Interview Marilyn Levinson
by
Jayme Evans
1) Tell me about your new book, A MURDERER AMONG US.
My sleuth, Lydia Krause, has no sooner moved to an upscale
retirement community, when she exposes a fellow resident as a convicted
embezzler. The man’s wife is found dead the following morning, mowed down by
2) Give us a little bit about you and why you started
writing.
As a child I was determined to be a ballerina or a writer. I
wrote stories in elementary school, was discouraged by a high school English
teacher, and became a Spanish teacher. When my two sons were small, I started
writing books for children. One novel, NO BOYS ALLOWED!, has been in print since
1993. I began writing mysteries a few years ago.
3) Do you write what you read and why?
Oh, yes! I read mysteries because I love mysteries, though I
read mainstream novels too.
4) Are you a follow-the-plan author or
by-the-seat-of-your-pantser?
I think we’re all a bit of both. I know who the murderer is at
the start of the book, but my characters are constantly surprising me and taking
me in new directions.
5) What part of the story writing do you like? The
first outline, filling in the blanks or fine-tuning?
I love fine-tuning--finding a more expressive expression,
punching up dialogue, delving deeper into my characters’ psyches. I’m very much
interested in unveiling what drive my characters to behave as they do.
6) Do you have a writing schedule or do you write when
the mood hits?
I write five days a week. I find the words flow fastest in
late afternoon, just about the time I should be starting dinner.
7) What's next?
I’m finishing up a mystery right now. After that, I’ll start
another.
8) What would you tell an aspiring author?
Writing is a process. A way of life. Write, read, join
critique groups, go to conferences, and send your stories out. Try not to let
rejections get you down. As you develop as a writer, you’ll find your own voice.