There’s a perfectly delightful movie about an Archangel with a screenplay by
Nora Ephron called MICHAEL
. In an interview subsequent to the film’s release, somebody (inevitably) asked
Ms. Ephron if she believed in angels. She replied something to the effect that
no, she certainly didn’t, but they were terrific to write about. She’s right.
They are. After initial terrified trepidation—my response whenever I start a new
project, whether it’s angels or not—I’m having a wonderful time with my Beaufort
&Company series from Berkley Prime Crime.
My protagonist, Brianna Winston-Beaufort, is a newly-hatched lawyer who
discovers that she’s inherited her Great-uncle Franklin’s legal speciality; to
handle appeals cases for souls condemned to Hell. Bree is a rational woman. Her
chosen field of expertise is corporate tax law. She’s twenty-eight when the
series begins, with a gym habit and a much-loved, if annoying little sister and
warm-hearted parents with a habit of loving interference in Bree’s affairs.
Like her creator, Bree is frankly skeptical about the appearance of beings from
the afterlife in her present life. And again like her creator, Bree quails at
the beginning of each new case.
Although I began my writing career twenty-five years ago with two adult fantasy
novels, and a series from Scholastic about unicorns for middle grade readers, my
career has been aimed at mysteries. I’m addicted to reading them, and my
particular addictions are wide-ranging, from Reginald Hill, Stig Larsson and Lee Child right right
across the border to Ann
B. Ross and the inimitable Miss Julia Springer. But I
agonize over writing them; even after twenty-some Hemlock Falls cozies as Claudia Bishop, I whine,
gnash my teeth tear my hair and generally drive my family berserker-bananas for
months before I actually sit down and write the novel that was due last Tuesday.
Then I write it. Then I’m happy. Then Berkley says, “Sure, why don’t we do
another Hemlock Falls novel?” and I start the whole miserable cycle all over
again--even though I’m dealing with a whole cast of characters I love
profoundly; that I know as well as I know anything in this life; and whose
exploits are a pleasure to construct.
When Berkley agreed to my proposal for Beaufort & Company, my husband
promptly asked our family doctor to prescribe me a super-size bottle of Xanax
(no such luck, alas.) He was right to be wary. The burden of adding a
well-designed, non-secetarian celestial universe to the already heart-sinking
chore of writing an original mystery sends me into a tail-spin every single
time. (I think it’s the considerable chore of establishing a willing suspense of
disbelief in the mystery reader—a being whom I’ve always envisioned as being
smart, canny, and slightly cynical about the worthiness of one’s fellow man.) In
the Beaufort &Company novel I just turned in, ANGEL CONDEMNED, I took
an additional risk, and added some dramatic depth to my protagonist.
So, even though I write about angels, I’m not at all angelic about how I do it.
The thought of devising yet another challenging case for Bree and her celestial
circle drives me crazy. It drives my poor family crazy. Then I sit down and
write the novel that was due last Tuesday, and start all over again.
MARY STANTON is the
author of five novels in the paranormal Beaufort & Company mystery series.
There may be a sixth if her nerve holds. As Claudia Bishop, she is the
author of two other series, THE CASEBOOKS OF DR. MCKENZIE, and the INN AT
HEMLOCK FALLS mysteries.
I don't know how I ever overlooked your books, but you are now on my TBR list!! I thoroughly enjoyed reading your post today, and I think you have a very interesting slant with your story line. I believe that everyone has at least one Angel watching out over them during their lifetime, and that someone close to them from their past, does come and watch over them as well. We just have to be open-minded to the signals that they send us. I'm not the kind of kook that goes around burning candles and incense and reads books by Sylvia Brown. I just stay observant. Thank you for such a wonderful post, and good luck with your books!! (Peggy Roberson 10:53am April 3, 2011)
I've read a lot of the "Inn at Hemlock Falls" series, and have thoroughly enjoyed them, especially on those occasions when a recipe got included!
Now I have to look out the :Dr, McKenzie" series, and this new one!! My poor bookshelves. They are overflowing, but in a good way!!
Your "Angel" series sounds interesting. I love a good mystery and your sound like they have an interesting twist. Thanks for introducing me to your books. (Robin McKay 4:25pm April 3, 2011)
I love the idea of your series. Sounds awesome. (Vicki Hancock 5:58pm April 3, 2011)
I've never seen your books but the idea of angels and a mystery is well very mysterious indeed! (Diane Sadler 7:34pm April 3, 2011)
I've never read any of your books but would love to. I'll have to keep an eye out for them in the future! (Brenda Rupp 7:58pm April 3, 2011)
Your books sound very interesting, as my next stop is Amazon I will looking for them. (Linda Pillow 9:08pm April 3, 2011)
Hmm, angels in mysteries. I think I'll check out the series. (Sigrun Schulz 11:48pm April 3, 2011)
How did I not ever see your books? After reading this post, I will be looking for them- and hoping I WIN one to get me started! I always pass my books on to others, so they share the addiction with me! This sounds like a really different series, which is something I have been looking for! (Patti DelValle 1:49am April 4, 2011)
I loved reading your post and found it very interesting. I do believe in angels and I love mysteries. I have not read your books before, either, bu I'm hoping to change that today! (Karen Cherubino 12:25pm April 4, 2011)
I have no choice but to believe in angels. My daughter's house caught on fire back on December 10th. I was scared, but I knew the date was just a reminder that my brother was still looking out for her 12 years after he died. It was his birthday. He used to be a fireman from the time he was old enough to be a junior fireman. With smoke pouring out of her house she grabbed her animals and went outside to call the fire dept. They were there within three minutes to put out the remnants while her boyfriend and another friend stayed inside the whole time keeping the flames down. In the end all was safe and there was very little damage. For Christmas I bought her and her boyfriend each a fire extinguisher. It was a great gift that may someday save her life, but I'm sure that her non-working fire alarm wasn't helpful even though the batteries were fully charged. It was his way of saying hello to the niece he had doted on in life and reminding her that he still loved her and was there for her. I'm sure there's a million stories like that, but we can't all be wrong. Try believing in what you write about. Who knows, it may be more inspiring than a fairy tale. (Christina Harrison 3:59am April 5, 2011)
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