Writing Mysteries that Sell Part II: An Interview with Cynthia Baxter
was just there for the taking - dog show, showing off...what else could it be? The fourth book, which I'm writing now, is still untitled. But I have a title for Book 5 that's really clever, if I do say so myself! (It came to me like a lightning bolt...)
DC: Tell us about your forthcoming mystery, LEAD A HORSE TO MURDER. It sounds like another fun romp with Jessica Popper and her sidekicks, Max and Lou.
CB: I hope that the elements that readers have enjoyed in the first two books continue in the third, LEAD A HORSE TO MURDER. There are plenty of animals, Jessie's on-going struggle to balance her love for Nick with her fear of commitment, her struggle to cope with him becoming a lawyer, Betty and her return to the theater, as well as a new twist to her social life...and of course a murder. The book is set amidst the world of polo. I was careful not to make it a horse book, however. I don't know a lot about horses, and I know a lot of other people don't, either. So it's about the characters, again - rich, powerful people who have enough money to indulge in a very expensive game. And again, I've developed a bunch of quirky souls. Jessie gets herself into a couple of very dangerous situations...but that's our girl!
DC: My last question is about promotion. Creating a buzz around your book. This is what marketing experts tell us we need to do to create a demand for our work. Susie Moloney's debut bestseller, A DRY SPELL, was marketed with a bottle of water attached to the book jacket. Do you do much promotion? If you do, what do you do, and how much of it is sponsored by your publisher? How important do you think it is to invest in a publicist? How would one go about getting a good one?
CB: Promoting a work of fiction is never easy. If you've written a pop psychology book, you can go on the radio and take calls from listeners. If you've written a cookbook, you can go on the Food Network and demonstrate how to make a chocolate soufflé. But if you've written a novel, there's not much to discuss. I've found the best things to focus on are your regionality - getting coverage in local newspapers and magazines and even tv stations -
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