Saturday, October 9, 2010

Interview with Nancy Famolari

Come check out Nancy Famolari, she's the author of this mystery novel Murder in Montbleu. If that looks good, you have to check out her other books too, and her websites, and her blogs, and you have to follow her updates!!!

Website: http://sites.google.com/site/nancyfamolari/

My Space: http://www.myspace.com/nancyfamolari/
Facebook: http://www.new.facebook.com/friends/
Blogs: http://nancygfamolari.blogspot.com/
            http://nancyfamolari.wordpress.com/

But, if you're like me and have dial-up, just stick around here and check out this awesome new interview Nancy did with me:

     Heather: It’s so wonderful to have you on my blog! So the latest from your writer’s den is Murder in Montbleu. Can you tell us a little about where you got the inspiration to write this story?
     Nancy: I love mysteries, so I wanted to write a mystery. This was my first attempt. I chose a small town setting in Northeastern Pennsylvania much like Montbleu because I live in a town like that, and it made location easier to write about. The town has many gracious Victorian houses, but there are a few anomalies. My first idea for the story came from an anomaly, a fieldstone contemporary set among all the Victorians. Then I thought about a wife obsessing about her husband having an affair. She might drive by the house where her rival lived. What if she saw his car race down the driveway? That was the start of the story. Once I had the house it just came to me. Although it made the location easy to write about, I have to say none of my friends and neighbors have quite the exciting life the characters have (at least I don't think so!).

     Heather: How long did it take you to weave this carefully constructed tale?

     Nancy: I wrote Murder in Montbleu in a month during Nanowrimo. I love Nanowrimo. It keeps me focused. However, that's the easy part. Whoever said, writing is rewriting, was absolutely right. It took me about four months and several tries to get the book to where I was happy with it.

     Heather: Was it hard to tie up all the loose ends to such a complex story?

     Nancy: Tying up loose ends is always hard. In mysteries you have to be particularly vigilant. Mystery readers read very carefully because they're looking for clues. Even the last time I went through the manuscript (and I'd been through it at least 20 times), I found details that had to be made just right to keep all threads together.

     Heather: What was your favorite chapter?

     Nancy: My favorite chapter is Chapter Nine. Chess Devon, Deputy Police Chief, interviews Miss Hattie Pershing. Hattie lives across the street from the house in which the murder was committed. She's a busy body, always looking out her front window to see what the neighbors are doing. She's also very old, never married, and talks constantly. I loved writing about Miss Hattie and Chess' frustration with getting her to answer direct questions.

     Heather: For all of those aspiring writers out there, what advice would you give them?

     Nancy: Apply your seat to the chair and learn your craft. Writing is great fun, particularly in the creation stage where you get to meet your characters and work out the plot. However, making the story work takes a lot of rewriting and rethinking. Having been through the process several times, I've gotten very fond of the polishing phase, but, it takes a lot of time sitting at the typewriter and checking facts.

     Heather: Thank you, again, for being my guest on Down to the Core!

     Nancy: Thanks for having me, Heather. You ask very good questions. I had fun answering them.

 
Look out tomorrow readers,
author Kathy Stemke will be visiting

12 comments:

Nancy Famolari said...

Thanks for having me today, Heather. Your setup looks great!

Unknown said...

I love Nancy's books. they're full of mystery and surprises.

DarcĂ­a Helle said...

Murder in Montbleu sounds like a book I could get lost in. Nancy, I've been hearing a lot about NaNoWriMo. great to know it works so well for some authors!

Karen Cioffi said...

Nancy, only 5 months to complete a book is fantastic. It looks so interesting. It's also very interesting how the idea for the story came to you.

I think it's so difficult to write mysteries - way to go.

I wish you much success with Murder in Montbleu.

elysabeth said...

Oh - I need to get this book and read - since I'm a big mystery fan and my reading shelf is empty and I've not made any trips to the library lately. It seems I haven't done much of anything of late but I have been busy behind the scenes. Thanks for a new find and hopefully by the end of this month I can get a copy. E :)

Elysabeth Eldering
Author of the Junior Geography Detective Squad, 50-state, mystery, trivia series

Where will the adventure take you next?

http://jgdsseries.blogspot.com
http://jgdsseries.weebly.com

Carolyn Howard-Johnson said...

Heather, thank you for bringing us information on Nancy. For all mystery lovers, you also might want to visit www.murderby4.blogspot.com. I'm sure you'll both agree, one mystery is never enough!

Best,
Carolyn Howard-Johnson
Blogging writers' resources at Writer's Digest 101 Best Websites pick www.sharingwithwriters.blogspot.com

Anonymous said...

I hosted Nancy last month and had the opportunity to delve deep into her books. I really like the paranormal spin she weaves into her mysteries. Nancy has spun a great tale using a "What if ..." scenario.

Stephen Tremp

H.C.Paye said...

Thank you all so much for stopping by and commenting! I have to agree with your comments, Murder in Montbleu even grabbed my interest, and I'm not even much a fan of mystery. Sounds like a must for everyone's book shelf to me.

Nancy - thank you for being such a wonderful guest, I'm glad you like the post!

~ Heather Paye

Nancy Famolari said...

Thanks for coming by and making such great comments! I hope you enjoy Murder in Monbleu!

Donna McDine said...

Nancy, your book sounds quite intriquing and it's made it on to my must purchase and read list.

Best wishes to you both for your continue success!

Warm regards,
Donna

Martha said...

I love a good mystery. This one sounds just wonderful.
Good luck.
Martha Swirzinski
www.movementplus.com

Dallas said...

Mysteries are so fun to read, and it's neat to get a glimpse as to how they are written. Thanks for a great interview!