Beauty to Die For isn’t your first time as an author. You wrote A Model for a Better Future back in 1998, which was a very different kind of book. What inspired you to write a mystery now? Is that a genre you’ve always enjoyed reading?
I have always loved to read. I read Nancy Drew and Agatha Christie when I was young. I enjoyed figuring out “Who done it?” I was approached to write a book by my publisher and things just fell into place. The book is special because it’s fun but also filled with wisdom to help the reader learn life lessons. I personally like to learn by having fun while I’m doing it.
How did you end up partnering with Mindy Starns Clark?
Our publisher put us together. They knew us both separately and thought we would make a good team.
It seems like it would be a fun process to collaborate on a mystery and toss around ideas about “who done it” and how – sort of like playing “Clue!” Can you tell us a little about your writing process? Did you and Mindy ever disagree on who the murderer would be?
Mindy wrote the book. She and I developed characters and scenes and then she put it all together. I was the background and the flavor of the book, and then she combined it into the story.
A spa is a great setting for a murder mystery because it’s a place where people are totally vulnerable and relaxed. What made you base the story there?
We wanted to do something different! It seemed like an interesting place to set a murder, so we decided to have the main character work with spas. We both knew a lot about the atmosphere of spas, and wanted to play there writing a book. Research, you know!
Juliette, the main character, is a former supermodel who couldn’t wait to leave the business. She talks about being made to feel more like an object than a human being while modeling. Can you relate to her feelings at all? Did you have any specific experiences like that?
That whole scene with Juliette was from hours and hours of talking between Mindy and I. I wanted her to relay how we felt on set, emotionally, while working. It was an important scene to me to get right, because no one talks about the feelings going through a model’s head while working. Everyone thinks since we make so much money, we should just be quiet and take it. But there comes a breaking point where each woman has to decide what is important to her, and either walk away or give up her feelings and submit to the harsh business.
Raven, the murder victim, is a pretty unlikeable character although her devastating childhood does explain some of her behavior. Is she based on anyone you’ve worked with?
No! We made her up! She’s not based on anyone I knew, fortunately.
Is Beauty to Die For the first in a new “Spa Mystery” series?
We are all waiting to see how well this one is received before we write again.
I would say this is a good book to enjoy on a chaise lounge during a spa weekend but, I don’t know – it may make readers paranoid!
Cozy mystery books are light and fun. There are many books about darkness and evil in mankind that could cause a lot more concern! This book was written for enjoyment, and to provide a little glimpse into the modeling business.
This post originally appeared on my former blog, StyleSubstanceSoul.com.
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