Here at The History Press we are big fans of crime fiction and after the success of our first Q&A with Terence and David, two of our historical crime writers, we asked author, Linda Stratmann to share her thoughts on successful crime fiction writing. Linda's latest book A Case of Doubtful Death is the latest installment in the bestselling Frances Doughty collection featuring Frances Doughty, a young sleuth investigating crimes in the Bayswater area of London.
Why write crime fiction?
My first published books were non-fiction, but I started writing fiction partly because I was inspired to do so by my membership of a local writers’ group, but also because I wanted to write the kind of historical fiction I felt I wanted to read, something that made me feel I was really there in Victorian London.
Where did the inspiration for A Case of Doubtful Death come from?
I was working in an office where we gave secret Santa gifts one Christmas, and someone gave me a copy of Buried Alive by Jan Bondeson. I thought it would be a wonderful idea to centre a book on a fictional waiting mortuary.
How important is location (i.e. Bayswater) in your book?
The location is crucial. Bayswater is a part of London but it is also a little township with its own personality and concerns. I had already researched it extensively for a previous book, Whiteley’s Folly. It gave me the chance to set my stories amongst a busy working population, rather than the criminal underbelly or the very wealthy. It is a rich environment, with its own life, and a backdrop of characters who all get on with leading their lives as the stories progress.
What is your favourite book? / What do you enjoy reading?
I read a lot of history and biography as well as fiction, but it would be impossible to choose one favourite book! I tend to read modern fiction rather than historical as I am always cautious about unintentionally coming up with what I think was an original idea but was actually something I read in another writer’s book a long time ago!
Do you have a favourite author? / Do you have a favourite fictional character?
The crime fiction authors I admire are those who construct brilliantly crafted plots, for example Ruth Rendell, P D James, Robert Goddard, S.J. Bolton and Jeffrey Deaver. I enjoy thoroughly researched and elegantly written non-fiction by writers such as Lady Antonia Fraser and Helen Rappaport.
How easy/difficult is to write historic crime fiction?
I don’t think of it as either easy or difficult since I enjoy it! The research takes time, as I try to make it as accurate as possible, regarding the location, current events, the laws and the general picture of life in that era. I use census returns, old maps, old newspapers, and many other sources. Anyone who writes about a historical period has to love it and really take pleasure in finding out about it.
Do you agree with David Baldacci that it is your responsibility as the author to write inaccuracies into your fiction, so that potential criminals do not replicate crimes?
I really doubt that anyone would be inspired to replicate anything I write about. Since I write historical fiction the cases would be solved far more rapidly and easily nowadays with modern forensic techniques.
How do you avoid your characters becoming clichéd (e.g. the femme fatale, the jaded detective)?
The characters are very real to me, and as I write them I let them respond and speak in a natural way.
Do you ever suffer from writer’s block? If so, how do you cope with it?
Ah, the legendary writers’ block! I am often asked about this! The short answer is no. Of course every writer gets a day when things simply aren’t working as well as hoped, and if I am not happy with the quality of my output, I just stop and do something else for a while.
Have you ever based characters on people you know (e.g. an old enemy as the villain)?
I dedicated The Poisonous Seed to the originals of Chas and Barstie! They knew when I was writing it that I had based two characters on them, and were very amused by the idea. When the book was accepted for publication I asked them if they would prefer it if I made some changes, but they were happy for it to go ahead.
How has social media helped you to market your book / you as an author?
I have my own website www.lindastratmann.com and I am also active on Facebook and Twitter. I don’t know how useful these have been but I think that nowadays one ignores them at one’s peril.
Finally, what next for Frances Doughty and you?
I am putting the finishing touches to An Appetite for Murder, the fourth book to feature Frances Doughty, and have started a major new project for Yale University Press, The Victorian Poisoners. I would love to write lots more Frances Doughty books as I have quite a few plans for her!
Linda Stratmann is a freelance writer and editor. She has a degree in psychology and a life-long interest in true crime. She is the author of a number of books including The Poisonous Seed, The Daughters of Gentlemen and A Case of Doubtful Death.