Writing Mysteries that Sell Part II: An Interview with Cynthia Baxter
I also like the idea that Jessie doesn't fall in love with every animal she meets. Some, like the cat that belongs to an angry, wheelchair-bound client in DEAD CANARIES, isn't particularly likable. I think this makes her more real. The real-life vets I know are quite matter-of-fact about their work. They can't become emotionally involved with every animal. It would be like a doctor falling apart every time a patient is really sick. They care, but they maintain a distance. Jessie does this less than real-life vets because I think it's interesting to see her interacting with the animals she treats on a level that real-life vets don't have time for - not to mention the emotional energy.
DC: DEAD CANARIES DON'T SING and PUTTING ON THE DOG are light-hearted, amusing titles. Humour doesn't come naturally to most of us. In fact, humour, when done poorly can take away the tension from a story. How do you keep tension (which is what compels a reader to turn pages) when writing humour?
CB: I think the humor comes from the writing style and the tension comes from the events. Whenever Jessie or some other character is in a dangerous situation, the humor goes out the window. It's just not appropriate at a time like that. There are exceptions --- like the climax of PUTTING ON THE DOG. Since so much of that book centers around movie stars, I thought it would be fun to have a theatrical, movie-style ending. That scene begged to be humorous. But that doesn't usually happen.
DC: I once wrote an article called "Titles DO Matter" recounting the journey of one of my short stories on its way to getting published. It was finally published after the sixth title change. Ironically, after the publisher bought it, he requested the title be changed again! How do you come up with your catchy titles? I almost suspect you are one of those writers who comes up with a title then writes the story around it . . .?
CB: Actually, I'm generally pretty terrible with titles. I don't think in short, catchy phrases. My agent came up with DEAD CANARIES DON'T SING and my editor thought up the third book's title, LEAD A HORSE TO MURDER. I came up with PUTTING ON THE DOG, but that's kind of cheating, since it's an actual expression - albeit a pretty old-fashioned one. It was
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