Lorna Barrett: On the Pressure of Writing on Deadline
Lorna Barrett is the New York Times bestselling author of the Booktown Mysteries, including Poisoned Pages, A Just Clause, Title Wave, A Fatal Chapter, and Book Clubbed. She lives in Rochester, New York. Follow her on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
In this post, Lorna discusses the challenges of writing on deadline for the 17th book in her Booktown Mystery series.
Name: Lorna Barrett
Literary agent: Jessica Faust, Bookends Literary
Book title: A Questionable Character
Publisher: Berkley (Penguin Random House)
Release date: July 25, 2023
Genre/category: Cozy Mystery
Previous titles: Murder is Binding, Bookmarked For Death, Bookplate Special, Chapter & Hearse, Sentenced To Deat, Murder On The Half Shelf, Not The Killing Type, Book Clubbed, A Fatal Chapter, Title Wave, A Just Claus, Poisoned Pages, A Killer Edition, Handbook For Homicide, A Deadly Deletion, Clause of Death
Elevator pitch for the book: The murder of a local contractor may be the final nail in the coffin for Tricia Miles. Can she find the killer before he or she has the chance to bring the hammer down?
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What prompted you to write this book?
LOL—A contract. This is the 17th book in the Booktown Mystery series, featuring Tricia Miles, her family, and friends in a village filled with used bookstores.
How long did it take to go from idea to publication? And did the idea change during the process?
It took me six months to write A Questionable Character. When I finish a (series) book, I have a vague idea of where I want the next book to go, but until I actually start writing, I’m never quite sure what’s going to happen. I never work from a synopsis, but I put together notes that form a kind of outline. As the book progresses, my ideas morph to better fit the story.
I often don’t know who the killer is until a few chapters before the end of the book. Not the best way to construct a story because you have to go back and salt in the clues, but so far it’s worked for me with this series and with the books I’ve written under two other author names (Lorraine Bartlett and L.L. Bartlett)
Were there any surprises or learning moments in the publishing process for this title?
Because of my personal situation (a family member’s health emergency), I found it extremely difficult to write this book. When you have a drop-dead deadline, the pressure to create can sometimes seem daunting. But I pushed through and I’m happy that upon reading A Questionable Character the upheaval in my life during that time is not apparent.
Were there any surprises in the writing process for this book?
Getting it done on deadline!
What do you hope readers will get out of your book?
My characters aren’t static. They learn and grow with each new installment. Some of my readers question my main character’s judgment, but Tricia is just like the rest of us…just trying to do the best she can.
If you could share one piece of advice with other writers, what would it be?
Edit, rewrite, repeat.
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