Ask the Author: Helen Haught Fanick
Answered Questions (15)
Helen Haught Fanick
I dreamed that all the glaciers and icebergs in the world had melted. When I awoke, the ocean, rebelling against all the plastic we've dumped into it, was creeping under my door.
Helen Haught Fanick
I'd love to visit the world of Agatha Christie's Hercule Poirot. He travels to fascinating destinations, solving crimes, and what I'd really like to do is become his assistant. I could learn a lot from him!
Helen Haught Fanick
I'm reading one of my favorite authors this summer - Eric Ambler. I write cozy mysteries, but I love espionage and international thrillers. He's one of the greatest! I read Journey Into Fear earlier and just finished Light Of Day. I have two more of his books on my Kindle and plan to get more. Thanks for asking!
Helen Haught Fanick
That's a good question, and one I'm reluctant to answer right now. The reason for this: I'm currently using the mystery in my life as a plot idea for the book I'm currently writing! When Blue Moon, Black Heart is published, you'll find the answer to your question. The facts have been altered slightly to protect the guilty, but the basics will be revealed. Thanks for the question!
Helen Haught Fanick
Thanks for asking an excellent question! I have two favorite couples, actually. For light and humorous mystery, I love Nick and Nora Charles in The Thin Man series of movies starring William Powell and Myrna Loy. The series is based on a novel by Dashiell Hammett. The repartee between this society couple is always witty, sometimes hilarious, and their little dog adds to the fun by scampering under furniture whenever danger appears.
I read everything I could get my hands on when I was a kid, and Wuthering Heights comes close to being my all-time favorite book. Of course this is because of the star-crossed romance of Cathy and Heathcliff, my other favorite couple. I can't think of another book that presents a love story in such a powerful fashion.
Nick and Nora are as different as night and day from Cathy and Heathcliff, if you'll pardon the cliche, but I think the fact that these are my favorites illustrates just how diverse human tastes can be. Thanks again for asking. I've truly enjoyed visiting some of my favorite characters.
I read everything I could get my hands on when I was a kid, and Wuthering Heights comes close to being my all-time favorite book. Of course this is because of the star-crossed romance of Cathy and Heathcliff, my other favorite couple. I can't think of another book that presents a love story in such a powerful fashion.
Nick and Nora are as different as night and day from Cathy and Heathcliff, if you'll pardon the cliche, but I think the fact that these are my favorites illustrates just how diverse human tastes can be. Thanks again for asking. I've truly enjoyed visiting some of my favorite characters.
Helen Haught Fanick
Thanks for asking, Ey. Sorry I took so long answering - we've had internet connection problems. I think I'm inspired most by other writers, and how much I enjoy reading. I always hope that some readers out there will enjoy my mysteries, too.
Helen Haught Fanick
I think I manage to keep my novels apart, genre-wise, because I read a variety of genres. I've become familiar with each classification in this way. However, I have a couple of books that have been hard to classify - City Life and Saving Susie - and I guess that's because those two cross over to an extent. When I have to define their genre, I label them suspense novels, but City Life, especially, has elements of the cozy. I think classifying books is a problem for all authors who write as I do--thinking about what I want to write rather than what category the book will fit into. Good question, Yvonne. Thanks.
Helen Haught Fanick
I think the series books are more fun to write, although I've enjoyed writing every one of my stand-alone books, too. Also, I become more attached to my series characters as time goes by. It is difficult to keep track of details in the series novels. I keep a hand-written notebook for each one, and I frequently refer to these notebooks when writing the latest. Otherwise, I'm sure I'd mess up on something! I appreciate your asking.
Helen Haught Fanick
Agatha Christie is my favorite, and also my idol and inspiration. I especially love the Hercule Poirot stories. I think Agatha's influence can be seen in my cozies in this way: Her mysteries aren't as light and humorous as most of those being written today, and I believe mine fall somewhere between. Compare the covers of my novels with most of the cozies published these days, and you can see the difference there, too. Thanks for asking!
Helen Haught Fanick
In writing a series, events in the book I'm currently working on begin to suggest a future novel. By the time I finish one, I'm eager to get started on the next one that's been simmering in my mind. While working on Moonflowers, the relationship between my two senior sleuths and a deputy sheriff started me thinking about the next book in the series.
Helen Haught Fanick
Somebody said that genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration. Not that I'm a genius, by any means, but I find what works for me is setting aside time to write and then doing it. There's really no inspiration involved.
Helen Haught Fanick
I'm writing the fourth cozy in my Moon Mystery Series, tentatively titled Moonflowers. I hope to publish it before the end of the year.
Helen Haught Fanick
Pay attention to grammar and spelling in your work. Keep the reader in mind, always thinking about what would grab their attention. And most important - don't give up!
Helen Haught Fanick
I love being able to work from home. I've always enjoyed solitude - I think I'm a bit of a recluse, actually - and this type of temperament fits in well with the writing life.
Helen Haught Fanick
I've never experienced writer's block, so I haven't had to deal with it. I'm grateful to my muse or whatever for always allowing me to come up with the next scene in my books.
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