Deborah Morgan Interview
|
|
|
1) Can you describe the series a bit for people who haven't read the book yet? It’s an antique-lover’s mystery series featuring former FBI agent Jeff Talbot, who now works as an antiques picker (someone who ferrets out treasures for resale). Jeff drives a 1948 Chevy woodie, which comes in handy for hauling his finds to various antiques shops and malls. His favorite client is Blanche Appleby, who owns All Things Old, the largest antiques mall in the Northwest. Jeff is of lumber baron stock (which is probably the real reason he drives a woodie), and he inherited an old Victorian home in Seattle, where he lives with his chef-wife, Sheila (who’s agoraphobic), and their butler, Greer. Jeff’s a java junkie because I’m a java junkie; this was decided upon before I entertained Seattle as his residence. Oh, and this is a fact: Jeff’s the only fictional member of the National Woodie Club. 2) So, I need to know, why an antiques picker? Ah, good question. Probably because I wanted the juxtaposition. I love the fact that Jeff’s always out in search of treasure, while Sheila hasn’t set foot outside their home in something like five years. The role of a picker has broadened recently and, although some tend to act as dealers as well as pickers, I didn’t want Jeff confined to one building. 3) The antiques information comes off as very thorough. Would it be a safe guess that you might do a little collecting yourself? Thanks. Yes, I have small collections of lots of things: cuff links, inkwells, hatboxes, decks of cards (I’m a poker player), old dishes, vintage luggage. I’d collect more types of things if I could afford it. So, I guess, researching and writing about a variety of antiques is right up my alley. 4) You are a descendant of the Dalton Gang?????? Yeah. Also of Corning, as in Corning Ware, except that I’m a descendant of the guy who wanted to “Go West,” and ended up in Texas, abandoning the New York dishmakers. Anyway, the Daltons. While I was growing up, it was something one neither claimed nor discussed. Now, it seems, people embrace the romanticism of being related to someone notorious. 5) You've also written some short stories including a female PI named Mary Shelley, and also some westerns. Where can we find these? Thanks for asking. I’m an advocate of the short story, and don’t have much tolerance for those who dismiss that particular art form. Mary Shelley’s most recent published case, titled “Beaubien,” is in MYSTERY STREET (Signet, October 2001). She debuted in a story titled “Freight” (LETHAL LADIES II). A third story, “The Windsor Ballet,” is earmarked for a forthcoming antho. Loads of people have encouraged me to take her to novel form. The most recent western story is “Sepia Sun” in AMERICAN WEST: TWENTY NEW STORIES FROM THE WESTERN WRITERS OF AMERICA. It’s a slice-of-life about a female photographer in 1890. Her name is Michelle (Mike) Lautrec, and her story is one I really want to write a novel about. Info on the other stories and how they came about can be found by clicking the “Historical Westerns” button on my Web site. |
|
|
6) Are you going to write more Mary Shelley stuff, and more westerns? Without a doubt. 7) What made you want to start writing professionally? Is that what I’m doing? 8) Do you enjoy doing research? It seems that it would be fun with a subject you enjoy. I absolutely love it. That’s probably why writing historical westerns really appeals to me-and, why I don’t have a finished novel in that genre. It’s so easy to get lost in the research. The good thing about the Jeff Talbot series is that it came to me. Berkley wanted a crossover series-mystery and antiques-and I was asked if I wanted a shot at it. I’m a deadline person, which paid off when I was a managing editor. Anyway, they wanted to see one chapter and a proposal. I thought, “Hey, how easy can this be?” immediately followed by, “Wait. You’ve gotta sell them on the notion that you can write a series, with no track record where novels are concerned.” Guess I did. 9) What other jobs have you had? Lots, which is a good thing for a writer. I mentioned editor; I’m a former managing editor of two national specialty magazines, and of a biweekly newspaper. I’ve also been a police and highway patrol dispatcher, a shoe salesman, a Southern Baptist church secretary, a travel agent, an Avon rep (don’t laugh: I won an all-expense paid trip to Hawaii for high sales). Of course, I’m still Loren Estleman’s publicist, but it doesn’t pay anything. 10) You also make some terrific looking websites. Do you like computer work? I do like working on the websites, but they’re a time-eater for me. After I got my own domain and took my stuff off Loren’s site (www.lorenestleman.com -See? Publicist.), I created a more uniform look for mine, in order to save time. But, it’s not easy when you have more than one series, or write in more than one genre-as both Loren and I do. I prefer to look at a series and determine what visuals capture it, then try to achieve that with my limited knowledge of putting a site together. Our house looks the same way, and I’ve only recently decided that that’s the reason. Each room has its own character-like the characters in our stories. The living room is western, with posters from some of Loren’s book jackets, and his bronze Western Heritage awards on the mantel. The dining room is Victorian, done in garnet red. There are almost as many dishes in my bathroom as there are in the kitchen-it’s a great place to display my antique platters and cups and saucers. Our bedroom is Napoleonic, because that’s something Loren collects. (A lot of women can’t believe I went with that, but the books on Napoleon and Josephine really came in handy while I was researching CABARET.) There’s not much “flow” from one room to the next. Screw feng shui, I guess. But, who cares? We love it, and we’re getting our work done. Isn’t that all that counts? 11) Who are some of your favorite authors to read? As I type this, boxes and boxes of hardcovers are arriving at my door to be judged for the Shamus award. I can’t even focus beyond those right now. Check with me after three bottles of eye drops and a new lens prescription. 12) What do you like about the mystery genre? The fact that your characters will save your butt if you’re really not sure where the whole mess is leading. 13) Do you enjoy going to the conventions? Love ‘em. Wish I could hit every one of them. 14) It seems as though the ideas for your new series would be endless. What's in store next for Jeff Talbot? And will we see more of Greer? They are endless! At this moment, I have titles and concepts for another fifteen or so, with more coming to me all the time. The second novel in the series, THE WEEDLESS WIDOW, will be out in October. Jeff’s off on a fishing trip with some buddies when he discovers a body. The title is the name of an antique fishing lure, and is a perfect play on the phrase “widow’s weeds.” The widow of the victim in THE WEEDLESS WIDOW doesn’t seem too distraught over the murder of her husband. The book has fishing collectibles, a poker game. (I had a blast capturing the fishing cabin and the four guys.) Other antiques and collectibles, in addition to the fishing stuff, include perfume bottles, furniture, comic books, some safari stuff, valentines . . .. Computers play an important role in this one. I love mixing the antiques with the current high-tech world. Oh, you asked about Greer. I had to fight to keep him, and I’m fighting now to get more leeway with him. Can you imagine Sheila without someone to run errands for her? Sure, she can order things off the Internet, but a computer won’t hop down to Pike Place Market to pick up fresh salmon. 15) I think anyone who collects anything can relate to the feeling of finding that really special something, like when Jeff gets to first hold part of the tea set. What's the coolest thing you've found? I’ve gotten lots of praise for that particular scene, because that is how we feel when we get our hands on the prize. I’m not one to pick favorites, but I can usually-although I don’t promise anything-narrow it down to two choices (that’s the Libra in me, I suppose). So, it would have to be my spinet desk-so named for the hinged lid that comes down and gives the rectangular appearance of a locked-up piano. When you open it, though, it’s full of carved cubbyholes and little drawers, and a slide-out writing surface. And, 2) . . . well, I have this pair of Tony Lama boots-I love wearing cowboy boots-that belonged to my dad when I was a little girl. They actually fit! But, it’s equally cool to me that I know their provenance. Oh, I recently found a great pair of carved horn cuff links. Documentation is important to me, and even before I knew much about provenance, I began writing notes about things I’d bought. New things, too, that will be collectible in the future, like the Biltmore derby hat I bought in Cody, Wyoming, a few years ago. It’s high quality, and I cringe at the thought of someone selling it in a yard sale when I’m dead and gone. Hopefully, after learning its history and why I like it, my grandson will think twice before he dumps it. 16) So, I need to ask this even though it's kind of a fan boy question. There are other married mystery writing couples, and they have either written together, or at least had cameos of each others characters. Will Amos Walker ever make a cameo in one of your books? Amos Walker may not know it, but he’s gonna need Mary Shelley long before she needs him. 17) You and Loren seem to be very happy together, and you both kind of twinkle when you look at each other. How did you meet? It still shows, huh? We met almost ten years ago at a writers’ convention. A mutual friend had invited a group of us convention first-timers to dinner, saying he had a writer-friend he wanted us to meet. When Dale walked in, followed by this unassuming gentleman, everyone started whispering, “Ohmygod, it’s Loren Estleman!” I thought, “I’m really out of the loop. I don’t know who the hell they’re talking about.” Turns out, that was probably for the best. 18) What's your favorite way to spend a weekend? Depends on what strikes me when the weekend arrives. Typically, I’ll schedule a bunch of projects that I’ve put off doing . . .then chuck it all and go antiquing. (Seriously.) 19) What are some of your favorite movies? It’s a long list, and depends on my mood (I’m like Ms. Tree:
I alternate chick flicks and hard-boiled “guy” stuff with equal
aplomb), but I’ll try to pare it down. Sure, but mostly because all of my family is still there. It’s even more difficult now that I’m a grandmother. Here’s this two-year-old wonder, this miniature person, who calls me Mimi and has a mind like a sponge. I’d like to be closer so that I could play a larger role in his life. 21) Do you have any major life goals you still want to fulfill? Skydiving, or something like that? There’s this list: “One Hundred Things to do Before I Die.”
I’m getting older, so I’ve edited mine to fifty. Among those
are: Hmmm. Lots of those involve travel. Maybe I could become an itinerent writer. You know, like the preachers, musicians, and photographers of yesteryear who traveled around the country plying their trades? I have yet to exhaust a visited place. 22) And because the world is dying to know.....What's the one thing always in your refrigerator? I can handle anything if I have Mucky Duck mustard, Ben and Jerry’s Cherry Garcia, and dark beer. |
|
Interviews may not be used without permission of Mystery One or Jon Jordan
