Interview with Judith R. Parker

by

Marcy Graham-Waldenville

            I had the privilege of speaking to Judith R. Parker about her new book While Hyenas Laugh.

MGW: First, could you tell us about your story?

JPR: Well, first I'll tell what it is not. I don't write romance. WHILE HYENAS LAUGH would fall into the suspense category. It's about people caught up in a plot against the United States. Lots of action.

MGW:  The title is very unusual, where did it come from?   I understand that, in your story, you have a very special poem. Could you tell us about it?

JRP: A poem my grandfather wrote in 1939. It is quoted in my book. It refers to the world situation preceding WWII but it is unfortunately true today.

MGW: With the current climate of the world, your book is very timely.  Can you tell us about the characters, and what they face?

JRP: This is a toughie. Don't want to give too much away. The main characters are Richard and Rachel Royer and David Bergdorf. There are plots within plots and nothing is quite what it seems.

MGW: How long have you been writing?

JRP: Oh, my. That would give away my age. (g) I've only been writing fiction since about 1985.  Before that I wrote for trade journals, etc. on boring things like accounting, time management,  etc. My very first attempt at fiction was a short story that appeared in True Confessions and it wasn't a romance.

MGW:  Tell us about yourself?  Have you always wanted to be a writer?

JRP: Well, I've always written. Did lots of little skits that my friends and I acted out when I was a kid. I have a love affair with the English language. Letters to family and friends were always multiple pages. Oh. dear, I'm giving my age away again. No one writes letters any more.

MGW: Who are some of your favorite authors?  And Book?

JRP: All of Dick Francis's books.  Allistair McLean's SOUTH BY JAVA HEAD, Dean Kootz's  WATCHERS and Geofrey Household's ROGUE MALE.

MGW: Do you have any words of wisdom for aspiring writers?

JRP: As the Nike commercial says.."Just do it!"  Write.  Write what you like to read. Don't try to copy some one else's style and forget about being "politically correct". Just tell your story in your own way.

Thank you Judith.