Meow! Today my guest is author Sarah Wisseman
Sarah Wisseman
is a retired archaeologist. Her experiences working on excavations and in
museums inspired two contemporary series, the Lisa Donahue Archaeological
Mysteries and the Flora Garibaldi Art History Mysteries. Her settings are
places where she has lived or traveled (Israel, Italy, Egypt, Massachusetts,
and Illinois) and her favorite museum used to be housed in a creepy old attic
at the University of Illinois
Welcome Sarah! Tell us a
little about your background
Thanks ROCCO! I grew up in a house filled with mystery books with
parents who loved to read. I often forgot to do my chores because I had my head
in a book, and the love of reading lasted long after the
flashlight-under-the-covers stage. History came alive for me when I went on an
archaeological excavation in Israel after my freshman year in college. That
experience changed my life. I returned to Israel for my junior year, and then
earned a doctorate in archaeology. My work career at the University of Illinois
was spent in museums and laboratories, studying ancient pottery, metalwork, and
mummies. Now I write mysteries about archaeology, art forgery, and the illegal
antiquities market.
Tell us a bit about your
two series. Are your characters’ careers based on your real life experience?
Archaeologist and museum curator Lisa Donahue is the heroine of
the first four mysteries. She’s a lot like me, but a bit younger, and has
unusual complications in her life—such as two marriages, step children, and a
tendency to run into dead bodies at her museum job. Flora Garibaldi, my current
heroine, is only in her twenties. Flora is a half-Italian professional
paintings conservator (I have no Italian heritage, and I volunteered in a
conservation lab for two years).
How do you “get to know”
your characters before and while you’re writing the books?
I have a character file on my computer and add information to it
about each person before and during the writing process. I write down family
background, personality quirks, dark secrets, and motives for each person.
How do you construct
your plots? Do you outline or do you write “by the seat of your pants”?
I outline, again in a separate computer file, and then allow
myself to change my mind as things come to while I’m writing. I modify the
outline as I grow the chapters. Sometimes my characters talk to me on my long
walks, or plot twists come out of nowhere when I’m doing something else. I’ve
learning to respect the “percolating” process, realizing a part of my mind is
still working even when I’m not writing. Once I even changed who the villain
was 2/3 of the way through the novel because it resulted in a better story.
Which do you consider
more important, plot or character?
Character, by a short lead. I have to like the characters, even
the villain, enough to keep reading any
book. The plot has to be compelling enough to engage the mind, but characters
must come across as real people with strengths and flaws and fascinating pasts
that help explain the present.
What is the biggest
challenge you’ve faced as a writer and what inspires you and keeps you
motivated?
I still teach part-time, and I have other interests besides
writing, especially painting. Sometimes the two interests feed each other; when
I get stuck in writing, painting releases another kind of creativity. My
biggest challenge is making my story long enough for a traditional mystery
novel—I am crippled by years of writing dense (short) academic articles.
Do you have a “How I got
my agent” story you want to share?
I’ve never had an agent (not for lack of trying!)
What are you working on
now and what are your future writing plans?
I am drafting my third Flora Garibaldi novel, The Botticelli Caper, a mystery centered around art forgery and the
Uffizi Gallery’s long renovation project. I suspect I will write more short
stories and novellas in the future.
What is a typical
workday for you and how many hours a day (or week) do you devote to writing?
About ten hours per week. I’m always working on something, even if
it’s just a blog
If you could take only
three books with you for a year-long writing retreat in a gorgeous setting with
no library, which three would you take?
I’d never let myself be caught without a real library! A Complete
Works of Shakespeare, a fat world mythology, and a comprehensive poetry
anthology.
What advice do you have
to offer to an aspiring author?
Keep writing, even if it’s just a blog or a journal, because that
keeps your writing and thinking muscles exercised. Try different forms:
non-fiction, fiction, poetry…
What’s the craziest
thing you’ve ever done?
Camping illegally on Masada (Israel) when I was 18.
What’s one thing your
readers would be surprised to find out about you?
I used to be a belly dancer.
What question do you
wish interviewers would ask? (And what’s the answer?)
Why do I write? Answer: to create the kind of books
I like to read.
Where can we learn more about you and your books?
blogs: authorexpressions.blogspot.com,sarahwisseman.blogspot.com
Just for Fun:
Night or Day? Night.
Dog or Cat? (answer carefully) Cat.
(R: Good answer!)
Beach or Pool? Beach.
Steak or salad? Salad.
Favorite Drink? Orange
juice.
Favorite Book? Mary
Stewart’s The Moonspinners.
Favorite TV Series? “I
Claudius”
Favorite Movie? Casablanca
Favorite Actor: Leonard Dicaprio
Favorite Actress: Katherine Hepburn
Dirty Martini or Pina Colada? Martini
Hawaii or Alaska? Alaska.
Finish this sentence:
If I could meet anyone in the world, past or present, it would be Queen
Elizabeth I
If I had just one wish, it would be to be able to fly
without wings or any kind of machine
Thanks for a great interview Sarah!
Sarah will give away an e-copy of CATACOMB to one lucky commenter! To enter, leave your name and email address in our comments section below! Ends midnight, Sept 24
Thanks for a great interview Sarah!
Sarah will give away an e-copy of CATACOMB to one lucky commenter! To enter, leave your name and email address in our comments section below! Ends midnight, Sept 24
Debbie sherwood debbiesherwood50@gmail.com thank you for the chance to win one of your books they look really good
ReplyDeleteDebbie sherwood debbiesherwood50@gmail.com thank you for the chance to win one of your books they look really good
ReplyDeleteThis looks like a fun new to me series. I love Arch Cozies. gibsonbk at hiwaay dot net
ReplyDeleteWhat a marvelously unique background.
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libbydodd at comcast dot net
Thanks for the opportunity to win a copy of Sarah Wisseman's book, Catacomb. It sounds like a fun read.
ReplyDeleteI'm a friend on Facebook,
I don't tweet or blog
robeader53@yahoo.com
Great interview, Rocco, as usual. "Catacomb" sounds like an intriguing read. This is a new author to me and I would enjoy reading the book.
ReplyDeletediannekc8(at)gmail(dot)com
Liked the interview!!! Think I would enjoy this book.
ReplyDeleteOneponychick66@hotmail.com
Liked the interview!!! Think I would enjoy this book.
ReplyDeleteOneponychick66@hotmail.com
thank you all for your comments! I look forward to giving away a copy of my book to one of you.
ReplyDeleteI am really excited to learn about you. Your books sound like ones I will devour! And it sounds like you have lead a very adventurous life!
ReplyDeleteloved the interview. sounds like a great read!
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ReplyDeleteThank you so much,
Now I have something to read during the holidays. This will take a while but well worth it like always
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