New Author, Book Reviewer Laura Benedict ~ Interviewed

Click here to read a review of Isabella Moon.

Laura Benedict’s fiction has appeared in Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine and a number of anthologies. For the past decade she has reviewed books for The Grand Rapids Press and other newspapers. She lives with her family in rural southern Illinois, a lonely, enchanted sort of place that offers excellent inspiration for writing thrillers. Isabella Moon is her first novel. A second thriller is forthcoming in 2008. Visit Laura to get to know her better.

Tell us about your journey to publication. How long had you been writing before you got the call you had a contract, how you heard and what went through your head.

I’ve been a reader since I was four. Isn’t that how every writer starts? I read everything I could get my hands on, from cereal boxes to the classics. There weren’t a lot of books in our house, but I made excellent use of the library.

I came to writing through copywriting for the sales promotion arm of the Gigantic Universal Beer Company. I was hiring copywriters but found myself rewriting their work. A lot of it was close to fiction, but not close enough; so I hied myself off to writing classes at my local university. I got an A+ on my very first story—the prof had me read it out loud and everything! It was the worst thing that could have happened to me. I needed criticism, not praise. I soon found myself in a grad writing workshop. It was a hard place to be and the prof told me my writing was old-fashioned and that no one would ever buy it. He wrote books about baseball. ‘Nough said. (Not that I don’t like baseball, mind you. I was raised with a Reds’ radio broadcast echoing in my brain.) But I did meet a very encouraging friend in the class, and she’s been encouraging me ever since.

I married a well-established literary writer. He was Princeton and Iowa-Workshop trained. You’d think it would be free tutorials and sex everyday! (Wait—did I say that out loud?!) But when he critiqued my work, I would just cry. How lame is that? We decided that I should work with someone else on my writing so we could continue to enjoy the other part of our relationship.

From that point on, my writing education was spotty. Lee K. Abbott, one of the world’s foremost short story writers, took a few of my stories on. I made the mistake of sending him that very first A+ story—and it came back unmarked, except for the words, “I don’t know what to do with this,” scrawled across the top. I so deserved that! I learned much from Lee. From then on, I wrote and wrote. I wrote a novel over six or seven years, and then another. I gave birth to two children and spent much time homeschooling. I decided to try my hand at book reviews and wrote them until, finally, a couple sold to newspapers. I published an essay, I entered many, many, many writing competitions, I wrote regional magazine articles. I finally sold a story to Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine in 2001. I published a second one with them just this fall.

I gave myself a year to write a thriller. I wrote and revised it in that time. My agent loved it. Two days before she sent the manuscript out, she had calls from foreign scouts because they’d heard about it. Editors received it on a Thursday afternoon. We had an offer at 8:30 the following Monday morning. It turned out to be a two book deal. I happened to be in NYC later that week celebrating the fortieth birthday of one of my younger sisters. I met my agent in the hotel bar and she finalized the deal over her cell phone. I was an overnight success after eighteen years!

Do you still experience self-doubts regarding your work?

Absolutely! Every day. Any writer who doesn’t have occasional doubts is an alien-created machine.

What mistakes have you made while seeking publication?

Thinking that publishing that first story or novel would make me so happy that I’d never need/want to publish another thing.

Not taking risks in my writing earlier. It was only when I stepped off into the abyss that my writing was worth reading.

What’s the best advice you’ve heard on writing/publication?

Read three times as much as you write.

What’s the worst piece of writing advice you’ve heard?

Write only what you know.

What’s something you wish you’d known earlier that might have saved you some time/frustration in the publishing business?

Your parents/family/friends will still love you even if you write something they don’t like and/or disagree with. If they don’t, you probably don’t want them as parents/family/friends, anyway.

Is there a particularly difficult set back that you’ve gone through in your writing career you are willing to share?

My career has been so long and so random that I can’t really say there were any setbacks. There were, of course, challenges, like my husband’s testicular cancer, that took time and energy that I might have used otherwise in my writing. But that was a no-brainer!

What are a few of your favorite books? (Not written by you.)

Jane Eyre, Cormac McCarthy’s Blood Meridian, Margaret Atwood’s, The Robber Bride, anything by Patricia Highsmith

What piece of writing have you done that you’re particularly proud of and why?

The eulogy I wrote for my grandmother. It made my family very happy.

Do you have a pet peeve having to do with this biz?

The role of the writer has changed a lot when it comes to publishing. We’re much more responsible for our own success than say, the writers of thirty years ago were. It’s a tough realization for someone new to the business, I think.

Do you have a dream for the future of your writing, something you would love to accomplish?

I used to want to write to make enough money to wear St. John Knits all the time. But, lately, I’ve seen very few things from them that I’d want to wear. So I’ve been kind of stuck. What I’d really like to do is do what my husband did for me—Provide enough income for him to write what he wants to write at his leisure and without any pressure to produce at all. He is possibly the most supportive man on the planet.

I hope you weren’t thinking of some more substantial response! I consider what I write to be entertainment—I pray it’s well-written, readable entertainment, but entertainment nonetheless. I hope the Lord lets me do it for many, many years to come and that my writing will continue to give people pleasure.

Was there ever a time in your writing career you thought of quitting?

No, not really. Okay. Maybe when the first national review I ever received was particularly mean-spirited. But I only thought of quitting for a second. Then I got mad.

What is your favorite and least favorite part of being a writer?

Making stuff up is my favorite part.

As to least favorite—See the answer to “Was there ever a time in your writing career you thought of quitting?”

Have you received a particularly memorable reader response?

Yes. From my aunt. I was very, very touched.

How much marketing/publicity do you do? Any advice in this area?

As much as I possibly can.

Beg, borrow, buy, or steal every promotional opportunity you can, and never turn

anything down. The publisher won’t do it for you. But use good judgment when you’re among your writing peers—they’re working just as hard as you are, and they’re not the ones you’re selling your books to. Be a friend, not a peddlar, with them. And always, always say thank you!

How long did you review books professionally?

About 10 years.

What elements belong in a book review?

Brief plot summary; what kind of book it is, i.e. novel, anthology; a bit about what the author has done before and where that work fits in; basically an opinion about whether the book has an internal logic that works, that can keep the reader interested; are there significant questions asked and answered in the book; what the author has done particularly well or poorly.

Any tips for wanna-be reviewers?

Read many reviews and many books. Notice what works and what doesn't work for you when you read reviews. Don't look at any other reviews of the book you're reviewing before you write yours. Don't pretend to be a critic unless you have the scholarly credentials. And, really, critics don't have much fun. It's better to be a reviewer!

What are your favorite genres?

I love them all! Couldn't pick if I tried! Though there's a certain kind of popular memoir that really annoys me and that I don't like to review.

Do you skim the parts of books that don't interest you or read each word as the story unfolds?

Skim sometimes, but still read all the way through.

Do you ever peek at the back page or last chapter? Why or why not?

Not when I'm reviewing, but sometimes when I read for pleasure!

What types of things do you feel are overused in writing? I.e. clichés in descriptions or plots?

I detest boring plot summaries, but sometimes plots are so complicated, one must succumb. Really, the review reader mostly just wants to know if they'll be wasting their money on the book if they buy it. Few are actually looking for true criticism.

Parting words?

If you want to write and sell a novel, sit down in the chair and write it until it is finished. Then, and only then, try to sell it.

And if you’re not a writer, but just love to read books and get to know your favorite authors, never, ever say the words: “I’ve got this great idea for a story. Why don’t I tell it to you, and you can write it and we’ll split the money!” Just sit down and give it a try yourself. You will be your favorite author’s friend forever!