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Interview with Earl Staggs

Q. How long have you been writing?

A. Seriously writing? Only since 1995, even though the itch was always there, all the way back to high school when I won an essay contest sponsored by the local Rotary Club. After that, writing was pushed aside by the demands of earning a living, raising a family and other of life's essentials. In 1995, I semi-retired from the insurance business, moved to Florida, and decided to use the time I no longer needed for shoveling snow to chase the dream of becoming a writer.

Q. What inspired you to begin writing?

A. As a young man, I was fascinated by the work of two writers. Hemingway was one and O'Henry the other. Hemingway impressed me with his ability to create characters and stories with strong, lean writing rich in energy and emotion. From O'Henry, I learned that, even in short stories, seemingly ordinary people can be placed in extraordinary situations and circumstances to create an interesting glimpse into human nature. How wonderful to be able to do that, I thought. My next thought was that maybe I could do it, too, and what a wonderful experience it would be. I think at that point I decided that someday I would find out if I could actually have that experience.

Q. What types of books do you most like to read?

A. My favorites are good, solid whodunnits. I love a puzzle and trying to figure out who did what to whom and why. For that reason, reading and writing mysteries was a natural for me.

Q. Have you ever found yourself involved in a real-life mystery?

A. Other than searching for my misplaced cell phone or the TV remote, no. If an opportunity came along to get involved in a real mystery, however, I'd jump at the chance. I think that's true of most mystery writers. We love a puzzle to solve. Since we can't solve mysteries in our real lives, we do it through our fictional heroes.

Q. Do you have a top five list of favorite mystery writers?

A. At the top would be Lawrence Block for his strong realistic characters and stories, followed by Elmore Leonard and Carl Hiaason for their somewhat quirky and off-beat
ones. I also enjoy the smooth writing style of S. J. Rozan. John Grisham is on my list simply because he knows how to tell an engrossing and compelling story.

Q. Who published your first short story?

A. The Cozy Detective Mystery Magazine, a popular print magazine in its day, but now, like so many other good ones, is only a memory.

Q. How did that first acceptance impact your writing career?

A. Any acceptance, even now, is a thrill, but the first one is magical. That first one is a magic potion of belief that you can actually produce something worth publishing. Until then, there's always a doubt that you're not good enough and the lack of confidence is an inhibiting influence on becoming the writer you can be. Once something is accepted, a wall comes down, and you have the confidence to step over the ruins and move forward.

Q. I know exactly what you mean and it was you who tore down my wall and gave me the confidence to move forward by accepting my first story for FUTURES. Speaking of such, how did being Chief Editor of FMAM impact your writing career?

A. Editing for Futures was an incredibly rewarding as well as a learning experience. Analyzing the work of other writers to make their stories the best they can be sharpens your editing eye for your own writing. I'd like to think I helped all those writers who submitted to Futures, but I thank them for all I gained from them.

Q. For those of us interested in reading your very first published story, where can we find it?

A. The Cozy Detective has been out of print for a number of years, so it would be impossible to find it. As fate would have it, though, my story, "Room Six," from the Fall 1998 issue will appear as a reprint in a new anthology due out in 2006 called "Gone Coastal" from Seven Sisters Press. It will be a great thrill for me to see my very first accepted story in print again.

Q. Where can one find information on ordering "Gone Coastal"?

A. "Gone Coastal" was the fourth anthology produced by the Central Coast Mystery Writers, formed by members of the Central Coast Chapter of Sisters in Crime in sunny California. I was thrilled to appear in it with a group of writers whose work I admire. More information and ordering instructions can be found at: www.7sisterspublishing.com.

Q. How many hours per day do you devote to writing?

A. I try to write at least three hours each day, and I wish it were always possible. Sometimes editing chores and simply keeping up with email eat up a lot of that time.

Q. Do you have any marketing tips you'd like to share with aspiring writers?

A. The key word to marketing these days is "Networking." Whether you're looking for a market for a story or you're selling your own book, it's essential to be active in the writing community through online groups and attending writing conferences. Writers are notoriously good about sharing information, and there's no better way to stay up on what's going on with publishers, agents, editors, and readers than the giant universal meeting place we call the Internet.

Q. Can you describe a typical day in the life of Earl Staggs?

A. Although I'm officially among the "retired" as far as working full time, I still have a part time job I love. I drive a school bus, which takes me out of the house for about three hours in the morning and another three in the afternoon. I've always been an early riser, so I'm up before the sun is and have about two hours in the early AM to read and answer email. Then it's off to get the kids to school. After the morning run, I'm back home for four hours and try to devote that time to my writing activities whether it's actual writing, editing or <sigh> more email. After that, it's back on the bus to get the kids safely home. When that's done, it's home for dinner, usually followed by some reading or TV time, and by then, I'm ready for bed. On weekends, I get very little reading or writing done. That time goes to household chores and errands and whatever else the lady of the house may decide for me.

Q. Do the kids on your bus know you're an author and, if so, what do they think about it?

A. My bus kids range from kindergarten to eighth grade, and I'm afraid they're not terribly impressed by my being a mystery writer. I'm sure I'd get their attention, however, if I wrote hip-hop music or video games. As long as they appreciate my getting them to school safely and on time, I'm happy with that.

Q. Have you ever written a mystery that involved a bus driver?

A. Not yet, but I plan to. Several plots are jostling around. Fortunately, I won't have to do a lot of research on the subject. I do that every day.

Q. Do you work on one story at a time, or multiple?

A. I always have more than one project going. Right now, I have two books in progress and a couple short stories. After working on one project for awhile, I find it best to put it aside and move to something else. When I come back to a piece of work after having concentrated on another one, it's with a fresh perspective. I'm always amazed at how mistakes are so much more obvious when I return to a piece of work I haven't thought about for a few days.

Q. What's your personal favorite Earl Staggs story?

A. That would have to be "All the Fine Actors," which appeared on a wonderful little ezine called "Without a Clue" in 2001. When the time came for the Short Mystery Fiction Society to present its Derringer Awards, a friend nominated my story, and it won in its category. Commercial success is important to writers, but recognition by one's peers mean a great deal also.

Q. What is it about that story that makes it your favorite?

A. In that one, I experimented with misdirection. By that I mean, the characters in the story and the things they did were not what they seemed to be. At the end when all is revealed, I like to think readers were surprised yet satisfied with the way they were misdirected. And did I mention it won a Derringer Award? I'm sure I did. That makes it special to me, too.

Q. That is a major accomplishment. Is the story still available online for people who would like to read it?

A. Unfortunately, no. If anyone would like to read it, though, I'll be happy to send it along. Just drop me an email at earlstag@juno.com.

Q. Can you tell us about your book?

A. Writers are often advised to "write what you know." That's good advice, but I twist it just a tad to "write what you like to read." With MEMORY OF A MURDER, I tried to write a book with all the elements I look for in a book I read.

As I mentioned before, my reading preference has always been pure Mystery, a solid "whodunnit" that puzzles me at the very beginning and keeps me guessing all the way to "The End." If I figure out who dun what to whom and why early on, I lose interest. So far, I'm happy to say, no one who's read my book has figured it out until the answers come in the final chapters.

But I also like elements of Thriller and Suspense. That's why I included a car chase, a foot race, a fight in an alley and a gunfight here and there to add an edge-of-the-seat "Look out!" flavor.

Also, when I read, I want to genuinely care about the characters. Solving the case is not enough. I want to become personally involved with the people in the story to the point that the outcome as it affects their lives matters as much as seeing justice served. After all, things that happen to people we hardly know or don't particularly care for never mean as much as if it happened to someone we'd want to live next door to.

To give the book a slightly different flavor, the protagonist, Adam Kingston, has his experience as a former FBI agent to call on, but he also has some psychic abilities. I modeled him after real-life psychics I met who use their gift to help law enforcement agencies solve crimes. Adam's psychic images often point him the right direction, but just as often, leave him confused because he can't figure out what they mean. I actually wrote a version of the book without the psychic part, but decided to put it back in. It was still a good, solid mystery, but the psychic elements made it more interesting - and more fun.

Q. You first introduced Adam in a short story. Can you tell us about it?

A. Adam Kingston first appeared in a short story titled "The Missing Sniper." The response to that story was so encouraging, I took Adam into a full novel. The story was published on the wonderful ezine, Mysterical-e, and is still available in their archives at: http://mystericale.com/archive/THE_MISSING_SNIPER.html.

Q. I remember reading it and, being a sniper, I was especially fond of it because of that element.

How does one go about ordering a signed copy of your book?

A. MEMORY OF A MURDER is available on Amazon.com and can be ordered through any bookstore. To have a copy signed, here's my standing offer: buy the book and send it to me. I'll sign and return it, reimburse you for your postage cost, plus include a special gift. Anyone interested in that offer can write me at earlstag@Juno.com.

Q. As a writer and editor I've admired for a very long time, I'm honored to be sharing space with you between the covers of another book that includes your name in the byline -- the EX Factor. Can you tell us a little about your three stories in the EX Factor anthology?

A. I'm thrilled to be included in the EX Factor anthology along with excellent writers I'm familiar with -- including yourself -- and some that are new to me.

In two of my stories, I deal with spousal abuse, but in a different way in each story. In "Battered," a cop knows an ex-husband killed his wife and comes up the proof, but he wants more. He wants the man to feel some of the same abuse the unfortunate woman felt and delivers a bit of "street" justice of his own.

In "The Brother-in-Law," the man who killed his wife was clever enough to fool the law, but not his wife's brother. He thinks he's home free, but he opens his window of opportunity once too often.

The third story deals with an Ex of another sort. In "The Waitress," a witness to a murder is reluctant to come forward because her past life would be revealed, and she can't let that happen. She calls on her good friend, the Chief of Police, to help her sort it out.

Q. Before we conclude, I want to say that each time I read your name I can't help but think of the wonderful Babs Lakey, as you two were an inseparable and amazing team over at FMAM. I'm certain you two still keep in touch. How is she and what has she been up to lately? I know I'm not alone when I say I've learned more about writing from Babs than anyone else and she will always be at the very top of my "favorite editors" list.

A. My beloved Babs is at the top of everyone's "favorite editors" list, including mine. I love her dearly and, yes, we keep in touch. Health problems forced her to not only give up publishing Futures Magazine, but also to put her own writing aside. Recently, however, her interest in writing has been rejuvenated and I hope we all see her byline in print again soon.