Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Author Interview - David Fingerman - Mystery/Suspense


Congratulations to the Winner!!

Linda

       Thank you all for stopping in to read about our guest, David Fingerman, mystery/thriller author. We’re on location at the cemetery today and not because it’s a crime scene from his book but for a more important reason than that. David’s parents passed before his books were in print and they  never got to know that David became a published author. So, today, we’re here to share David’s books not only with you, but also with his parents so they will know the great things that are happening with their son. Please grab a warm cup of coffee or hot chocolate and have a seat with us. We have lots of warm blankets for those who need them.




Deanna:  David, thank you so much for sharing this with us! I know your parents have been following you in their own way. Tell us a bit about yourself that our readers might not know.

David:  Hi, Deanna.  First, let me say thank you for letting me appear on your blog.  People say I'm quiet and keep to myself.  Oh wait, everybody already knows that.  Well, let's see ~ considering the stuff I write, I'm actually quite a peaceful (and sane) person.  Unlike my characters, I do try to avoid confrontation. 

Deanna:  What made you want to become a writer?

David:  I can't not write. (Ha, Ms. Sexton, I did learn something in your high school English class – double negatives.)  Writing is something that I love to do.  I also love to tell stories.  You know how some people can make really witty comebacks without missing a beat?  That's not me.  I can come up with zingers, but usually the next day.  In writing I can get away with that.

Deanna:  Do you write under a pen name?

David:  I haven't yet.  I like to tell people that I haven't yet written anything that I'm too ashamed to put my name to.  But seriously I am considering it because I am writing in different genres.

Deanna:  As authors, we love all of our characters. Is there a certain type of character that is easier to write than another?

David:  Evil = easy.  I love writing nasty characters.  So far (knocking on wood) I have never gotten writer's block while writing an evil character.  In Silent Kill, Andrew is the calmest, most laid back person in the book.  I had a hell of a time writing some of his scenes.

Deanna:  I've roamed through your website. You've got a lot of stuff there that will interest our readers, for sure! Tell our readers a little about your book, Silent Kill.

David:  Police must follow a labyrinth, leading into the darkest tunnel of a twisted mind. A mind that carries no value for human life... Minneapolis police officer Louise Miller has attitude. Not only does she have to deal with the good old boy mentality of the department, but she's also a gay police officer who has to deal with harassment on a higher level. When one of her few friends on the force goes missing Miller investigates, despite her captain's order to leave it to the detectives. As Miller scours the precinct for any sign of the missing officer, Elias Boughton is on a psychopathic rampage.

Kidnapping and murder are games he plays, blindly obeying a voice from his past. As the body count rises, Miller is convinced the detectives are heading in the wrong direction. Trying to fit the puzzle together, each clue revolves around a particular Rottweiler. As the mystery unravels so does her life, and the case becomes more personal than she ever dared imagine.

Deanna:  I love mystery/thriller novels and for some reason, many of us love being scared! Not sure I understand that but I DO know that! Where can our readers find out more about you and your books?

David:  On my website they’ll find links to Twitter, my Blog, FB, and more. You are all welcome to stop by.

Deanna:  Readers, you can find LOTS of info about Dave, his books, his tour dates/links, his blogs and what’s he up to. Do you read in the same genre that you write in?

David:  Yes, and then some.  My favorite genre is suspense, but good writing is good writing.  I'll read most genres as long as it's well done.

Deanna:  What's a typical day in your life as a writer?

David:  The excitement never stops.  I get up, feed the cat, feed me, get cleaned up, check emails and websites I belong to, read the paper (online), do the crossword puzzle (online), then write for a few hours, take a break for lunch and if the weather is nice, maybe go out for a walk, then write a few more hours.  (I know, settle down, cowboy.)  I try to treat my writing like a job and put in about six hours/day Monday through Friday

Deanna:  Most of us have pretty vivid imaginations when it comes to story lines. Where do your story ideas come from?

David:  Everywhere.  Some stories were ignited from songs that I heard, snippets of conversation, cloud formations, graffiti, etc.  I spent over twenty years in the court system and witnessed all sorts of human (and inhuman) behavior that I've used for character traits and story ideas.

Deanna:  Are your friends and family supportive?

David:  Very much so.  Unfortunately, my parents are no longer alive and never got to see my first book.  I remember when I first started serious writing, I wouldn't let anyone read my stories until they were published.  My first published story was about a man who inadvertently stopped souls from entering into the next realm.  My mother read it and said, "Well isn't that . . . interesting." Still, she was proud and always supportive.

Deanna:  Why the switch from supernatural short stories to a non-supernatural novel?

David:  Silent Kill is a particular story I wanted to tell.  I actually did have thoughts about adding a supernatural element when I started, but the deeper I got the more it said to me that this was supposed to be a straight suspense/thriller.  Have no fears.  Along with the third book in the Louise Miller series (the sequel, Playing the Hand She's Dealt will be released next year) I'm also writing a horror novel.

Deanna:  Are you afraid people will think of you as your evil character?

David:  Bwahahahahah!  Let them.

Deanna:  LOL  Very good, David, I love it! Do you work harder now, or when you had a 'real' job?

David:  I work much harder now as a writer.  It takes a lot more discipline to be in charge of your own time.  Besides, if I don't work hard at this writing thing, my wife will make me go out and get a 'real' job.

Deanna:  Many of us can relate to that, but writing is basically a solitary life as far as writing goes. How important is a support group of writers?

David:  I find it invaluable.  I belong to two writers' groups.  Not only is the support there (they know exactly what you're going through), but so are the critiques.  They catch not only grammatical errors, but also what does and doesn't work in the plot, what needs more work, etc.

Deanna:  Do you base your characters on real people, or are they completely made up?

David: It's a combination.  Certain character traits that I see will be incorporated in my writing.  If I'm walking down the street and see someone with an odd limp or facial tick ~ one of my characters is going to have an odd limp or facial tick.  I just have to make sure that my character's personality isn't similar to anyone I know, or at least different enough that they would never recognize themselves.

Deanna:  What is the easiest and hardest part of writing for you?

David:  The hardest part for me is description.  You can't just say "It was a hot and sunny day" ~ boring!  You have to fill in the details.  "The sun beat down, its rays drilling a migraine into Louise's skull."   Setting the scene is necessary filler so the reader can see in their mind what you're writing about, and also it adds depth to the character.  The easiest writing for me is dialogue.  I can almost hear the conversation in my head as I write so I can make it sound natural.

Deanna:  Who or what were you in a prior life?

David:  If there is such a thing, I think that I must have been an Irish musician.  I don't have a drop of Irish in me know (that I know of), but there is some Irish music that when I hear it, I'll stop whatever I'm doing and melt.  I'm also guessing that I was a lighthouse keeper at one time.  I can find no other explanation as to why I've always found lighthouses so fascinating.

Deanna:  Then you have to hop over to my website and click the tab ‘About Me’ and check out my upcoming novel, Whispers at Ghost Point’ which is about a ghost in an abandoned light house in SC!

Thank you for being with us today, David. I hope you’ll soon have more followers on your site and many more readers of your books. Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?

David: I know they love contests so I will pick a winner from those who leave me a comment here, a question, or just to chat. I’ll be around for that, too. The winner will receive a signed copy of Silent Kill! Thank you all for reading about me; I’ve enjoyed our time together!


17 comments:

  1. Hi David, I enjoyed your interview immensely and I'd love to read SK. Great cover, btw. I loved when you said 'double negatives' and I love lighthouses as well. I know your parents are very proud of you. I want to write a true crime novel. Aside from reading a bunch of it would you please give me some advice as to how to get started? Thanks. I really would love to win your book. It would be such a fantastic Halloween treat! All the best to you. OH, and pass me one of those warm blankets, please!

    Meljprincess AT aol DOT com

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  2. Thank you Meljprincess (great name) ~ the best advice I can give you to get started is to just get started. Oftentimes, starting is the hardest part. I'm guessing you're very busy (who isn't?), but try to set a little time aside each day until it becomes a habit. Once you get going, the more you write the easier and better it gets. Good luck ~ and here's a blanket.

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  3. I lost my dad before I wad published too, David. But they will still know about it, I'm sure. Great post.

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  4. Thank you Margaret. I'm sure they're smiling down on us. : )

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  5. Hi David:

    Not being an avid reader, I am surprised how excited I am to get a copy of your book to read. I love thrillers, suspense, horror so it would seem a perfect fit for a read for me. Plus, when you become so famous and you own an island, I can sell the signed copy of Silent Kill for mega $$$, retire and move to your island.

    Your honest approach in this interview was refreshing and fun for me to read. Thanks for sharing!

    Jo Kumpula

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  6. This was an excellent interview. Nice to read about some of the behind-the-scenes and the process of what goes into your writing. Your comment on description was interesting and I'm curious, can a writer over-describe?

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  7. *Passing out more warm blankets and refilling coffees*

    Thank you to everyone who is stopping by to chat with and read about David's newest book! We're so glad you joined us. Please leave a comment for David and you'll be in the drawing for his signed book. His website has more tour dates so you can follow him.

    David, Thanks so much for being with us. We appreciate that you shared so much today. Best of luck with your book and your tour.

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  8. hey jo - you're more than welcome on the island.

    hi mike - yes! a writer can defintely over-describe.

    thank you, deanna!!!

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  9. I enjoyed the interview as well and look forward to roaming around David's website. Now, if I'm understanding correctly, David enjoys the characters the most who are the least like him. Interesting. I just took a sneak peek on Kindle (man! that dog on the cover is intense!!!) and it looks REALLY good. Congrats, David.

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  10. hi linda. i was really pleased with the cover, also. thanks for stopping by.

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  11. David, Deanna I loved the interview. Your example of discription fascinated me. It's something I struggle with. :-)
    I do have a question, please. Do you find it easy/difficult to get 'inside' Louise Miller's head/personality?
    Oh! I have read some of Deanna' Lighthouse ghost story, you'll all love it.

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  12. Hi Sherry!!! Thanks so much for stopping by and for the wonderful support of my upcoming book. Hopefully in mid Nov I can slow down enough to get some more writing done!

    Linda, thanks for stopping in also! Everyone has been so nice and the several are taking a peek, but no leaving a comment and that's ok too!

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  13. hi sherry ~ at first it was a little difficult because she was originally supposed to be a minor character, but once i got to know louise she kind of took over and it was easy from then on. i struggle with description too. it's a fine line between not giving enough information and over burdening the reader. that's where editing comes in. : )

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  14. LOL! Thanks for the blanket, David. It's cold today and I'm using it again. Also thank you for your advice. I really appreciate it.
    That name was given to me by my hubby. I'm his Princess. Awww! Makes ya wanna barf, no? lol!
    Now I need to find a killer to interview....

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  15. and the winner is . . . drum roll, please . . . LINDA!

    CONGRATULATIONS!

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  16. Congrats Linda. David your book sounds really good. Great cover. I love suspense/thriller. I read many genres. As long as they are well written I know I will enjoy that book.
    Sue B

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  17. thanks so much, katsrus. i really do hope you like it.

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