If you’re looking for this week’s book giveaway, Catriona McPherson will announce it today. If you’re
looking for What Are You Reading?, come back tomorrow.
Today, it’s an honor to host author Catriona McPherson. She has two books due out this season, and she’s willing to talk about the craziness of doing that. She’s going to address “The Question”. Thank you, Catriona.
The Question
You know the one I mean. The question authors get asked
and mumble incoherently over. The question that seems so straightforward to
readers who look at the incoherently mumbling authors in bewilderment. Yes,
that question.
and mumble incoherently over. The question that seems so straightforward to
readers who look at the incoherently mumbling authors in bewilderment. Yes,
that question.
Well, I’ve got an answer. And if I only had one book
coming out this autumn, I’d be feeling pretty smug. Unfortunately, I’ve got two
books coming out this autumn. And only the one answer. Plus some
incoherent mumbling.
coming out this autumn, I’d be feeling pretty smug. Unfortunately, I’ve got two
books coming out this autumn. And only the one answer. Plus some
incoherent mumbling.
Pray read on, gentle Critiques fan.
Where I got my idea (you did know that was the question,
right?) for Strangers at the Gate is as follows: we went for dinner with
friends, my husband and me. At the end of the evening, we left. A minute – if
that – later I realised I’d left my bag in their house. So we doubled back on
the street – not even half a block away – and rang the bell.
right?) for Strangers at the Gate is as follows: we went for dinner with
friends, my husband and me. At the end of the evening, we left. A minute – if
that – later I realised I’d left my bag in their house. So we doubled back on
the street – not even half a block away – and rang the bell.
There was no answer.
We stared at one
another. There hadn’t been time for our friends to fall asleep, get in a loud
shower, walk to the far end of the garden to look at the stars, or even start a
scorching verbal domestic dispute that had left them seething and unconcerned
about doorbells.
another. There hadn’t been time for our friends to fall asleep, get in a loud
shower, walk to the far end of the garden to look at the stars, or even start a
scorching verbal domestic dispute that had left them seething and unconcerned
about doorbells.
Where were they?
Standing there on the doorstep, I thought I knew. I
reckoned there was at least a chance they were dead. And not just dead: hacked
to lumps and bleeding out, their killer still standing over them, chest heaving
and knife dripping.
reckoned there was at least a chance they were dead. And not just dead: hacked
to lumps and bleeding out, their killer still standing over them, chest heaving
and knife dripping.
Where I went wrong was saying any of that out loud. By
the time one of the friends – awake, alive, unhacked, not lumpy – answered the
door, my husband was giving me the look. The one that says What is it
with you?
the time one of the friends – awake, alive, unhacked, not lumpy – answered the
door, my husband was giving me the look. The one that says What is it
with you?
And Pouf! Strangers at the Gate was born: a dinner
party, a forgotten bag, two corpses. And a couple staring at one another,
thinking What is it with you. Add a fictional town in the
Scottish borders, in such a deep and narrow valley that there’s no sunlight all
winter long, and a cast of minor characters, all with their own dreams and
secrets . . . why the book practically wrote itself.
party, a forgotten bag, two corpses. And a couple staring at one another,
thinking What is it with you. Add a fictional town in the
Scottish borders, in such a deep and narrow valley that there’s no sunlight all
winter long, and a cast of minor characters, all with their own dreams and
secrets . . . why the book practically wrote itself.
Compared, that is, with A Step So Grave. It should
have been easy. This is book thirteen in a series and I know the characters
inside out – a gently-born detective, Dandy Gilver, her charming (but still a
bit shell-shocked from WWI) Watson, her stuffed-shirt of a husband (who
sometimes surprises her), her exasperating sons, her snooty butler, her
bumptious maid, her devoted cook, and her Dalmatian. Plus I went on a solo
research trip to the location to immerse myself in the atmosphere of the West
Highlands.
have been easy. This is book thirteen in a series and I know the characters
inside out – a gently-born detective, Dandy Gilver, her charming (but still a
bit shell-shocked from WWI) Watson, her stuffed-shirt of a husband (who
sometimes surprises her), her exasperating sons, her snooty butler, her
bumptious maid, her devoted cook, and her Dalmatian. Plus I went on a solo
research trip to the location to immerse myself in the atmosphere of the West
Highlands.
And what a location! Applecross is a gloriously remote, gloriously picturesque
bit of Wester Ross, reached by one of the worst (or best, depending on your
taste) roads in the country. Driving the bealach na ba (pass of the
cattle) would make you glad to arrive at Applecross even if all there was there
was a shut pub with a dead dog in the doorway. But what there actually is is a
beautiful bay, an cosy inn, great food, friendly people and a thousand years of
history. I’ve seldom been happier than when I was staying at the inn, eating
the food, chatting to the people, and learning the history.
Then I came home to write the book set in that evocative,
enthralling spot. And . . . nothing. I drew maps and plans, made up character
names, read and re-read the material I’d amassed and . . . nope, nothing.
I wrote a book set in a ballroom dancing hall in Glasgow instead.
enthralling spot. And . . . nothing. I drew maps and plans, made up character
names, read and re-read the material I’d amassed and . . . nope, nothing.
I wrote a book set in a ballroom dancing hall in Glasgow instead.
Then two years later, I sat down to write a book set in Galloway, about the flooding of a valley and immersion of a town during the construction of the hydro-electric system there, and guess what
happened. Pouf! Out came a story about Applecross. Dandy Gilver’s son had got himself engaged to the daughter of the family who owned Applecross House and the whole Gilver clan was off to the Highlands for the engagement party. A famous knot-garden, a family curse, a shedload of folklore and a corpse in the snow . . . out it all came.
But if anyone asks me where the idea was for two years or
what shook it out of me in the end . . . I’ve got nothing.
what shook it out of me in the end . . . I’ve got nothing.
If you’d like to compare a book that came easy with a
book that came hard and late and from nowhere, I’m giving away a copy of both
new novels. Just comment here on Lesa’s blog and I’ll pick a name out of the
hat by the end of the week.
book that came hard and late and from nowhere, I’m giving away a copy of both
new novels. Just comment here on Lesa’s blog and I’ll pick a name out of the
hat by the end of the week.
*****
Catriona McPherson is the national best-selling and
multi-award-winning author of the Dandy Gilver series of preposterous detective
stories, set in her native Scotland in the 1930s. She also writes darker
contemporary suspense novels, of which STRANGERS AT THE GATE is the latest.
Also, eight years after immigrating to the US and settling in California,
Catriona began the Last Ditch series, written about a completely fictional Scottish woman who moves to a completely fictional west-coast
college town.
multi-award-winning author of the Dandy Gilver series of preposterous detective
stories, set in her native Scotland in the 1930s. She also writes darker
contemporary suspense novels, of which STRANGERS AT THE GATE is the latest.
Also, eight years after immigrating to the US and settling in California,
Catriona began the Last Ditch series, written about a completely fictional Scottish woman who moves to a completely fictional west-coast
college town.
Catriona is a member of MWA, CWA and SoA, and a proud lifetime member and former national president of Sisters in Crime, committed to advancing equity and inclusion for women, writers of
colour, LGBTQ+ writers and writers with disability in the mystery community.
Great post! I love her explanation of the inspiration for the first book, which does sound great.
Fascinating!
Who knows where the muse winds blow from?
I agree, Jeff. Doesn't it make that book sound intriguing?
You never know what will inspire a book, do you, Libby?
I like the dinner party story.
Liked the "Where did that come from" look. Eerie premise for a book. I could picture myself waiting for the door to be answered and wondering where they were.
I am a fan of the Dandy series and the story behind Strangers at the Gate hooked me. Thank you for the chance to win.
Catriona, anything you come up with is fine with me. Your Dandy Gilver series allows us to spend time with familiar folks and have fun doing it. Your creepy standalones are second to none if we keep all the lights on. Keep 'em coming, please!
I have to say I'd be having similar thoughts while waiting at the door. So what is wrong with me? 😀 Of course this idea intrigues me. Love Dandy and all the characters. Can't wait to read both books.
Great post. Always heartening to learn that Catriona struggles too, and always bracing to find out where she winds up at the end of that struggle. Can't wait to read both.
Fascinating post and creative ideas. The Dandy Silver series is entertaining and unique.
This comment has been removed by the author.
I love the Danny Gilver books and was fascinated by the way the plot of the new one emerged.
Both books seem like winners—no matter how or when your mischievous muse decided to whisper in your ear.
As a someone who tried to teach writing to 8th graders who always wailed, I don't know what to write about!, I'm fascinated with the question of where ideas come from. It's easy to understand why the Dandy Gilver book may have taken time to develop. I wish I had known these experiences to share with students when I was teaching. Thanks for this wonderful year of books, such a pleasure to have these new books from you!
Thanks for your answers, Catriona! Love the way the muse works …
I have Strangers at the Gate on hold at the library (San Diego). And need to catch up on Dandy, but perhaps number 13 (any reason that number held off the muse for two years? hmmm) could be read as stand-alone.
And thanks, Lesa, as always for bringing authors new to me and new authors to a wider audience.
~Tricia
Books need to take you to another world. Love Catriona's books for this and so much more! Thanks again for writing.
I so enjoyed this post. And both of these new books sound mighty fine….as are all of Ms McPerson's books! How wonderful to look forward to reading them!
Both stories were priceless. I don't know where a book goes when it hibernates. A story I've been working on for fifteen years (still unfinished) kees doing that. But I thought the things that ran through your mind for the first book were brilliant. Who wouldn't wonder why the house became so silent so soon? Did you ever find out why?
I will have to confess I haven’t ever read any of the past books. Now might be a good time to check them out.
Thank you, everyone, for your comments for Catriona. I love stories behind the stories.
Both books sound great! I have to admit that I'm interested in reading the book that took two years to come to you though.
I love the inspiration behind Strangers at the Gate. I must admit, I can relate all too well to the scenarios the imagination can dream up.
kozo8989@hotmail.com
The story gave me the willies! And now I have to read it!
I never ask where an author's idea came from, I guess I'm just happy reading the book.
I loved both books and it’s high time you picked my name outta that hat, missy. Xox
And Finta is the alias of Ann Mason. Long story. Won’t bore you.
Thanks, everyone! I'm glad you all enjoyed Catriona's post.
I loved picturing the expression on Catriona's husband's face at her conjecture.
Great post, both books sounds great. And, Catriona, I don't know where those ideas come from but keep them coming. Even your blog posts are priceless.
At least you have a good answer for "the question" for one book. Looking forward to reading your latest releases! mbradeen [at] yahoo [dot] com
I love hearing about the inspiration for books! Thank you for sharing.
lag110 at yahoo dot com
Interesting. I'd love to read either or both so just to be sure I will check with my library for them.
How authors get their characters and plots on paper is a source of constant amazement to me. I think they're wizards. I'd love to have a copy of each of these books, thanks so much for the chance to win them. crs(at)codedivasites(dot)com
Ha! I loved your story about when you and your husband went back to a friend's house to retrieve your bag and letting your imagination run wild while the friend took awhile to answer the door. Love it! I, also, would love to read about Applecross. I'm adding these titles to my TBR list.
Enjoyed the post today, love hearing authors insights on how they come up with their reads! Would love to receive either one!
I loved this explanation, and I'll remember not to ask "the question" in the future. Thanks so much for the chance to win what sounds like two interesting and entertaining books.
Oh, I don't know, Charlie Horse. If no one ever asked the question, Catriona wouldn't have had a column. (smile)
I really enjoyed reading this! I love reading about the inspiration for books. – Trish
Great post. It's always interesting to hear about an author's creative process!