by Lorie Ham

Today at the Café we have with us mystery author, Jane Tesh, whose latest book, A Hard Bargain, from Poisoned Pen Press, continues the story of Madeline Maclin from 2006's A Case Of Imagination. In her honor, we’re brewing up some Lipton iced tea, so grab a glass and enjoy.

Café:
Tell us a little bit about your latest book?

Jane:
A Hard Bargain continues the story of Madeline Maclin, ex-beauty queen and aspiring PI, and her best friend, Jerry Fairweather. A director comes to the small NC town of Celosia, wanting to make a movie on the local legend, the Mantis Man. Jerry's recently inherited and spooky old house would make the perfect setting, but when the director is murdered, Madeline's there to solve the crime. She also solves the mystery of what happened to Jerry's parents, a dark secret Jerry has carried since he was small.

Café:
How long have you been writing?

Jane:
All my life, which would be 50 years.

Café:
When did your first novel come out and what was it called?

Jane:
February, 2006; A Case Of Imagination. This is the first book about Madeline and Jerry. Ex-beauty queen and struggling PI, Madeline Maclin, comes to the small town of Celosia, NC, with her best friend, Jerry Fairweather, to see about a house Jerry has inherited from a mysterious uncle. Madeline is reluctantly involved in a murder at the local beauty pageant. She also struggles with her growing feelings for Jerry.

Café:
Have you always written mysteries?

Jane:
No. I also write young adult fantasy and plays for children.

Café:
What brought you to choose the setting and characters in your latest book?

Jane:
I live in a small town in North Carolina, so it's easy to write about small town life.

Café:
Tell me a little about the setting and main character.

Jane:
Celosia, North Carolina, is a typical small Southern town, which means a lot more is going on under the surface than anyone would imagine. Madeline Maclin, my main character, wanted to be an artist, but her mother pushed her into beauty pageants when Madeline was a young girl. Now that she's old enough to choose for herself, Madeline wants nothing else to do with pageants, but finds her insider's knowledge to be very helpful on her cases. She's in love with her best friend, Jerry Fairweather, but Jerry sees her only as a pal — for now.

Café:
What is the main reason that you write?

Jane:
It's difficult to explain the creative process. For me, I have to write. I really have no idea where a lot of the situations and dialogue come from. These characters start talking, and I have to write down what they say. I love being in the worlds I've created.

Café:
Do you write to entertain or is there something more you want the readers to take away from your work?

Jane:
I write what I like to read, and that's light, hopefully funny, clean, entertaining stories with action and romance, a mix of humor and drama.

Café:
Do you have a schedule for your writing or just write whenever you can?

Jane:
I work every day from about nine AM until noon, and from one PM until 3 PM. If the work's going well, I'll write more after supper.

Café:
Do you outline?

Jane:
I outline by days. I'll put "Day One" on a piece of paper and roughly outline what's going to happen during Day One. Sometimes I don't know what's going to happen until I start writing, but I try to keep things organized this way.

Café:
Oh, wow, I do the same thing. If you had your ideal, what time of day would you prefer to write?

Jane:
In the mornings.

Café:
Yet another one. Day job?

Jane:
Not any more — hooray!! I'm retired.

Café:
Awesome! Did you find it difficult to get published in the beginning?

Jane:
Well, it took me 30 years.

Café:
Do you have a great rejection/critique or acceptance story you'd like to share?

Jane:
I briefly had an agent who suggested I change the hero of my other book to a woman. When I couldn't do that, I looked around in my other stories to see if one of the guys wouldn't mind a sex change. Fortunately, Mac Tobrin didn't mind becoming Madeline "Mac" Maclin, and thus Madeline was born! However, the original Mac had been a con man, so Jerry had to become the con man and female Mac the detective. She needed some kind of fun background, so she became an ex-beauty queen because there's nothing quite as goofy as the pageant world.

Café:
What kind of promotion do you find most affective?

Jane:
Word of mouth.

Café:
Most interesting book signing story-in a bookstore or other venue?

Jane:
Since everyone in my small town knows me, I had a huge signing event at the local bookstore. But now everyone in town has a copy of the book, so I have to travel other places if I want to sell more books!

Café:
Future writing goals?

Jane:
I have another mystery series featuring PI David Randall (the hero the agent wanted me to change to a woman), his friend Camden, a reluctant psychic, Camden's girlfriend, Ellin, a tough career woman, and Kary Ingram, the beautiful woman Randall can't seem to win. There are 15 books in this series and I'm really hoping to find an agent for these books.

Café:
Oh wow, you’ll have to keep us posted on that. Heroes?

Jane:
Teachers everywhere who continue to teach despite little money and support.

Café:
Person you would most like to meet dead or alive?

Jane:
P.G. Wodehouse.

Café:
What do you read?

Jane:
Terry Pratchett, Jasper Fford, Kage Baker, Wodehouse, Sayers.

Café:
What are your hobbies?

Jane:
Playing the piano, taking part in community theater productions and traveling.

Café:
I’d love to try community theater, sounds like fun. Favorite TV or movies?

Jane:
Right now, I'm enjoying the latest Dr. Who. I loved all the Harry Potter movies. My favorite movies are Citizen Kane and Brazil.

Café:
Woman after my own heart! Love Harry and Dr. Who. Pets?

Jane:
I have a one-eyed Chihuahua named Winkie.

Café:
Family?

Jane:
Mother, brother, sister, wonderful niece and nephew.

Café:
Tell us about the small town where you live.

Jane:
I live in Mt. Airy, North Carolina, a town of about seven thousand people. The town is about ten minutes from the Virginia border.

Café:
Any advice for aspiring or beginning writers?

Jane:
Don't ever give up. I started sending manuscripts out when I was a teenager and finally, after 30 years, I have published two books and have agents interested in other books. You will find the right publisher at the right time. The contract for A Case Of Imagination came two months after I had retired, so I had all the time I needed for revisions and publicity.

Café:
Anything you would like to add?

Jane:
The best part about finally being published is the chance to share my work with my family and my friends who stood by me all those years.

Café:
Website?

Jane:
www.janetesh.com. There's a picture of Winkie.

Café:
I’ll have to check that out. Where can people purchase your books?

Jane:
Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com will give you the best prices.

Café:
Thanks so much for joining us here at the Café today. Happy reading and good coffee!

(There are reviews of Jane Tesh's previous book, A Case Of Imagination, here and here.)

©2008 Lorie Ham. All rights reserved.