I met mystery/YA/nonfiction author Darlene Ryan online about a year ago (I think that’s about right…). She won a book in one of my contests. She and her hubby, Mr. Wonderful, did a joint review of the book. It was fabulous. Since then, they’ve done a few other joint reviews. In fact, I just packed up a bunch of books and sent them to Darlene in the hope that I can get the two of them to write another joint review {hint, hint}.
In addition to writing awesome book reviews, Darlene is an author and blogger. She is one of the founders of Poe’s Deadly Daughters, a blog for mystery lovers (and one of my favs). Darlene agreed to stop by today and chat with all of us…and there’s a giveaway at the bottom, so keep reading.
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Why do I write mysteries? I had this discussion just recently. It was a little weird.
I should have known better. Any discussion that I get involved in while wearing one of those oh-so-stunning hospital gowns always goes badly for me, although to be fair, the discussion didn’t end with someone sticking a light somewhere the creator did not intend for there to be illumination, which is what usually happens to me when I’m dressed like that.
But I digress. I’m in my breezy green gown. I’m cold. I’m crabby. (I’m growing my hair again.) I’m scribbling notes in a little purple notebook because I’ve suddenly figured out how to fix the giant logic hole in chapter eight. Nothing about me says, “Talk to me.” The hair alone should have been a warning. Still she said, “What are you writing?”
I looked up. She was sitting across from me—a woman in her late thirties, in the same kind of bilious green gown, except on her it somehow worked. Her gown fit. Was it possible it was somehow ironed? And who knew that color could be flattering on anyone? Then there was her hair—a sleek, shiny Katie (whoops, sorry Mr. Cruise) Kate Holmes bob. My hair was refusing to do anything like that. My hair was refusing to do anything at all. So you can understand that although she’d only said four words to me, I wasn’t feeling friendly. “Just making some notes,” I said and bent back over the paper.
“What for?” she asked.
I should have said I was making a grocery list or writing my last will and testament or even penning a fan letter to Matt Lauer but no, I had to say, “I’m a writer.”
“What are you writing?”
“This one’s a mystery,” I said, giving her my polite, I’m-busy-don’t-talk-to-me smile.
She leaned back and crossed her legs. She was wearing cute black shoes with beading on the toe, which, I swear, went with the hospital gown. (I was wearing black Crocs with one regular sock and one men’s sweat sock because it was the only thing that would fit over my post-surgery foot.) But I digress again.
“Why a mystery?” she asked.
I shrugged. “I like to read them.”
“You like to read them? That’s it?”
“Uh huh. The good guys win in the end. The bad guys lose. Most of the time, anyway. I like that.” I gave her the polite smile again.
“But don’t you think mysteries are essentially explorations of flexible morality?” she asked, uncrossing her legs and leaning across the space between us. “You’re aware that they shape society’s definitions of what’s acceptable and what isn’t?”
“I…uh…suppose,” I said. (I told you the conversation was weird.)
She continued talking about the elasticity of society’s morals, deterioration of ethical standards and how it was all reflected in mysteries and thrillers, while I looked around for a nurse, an x-ray tech or a window ledge I could reach if I stood on my chair. Thankfully, the clerk called my name then and I scrambled down the hall and into the x-ray room.
While the x-ray tech twisted my body into positions I haven’t been able to get into since I was in my twenties, I thought about what the woman had asked me. Why am I writing a mystery? She may be right. Maybe they do reflect the elasticity of society’s morals. Look at the success of Jeff Lindsay’s Darkly Dreaming Dexter, whose “hero” is a serial killer. He’s a long way from Agatha Christie’s Hercule Poirot. Maybe mysteries are a reflection of what’s happening to our society’s ethics. But that’s not why I’m writing a mystery. I’m writing one because I like reading them. .
So, do you read mysteries? And if you do, why?
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Leave a comment here and you’ll be entered to win a super gift from Darlene – a copy of her YA book (which is perfect for adults too) RULES FOR LIFE and some chocolate goodies. I’ll pick a winner on Wednesday and post the person’s name here. Good luck!!
UPDATE: We have a winner – Amanda!!! Congrats!!! Email me with your contact info and I’ll pass it on to Darlene.
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