Author: Gwen Freeman

ISBN: 139780977627615

Today, Norm Goldman, Publisher & Editor of Bookpleasures.com is pleased to have as our guest Gwen Freeman.  Gwen is the author of Murder…Suicide… Whatever: A Fifi Cutter Mystery.  Gwen is also an attorney and a fine artist who shows her work in galleries nationwide.

Good day Gwen and thanks for participating in our interview.

Norm:

I notice you wear many hats- attorney, author and artist. How do you manage to find the time to devote to each and which of the three do you find the most rewarding?

Gwen:

I read and write quickly, and I’m fairly decisive, so I don’t waste time. As to which I find most rewarding, being an attorney is rewarding to my competitive side, and writing is very fun. But I feel that I couldn’t live if I didn’t paint.  

Norm:

Was there anyone who really influenced you to become a writer and what motivates you to write?

Gwen:

I was influenced by all of the great mystery writers who have, by providing distraction, ensured my mental health, starting with Agatha Christie, and more recently Janet Evanovich. I am most strongly motivated by the simple desire to entertain myself. 

Norm:

How did your book come about and how did you come up with the title Murder…Suicide… Whatever?

Gwen:

My law firm actually carried key man insurance on a number of the partners, two of whom did pass away at a fairly young age, creating a very awful situation where we had profited from the death of our good friends. Of course, the evil part of my mind immediately saw the literary possibilities.  The title was originally “Black…White…Whatever…” a reference to Fifi ambiguous ethnicity, but the publisher pointed out that, with this title, no one would know that the book was a murder mystery. So we modified it appropriately.  

Norm:

How do you come up with ideas for Murder…Suicide... Whatever?  What methods did you use to flesh out your ideas?

Gwen:

The practice of law provides an infinite number of plot lines. The problem is to select the most compelling. I am a firm believer in getting the ideas down on the page and then ruthlessly editing.

Norm:

What challenges or obstacles did you encounter while writing your book? How did you overcome these challenges?

Gwen:

The writing came easily. The challenge was to know what to cut out. I joined a writers group, and quickly learned that writing for fun is the same, in one important way, as writing a brief. Keep to the point.

Norm:

How much real-life do you put into Murder…Suicide... Whatever ? Is there much “you” in there?

Gwen:

The insurance background is very much real life and various details were drawn from real cases I had. Fifi is me, with nothing to lose.

Norm:

How did you create Fifi and Bosco in your book?  Did you plan them out or did they evolve as you wrote the book?

What were you trying to accomplish when you created these two characters?

Gwen:

Fifi was born fully formed. She is not easily intimidated and is not afraid of the truth. Bosco was created around Fifi to provide a foil-- a person whose respect for the truth is, shall we say, more nuanced?  But the reader has to like both of them at some level and the interactions have to be funny. 

Norm:

Did you find it difficult to mix mystery with humor?

 Gwen:

Not at all, to me the murder plot is the cake and the humor is the icing.

 Norm:

What are you aspirations as a writer?

Gwen: 

I would very much like to entice younger readers to take up the mystery genre. 

Norm:

Are you aware of any writers who may have influenced you?

Gwen:

Robert Barnard and Reginald Hill. 

Norm:

When writing do you follow a particular technique?

Gwen:

I sketch out ideas with a cheap ball point pen in a ratty old notebook, then I sit down at the computer and start writing and then I edit. And then I edit some more…and some more…and some more…

Norm:

How did you celebrate the novel’s completion?

Gwen:

Actually, I haven’t celebrated yet. Good idea, though, I’ll get right on it! 

Norm:

What is next for Gwen Freeman?

Gwen:

The second Fifi Cutter novel, more painting, and a huge class action lawsuit.

Norm:

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

Gwen: 

If I could just mention my WEBSITE

Thanks once again and good luck with Murder…Suicide… Whatever: A Fifi Cutter Mystery.

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

To read Norm's Review of Murder…Suicide… Whatever: A Fifi Cutter Mystery CLICK HERE