Interview with Suspense Author Peter Abrahams

Written by Jennifer Minar


Interview with Thriller Writer Peter Abrahams by Jennifer Minar

Peter Abrahams isrepparttar author of thirteen novels, including "The Tutor," (Ballantine Books) "A Perfect Crime," (Ballantine Books), "The Fan" (Fawcett Books), and most recently, "Their Wildest Dreams" (Ballantine Books).

Known for his sharp wit and incredible gift for keeping readers onrepparttar 128994 edge of their seats, Abrahams has been entertaining readers for more than two decades--spinning multi-layered tales involving ordinary people who find themselves in horrific situations. Nominated forrepparttar 128995 Edgar Award, and known for his memorable, unique characters, colorful writing style, and non-stop suspense, Peter Abrahams seems to have it all--evenrepparttar 128996 praise of horror author Stephen King.

Here is what he had to tell Writer's Break.

THE INTERVIEW

WB: What formal training did you have before becoming an author?

Peter: I had little formal training. My mother--who wrote television drama--taught me a lot about writing when I was very young. For example--don't use linking words between sentences (however, nevertheless, etc.), but use linked ideas, mood, rhythm.

WB: What's a typical writing day like for you?

Peter: Typical writing day--I drive my daughter to school, hitrepparttar 128997 gym, then breakfast and finallyrepparttar 128998 office, where I work from about 10 to 5. Late in a book I sometimes do more after dinner.

WB: How long does it typically take for you to complete a novel?

Peter: The actual writing of a book takes me 5-6 months if everything is going well. I wouldn't call myself fast, just steady.

WB: What inspired you to write your latest novel, “Their Wildest Dreams”?

Peter: I don't know if inspired isrepparttar 128999 word. I've often got little ideas drifting around in my mind. Inrepparttar 129000 case of "THEIR WILDEST DREAMS," I was thinking a struggling woman and a Russian immigrant and a heist gone bad. Then, on Don Imus's radio show, I heard Delbert McClinton singing a song called When Rita Leaves. Most ofrepparttar 129001 story--Mackie,repparttar 129002 southwest,repparttar 129003 dude ranch, Buckaroo's--came to me inrepparttar 129004 next five minutes.

The Why's, How's and Where's of Research

Written by Lisa Hood


When I decided to write a murder mystery; with my main characters asrepparttar investigators, I had a few problems to overcome:

1) I have never been murdered 2) I have never committed a murder 3) I have never investigated a murder 4) I have never known anyone who has been murdered, committed a murder nor investigated a murder

I’m sure, as a writer, you have heardrepparttar 128992 cliché, “Write what you know”. So herein lays my dilemma. Obviously not all murder mysteries have been written by authors with first hand knowledge. Of course we know there are cops (John Douglas), robbers (Donald Goines), lawyers (John Grisham) and medical examiners (Patricia Cornwell) who use their personal experiences to create factual fiction. The rest of use though, must rely on thorough research.

Why Conduct Research?

After all, it is fiction, right? Well yes and no. If you are writing Fantasy or Sci Fi, you have a bit more latitude, but even so, research could prove beneficial. For example, you may discover a new invention or scientific theory which you can build upon. You may learn of a certain insect or animal with ritualistic behavior that you can incorporate into one of your creatures.

Forrepparttar 128993 rest of us though, research is non negotiable. If you have based any part of your story inrepparttar 128994 “real world” in a real place, developed characters with real personality traits or real occupations, then someone, somewhere will knowrepparttar 128995 facts. They will recognize your ignorance in a heartbeat and likely lose respect for you as an author.

For me, there is nothing better than losing myself in a good book, so when I run across a blatant error or oversight, it snaps me back intorepparttar 128996 real world. Then I forget aboutrepparttar 128997 story itself and start critiquing all that came before or will come after.

Not only will your research build your audience’s confidence, it will build your own. As you learn more, you can apply that knowledge. You may learn that something doesn’t workrepparttar 128998 way you thought it did. You’re surprised. Suppose your character stumbles upon this bit of information too? Now they can be surprised. Or maybe they can berepparttar 128999 expert, who explains awayrepparttar 129000 misconception to your audience. It could be something small, or something so significant it changesrepparttar 129001 course of your story.

Research allows you to make informed decisions. I’ve also found it helps me get past writing blocks or awkward transitions. I’ve included: crime statistics, historical references and details on personality traits (one of my characters suffers from depression so I’ve added a lot of information on mental health and treatments).

A Research Strategy Once you’ve decided to conduct research for your story, you may be overwhelmed. The first thing you need to do is define your goal. Research is merelyrepparttar 129002 act of searching for an answer. So what is your question? It’s critical they are specific as possible. You can waste many hours surfing through endless web pages or reading articles and books, getting sidetracked and frustrated. It may help if you determine why you need this information and what you plan to do with it.

Cont'd on page 2 ==>
 
ImproveHomeLife.com © 2005
Terms of Use