How do you write a book while you hold a full-time job?
By writing at very strange hours. I've never been able to keep to a certain number of pages, words, or time per day for writing my book. It can't work when job demands creep up and keep me occupied for long periods. Sometimes I write for two hours, sometimes for eight or twelve hours. It depends on how the writing flows and time available.
Are you a nurse?
I'm a public health researcher, not a nurse. However, I've worked in clinical settings with nurses and other health professionals for most of my research career.
Is Evening Shift a medical mystery?
I define a medical mystery as one where the protagonist must unravel the unknown medical link that is causing deaths. The killings in Evening Shift have straighforward causes. The questions are who and why. Samantha discovers the true motive behind the primary murder and solves the crime. She gives police leads to close other cases.
Did you decide whodunit before you started writing?
Yes. Perhaps it's the researcher in me -- I've got to know where I'm going or I feel I won't know how to get there. I figured out everything -- victim, murderer, means, motive, opportunity before I began.
Don't you allow any changes in your original plan?
The basic elements of the plot didn't change. I allowed the flexibility in subplots. I also changed the the location of certain scenes if I felt it would be better for the story.
Are any of your characters people you know?
The fictional characters were created out of my imagination. Most characters are composites of several similar individuals who I've seen. I also drew on my scientific experience in clinical settings to recreate certain situations.
Depending on the story, the nonfictional characters may be people I've met. It's easy to tell by the story itself.
How can you write fiction, nonfiction, and scholarly works?
Good writing is good writing. There are similarities to all of these types of writing. Each form emphasizes different aspects of writing. It's important not to mix the forms, which can be difficult at times. But I think it's worth the effort!
Do you belong to a critique group?
Yes, and I'm very grateful for their advice. It's an unusual group. I'm the only mystery writer. But we all strive to learn what the writers in other genres need to make their books work and tailor our comments as necessary. I find the diversity of backgrounds very helpful. We each bring a different perspective.
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