SHALLA CHATS with author Frederick Ramsay

 

"Writing Mystery Fiction”

by Shalla DeGuzman

 

First of all, who ’s Fred? Or is it Frederick?

FREDERICK RAMSAY's first novel, Artscape—Publisher's Weekly wrote, Ramsay nicely mixes town and gown, sophisticates and rustics, thugs and masterminds . . . Ike Schwaretz seems destined for a bright future.

" A thought-provoking examination of serious pastoral issues and a thoroughly entertaining mystery that succeeds on all levels without recourse to bombast or carnage." Is what they had to say about his second, Secrets.

His latest is Impulse (Poisoned Pen Press), which has earned a starred review in Publisher's Weekly, and which Booklist describes as, "Wrapped in a mystery-frame story, this is a touching reflection on the changes that come with growing older in a society prejudiced against the elderly."

And, coming in August, another addition to the Ike Schwartz series, Buffalo Mountain, a mystery set in the Shenandoah Valley south of Roanoke and a twist on the usual who dunnit.

He also has a non-mystery (or is it?) out this May, Judas: The Gospel of Betrayal, a book that grew out years of study, his time spent as a clergyman, and extensive travel to Israel.

A former professor at the University of Maryland, School of Medicine where he taught Anatomy, Embryology and Histology, Fred engaged in research and served as an Associate Dean before being ordained an Episcopal priest and turning fulltime to the clergy. Upon his retirement, he begat books.

Shalla: Hi Fred, how are you? And would you like to be referred to as Fred or Frederick?

Fred: I write as Frederick. I’ve been Fred all my life and if that weren’t enough, my son is a junior and writes as F. Jeffress Ramsay or Jeff F. Ramsay. Fred is fine.

Shalla: Thanks Fred and congratulations on the successes of your books!

Fred: Thank you. And thanks so much for an opportunity to be numbered among the luminaries on your list. Seriously, I am flattered. And thanks also for mentioning the books.

Success is such a subjective thing. When I first wrote the book that ultimately became Artscape (the original title was Schwartz—clever huh?) my only thought was to have a book published. I did harbor some fantasies of fame and fortune, I think, but the truth is, I’d have been content with publication—period. Now, I want to see the books sell in case loads and I guess I’ll always be pushing the envelope defining success.

Shalla: Please tell us about your first novel, Artscape.

Fred: That is an interesting story. The book was written a long time ago. Its inception was a dare.

I had just married my wife Susan, and we had a commuter marriage at the time. One day she asked me what I would like to do. (Maybe she wanted to be sure I was sufficiently occupied in her absence to stay out of trouble, I don’t know) I said, rather glibly, that I’d always wanted to write a mystery story. She asked me what the story was and I sketched it out for her. The plot device—an art storage facility on a woman’s college campus is or was real. Years ago (1955 !) I visited such a facility on the Randolph Macon College in Lynchburg Va. I wondered then what would happen if someone were to steal the whole kit and caboodle. Then she asked why didn’t I write it and after she took all my excuses away, I decided I would. I was a very rough bit of writing.

There is an even longer long story that goes with this, but I won’t bore you with it now beyond saying twenty-two years later and while waiting for lightning to strike on another book I wrote, I rewrote Schwartz/Artscape, sent it to Poisoned Pen Press and they liked it!

Shalla: How did you decide on writing a mystery novel? Have you been writing mysteries long?

Fred: Well, I just recounted the Artscape story. That pretty much says it all. I think the more important yardstick would be: I have been publishing for four years. I think that because writers can easily be discouraged by rejection. Twenty-two years from first draft to publication! You have to stay with it and believe in your work.

I write mysteries because I like them—to read and write. I have attempted standard fiction and no matter how hard I try, I end up framing the story as a mystery. It must be genetic or something. For example: Impulse could have been written as a romance, as straight forward literary fiction, or nearly any other genre. Only the emphasis at the ending would have changed. But I never considered any format except mystery. I think it started when I was young. My Aunt Mary was a reader. And she subscribed (among other things) to the Mystery Book of the Month Club. For your readers too young to remember, that club marketed books in cheap hardback editions. The paper would start to yellow in a month. Anyway, when she was finished, she’d ship them over to me, and I would devour them.

Shalla: Are you an avid reader of mystery stories? How about mystery short stories? Is that why you have a good idea about what sorts of characters and story lines would appeal to readers the most?

Fred: I love mysteries—but not all of them. In my lifetime the genre has changed tremendously.

I have tried my hand at short stories. It is a different game altogether. As to what readers want, I haven’t a clue. I will get an idea, turn it over in my mind and see how the thing lays out. If it works, I write it. Fortunately, my editor does know what is viable and will tell me so, so I write on.

Shalla: How do you pick a protagonist—by occupation (investigator) or by personality (nosy, irreverent, driven, avenging, funny, secretive)?

Fred: The first book (Artscape) set the protagonist in place. People seem to be intrigued with the notion of an overqualified, sardonic, sheriff solving crimes in rural Virginia. The decision to create a series required that he and his cohorts soldier on. In stand-alones, the character grows from the story.

Impulse, on the other hand, is my story. I was raised on a campus very much like the one described in the book and the story grew out of attendance at my fiftieth high school reunion. It is a “could have been” story.

Shalla: Can you give us a quick run through of the different kind of mysteries being written out there? Ie. Hard-boiled police procedural, “soft-boiled” academic, cozy, historical, etc.

Fred: Most of what I grew up with were what are now referred to as cozies (usually derogatorily). Even The Maltese Falcon, the quintessential hard boiled caper, is more like a cozy than its modern hard boiled successors. Nowadays the genre seems heavily populated with serial killers, psychopaths, potty mouthed, slutty female cops, sleuths with “issues,” dirty cops, and formula suspense all mixed in with the stuff I grew up with and still love.

The thing I like most about my publisher (this is not a question you asked but it seems appropriate here) is that the Poisoned Pen Press puts out a uniformly high standard, readable and socially acceptable product. Pick any one off the shelf and you have a good read.

Anyway, I will read anybody once. If the writing, character or story line does not grab me, I will not read another. There are exceptions, of course. Some writers are so good at what they do; I don’t care what the story is about. I put Lee Child and Ian Rankin in that category (there are others as well).

Shalla: What’s the best way to pick the voice? Why should a writer choose first-person instead of third-person, or the other way around, or a combination of both?

Fred: You know, I really can’t say. When I started writing, the voice I used just came naturally to me. I have experimented with first person present tense in short stories (a good place to try out new things, by the way) and it is not comfortable for me. I read other authors who write in the first/present and do so very effectively. My sense is, you write to the story and in the voice that feels right to you, the story teller.

Shalla: What would you say is the best way to pick the tone? (Funny, serious, or combination of both) Should we pick what appeals to us personally or what publishers are buying?

Fred: Here again, authors should be themselves. Some of my colleagues are funny and write funny stuff. Some, I have encountered at writing conferences where I sometime serve as staff, try to be funny and fail because they do not have an ear for humor. That is the intangible in all of writing, I think. The ear, how you hear the world and then reproduce it in your writing.

By no means should a writer anticipate the market. You will get it wrong every time. That is because the lag time between submission and publication can be as long as two years. You take on the latest thing and it will be old news. Write what you know, what you feel, what you believe.

Shalla: Which characters must you always have in mysteries? Sidekicks, law enforcement helpers, bad guys, good guys, romantic entanglements, etc.

Fred: Boy, you sure do put the hard stuff out there! I’m not persuaded that anything is absolutely necessary. The plot drives the story, the characters drive the plot. Formula writing will have a repertoire of characters as you indicated. In my series, certain characters appear and drop out, only to reappear in a later book. The only ones absolutely necessary are the main guy (Ike), his “squeeze” (Ruth), and I usually have his barber (Lee) tell one joke per book. Others move in and out as necessary.
In a stand alone, you start each story anew, but it is helpful for the protagonist to have a foil, someone to ask the questions, make the innocent comment, etc.

Shalla: Finally, any other tips for mystery writers out there?

Fred: To answer that would be presumptuous of me. I am just now figuring this business out. I have listened to enough other writers to know there is no single “right way” to write. Some do outlines and some, like me, write by the seat of their pants. Some are quick, some are slow. I will suggest this, however: First you write the story. Then you write the book. What I mean is, put the story down as fast as you can. Do not worry about settings, mood, and all that. Just get it down. Then spend the next several months rewriting, and rewriting, and rewriting, and . . . .well, you get the idea.

Shalla: Thanks so much Fred. We’ll be sure to check out Artscape and Secrets. For more on Frederick Ramsay, please visit http://www.frederickramsay.com/

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Shalla DeGuzman's short stories have appeared in Poetic Diversity, the Mad Hatters Review, etc.; her articles in The Scriptorium and L.A. Freepress; her skits at the Stella Adler Theatre. Shalla, a former writer and producer of a health and fitness cable show, is currently writing a novel. She is President of The ShallaDeGuzman Writers Group where she interviews literary agents, publishers, editors, etc. News! Shalla DeGuzman gets nominated for the prestigious Pushcart Prize! Plus! SHALLA Magazine, which features short stories, poetry and more, is here! For more on Shalla: www.shalladeguzman.com

 

 

 

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Featuring: Dorchester author, Tess Mallory; Artscape author, Frederick Ramsay; Hallie Ephron; Shara Lanel; Margaret L. Carter; Gena Showalter; Judie Aitken; NY Times Best Selling author, Barry Eisler; Chick-Lit author, Sonia Singh; Brett Battles; Michele Scott; multiple Emmy Award winning TV news producer & author Mari Mancusi; Terry Spear; Andrea Wilder; Tina Gerow; Seamus Cashman; NY Times Bestselling author, Bob Mayer; Patricia M. Terrell and more!

Produced and Directed by Shalla DeGuzman
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