by Nancy Cole Silverman
I recently returned from Portugal and Spain where my husband and I did a river cruise down the Douro River. It was a much-needed break before my new book, The House on Hallowed Ground dropped, and I began edits for book two of the series. Writers know how difficult it can be to get time off between writing, pitching, and editing, so I was particularly thankful we could find time to escape. This was a trip we were looking forward to, and it didn’t disappoint.
My husband and I have become big fans of river trips. It’s a chance to sit back, enjoy the scenery, and visit ancient cities as they were meant to be seen, from the river—without the hassle of transferring from one hotel to the next or worrying about traffic. It’s also a chance to sip wine, sample regional cheeses, and meet new people.
The ships are small, ours had just over a hundred passengers, and invariably our conversation with our fellow travelers would come around to what we’d seen that day, how much we were enjoying the voyage, how many river trips we had taken, and what we did for a living.
My husband’s in advertising. Me? I kill people.
That’s always a conversation starter. And usually, a gentle way to lead into the fact I’m a mystery writer, and that the only murders I’ve ever committed were on the page.
It also leads to a discussion about how I’ve knocked people off. I’ve never used a gun. In fact, in both my series, The Carol Childs Mysteries and the brand, spanking new, Misty Dawn Mysteries, (Henery Press), I’ve managed to find creative ways to eliminate characters. Not to worry; there’s no blood and guts on the page. These are soft-boiled mysteries or cozies sans the graphic violence or play-by-play descriptions.
As I explained to my fellow passengers, thus far between my two series; I’ve poisoned people, pushed them helicopters, had one die after being kicked by a horse (poor horse), hung them, stabbed them, and most recently drowned them. All pretty nasty way to go, but since I was discussing my methods of elimination while on a river cruise where we were studying the Spanish Inquisition; certainly no more gruesome than burning someone at the stake or beheading them.
All in all, it made for unusual dinner conversation. People wanted to know how I came up with my ideas. “Actually, poisoning is easy,” I said, “and not always detectable.” I had recently come across a book Deadly Doses: A Writer’s Guide to Poisons, that was particularly helpful in directing me to various poisons and how they work. I leave a copy out on my kitchen counter when we have friends over for dinner. It’s amazing the conversation starter that is; and how much food I have left over.
There’s a funny thing that happens to writers when they share what they do for a living. Invariably, people will tell stories they might not tell anyone else, and my experience on the cruise was no different. Nearly every day, my fellow passengers would stop by our dinner table to offer some new idea or method by which someone had done someone in or to ask about my book or the name of the poision book I’d used for reference.
Kind of made me wonder what people might be doing when they got home. I hope it’s my book they’re reading.
About the book:
When Misty Dawn, a former Hollywood Psychic to the Stars, moves into an old craftsman house, she encounters the former owner, the recently deceased Hollywood set designer, Wilson Thorne. Wilson is unaware of his circumstances, and when Misty explains the particulars of his limbo state, and how he might help himself if he helps her, he’s not at all happy. That is until young actress Zoey Chamberlain comes to Misty’s door for help. Zoey has recently purchased The Pink Mansion, a historic Hollywood Hills home, and believes it’s haunted. But when Misty arrives to search the house, it’s not a ghost she finds, but a dead body. The police are quick to suspect Zoey of murdering her best friend. Zoey maintains her innocence and fears her friend’s death may have been a result of the ghost...and a long-time family curse. Together Misty and Wilson must untangle the secrets of The Pink Mansion or submit to the powers of the family curse.
About the author:
Nancy Cole Silverman enjoyed a long and very successful career in radio before turning to print journalism and later, to fiction.
As a graduate of Arizona State University with a degree in Mass Communications, Nancy was one of the first female on-air television reporters in her hometown of Phoenix. After moving to Los Angeles in the late 1970’s she turned to the business side of broadcasting, becoming one of the top advertising sales executives in the market. After stints at KNX, KFWB, KABC and KXTA radio, she was appointed General Manager at KMPC, making her one of only two female managers in America’s second-largest radio market.
But in her heart of hearts, Nancy thought first of herself as a writer. In 2001 she left the radio business to found and edit The Equestrian News, a monthly publication for equine enthusiasts. “That’s when I really began to write,” said Silverman, “toggling between writing articles for the News and fiction I’d been thinking about for years.”
Today Nancy is a full-time author. Her two series, The Carol Childs Mysteries, and the new Misty Dawn mysteries, are available wherever you buy books.
"I kill people." I could see that being a conversation stopper if you don't explain quickly enough. It definitely sparks the imagination for everyone, based on your experiences.
Posted by: Mark | September 23, 2019 at 09:48 PM
Oddly enough, when people ask my husband what I do, he replies, "She kills people." Oh, and thanks for the shout out for Deadly Doses.
Posted by: Anne Louise Bannon | September 25, 2019 at 09:28 PM