Interview with Author Marta Stephens
  By Kaycee Conners
   August 6, 2007
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KC: Now that Sam Harper has arrived on the scene, *smile*, what has changed in your life?

MS: Probably the greatest change has been giving up my anonymity. I remember how daunting it felt to post to the first author forum I joined. It can be intimidating knowing that thousands of people from around the world will read those posts. I had never Googled my name until earlier this year. I was amazed at the information that is available. You’ll find numerous pages on that search engine referencing my site, blog, and other groups where I post in.

KC: Have you had any trouble with writing, say, writer’s block, since embarking on this series?

MS: I’m not sure if I would necessarily call it writer’s block, but I’ve had to walk away from my writing several times. SILENCED CRY has several subplots. My method of writing a complex plot is to first understand each character’s motives and build the subplots around a select group of characters’ point of view. The key, however, is to advance the main plot by the use of subplots without giving the story away or choking out the main story line. Each subplot then needs to link logically to the main plot of the book. Some scenes came very quickly to me while others took more time to process. In those instances, I had to step away from my work and let the scenes roll around in my head until I found the answers.

KC: How hard is it to write a male main character?

MS: I’ve lived with these characters for so long that now it’s extremely easy to write the male protag. The first thing to consider is the character. Who is he? Sam Harper, he is a homicide detective. He would have been trained to be reserved and to hold back his emotions. However, I couldn’t ignore the endless studies made on the differences in the way men and women process information. Some suggest that women’s communications are less competitive and more concerned with establishing a common ground while men tend to be more direct and focused on expressing only the fact. Women tend elaborate into minute details about a subject and put men to sleep; men give women bare bone information and drive women crazy. My observations of the speech patterns of the men and women in my life have made it clear to me that there must be something to the gender studies.

Therefore, as the character of Sam Harper took shape, I often asked my husband to read parts of SILENCED CRY for clarity. Sometimes he’d stop at one of Harper’s lines, frown and say, “A guy wouldn’t do that.” or “A guy wouldn’t say that (or that way).” His suggestions were based on who Sam Harper is and were abridged versions of my text. Sometimes it was a matter of choosing a different word and often required cutting the sentence down to a few precise words.

Getting into Sam Harper’s head was interesting to say the least. He is in his early 30s. Age, I believe, also has an impact on a character’s behavior, actions, and reactions based on the life experiences written into the character. Because he is a law enforcement officer, he is naturally going to be all business. His speech is short and to the point–a huge part of his characterization. Readers will also note that he avoids answering questions. He’s an observer, he listens, and reveals very little of himself to the other characters.

As a woman author, the scenes I found most difficult to keep in Harper’s point of view were those between him and his love interest(s). I know what a woman thinks, feels, and would like to hear. My tendency was to put words into Harper’s mouth (or give him actions) based on my expectations. But we ladies know it’s not a perfect world. Sigh. Therefore, in order to ensure that I kept the scenes in Harper’s point of view, I ran them past my husband and several male author friends to make sure the scenes were written in a way that would best represent a man’s response.

As a final note on the subject of communication, differences in communication patterns are so obvious that they have come to the attention of corporations and institutions of higher education. Many have included such programs as the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (based on personality traits not gender) http://www.myersbriggs.org/my-mbti-personality-type/mbti-basics into their management training programs to help them understand and improve communication among internal as well as external customers. With this in mind, I created my characters by first understanding their backgrounds, their fears and motivations, strengths and weakness, and whether or not they would conform to gender expectations or intentionally defy them.

KC: What have you found to be the most important part of writing the Sam Harper mysteries, plot, character, setting, what?

MS: No question the plots/subplots and how well they connect are vital to the success of the series. They have to keep the reader interested through to the last page. However, the most critical components of the plots are the police procedures; scenes of the crime, the interrogation of suspects, scenes in the lab, and in the morgue. Everything had to be absolutely correct and believable. The characters are a close second.

KC: What challenges have you faced since traveling the road of newly published?

MS: First let me say that working with the right people makes all the difference in the world. My publisher has been wonderful to work with and involved me in each step of the process. SILENCED CRY was the first manuscript I ever submitted to a publisher. I didn’t know what to expect, but once it was accepted in September 2006, things happened very quickly. Yet, we took things a step at a time and managed to get everything done by the printer’s deadline date. My challenge was to keep up with the demands of the publishing deadlines while I simultaneously outlined my marketing plan. In the midst of getting SILENCED CRY to print, I co-designed my book cover with my good friend Scott Parkison, designed and launched my website, developed the book trailer, wrote the first draft of the second book in the series, and now I’m promoting the book through this virtual book tour. I feel as if I’ve been on an 8-month marathon.

KC: What has the road to selling your first book been like? Is the marketing aspect daunting at all?

MS: Daunting? Yes, at times, but I enjoy the marketing end of things almost as much as the writing. The word to the wise is: Don’t be misled into thinking that once your book has been posted on one of several online bookstores and you have launched a website or a blog, that readers will find you. You have to publicize your work in as many ways as you can think of; press releases, Internet posts, direct mailings/communications, events, etc. Utilize every option available to you and then promote your book on a regular basis with a consistent message.

My publisher took care of making SILENCED CRY available on numerous online and traditional bookstores worldwide and secured several of the reviews. My job has been to promote the book. Since its release in April, I have spent nearly all my free time networking to/with others, posting information on countless websites, and cross promoting my site. I had a successful book signing at our local Barnes & Nobles in June and on July 30, 2007, I launched my virtual book tour which I hope will attract attention to my novel. As a new author, my first two goals have been to gain name recognition and a following for the Sam Harper Crime Mystery series. It will take time, but if I succeed, I’m confident the sales will follow.

KC: What do you have in store for your readers in the books to come?

MS: More of the same twists and turns that readers are enjoying in SILENCED CRY. The second book is just as complex, but it introduces a different element—sorry can’t say any more than that. Sam Harper, Dave Mann, the team of forensic scientists, and medical examiner will return to investigate heinous crimes committed by a killer who is careful to not leave behind any evidence. Readers will also meet a whole new set of criminals as well as a new character who is pegged to become one of the regulars.

KC: For those of us still in the wings waiting for our dart into the limelight of publishing, what advice do you offer?

MS:
* Success is up to you. No one knows your work or cares about it as much as you do; don’t depend on others to  get you there.

* Be honest with your editing. Sometimes a ruthless cut or two (no matter how wonderful you think your writing is) will be necessary for the sake of the plot. Save your cuts though. You never know if you’ll be able to use them in part or in their entirety in another book.

* Set a goal. Establish a schedule, focus, and work diligently toward that goal.

* Network, network, network.

* Study the market and your target audience. Focus your attention on only those agents and publishers who represent your genre. A harmonious connection will make all the difference.

* Your job doesn’t end when you type “The End.”