This week we are talking with Jane Gorman, the author of All That Glitters (Book Three of the Adam Kaminski Mysteries).
Hi Jane! First off, why don't you tell us something unexpected about yourself!
Before I started writing, I worked as an anthropologist, a diplomat and a park ranger. I’ve always enjoyed careers that let me visit new places and meet new people. And in a way, writing fiction offers the same experiences. Just imaginary!
What kind of books do you write?
I write mysteries that take you places. They are murder mysteries featuring Philadelphia Detective Adam Kaminski. Each book takes place in a different city. My books have been described as astutely crafted, engaging, intriguing and deceptively optimistic.
So what inspired you to write then, was it your adventures as a diplomat?
I started writing because of all the stories I saw in the world around me. When I lived in Warsaw, I wrote nonfiction about the people I met and the experiences I had, but I couldn’t help imagining fun, fictional stories as well. The setting provided the characters, the characters provided the stories. My most recent book is set in my hometown of Philadelphia. The idea grew out of the characters I imagined walking through this part of town. Not the real people I know, but wild, over the top characters who play on the best and worst that Philly has to offer. As with all my books, the setting gave birth to the characters, who in turn produced the story.
What makes your writing stand out from the crowd?
Where shall I go today? That’s the question I always ask myself when I’m looking for a new book. Reading takes me to a different place, a different time, maybe even a different planet. And that’s why I write, too. Each of my books takes place in a different city or town around the world. I started with places I know the best – Warsaw, Washington and Philadelphia – and I’m moving on from there to Galway, Provence and more. Because sometimes a good mystery can be the best way to see the world!
What would you say is the hardest part of writing?
The most challenging area for me as a writer is describing people physically. It seems like it should be simple. You use a few words and explain what someone looks like. Not so! A person’s appearance isn’t defined by what we see on the outside. It’s deeply affected by so much more – his or her attitude, expressions, personality. Capturing a character’s true appearance is always one of my greatest challenges. I find myself staring at strangers on the street, coming up with expressions or turns of phrase that capture the sense I get of them. No one has punched me yet, so I think I’m not too obvious!
Where do you like to write, and do you have a routine?
My most productive time – sometimes my only productive time – is the morning. And I definitely need caffeine! My brain kicks in early. If I sit down to a keyboard first thing in the morning, I can write a days’ worth of words in just a couple of hours. If I try to do the same thing in the afternoon, it takes easily twice as long. While it’s not always possible, I write best when I’m outside. Usually, that’s just sitting in my backyard. In warm months, it might be sitting at the beach watching the ocean, or near a mountain lake. In my dream world, it would be a balcony looking out over the Spanish coast. I love being outdoors, closing my eyes and feeling the wind on my skin, the scent of grass or flowers or sand or salt. And more than anything, I’m inspired by water.
So what do you do when you're not writing out in the sun – do you have a day job?
I work in public affairs. I enjoy the creative aspects of my work, playing with words, crafting a sentence or paragraph that means exactly the right thing. I also enjoy working with people, something that I don’t get to do much as an author, so I love that my day job requires engaging with a wide of variety of people.
Do you work with an outline or just write?
I plan. A lot. When I’m ready to develop a plot, I start with the setting. I decide on a location I know well, and build the story around it. I follow the news, the arts, gossip columns. I tie my story in with real stories from that location but add characters and murders that are pure fiction. From there, I develop character sketches for each of the characters. Finally, the plot follows naturally from the characters. But even before that, at the very beginning (starting with the first book, and then again when each succeeding book is just a sparkle in my eye) I started with a character: Philadelphia Detective Adam Kaminski, a man who is smart, well-read, straightforward, simple (in a good way), and driven by guilt. Adam is a man I know well. Even so, he still knows how to surprise me!
What advice would you have for other writers?
I would put a lot of thought into the three pillars of your book: the setting, the characters and the plot. Always be sure that each flows naturally from the other.
How important is marketing and social media for you?
I can’t imagine there are too many authors who enjoy marketing, but I do enjoy social media. Facebook is such a great way to stay in touch with old friends and even with family when I’m traveling. But if I’m completely honest, I prefer Twitter. I’ve heard it described as a well-attended cocktail party, everyone jumping into and out of conversations. That’s a great description, and since I’ve never met a cocktail party I didn’t like, I guess it makes sense that I’m a Twitterphile. On Twitter, for me it’s less about writing and more about travel. And wine. And sometimes chocolate.
What's your next step?
I’m hard at work on the fourth book in the Adam Kaminski series. What She Fears is a traditional mystery set in Galway. Visiting Galway in an effort to strengthen his struggling romance and explore his family legacy, Detective Adam Kaminski stumbles onto a murder scene. Quite literally. Now he must find the truth behind the grisly murder of a university professor before he becomes a convenient scapegoat – or convenient target.
All That Glitters (Book Three of the Adam Kaminski Mysteries) by Jane Gorman is available here.
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