Interview with Renee Horowitz
murders. Meanwhile, the reader gets a behind-the-scenes look at pharmacy. What happens when you hand that slip of paper across the pharmacy counter? Or, as one of my pharmacist readers said, "Everything that happens to Ruthie (except the murders) happened to me at one time or another.
SUITE: Do you have a day job?
RENEE: I retired recently from Arizona State University where I was a professor, teaching technical communication and industrial management.
SUITE: Do you have something you wish to accomplish with the things You write? i.e. enjoyment, challenging, fear...what do you want people to take away with them when they read your writing? Do you ever have a message?
RENEE: If I have a message, I try to be somewhat subtle about it. By making my amateur sleuth, a fifty-something pharmacist, I tried to show that an older woman could solve crimes without depending on gossip and gardening.
SUITE: What time of day do you find you are most creative?
RENEE: I'm a night person and got in the habit of working very late when my two sons were younger.
SUITE: Finally another writer that is a night person. What sort of things do you do for fun?
RENEE: Reading (when I should be writing); movies, and braille transcribing as a volunteer.
SUITE: Do you have a favorite author/authors?
RENEE: Many: Emma Lathen, Gini Hartzmark, Janet Evanovich, Rochelle Krich–I could go on and on.
SUITE: A book or author that influenced you a lot? Personally or professionally.
RENEE: Jane Austen's novels of manners, all of which I've read over and over.
SUITE: Favorite mystery movie?
RENEE: Dial "M" for Murder
SUITE: That’s one of my favorites as well. Favorite mystery TV show? If you don't have a favorite mystery one, then some other type of TV show that is a favorite.
RENEE: I don't own a TV but used to be a trekkie.
SUITE: How do you feel about writing? And how does it feel when you are writing? Excited, frustrated, is it just business?
RENEE: It's something of a love-hate relationship. Then, suddenly out of nowhere, I find myself sitting at the computer and writing.
SUITE: What type of book promotion do you feel has worked best for you?
RENEE: Until now, the pillboxes filled with M&M's that I used to give away at signings and book talks. Now, I plan to make use of the Internet.
SUITE: I enjoyed those M&M’s. Can you ever see yourself not writing anymore?
RENEE: Often, when the business aspect of writing frustrates me.
SUITE: That I can completely relate to. Pets? Types and names, please.
RENEE: None.
SUITE: What part of you shows through in your writing? What does your writing say about you?
RENEE: It shows that I was paying attention all these years
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