Today, Norm Goldman, Publisher & Editor of Bookpleasures.com is pleased to have as our guest, Sheila Lowe, author of Poison Pen.

Good day Sheila and thanks for participating in our interview.

Norm:

Sheila, please tell our readers a little bit about your personal and professional background.

Sheila:

I came to the US from England as a fourteen-year-old, and became interested in handwriting analysis in 1967 (of course, I started very, very young…). My boyfriend’s mother had read a book and she analyzed my handwriting. I was instantly hooked. For many years I worked in the area of behavioral profiling for individuals who wanted to know more about themselves and their relationships, and for companies who wanted to know more about the people they were hiring. Then, in 1985 an attorney called and asked me to testify in a case of forgery—the next day! When I said I didn’t do that kind of work he asked if I knew about handwriting. I said I did, and he promised I would be qualified as an expert. And I was. So that opened up a whole new arena for me, and these days my handwriting analysis practice is split 50-50 between behavioral profiling, working with companies and individuals all over the world, and handwriting authentication in the legal field. The personal stuff—I raised three kids as a single parent, and now that my kids are grown, it’s just Fritz the cat and me. But just because I have a cat, it doesn’t mean I write cozies…

Norm:

I understand you have written two non-fiction books and Poison Pen is your first foray into the world of fiction. Was it difficult for you to write fiction and what challenges or obstacles did you encounter while writing Poison Pen? How did you overcome these challenges?

Sheila:

Writing fiction was ….well (if you’ll forgive me), a whole different story from writing nonfiction. My first book, The Complete Idiots Guide to Handwriting Analysis had to be written in the very specific Idiot’s Guide format and with humor. The second book, Handwriting of the Famous & Infamous, had a more formal approach. Selling them was so easy that it was quite a shock when I started trying to sell Poison Pen, which went through many iterations as I learned the craft of fiction writing.

So, I guess you could say that the big challenges were in learning how to write dialogue, set the scene, and develop the characters—you know, the really basic stuff. I read about forty books on writing fiction and about forensics, took courses with Kris Neri and Elizabeth George, worked with editors, got involved with Sisters in Crime and MWA, attended mystery conferences. But having done all that, I think perhaps the single most important thing I did was to begin to read my favorite authors with a critical eye, looking for what made their books appeal to me; what made them work so well. It was while reading Robert Crais’ Demolition Angel that I realized he seldom used attributions. Reading Ashes to Ashes by Tami Hoag taught me a lot about characterization. Like that. The problem was, there’s a reason these people are best sellers—they’re such great writers that I’d soon get drawn into the story and forget to read critically!

Norm:

In Poison Pen you mention how your protagonist, who is also a handwriting analyst like yourself, receives many invitations to parties only because she can entertain the guests. Does this happen to you and how do you handle these invitations?

Sheila:

Yes, Norm, it has happened many times. In fact, I went to a holiday party last weekend and an acquaintance who should have known better introduced me to someone and said, “We should have a handwriting analysis party—wouldn’t that be fun?” I just smiled and said, “I don’t do parties, but I can refer you to someone who does.” In response to the quizzical look I got, I explained, “It wouldn’t play very well in court when I’m on the witness stand and the opposing attorney says, Oh, by the way, I hear you entertain at parties.” She got it.

Norm:

How do you respond to individuals who might be skeptical about your profession as a handwriting analyst?

Sheila:

If anyone expresses skepticism, I offer them an annotated bibliography that I compiled a few years ago of published research in the field. Handwriting analysis is based on common sense and has a lot of documented research behind it. Those who don’t think so usually have been exposed to someone who’s just read a book and sets up shop. Unfortunately, there’s no licensing in the field, so it’s easy for a charlatan to damage the profession and their clients that way.

Norm:

Have you had any downfalls or negative experiences working with a publisher/agent, such as rejection letters? If so, how did you handle it?

Sheila:

Oh, have I!!! After Poison Pen was a winner in the Southwest Writers competition, I thought it would be easy to find a good agent and sell the manuscript. I was dead wrong. I went through several disappointing agents (and I don’t mean disappointing just because they were unable to sell the book), and finally sold it to Capital Crime Press myself. The interesting thing is, I’d sold my first two books without an agent, too. The rejection letters—let’s not even go there. They make me think of something I read that was attributed to Voltaire. He’d received a letter from an enemy and his reply was, “I’m sitting in the smallest room in my house. I have your letter in front of me. Soon it will be behind me.”

Norm:

How did you approach writing the character of Claudia? Did you plan her out or did she evolve as you wrote the book? As a follow up, did you initially have a difficult time fleshing out the other characters such as Joel Jovanic?

Sheila:

One of the big critiques I got when I first sent Poison Pen out to agents was that they didn’t like Claudia. I think maybe she was too tough, too much of a wiseass, so I toned her down and started to get really great feedback about her. Jovanic has always been the same as he is now. I visualized a Michael Keaton type as I wrote him, and he seemed to write himself. I’d heard this from other authors about characters taking over, but it was a fascinating experience to see the words that came out of his mouth and watch his attitude change toward Claudia. 

The other characters have elements of some people I know, but they really are mostly fiction. Lindsey Alexander, the woman whose story is the basis for the book, was loosely based on someone I knew who ostensibly killed herself, but there were so many strange things surrounding her death that it was never satisfactorily explained. The character of Lindsey evolved into someone a bit more sympathetic than she started out, as my critique group wondered why Claudia would involve herself with such a nasty piece of work. Hopefully, readers of the published version will understand her reasons.

Norm:

Do you have a local writing community or fellow writers that you look to for support and advice?

Sheila:

About four years ago I attended a Sisters in Crime conference and met a young woman who lived in my area. We decided to start a critique group with very specific aims. Membership would be limited to serious mystery writers whose goal was to be published. We met at Barnes & Noble twice a month and grew rapidly. Over the years there have been some comings and goings, and we’re now down to a more comfortable small group that works very well together. I also became a board member of the SinC Los Angeles chapter for several years, and am now a member of MWA, as well as the 4MA and DorothyL lists.

Norm:

How much real-life did you put into Poison Pen? Is there much “you” in there?

Sheila:

Ahhh, the “Is Claudia really you?” question. Claudia is much braver than I am and she enjoys air travel and coffee. Other than that, we are probably more alike than not. Not very creative of me, I suppose. Actually, her background is different from mine, and that will continue to shape her attitudes and behavior, as we’ll see it develop in later books.

Norm:

Do you agree that to have good drama there must be an emotional charge that usually comes from the individual squaring off against antagonists either out in the world or within himself or herself? If so, please elaborate and how does it fit into you novel?

Sheila:

Yes, Norm, I do think so. It’s far more interesting to read the story of someone who struggles against their personal demons and is forced to face them than Little Miss Sunshine who has everything in hand and always knows what to do. Claudia has become something of a workaholic to avoid facing pain and loss in her life, and the relationship she begins in Poison Pen holds both the opportunity to help her to alter her behavior, and the challenge of not falling into the same old rut. One’s inner emotional battle always spills out onto external circumstances in one way or another. The interesting part is how that affects a given situation.

Norm:

How did you celebrate the completion of Poison Pen?

Sheila:

The truth is, there have been so many drafts of PP that I thought were finished, only to find that they weren’t, that I haven’t celebrated yet. I will, though, when I have the book launch party in the spring and it seems more of a reality. Hopefully, there will be lots of old and new friends there to help me celebrate.

Norm:

What is next on the agenda for Sheila Lowe?

Sheila:

The second Claudia Rose book, Written in Blood, is already finished and ready to go to the editor, and I’m now outlining book three, Dead Write. Meantime, the second edition of the Complete Idiot’s Guide to Handwriting Analysis will be released in January with dozens of wonderful new handwriting samples of celebrities from Dean Koontz to Christopher Darden. Aside from all that, I’m preparing for a book tour, with several mystery cons in the plan. Maybe with Claudia along with me, I’ll improve my outlook on flying.

Norm:

Is there anything else you wish to add that we have not covered?

Sheila:

Forensics is a huge area of interest these days, and forensic handwriting analysis is something that hasn’t been covered much. I hope Poison Pen will generate a lot of enthusiasm and make readers want to learn more about what Claudia Rose does. There are sample chapters of Poison Pen and

Written in Blood, on my dedicated website www.claudiaroseseries.com.

For information about handwriting analysis: www.sheilalowe.com. And finally, I’d like to offer your readers an opportunity for a free handwriting analysis. On December 31, 2006.  I’ll pick someone at random who signs up on the Claudia Rose web site home page.

Thanks once again and good luck with all of your future endeavors.

Thanks so much, Norm.

The above interview was conducted by: NORM GOLDMAN:  Retired Title Attorney: Editor & Publisher of Bookpleasures. Here are  Norm Goldman's Reviews  

To read Norm's Review of Poison Pen CLICK HERE