Today at the Café we have mystery noir author Betty Webb. Her latest book, DESERT CUT, came out in February of 2008. Betty’s favorite coffee is the whole bean coffee from Trader Joe’s that she grinds herself. So she’s brewed us up a pot today. Grab a cup and enjoy.

Café:
Tell us a little bit about the book before this one, DESERT RUN.

Betty:
"Desert Run" is based on the true-life escape of 25 German U-Boat crewmen who fled Camp Papago, Arizona's famed prisoner-of-war camp during World War II. This cold case file leaves P.I. Lena Jones wondering why the U.S. neglects gay veterans' rights while guarding the rights of others.

Café:
That sounds interesting. How long have you been writing?

Betty:
Professionally, almost 30 years. Was full-time, syndicated journalist for 20 years (before that, I wrote advertising copy).

Café:
When did your first novel come out?

Betty:
1976.

Café:
What was it called? And tell us a little about it.

Betty:
"You Can Have It when I'm Through with It." A satire of life on the L.A. art scene (was well-reviewed in New York Times & Ms Magazine).

Café:
Have you always written mysteries? If not what else have you written?

Betty:
The first book was not a mystery; my first mystery was "Desert Noir," which came out in 2001. But I have also written two plays, one produced off-off Broadway, the other broadcast on KTAR, a Phoenix radio station. And I've written literally thousands of feature articles for the newspaper I worked for, and dozens of articles for various magazines and anthologies.

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

Betty:
All my books are set in Arizona, and are based on real events both here and elsewhere. My new book, "Desert Cut," which came out in Feb. 2008. Here's what the sell sheet will say: "P.I. Lena Jones finds the mutilated body of a young girl in the Arizona desert and discovers the re-emergence of an ancient practice responsible for maiming and killing millions of girls — some as young as two years old. Who is responsible for this horrendous crime? A local pedophile? One of the area's recently-arrived immigrants? The church group preaching total submission of women? Or the chemical plant owner who might be involved with secret government ops? By the time Lena finds out the answers, several more killings — and one lynching — have taken place.

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

Betty:
Lena Jones was found at the age of four lying by the side of a Phoenix, AZ street, with a bullet in her head. Raised in a series of abusive foster homes where she was beaten and raped repeatedly, she eventually became a police officer, and after being shot in a botched drug raid, became a private investigator in Scottsdale, AZ. Now, while investigating murders, she is also searching for her birth parents.

Café:
What is the main reason that you write?

Betty:
I can't NOT write. Been doing it too long!

Café:
That’s a very common response from most writers. Do you write to entertain or is there something more you want the readers to take away from your work?

Betty:
Publishers Weekly called my books "mysteries with a social conscience." Many of them are based on events I covered while still a journalist (I'm now retired from 20 years of journalism, where I covered such things as child abuse, elder abuse, polygamy, etc.).

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

Betty:
Hard-core schedule which does NOT vary. I get up at 3:30 a.m. every day, and by 4 a.m. am at my computer, writing. I write until noon. Some days, I write even later.

Café:
Wow, you win the award here for morning person. Do you outline?

Betty:
Always... my editor requires an outline. However, I don't always adhere to that outline, because my characters don't always agree with my plans. My editor doesn't seem to mind. One funny thing... although my outline always says who the killer is, never once did the book turn out the way I planned it! Someone else has always stepped in and done the dirty deed!

Café:
LOL. I know that feeling. If you had your ideal, what time of day would you prefer to write?

Betty:
Mornings. Always mornings, before the strain and stress of the day kill my creativity. Too often when people try to write after a full day job, they're too tired to really get into the manuscript. Also, too much garbage from the day interferes with the creative process.

Café:
Day job?

Betty:
I started writing at 4 a.m. every day, so I could have four hours done by the time I went to my job at the newspaper. The habit stuck, and I'm still doing it even though I retired two years ago.

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

Betty:
Yes. It's always difficult. Only stars-in-their-eyes beginners expect to have their first novel published.

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

Betty:
Not really. My experience was the same as most writers. I wrote several manuscripts and suffered through MANY rejections until I finally wrote a book that rang a publisher's chimes. Now I look back at my very first attempt at a novel and I'm horrified that I actually sent it out. No wonder it was rejected! I didn't start getting my novels published until I'd written my fourth one.

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

Betty:
Poisoned Pen Press, my publisher, is very good at marketing my books internationally. However, I supplement their efforts with my own large mailing list, touring, and attending conferences. Because of my books' "social conscience" content, they are also very popular with librarians around the U.S., as well as book discussion groups and various colleges ("Desert Wives," my book about polygamy — a real problem here in Arizona — has been used as text for Women's Studies courses). Plus, I never say no to a signing or an appearance, even if I have to drive more than 100 miles to get there.

Café:
Do you have a most interesting book signing story — in a bookstore or other venue?

Betty:
Probably the funniest was when I was attacked by fire ants in a graveyard (long story) just before a signing. Two hours later, I developed an allergic reaction and was half-delirious throughout the signing — yet no one noticed! Kinda makes you think, doesn't it?

Café:
That’s definitely one I haven’t heard before. Future writing goals?

Betty:
At least 5 more books in the Lena Jones "Desert" series, plus another series... I'm blocking the new series out right now.

Café:
Heroes?

Betty:
Salman Rushdie, Elie Weisel. People with deep beliefs who aren't afraid to voice them.

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

Betty:
The Dalai Lama, to kiss his feet. Bin Laden, to kick his ass.

Café:
What do you read?

Betty:
As a reviewer for Mystery Scene magazine, I read at least 20 mysteries per month. But I also read lots of literary novels (necessary, since I teach creative writing at Phoenix College) and popular fiction. In all, I read about 30 books a month.

Café:
Wow, that’s a lot of books Favorite TV or movies?

Betty:
TV... "The Closer," and "Saving Grace." TV ...I just saw "La Vie En Rose," the biography of French singer Edith Piaf. It was wonderful.

Café:
Those are both great shows. Any pets?

Betty:
Several cats and dogs, plus I feed every bird that shows up, and when gardening, am careful not to step on any geckos. I no longer have horses, but I used to own a 40-acre horse farm near Louisville, Kentucky (19 horses, a cow, a goat, 20 chickens, and whatever else flew, slithered, or crawled by and refused to leave). I'm such an animal person that I now volunteer at the Phoenix Zoo (in the Monkey House, which for some strange reason, seems to suit me perfectly!).

Café:
That’s awesome. Family?

Betty:
Husband, two grown sons, two grandchildren, and about a million cousins, most of them in Alabama.

Café:
What part of the country/world do you live in?

Betty:
I live in Scottsdale, Arizona, a half-mile from the Salt River Pima/Maricopa Indian Reservation (which I use in all my books).

Café:
Any advice for aspiring or beginning writers?

Betty:
Write for at least two hours every single day. It takes that long just to warm up and get the clichés out of your prose.

Café:
Anything you would like to add?

Betty:
NEVER be content with your work. It can always be improved.

Café:
You just got some good news about a new series. Tell us about it.

Betty:
I'm thrilled to announce a brand new series, featuring a kinder, gentler amateur sleuth. THE ANTEATER OF DEATH introduces Teddy (Theodora), a feisty zookeeper at a Central Coast California zoo. When Lucy, a giant anteater from Belize, is accused of killing the hated new zoo director, Teddy decides to track down the murderer herself, thus saving her furry friend from being shipped off to another zoo... or worse. Adding to the fun, Teddy lives on a leaky boat, and is constantly battling to save her beloved Merilee from sinking into Davy Jones' locker. Lots of laughs in this one, but not quite a cozy; my editor, the wonderful Barbara Peters at Poisoned Pen Press (which publishes the Lena Jones series), describes it as more of a traditional. By the way, the new series is so radically different than the Lena Jones books (which will also continue), that I'm writing it under the name of Jo Howell, my married name.

Café:
How fun. I look forward to the new series. Congratulations. Website?

Betty:
www.bettywebb-mystery.com and my blog is http://bloggingwebb.blogspot.com

Café:
Where can people purchase your books?

Betty:
At most bookstores and independent bookstores — especially mystery bookstores (if my books aren't on the shelves, they can be ordered). Or they can be ordered directly from Poisoned Pen, toll free at 1-888-560-9919.

Café:
Thanks Betty for joining us here at the Café. I look forward to checking out your books. Best of luck.

©2008 Lorie Ham. All rights reserved.