My Weblog: So, when are you going to write a real book? Revisted...

I had a discussion with a good friend of mine recently that went something like this. "You write mysteries. And you use humor in them. Yet, murder is hardly a light subject. How do you reconcile the use of humor in a murder mystery?" While not quite the question I used as the subject header, it skated close enough that my first knee-jerk reaction was as if she had asked it. It hurt. We had addressed this very issue -- can Cozies be Real Books -- pretty recently in this blog, so it was interesting that she brought it up again independently.

I write about murder not because I'm bloodthirsty, or because I find murder glamourous in any way, shape or form. It is something so absolutely beyond the pale that I find it the perfect catalyst to allow characters to explore human reactions to a dire situation -- and to show how wonderful indeed human beings can be when faced with adversity. As for humor in that dire situation, I can't get through a day without a good belly laugh. I take my friendships very seriously. If I was actually faced with a friend's death, I might feel differently about humor in a work of fiction, but I might actively seek it out to relieve my own grief.

Reading for many is an escape activity. Reading about different places, people different from those you meet every day, situations you'd never allow yourself to experience. And like people in daily life, the characters must also cope with the situation we've thrown them into. If I use humor, then why can't my characters?

Which brings me back to my friend. We've known each other for a very long time. She was there for my first book signing. She was there when I took my first writing course and encouraged me all the way. So why did it take her all these years to ask the question that must have been upmost in her mind about the validity of my work?

She was uncomfortable. You see, she had been touched by a real-life murder and found it everything you'd expect. A close friend and classmate died at the hand of a man several women in her school circle had dated. That's not terribly funny. And all these years later, it still hurts her to think about it.

The reality of murder is hard, painful and ever-lasting. The span of a murder-mystery is a few hours. I'm glad that my friend finally said something as it's given me a great deal to think on. I suspect that humor will always be a part of my writing, and that dead bodies will continue to litter the pages. But I'll always hold that thought about my friend's friend's life cut so tragically short.

Happy Turkey day to all!

Julie

Comments

Julie, nice post and sorry to hear about your friend's experience.

I have threaded humor throughout THE BLACK WIDOW AGENCY because, as you said, it's part of the human element. Even highly professional police officers will sometimes joke because it is a release from the stress. It is not meant to be disrespectful, just a very human reaction when faced with adversity.

Humor - it's the next best thing to chocolate, as my Black Widows would say.

Felicia Donovan
Author, THE BLACK WIDOW AGENCY Series
www.feliciadonovan.com
www.blackwidowagency.com

Posted by: Felicia Donovan | November 20, 2007 at 06:51 PM