Interview with Aaron Paul Lazar, Author of Tremolo: Cry of the Loon

February 17, 2008 10:15 PM EST (Updated: February 17, 2008 10:49 PM EST)

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Interview Questions & Answers with Aaron Paul Lazar,

Author of Tremolo: Cry of the Loon

1. Where are you from?

I grew up in rural New England, surrounded by music, art, literature, gardens, bountiful family feasts, and a host of animals. Summers were spent in Maine, in my grandparents' rustic fishing resort. They were magical and innocent times and I was a supremely happy child. Shy, retiring, and an avid reader, I always had my nose in a book, and often read outdoors. I loved being outside. I'd ride my old gelding to a quiet field, stop beneath a tree, and read as he munched on the lush grass. I guess that's when my romantic soul began to stir.

Early on, I devoured mysteries. Adventures with horses and dogs also figured prominently in my "Arrow Book Club" selections. My parents would bring home boxes of books from auctions, and I'd find myself happily lost in The Hardy Boys for weeks. I graduated to Agatha Christie, Rex Stout, Helen McInnes, Alistair McLean, and Isaac Asimov in my teen years. As time went on, I progressed to my current favorite novelists who include: John D. McDonald, James Patterson, Dick Francis, Clive Cussler, Laurie King, Lillian Jackson Braun, Rex Stout, Peter Mayle, Dean Koontz, Stephen King and Tony Hillerman, to name a few. I loved writing stories as a youth and kept copious journals.

That's where I'm "from," the long answer! LOL.

2. Tell us your latest news?

My wife and I are "empty nesters!" It all happened in a month - two of my three daughters and two grandchildren suddenly disappeared from the house. They're all within fifteen minutes of home, and we see them all the time. But it's a strange feeling - having had nine people to cook for for the past years, it's bizarre now, not knowing how to cook a small pot of soup, or how much meat to buy. I'm not sure if they're suddenly show up, so I'm constantly nervous about not cooking "enough." Crazy. I'm also obsessed now about fixing up the house again after years of kid "abuse" on the walls and floors. I'm painting, varnishing, wallpapering, and looking for new couches and Oriental rugs, etc. My eldest daughter, Jenn (mother of the two boys) also took their dog and cat - so we were left with only two old Himalayan cats. Sadly, Tristan (15) had to be put to sleep, so now we just have Allouette. She used to be intimidated by the whole household of animals, but now she walks around and meows all the time, very intrigued by her new freedom!

Oh, wait a minute. Did you mean my author news? LOL! Okay- well, as you know, Tremolo, my third LeGarde Mystery, was just released. And two new books, Mazurka (a LeGarde Mystery that takes Gus and family to Europe) and Healey's Cave (the first Green Marble Mystery) are coming out this summer from Twilight Times Books, my publisher extraordinaire.

3. When and why did you begin writing?

It's funny, but during my late teens and twenties I always just "knew" that I wanted to write a mystery series some day. Funny, because the bug hadn't really hit me then. But in the back of my mind I just assumed I'd do it. I pictured it happening later, maybe in retirement. (I still had to finish college, get a job, get a house, raise my kids in a safe environment, etc.) As I matured through my thirties, I continued to devour all of the series mysteries I could read. These writers were my teachers, so to speak.

I didn't commit to the LeGarde series until my father died, in 1997. The agony of the loss sent me into a tailspin. I'd lost eight family members and friends in the previous five years, and his death was the final straw. I needed something to help me release the pain, and decided that a series dedicated to my dad would be just the ticket. After writing Double Forté, I was completely bitten by the writing bug. And it hasn't stopped pestering me since.

4. When did you first consider yourself a writer?

I'd say when I started working on Double Forté (my first novel) and became absolutely obsessed with it. And perhaps I felt validated that I was a "real" writer after my first readers started feeding back positive reactions to the book.

5. What inspired you to write your first book? (see answers to Question 3)

6. Who or what has influenced your writing?

My critique buddies over the years. Sonya Bateman, Lesia Valentine, Nancy Luckhurst, Jeanne Fielding, and lately, my newest crit partner, Marta Stephens. Also, naturally, I'm influenced by those I love to read, such as: John D. McDonald, James Patterson, Dick Francis, Clive Cussler, Laurie King, Lillian Jackson Braun, Rex Stout, Peter Mayle, Dean Koontz, Stephen King, and Tony Hillerman

7. How has your environment/upbringing colored your writing?

(please see answers to question one)

8. Do you have a specific writing style?

I do - I guess you'd call it kind of lyrical, or literary, without being stuffy. I like to paint vivid pictures of characters and scenes. It's important to me. I like to shoot for realistic dialogue. And when I describe a chase or fight scene with the villains, I want my readers to "be there," to feel the pain of my protagonist, to feel those briars and branches slapping against their own skin, to wipe away the perspiration from their own brow. And when my characters hearts break, I want my readers to break down in tears, as if their own hearts are breaking, too. Okay, let me rephrase that. I really don't want to sadden my readers, I just want them to feel what's going on my characters' hearts and heads.

9. What genre are you most comfortable writing?

I call my books "country mysteries" but they've been labeled literary mysteries, cozy mysteries, or just plain old fashioned mysteries. It's what I'm best at. My new series is a paranormal mystery - because of the time travel element that is included.

10. How did you come up with the title?

All of my LeGarde Mysteries have "musical" or "theatrical" titles. Double Forté, Upstaged, Mazurka, and Firesong were actually written before Tremolo, which used to be called Die Fledermaus. (The Bat) I love opera, and using the title of an opera which also connected to the "bat scene" was fun. But as time went on before it was published, I was afraid the foreign title would be off-putting or confusing to some readers. So I went back to the basic feel of the book - the lakeside setting - and chose Tremolo, which is the name of one the loons' songs. It's also a musical term, thus fit in with the theme of the series.

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