Today we have a special blog guest with an insider’s view into the scary parts of a mystery writer’s mind: John Brady, husband of Roberta Isleib. John retired from his long-term marketing position a year ago, and has launched a new website www.topretirements.com, designed to help Baby Boomers find the best place to retire.

He’s here today as part of Roberta’s blog tour promoting her new release
PREACHING TO THE CORPSE (Berkley Prime Crime.)

In this second installment of the advice column mysteries, Dr. Rebecca Butterman’s minister is charged with murder. Asked to join the search committee to hire a new minister, she uncovers cutthroat church politics rather than the joys of the season. It seems that “thou shalt not kill” has been qualified: “…unless thou art eliminating the competition.”

Welcome John! You are the Council Chair of your local church. Since PREACHING TO THE CORPSE is all about a murder in a church that sounds suspiciously like yours, how is that going?

I’ll be able to tell you more in a month or so – the book comes out today so most of our members haven’t read it yet. Coincidentally, our church is just forming a new search committee to find a new associate pastor. Roberta used to be the Council Chair and is well known around town, so lots of local folks follow her creative exploits. When they find out about the murder in a church that looks an awful lot like ours, some tongues might be wagging! I’m just hoping the murder of the search committee chair in her book doesn’t cut down on volunteers.

Do you get to read Roberta’s work in progress? If so, does she welcome
feedback?

At the beginning of Roberta’s writing career I read, re-read, and tried to improve everything. Having written 8 books now, her writing is so professional that it really doesn’t need much help. She is one of the most welcoming people I know when it comes to feedback. She has a terrific ability to listen to the input, and then decide what to accept, improve on, or say “thanks, but no thanks”. I tend to fixate on the micro language areas, although I think it might be more useful to look at the big picture. You know, the kind of stuff that makes a book better – good reasons for why characters do the crazy things they do, continuity issues, and most of all – suggesting ideas for how to keep suspense high and the reader turning the pages.

I enjoy trying to help her with plot, although I have a new appreciation for how hard that is. When Roberta camps outside my shower, I know she is looking for plot help. If I don’t want to turn into a prune, I had better come up with some what-ifs for her, fast!

ROBERTA SAYS: It’s the perfect arrangement—he can’t escape and yet I can walk away when I have the spark I need! (About the view—I won’t even go there…)

What did you think when she decided to switch careers from practicing
clinical psychologist to mystery author?

It was a really big switch. Roberta went to school for 7 years after college (!) to get her Ph.D. and become a clinical psychologist. She was really good at helping people with complex problems and I know she enjoyed it. But the combination that moved her on was managed care (which deems that a handful of sessions should be able to cure even the most deep-seated psychological problems) and a burning desire to write. As one friend assured me when I told him about the switch, the way she was going about establishing a writing career guaranteed that she would be a success. She took classes, joined a writing group, talked with writers, went to conferences — and worked like a dog to find a good agent and get published. I am very proud of what she has accomplished – so many people want to do what she has done, but so few have the talent and the doggedness to pull it off!

ROBERTA SAYS: Am I lucky to have landed this guy or what?

Does Roberta approach her writing differently now
compared to when she first started?

That’s one of our favorite bones of contention. There are writers that use outlines, and many who say that the only way to plot the book is to develop the characters and let them decide where the plot should go. Roberta was in the latter camp, against all of my exhortations the other way. For the last 2 books she has used more of an outline, and I think she would agree that it has helped. But she still believes that outlines should only be a guide, and that listening to the characters is a better way. For several of the books, she also hired a professional editor (Nora Cavin) to painstakingly go over her manuscripts and suggest changes. Her experience has allowed her to dispense with that, knowing (as she says) that “Nora is perched on her shoulder”, commenting as Roberta writes along.

You must be very proud of Roberta and her success as a mystery author
and her position as president of National Sisters in Crime. Talk a
little about her work ethic.

Roberta has a framed piece of her childhood artwork on the shelf. Here is what it says in a child’s ragged hand: “We like to work. Work is fun. We like to work. Work is fun.” Let’s just say she hasn’t changed. She gets up out of bed and flips on her iBook immediately. It usually doesn’t get to rest until just before bedtime. Meanwhile, the phone calls and thinking about the Sisters in Crime go on non-stop, in fact, even when she is sleeping.

Since she is knowledgeable about poisons, who does the cooking in your
house?

Very funny. I kid my friends that if I die suddenly, they should get Henry Lee to do the autopsy. So far I haven’t tasted anything metallic, so I guess I have been behaving myself. Seriously, since I retired a year ago to start my new website, www.topretirements.com
(where baby boomers can find their ideal retirement community), I have helped a little more with the cooking, usually as the sous-chef. Call me the chopper to Roberta as the head chef and menu planner. Roberta is a very good cook, even though she stubbornly refuses to follow any recipe too closely.

ROBERTA’S ROLLING HER EYES RIGHT HERE.

How is Roberta at promoting her own books?

She is a marketing genius. The promotion ideas never stop coming, and no one, no matter how remote, is safe from being pulled into one of her marketing promotions. The funny thing is when I met she was terrible at it. Starting out, psychologists have to do some networking with local doctors to get their practices going. But the idea of approaching these professionals to sell herself just froze her. Writing has totally brought out her inner marketer. Today her publisher and agent view her promotion skills with some awe – I honestly believe that if she wanted to she would make an amazing CEO of a major publishing company.

ROBERTA SAYS: Isn’t he sweet? But we haven’t gotten the phone call from New York yet! And John’s improved as a marketer too. Early on, I tried to get him to take after another mystery writer’s husband, who handed out peanut butter cups at all the conventions, wearing a button that said: Proud Husband of the Author. John wouldn’t touch it. But now he never misses the chance to support me and I’m grateful! And thanks for putting us up on your blog Cathy!

John: That reminds me, PREACHING TO THE CORPSE is on sale today! It can be picked up from your favorite independent bookseller, independent mystery bookseller, or online. And don’t forget to check out Roberta’s website: www.robertaisleib.com

Thanks to Roberta Isleib and John Brady for stopping by. Best of luck with the book, Roberta. It’s a wonderful read!