|
|
|
Interview with Libby Fischer Hellmann
The series made its debut in 2002 with An Eye For Murder. Publishers Weekly called Eye a “masterful blend of politics, history, and suspense.” Kirkus Reviews called Ellie “the true stuff of working-mom sleuths.” The book was nominated for an Anthony Award for Best First and won the Readers’ Choice award for Best First at the Love is Murder conference. It was re-released as a trade paperback by Poisoned Pen Press in January, 2007. In an unusual partnership, all of Hellmann’s novels have been simultaneously published by Poisoned Pen Press (hard cover) and Berkley Prime Crime (mass market). The second Ellie Foreman novel, A Picture Of Guilt, was released July, 2003. It won the Reader’s Choice award for Best Traditional Series at the 2004 Love is Murder conference, and was a finalist in the Benjamin Franklin Awards (mystery-suspense category) given by Publishers Marketing Association. An Image Of Death, the third book in the series was released in February, 2004. Publishers Weekly called it “a powerful tale,” and the Chicago Sun-Times “recommends it highly, even if you don’t live in Illinois.” Her fourth novel, A Shot To Die For, was released in September, 2005. The Chicago Sun Times raved, saying “Hellmann reaches next level with latest mystery novel.” It won the Readers Choice Award for Best Traditional Novel at the Love is Murder conference. Libby also writes short stories. “House Rules” (Murder in Vegas, Forge) was nominated for an Agatha and an Anthony Award in 2006, and she is currently editing a crime fiction anthology, “Chicago Blues,” which will be released by Bleak House Books in October, 2007. In 2005-2006 she was the National President of Sisters in Crime, a 3000 plus member organization committed to strengthening the voice of female mystery writers. The organization, founded by Sara Paretsky, is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. When not writing, Libby conducts speaker training programs in platform speaking, presentation skills, media training, and crisis communications. She also writes and produces videos. A transplant from Washington, D.C., Libby has lived in the Chicago area almost thirty years. She has a Masters Degree in Film Production from New York University, and a BA in history from the U. of Pennsylvania. Libby lives on the North Shore of Chicago with her family and a Beagle, shamelessly named Shiloh. She is represented by the Ann Rittenberg Literary Agency. Q. How long have you been writing? A. I started writing fiction only about 10 years ago. However, I’d been writing non-fiction (scripts, articles, speeches, proposals – basically whatever anyone would pay me for) for over 25 years. The scripts sometimes included fictionalized vignettes, but most of it was documentary/news style prose. I was always “comfortable” around language and words, but when I turned to novels, I realized there was a steep learning curve. It took me about 5 years to hone my prose to where it was publishable. Q. I can certainly relate. After writing police reports for many years, I thought I could simply start writing crime fiction. It wasn't that easy. What inspired you to begin writing? A. It was a combination of things. I would read James Lee Burke, for example, and say to myself, “If I could write a paragraph as beautifully as him, I would die happy.” Other books I would throw against the wall and say, “I can do better than that.” But, strangely enough, what really got me started, I think, was the OJ Simpson trial. I watched a lot of it at home, and would scream at the TV in frustration at the way the prosecution was botching it. At the same time, I learned an incredible amount about forensics. I think it all needed to percolate for a while -- but I started writing 6 months later. And haven’t stopped. Q. What types of books do you most like to read? A. Suspense, suspense, suspense. The darker the better. With a little women’s contemporary fiction occasionally thrown in. I started out reading thrillers after college…Le Carre, Ludlum, Deighton, Follett…then backed into mystery a few years after that. But I love a book that I can’t put down…that makes me stay up much too late because I am compelled to keep reading. Q. Who published your first short story? A. That’s kind of complicated. My first short story was “The Day Miriam Hirsch Disappeared” ( one of the two that’s on the Amazon Shorts program). It won the Bouchercon Short Story contest in 1999 for unpublished writers and was “published” in the program book that year. It wasn’t an official publication, but it was pretty exciting for a newbie. That was also my first Bcon, btw. My first official short story publication was “Dumber than Dirt” in Blue Murder, the online zine. That was also in 1999, I think. Q. How did this impact your writing career? A. Both of those “acceptances” had a huge impact. In fact, they couldn’t have come at a better time. I had written three novels by then, none of which were publishable. I had had an agent but he wasn’t interested in proceeding with me, since he couldn’t sell the books. I was pretty much on the ropes at that point, thinking I really ought to quit writing crime fiction and just get on with my life. Then suddenly there were these two acceptances. That recognition -- that maybe, just maybe, I really could write well was incredibly affirming. So I decided to keep at it for a while longer. Q. Well, you've certainly turned your career around. Visiting your website, I noticed you had about eight novels and about a dozen short stories published, you make regular appearances, and you've won awards for your writing. Very impressive! I'm sure there are many writers in the same predicament in which you found yourself, and your success story will provide them with motivation to continue pressing on -- just as you did. For those of us interested in reading those first published stories, where can we find it? A. As I mentioned, “The Day Miriam Hirsch Disappeared” is on Amazon Shorts where you can read it for the princely sum of 49 cents. And “Dumber Than Dirt” was reprinted in a Chicago anthology called “Blood and Donuts” (Published by Twilight Tales, Inc.) Q. How many hours per day do you devote to writing? A. My goal is three hours. But it’s often less than that…my discipline has been horrible recently. Q. Is there anything particular that gets in the way of your writing? For me, it's "24", "Bones", "American Idol", etc. A. Almost anything can get in the way of my writing. I’m much too distractible. Writing fiction is the hardest thing I’ve ever done, and I suppose because it’s so difficult, I have perfected the art of procrastination. I’m great at it – I should give workshops on it. The other problem is that I worked in public relations for a long while, so it’s much easier for me to make a call, book a signing, send promo materials to someone, or do an interview, than to write. I’m trying to get the discipline back, but it’s hard. Q. Do you have any marketing tips you’d like to share with aspiring writers? A. Yes. Become part of the “community” – be a part of the lists (like SMFS), join Sisters in Crime and MWA, volunteer time locally and at conventions/conferences. The more people you know, the more opportunities seem to present themselves. Q. Do you have a writing schedule? A. I try to write in the morning. I edit and revise in the afternoon. At least, that’s the goal. Q. Can you describe a typical day in the life of Libby Hellmann? A. Oy. There are no typical days. I still freelance as a script writer and a trainer, so if I have a job, that always comes first. If I don’t, I try to write for an hour or so, work out, then write some more. Afternoon is promotion/marketing oriented/answering emails. I also devoted a lot of time to Sisters in Crime last year when I was the National president. Now I’m editing an anthology for Bleak House Books (Chicago Blues) which is due out in October, so that’s taking time, as well. Q. Serving as the National president of Sisters in Crime is an immense honor and quite an accomplishment! What were the highlights of that experience? A. The best part of it was working with a group of women where ego and turf weren’t problems. The board of directors were – and are – some of the most talented, dedicated women I’ve ever had the pleasure to work with. And, unlike other organizations that are top-heavy, our board was small and nimble enough that we could just do what we set out to do. Most of my work involved developing and rolling out plans for the 20th anniversary of Sisters in Crime, which, btw, is still going on. We’ve put in place more promotional opportunities for our author member, and we’ve created workshops and conferences to educate writers about forensics and selling your book to Hollywood, for example. In fact, there are lots of exciting things going on at SINC. For your readers who are interested, check us out at www.sistersincrime.org Q. You mentioned you work out -- as did everyone I interviewed this issue -- and, as an exercise nut myself, I'm happy to see everyone giving their hearts something to beat about. J What type of work outs do you do, and for how long? A. It depends how my back is doing. (I have a bulging disk…god…I hate this aging thing.) Currently, I go to exercise class (low impact/step/cardio and strengthening) about 3 times a week. I also swim about two thirds of a mile twice a week. I used to play a LOT of tennis, but while I loved it, it didn’t love me. Or my body. So I’ve retired my racket. Oh…I also do an occasional yoga class. Should do more of it, but there’s not enough time. Q. Do you work on one story at a time, or multiple? A. I usually am working on just one novel at a time, but I like to work on a short story simultaneously. That way, if the novel isn’t going well, I can turn to the story. And vice-versa. The variety is a good break too. Q. That's my method as well and I find it very effective. What’s your personal favorite Libby Hellmann story? A. That’s sooo hard…Okay, “Miriam” has a special place in my heart, because it was the first, and it did surprisingly well. BUT…I loved “The Rainforest Messiah” – it was my first hard-boiled story, and the freedom of writing something I hadn’t done before was liberating. I recently wrote a story called “High Yellow” which will be coming out later this year that I love because it’s set in the 50s in Washington DC (where I grew up) and is written from the POV of a young woman who is “passing.” And the one I’m writing now “My Sweet Man” (for Chicago Blues) is about a Chicago blues musician in the ‘50s. Since I love the Blues I am enjoying both the research and the writing. Q. I love the title "The Rainforest Messiah" -- definitely makes me want to know more! What inspired that story and how did you come up with the title? A. Thanks! On that story, I think I had the title before I knew exactly what the story was going to be about. Or maybe it emerged half way through the story. Those are the best titles, I think…the ones that “emerge” as you’re writing. Same with first lines. Sometimes I have the first line of a story before anything else. Other times, it appears later. On the novel that my agent is shopping now, the first line didn’t appear until I’d finished revising the entire mss. When that happens, you’re so steeped in the process that the line…or the title…is bound to be perfect.
A. There are actually 4 books in the Ellie Foreman series. The entire series, btw, is a sequel to that very first short story, Miriam Hirsch. (Long story which I’ll be glad to tell later, if you want.) Anyway, Ellie is a single mother and documentary film producer in Chicago. She has a senior citizen father, a teenage daughter, and a circle of friends who help her get by. However, the series is not at all cozy – there is a good deal of suspense. In fact, 3 of the 4 books have been called mystery/thrillers and are fairly dark. I sometimes describe the books as “Desperate Housewives” meets “24.” Q. I know nothing about "Desperate Housewives", but "24" is my favorite television program -- so I'm sold! How does one go about ordering copies of your books? A. For two of the paperbacks, you can go to my website for signed copies: www.hellmann.com. For the hardcover editions and/or the other mass markets, I’d suggest checking with your favorite independent mystery bookstore. Q. Thank you very much for agreeing to this interview. It's been an immense pleasure. I wish you continued success with your writing career. Oh, and btw, I love your website! BJ Bourg / Libby Fischer Hellmann © 2006
|
