M&M: Rochelle, tell us about your latest book Who
Do, Voodoo?
I’d love to! Who Do, Voodoo? features no-nonsense Liz
Cooper, a Los Angeles psychologist with a cynical view of the occult. When Liz's friend Robin finds an unusual
tarot card tacked to her front door, Liz writes it off as a prank. Robin
refuses to ignore the omen—the same card predicted her husband’s death two
years earlier. As more cards and darker threats appear, Liz realizes someone
dangerous is upping the ante and she turns to old friend and occult expert Nick
Garfield for help. Nick introduces Liz into the voodoo community where their
search for the origin of the tarot deck leads to the discovery of a murder
veiled in a voodoo curse. Robin becomes a suspect, and Liz has to set aside her
doubts about the supernatural to unravel otherworldly secrets and clear her
friend—or risk being outwitted by a cunning killer.
M&M: What type of writing schedule do you have and
how long does it take you to write your books?
Who Do, Voodoo? took about
two years to write. I completed Bruja Brouhaha, the second in the series, in
less than a year, and I envy writers who have the creative muscle to write
faster. Now that I have publishing deadlines, I write anywhere from one to six
hours daily depending on how a scene is flowing. The first draft takes longer,
but I can’t get to the fun part—the edits—until the story is finished.
M&M: How many books have you written?
Who Do, Voodoo? is the first
novel I wrote. Bruja Brouhaha is my second, and I’m in the thick of writing the
third novel in the series. When I began writing WDV, I didn’t anticipate the
way Liz, Robin, and Nick would move in and take over my life, but they did!
They’ve become my constant companions.
M&M: What writing advice do you have for the
novice mystery writer?
It sounds simple but this is
vital—keep writing. Find your voice and use it to write the best novel you can.
Entertain yourself, learn the rules so you can break the ones that don’t work
for you, and write without a timetable. Find a critique partner who “gets” you.
Your first goal should be to finish your novel, then rewrite, and rewrite
again. Learn your craft.
M&M: Give us some advice on book publishing and
promoting your books?
Publishers know their
audience, so it’s important to research the industry to find a good match for
the style and genre you write in. Publisher’s Marketplace is a great tool for
seeing who is buying what. Once your novel has been sold and is ready for
market, the work begins. Authors actually have two jobs—writer and
self-marketer. Visibility is key. Months before release get yourself out
there—be active on social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, and the online
groups; and, if you can, attend genre-relevant conferences to meet your peers.
Familiarity and word of mouth are your friends.
M&M:Do you have a favorite book signing story to
tell us?
Oh, it has to be my signing
at Mystery One Bookstore in Milwaukee, my hometown. The shop was jammed with my
family and oldest friends, people I’ve known all my life. My friend Randy sat
next to me in high school English Lit class; Bob worked with me at my first job
in the advertising business. The evening was truly old home week. And to top it
off, Mystery One is located in a classic east side building that once housed an
old beatnik after hours club my friends and I snuck into when we were teens! It
was a very special night.
M&M: Since you've become an author; what is the
most humorous thing that has happened to you?
It’s a little embarrassing,
but it’s funny. I needed a cold reader for the first draft of my second novel
and one of the men I used to work with begged me to let him read it. Okay, I
thought, he’s not really a writer or a mystery fan but he liked Who Do, Voodoo?
Why not? I gave him a rough copy and waited two weeks for a response. Nothing.
I waited another week. Nothing. I finally called him, “So, how did you like the
story?” His answer will go down as one of the classic reviews of all time:
“Didn’t finish it yet, but wow! I LOVE the paper you printed it on!” (I smack
myself on the forehead.)
M&M: Okay now for some fun questions. What is your
favorite meal, movie, book and color?
My favorite, favorite winter
meal is a turkey dinner with all the trimmings. In summer I can live on
watermelon. Without a doubt, my two favorite movies are The Philadelphia Story and Bull
Durham, both fill my requirements for a satisfying film: good sets, good
clothes, one good kiss. Favorite book is a little more challenging. For humor, The Code of the Woosters by P.G.
Wodehouse; for great noir mystery, The
Continental Op by Dashiell Hammett. I’m a serial reader. When I find an
author I like, I’ll read everything
he/she wrote before I move onto the next author. And my favorite color is red.
You’ll see me in red lipstick every day.
M&M: What would your characters say about you if
we asked them how you came up with their names?
I love how you phrased the
question because as I developed the characters, they definitely had a say in
how they were named. Nick was easy and accepted his name without comment. He
was named in homage to Hammett’s Nick Charles in The Thin Man, and his last name, Garfield, is the street I grew up
on. I began writing Liz as Lizzie, but within the first few pages she objected.
Lizzie wasn’t serious enough for a PhD, so she shortened her name on her own.
Only her father and ex-husband get away with calling her Lizzie. Honestly? I
don’t remember where Cooper came from. Liz truly named herself. The gal is very
sure of who she is.
M&M: What is your idea of a favorite vacation?
If you had asked me three
years ago, I would have answered “a trip to Egypt or Mexico to view the
pyramids.” I adore exploring the past, but lately my expeditions are for novel
research. Now I’m thinking a week on a Hawaiian beach under an umbrella with a
bag full of mystery novels, a dish of macadamia nuts, and a cup of lemonade
sounds like heaven.
M&M: is there something you would like to tell you
your readers?
Yes, yes—thank you for
embracing Liz, Nick, Robin, Dave, Viv, and the rest of the gang. I had so much
fun writing them and I’m thrilled my readers fell into the story and went along
for the ride! It feels like I’m introducing my favorite people to new
friends.
M&M: Leave us with your future writing plans.
Bruja Brouhaha, the second
novel in the Mind For Murder Mystery series will be out in August 2012, and I’m
writing the third novel now. There are so many interesting and complex shades
of the occult to keep Liz and Nick busy for a long time. Murder with a
supernatural twist fascinates me.
Thank you so much for
inviting me here to chat with you and your readers. Mystery lovers rock!
Rochelle Staab, a former award-winning radio programmer and
music industry marketing executive, blended her fascination with the
supernatural and her love for mystery in WHO DO, VOODOO? the first novel in her
Mind for Murder Mystery series for Berkley Prime Crime.
