Q. How did you come up with the character of Robin Hamilton?

A. When I sat down to write the book, I wanted to create protagonist who was young, ambitious, and talented, but also flawed. I view Robin as the epitome of
the aggressive, talented reporter you sometimes see at small daily newspapers. I used my experience on the police/courts beat to frame Robin's work life. Personally, Robin represents a new generation of women who think for themselves and are fiercely independent. In Robin's case, she's almost too independent, which is her main flaw that gets her into trouble sometimes. That independence is what prevents her from leaning on people for emotional support, especially in dealing with the murder of her fiancé.

I also wanted to explore the relationship between fathers and daughters. So many books have been written about mother-daughter relationships, but fathers play just as important a role in women's growth as mothers. My mother died when I was nine and I have a close, if sometimes contentious, relationship with my dad. I draw on that relationship when writing about Robin and Hank Hamilton and how they communicate with each other.

Q. Why set a mystery series in such a remote location as the Upper Peninsula of Michigan as opposed to Chicago or Detroit?

A. I love the U.P.! I've been here since 1981 when my family moved from Southern California and, though I've had plenty of opportunities to leave, I have no desire to live anywhere else. It's a beautiful setting with a wide variety of "characters" drawn here for many different reasons. I've met artists, alleged retired mobsters, avid hunters, devout vegans, scientists, poets, you name it. It's that unique flavor, combined with incredible topography, that makes this area unique.

Besides, so many novels are set in big cities, but most people still identify with or can appreciate the life in a small town. Things really do move at a much slower pace up here and people are much more connected to each other.

Q. Why did you include Belle, a basset hound, in the series?

A. I've always loved animals and grew up with dogs, although I now have three cats. Pets add so much to our lives so I wanted Robin to have a furry companion. Belle connects Robin with her dead fiancé and reminds her of happier times, but she's also a great friend and proves to be quite intuitive and intelligent. Most people have had a pet like Belle at some point in their lives, an animal that seems almost human, like she has a soul.

Q. You're a newspaper reporter and editor by trade. What made you decide to write mysteries as opposed to nonfiction or something more literary?

A. I never "decided" to write mysteries. I've just always loved the genre. I started off with the Nancy Drew books when I was in elementary school then moved on to the Alfred Hitchcock and the Three Investigators series in junior high. In high school I branched out to historical novels like the "North and South" trilogy by John Jakes and horror novels by Stephen King.

But I came back to mysteries as an adult. I love solving puzzles and the idea that there is much more to people and situations than meets the eye. I'll give you an example. One of my coworkers recently said she saw me as a writer of historical romances as opposed to mysteries full of murder and madness. I wasn't offended because I do like to look "put together" and have flowers and pictures of my cats on my desk. I don't skulk around wearing black all the time and shooting dark looks at people. I like knowing that people have a tough time "figuring me out." That's what's great about the mystery, the figuring it out part. That's not to say I will never write anything but mysteries, that's just where I'm drawn right now.

As for literary fiction, I picked up a book about six years ago that was hailed by the critics as one of the greatest of our time. I couldn't get through it. I thought it was the most boring thing I'd ever read, and I always try to finish a book once I've started reading it. Sometimes the critics are full of hot air and they are drawn to books that are full of the flowery language that drives me batty. Guess I'd make a lousy literary critic!

Q. Lots of people say they want to write a novel "someday." How did you do it?

A. It's really a matter of sitting down and doing the work. There's no trick to it. You start with page one and keep writing until you've told the story. Everyone has a story to tell. It's just that some people are better storytellers than others. That shouldn't discourage anyone, though. The more you write, the better you will get. Few people are capable of writing a "For Whom the Bell Tolls" or "To Kill a Mockingbird," but they will reach a certain level of proficiency. Believe me, I've read a lot of crap that's been published by the big New York firms so even lousy writers can find an audience.

Q. What's the worst part of the writing process?

A. Revisions! The first draft is pure play for me. It's exciting, like watching a suspenseful movie because I don't know what's going to happen next. When I'm on a roll, I can write for hours and never notice the passage of time until my hand starts to ache (I write the first draft by hand in a five subject, college ruled notebook). I no longer use an outline. I just sit down with a general story idea and follow where it leads.

Its during the revision process that writing feels like work. That's where I transfer the hand-written draft into the computer and fill in the areas that need to be researched. It's also where word selection and sentence structure take precedence. After this is done, I go through the novel a third time to make sure the story flows smoothly and makes sense. This third draft is usually read aloud to a friend of mine who has an ear for language.

Q. What advice would you give aspiring authors?

A. Write as often as you can about whatever you feel like writing. The more you write, the more comfortable you will be with the process. Develop your own style. Don't try to emulate other authors. The only person who can write like J.D. Salinger is J.D. Salinger. Imitations are obvious, stale, and fake. Remember that good stories and engaging characters are the reasons people read fiction.

In addition, instead of wasting time in front of the television, read, read, and read some more. Read everything you can get your hands on in your favorite genre but also venture into other areas. If you love mysteries, also read science fiction or romance once in a while so you get a feel for other types of writing.

Q. What's on your bookshelves at home?

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Page One: Hit and Run
A Robin Hamilton Mystery
written by Nancy Barr
ISBN 1--933926-15-5