age, as well as young adults, which in literary speak means teenagers. My kids always inspire me, but I also have always loved juvenile literature and wanted to give it a go!
When you were a kid, did you read a lot? What were your favorite books? What type of books do you read now?
I read all the time when I was a kid -- I was one of those book geeks. Favorites included C.S. Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia, Walter Farley's Black Stallion books, and anything by Judy Blume. As for now...I'm still one of those book geeks. I read a wide variety of mostly fiction -- I love juvenile fantasy, young adult fantasy and straight fiction, and adult stuff as well -- mostly thrillers or mainstream fiction.
Does your husband read your books? Before or after they're published? Does he make suggestions?
He's read every one, but not until they were published. He'll help me with certain aspects, like if I have a question about motorcycles or cars, or if it involves sports!
What do you do when you tire of writing? Can you get away from it or do you find yourself always thinking about the next chapter, the next plot?
I love writing, but as you say, my brain does get tired! I find it pretty easy (most times) to put aside the writing part of me to do normal life stuff. Sometimes that's a lot easier than trying to get back into a writing groove after real life. But lying in bed I'll often think about what might be next, and sometimes I'll have to get up to write down great ideas or they'll be gone in the morning!
Tell us about your family. What do you all enjoy doing together?
We love watching movies, eating good food, visiting our relatives, and swimming. We took a vacation to New York City this summer, and it was fantastic. I don't think we could have packed any more in if we had tried! We attend Grace Mennonite Church in Pandora, and that's a big part of our lives. Our church family there -- besides being filled with great folks in many ways -- is very supportive of my writing!
Do you and Steve still ride motorcycles?
Steve does have a motorcycle right now, but I've only been on it a couple of times. He rides it whenever he gets the chance, though, and the kids enjoy rides here and there as they run errands with him.
