So You Want to Be a Mystery Writer?

Posted on May 05, 2016 Topic : Fiction

We asked author Mary Ellis five burning questions about becoming a mystery / suspense writer and about her new series, Secrets of the South Mysteries.

Q: You are well known for your Amish and historical fiction novels. What was your inspiration for venturing into the mystery / suspense genre? Was your approach for this different than for the other series you’ve written? What excites you most about writing mysteries?

A: I believe a reader’s tastes change over time, and the same can be said for an author. When I found myself reading more romantic suspense and mysteries than either historical sagas or Amish romances, then I knew I wanted to try writing them. I love creating these faster-paced books with plenty of plot twists.

Q: As an author writing crime drama for the Christian fiction marketplace, is it difficult to create the authentic and edgy suspense that fans of this genre expect while still being sensitive to the limits of taste that exist within your market? How do you balance these seemingly opposite demands?

A: Absolutely, it is. My first foray into the genre, Midnight on the Mississippi, contained a few scenes that had to be tweaked so not to offend sensitive tastes. My Harvest House editor, Kim Moore, patiently guided me through the process. She helps me create stories about Christian PI’s functioning in a fallen world that are still tasteful. Now that I’m writing the 4th of the series, that fine line becomes easier to walk.

Q: Each book in the series features a different protagonist as lead investigator. What are the advantages and disadvantages of this method as opposed to having one central character that readers follow throughout the course of a series?

A: I’ve always loved series with one central character like in the TV show Murder She Wrote. But after a while, wouldn’t the authorities grow suspicious of Jessica Fletcher? Everywhere the woman went bodies turned up. I like having characters carry over into the next book, but I prefer to have a different PI solve each crime.

Q: When writing a mystery novel, do you have the clues and the solution worked out in your mind ahead of time or do those details fill themselves in as you go along?

A: Both, I start with a basic skeletal outline of the initial crime and any other crimes along the way. Then I make a list of suspects and possible clues. However, these fictional characters have a tendency to change things as we go along. In my next book, coming in August, I changed my mind as to who would be the murderer two-thirds of the way through. Then I had to go back and fix details in the second draft.

Q: The second book in this series, What Happened on Beale Street, has just released. What can you tell us about book three, due out this summer? Where is it located and what’s unique about it?

A: The main story of Magnolia Moonlight is set in Natchez, Mississippi. When two new PI’s try to figure out who murdered a Baptist minister, they undercover an elaborate scam to defraud charities all over the globe. Then a subplot is set in Bay St. Louis on the beautiful Gulf Coast. When Isabelle and Nate Price finally take an overdue honeymoon, they run into Izzy’s ex-husband living a dangerous double life as a card shark.

Now that you've solved the mystery of what it takes to be a suspense writer, go on the case with Mary...