I’d never consider publishing anything without an editor. That comes from my years publishing nonfiction books. Editors make my writing better.
Eleanor Sullivan 19 July 2012
The Back Flap
In a strict, religious society in 1830s rural Ohio, a 16-year-old girl drowns, but the only person who suspects it wasn’t an accident is Adelaide, a young midwife. Her husband, Benjamin, fearful that they’ll be banned from the prosperous community, forbids her from questioning the girl’s death. But a mistake she made years ago cost the life of a mother and her unborn babe, and Adelaide vowed to never let another mother die. Pressure mounts when Adelaide is accused of harming the girl, but the allegation only fuels her determination to find the killer, disregarding danger to her own life.
About the book
What is the book about?
Cover Her Body, A Singular Village Mystery, is the first book in a new historical mystery series set in Zoar, a religious village in Northern Ohio, in the 1830s. The stories feature a young midwife, who investigates suspicious deaths, and her cabinet-maker husband, who fears his wife’s prying will get them banned from the prosperous community. Fiction meets reality when my protagonist clashes with my real-life distant grandfather.
When did you start writing the book?
About three years ago when I traveled to the village to study in their research library and to watch reenactors display how the people lived and worked in the 19th century, including a blacksmith, tinsmith, baker, gardener, and more. Fascinating to see people working as they did almost 200 years ago.
How long did it take you to write it?
A couple of years because I also write textbooks for Prentice Hall. That’s my day job. It seemed just as I was making progress on the mystery, they called wanting another book!
Where did you get the idea from?
I grew up hearing family tales about my ancestors who escaped from religious persecution in Germany. They called themselves the Society of Separatists because they had separated with the established church in Germany and named their village Zoar for the place where Lot had found sanctuary much as they had in America.
When my ancestors left Germany, they knew they would never return, never see their homeland. My distant grandfather even left a 14-year-old daughter there. I’m trying to trace her to see if she might have descendants in Germany. Of course, if they hadn’t come to America, there wouldn’t be any Singular Village Mysteries. And I’d be speaking German today!
Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?
I found it difficult to put words in my ancestor’s mouth, the first time I ever populated a story with an actual person. What helped was a letter from a 1818 Quaker woman in Philadelphia who said he “had them all fooled, thinking he was another Moses!” Then sale records showed that he kept the title to all their land—more than 5000 acres—in his own name until he was on his deathbed. Those two pieces of information told me he was domineering, that he thought he always knew what was right. Of course, my midwife protagonist doesn’t agree!
What came easily?
Because I had so much information about how the Separatists lived and worked, I could easily write about how they farmed, gardened, harvested, raised cattle, cooked, baked, and more. The challenge was not putting in too much!
Are your characters entirely fictitious or have you borrowed from real world people you know?
All of my characters have some elements of people I’ve known and probably a lot of me. But I’ve never set out to create a character from a real person. Even my ancestor only came alive in historical accounts since he died in 1853.
We all know how important it is for writers to read. Are there any particular authors that have influenced how you write and, if so, how have they influenced you?
Here are some of my favorites: Anne Perry who writes English historical mysteries, Jacqueline Winspear who writes English post-WWI mysteries, Victoria Thompson, who writes 19th century mysteries set in New York City as well as writers of contemporary mysteries, such as Sara Paretsky, Nancy Pickard, and Margaret Maron. I’m not sure how they’ve influenced me; I just keep trying to absorb the way they write—maybe by osmosis?
Do you have a target reader?
Mostly women read my books, nurses love my Monika Everhardt mysteries and lovers of history and historical fiction respond to my Singular Village Mystery.
About Writing
Do you have a writing process? If so can you please describe it?
I start with the murder, naming the victim and the killer, then I work backward, building their world and what caused them to get to the point where murder was the only option. Then I build in my protagonists and how they’re involved and, finally, put it all together. To me it’s a puzzle and all the pieces have to fit.
Do you outline? If so, do you do so extensively or just chapter headings and a couple of sentences?
Yes, I outline chapters and scenes but just a few jottings under each heading—nothing formal. Then I write and lots gets changed before I’m finished.
Do you edit as you go or wait until you’ve finished?
Both! I edit during and when I’ve finished—many times!
Did you hire a professional editor?
Yes, and she’s been invaluable. She points out weaknesses (and a few strengths!) and then does a copy edit. I’d never consider publishing anything without an editor. That comes from my years publishing nonfiction books. Editors make my writing better.
Do you listen to music while you write? If yes, what gets the fingers tapping?
No, never. I need perfect quiet so that the only noise is my story rumbling around in my head.
About Publishing
Did you submit your work to Agents?
Yes, I had an agent but she couldn’t sell my latest manuscript.
What made you decide to go Indie? Was it a particular event or a gradual process?
Because my agent couldn’t sell it and, after being traditionally published, I knew it was good enough to sell. Fortunately, I’ve been right!
Did you get your book cover professionally done or did it you do it yourself?
Again, I believe in going to the professionals. Not only did I hire a graphic designer for the cover, I hired a book designer for the interior. It wouldn’t be the fine-looking book it is if I hadn’t done both.
Do you have a marketing plan for the book or are you just winging it?
A sort-of marketing plan. I hired a publicist I’d used before and she’s booked me on radio spots and blogs. I’m doing some bookstore events and I’m updating my Facebook book page, doing reviews on Amazon, and participating in groups and blogs. Lots more I could do but I fit it in with writing my next book.
Any advice that you would like to give to other newbies considering becoming Indie authors?
First, make sure your book is the best it can be by hiring a professional editor and taking the advice given. Then invest in your product—it’s a business selling books so hire professionals so that your book looks as good as a traditionally published one.
About You
Where did you grow up?
Born and raised in Indianapolis.
Where do you live now?
I settled in St. Louis after stints in Minneapolis and Kansas City.
What would you like readers to know about you?
Bringing my ancestors’ lives to the page in the Singular Village Mysteries is my passion. People say that comes through in my writing. I hope so.
What are you working on now?
The next Singular Village Mystery is Graven Images. When an itinerant artist is found hanging in a barn, a midwife tries to find the killer and save an Irish traveller before he’s hanged for the murder.
End of Interview:
For more on Eleanor visit her website, her blog, or like her Facebook page.
Get your copy of Cover Her Body from Amazon US (eBook or Paper), Amazon UK (eBook or Paper), or Barnes & Noble.