|
Interview with CJ 8/22/06
22wb:
How did you get the idea for Sin and Vengeance?
CJ:
I was watching one man help another and I wondered about the connection
between them. My initial thoughts about Randy Black and Charlie Marston
began then. Randy's background became richer over time and once I developed
his motivations and his style I really enjoyed writing his character. It's
liberating to think about someone who is willing to do or say anything at
any time.
22wb:
When you discuss the book with readers, what do they react to?
CJ:
Most readers mention Randy immediately. They make a pained face like they'd
like to wring his neck for the awful things he does. A few people have
looked at me sideways and asked how I came up with the stunts Randy pulls
and the things he does. I tell them I'm really a nice guy and I had to work
hard to write him. Actually, he was the most fun part of the book for me.
22wb:
The first chapter plunges right in to an intense emotional situation that
some people might find controversial. What made you write the opening that
way?
CJ:
I have a funny story about that. When I was first thinking about the
connection between Sin and Vengeance and my first book Taking
Stock, I came up with that scene. I wrote it and left it on my bedside
table for a while, thinking it was a bit over the top. Several family
members came to town and stayed with us. The next morning I found someone
reading the pages I thought too racy to publish. They were certainly too
racy to share with my in-laws.
I confiscated the pages and returned them to my bedroom. Soon they were out
again and someone else was reading them. No matter what I did they kept
ending up on the kitchen table. The family liked that one chapter more than
anything they'd read previous, so I went with it. I do remember my mom
calling me two days after she'd gotten the book. She'd finished it and loved
it, but the first thing she said was that the first chapter was
interesting.
I want people to know that Sin and Vengeance is a thriller and not a
romance. There isn't a lot of sex in the book, but I put that chapter online
so people could read it before buying the book. Frequent readers don't
usually mention it.
22wb:
The book has been out almost a year now. How much progress have people made
on the contest?
CJ:
Right now the contest is wide open. Several people have solved the first
stage, but no one has solved the first message in the book. There are a few
people who email me from time to time to ask for help. They have tried many
things, but no one has hit on the most important clue I've given out. I
expect I'll give some more help when the one year anniversary rolls around.
For those people who really want to solve it, I do answer emails and I give
lots of help at book signings.
22wb:
How did you find touring bookstores and doing signings?
CJ:
I really enjoy signings. I've had some great conversations with bookstore
owners and customers alike. I've gotten some great feedback and made a
number of new friends who I hope to see year after year when I tour. I
encourage people to stop by and say hello. To quote a friend from the Fiske
Library, "Authors have lots of time to talk before they're famous." I see
lots of readers who would like to sit down and talk, but they feel awkward.
We are there for you. There's no better time to learn the stories behind the
book than sitting in a bookstore with the author.
I also want to thank those readers who have invited me to their book clubs.
I really enjoy sitting with a group who has read the book. It's great to
hear how people react to the same thing in different ways and how sometimes
the readers have insights into the characters that I didn't anticipate. That
sort of thing brings the characters to life in new ways for me.
I've also had the help of a few loyal readers who've introduced the book to
friends and family all across the country. My special thanks to them!
22wb:
Was any part of this book based on reality?
CJ:
The winery the Marstons own in Westport is based on The Westport Rivers
Vineyard and Winery on Hixbridge Road in Westport. The vineyard manager was
incredibly helpful. He allowed me to take numerous photos and gave me a
private tour of the winery. He answered dozens of questions about every
aspect of wine, grapes and the business of winemaking. They make great wines
at Westport Rivers and I encourage readers to tour the winery after reading
the book. Much of the action in the story happens there. I bring a bottle of
their sparkling wine to every book club meeting I'm invited to.
22wb:
What is your writing schedule like?
CJ:
I spent about eighteen months writing Sin and Vengeance. Most days I
write from
nine PM
to midnight. I wasn't necessarily a night person before I started writing,
but in the last seven years I've found I can work on much less sleep than I
thought possible.
22wb:
You're working on a prequel called Taking Stock. Why a prequel and
not a sequel?
CJ:
Actually, I'm doing both. Taking Stock was my first novel. I worked
on it for over 5 years before I wrote Sin and Vengeance. The second
book turned out much better than the first and I made a tough decision to
scrap the first book and start again. I changed the focus a bit and re-wrote
it with the same characters, settings and a slightly different plot. I
finished reading the entire book for the first time a few weeks ago. I am
really pleased with the story now and excited about the project again. For
me editing is where the real work begins. I have 4-6 months of editing to do
and I hope to make a spring release. That may be optimistic, but that's my
target right now.
I also have an outline for a sequel to Sin and Vengeance. I'm very
excited about that project and find myself making lots of notes and reading
source material already.
|
