Best Selling Crime Fiction Writer Faye Kellerman Answers Gather Member Questions

On Monday, December 24th at 10 p.m. ET, bestselling crime fiction writer Faye Kellerman will reveal her favorite true crime story on Court TV's series "Murder by the Book." Be sure to catch this episode that reveals a family plot full of greed and deceit.

In the mean time, you can read Faye's answers to Gather member questions about the series, the craft of writing and what it's like being a crime fiction writer.

Question from Richard Frisbie:
I have always wanted to ask Faye Kellerman this: You and your husband have an impressive body of work---meaning you fill a lot of shelf space in my bookshop. has it ever been difficult for either of you, and/or your relationship, to be competitors for the same turf and the same readers of mystery books? How do you make it work? have either of you ever "stolen" the other's ideas.

Answer:
I think in the beginning it was hard for both of us to adjust to being in the same profession. We both had parents who worked together and it took a lot out of them. But you can't fight the fates. We both ended up as novelists and crime novelists to boot. Jonathan was my mentor-he had aspirations way before I did-and I don't think I'd be writing if it weren't for him.

We don't consider our books competition. You can't have a genre based on only one novel and one writer. We NEED all the other mystery writers to give the field diversity and gravitas.

And lastly, we're too busy working on our own ideas to steal from each other.

Thanks for writing.

From Kathryn Esplin-Oleski:
What made you decide to write in this genre as opposed to general fiction or romance or non-fiction? Were you always interested in writing? Did you major in writing or English in college?

Answer:
I was not an English major. I was a Math major as a matter of fact and I have a DDS in Dentistry. but I was a Math major with a heck of an imagination. It just took marrying the right man-Jonathan-for me to get the courage to express myself.

I like writing mysteries because they have beginnings, middles and ends. That grounds me and keeps me focused. I suppose that appeals to my mathematical nature. Creativity but structure.

Thanks for writing.

From J.C.:
I am always fascinated by the traditions and rituals associated with writing, if you have any. For instance, some writers still use manual typewriters and others have favorite pens or spots in the house where they write. Some are morning people and others have particular routines (exercise, drink tea or beverage of choice, sit down at desk, write for x number of hours) etc.

Answer:
No rituals, just a lot of hard work. I tend to work in the morning because I'm up so early to take my daughter to school. So as long as I've awakened myself with coffee and exercise, I might as well work when I'm fresh.

Thanks for writing.

From Michelle K.:
Hi Faye-First a comment: I want to thank you for including elements of the Jewish faith in your novels.

Now for a couple of questions: What do you think is the most unusual, unsolved real murder case in the United States? How did you get involved with Court TV and what appealed to you about the case in your episode?

Answer:
Thanks for your comments.

I guess the murder case that has fascinated people for many decades would have to be the BLACK DAHLIA. Things like that weren't supposed to happen in the fifties. Of course, they always existed but media wasn't like it is now-instantaneous.

My current episode on Court TV covers the murders of Gerald and Vera Woodward. I got involved because I remember the "Yom Kippur" murders so well. It was very scary at the time. Only later did we find out the truth.

From Ellen B.:
I would like to know how you become inspired. Are you so angry at a crime you read that you want to write your own version of one, solve it and bring the "monsters" to justice? What do you think of "Ghost Writers"? And are you given any flack for writing about a topic that can be brutal in nature?

Answer:
Lots of things inspire me but I must tell you that what I find intriguing might not be what most people find interesting. I'm more interested in the article on page 20 of the newspaper rather than page 1.

I don't and never would use anyone but me to write my books. If I need a ghost writer, it's time to quit.

And I get very little flack about what I write about. Most of my feedback is positive, thank you very much. Most people are apt to write nice things rather than vent their spleen.

Thanks for writing.

From Sandra D.:
Let me preface my question by first saying that I very much enjoy your work and appreciate the process of writing.

Do you do a lot of editing of your manuscripts? Along those lines, do you have readers to help with the editing process and once you submit a manuscript, are you called on to change much of the story line?

Thank you for the opportunity to ask you these questions.

Answer:
Thanks for your lovely words.

I do most of my own editing although I have a wonderful editor who will point out things that I may have missed. I don't involve anyone else in the editing process-except maybe Jonathan. Too many cooks...

From Susan:
As you and your husband Jonathan are the only married couple ever to appear on The New York Times bestseller list, do either of you find that honor to hang over you and create pressure to be "bigger and better" than your previous success?

Answer:
Thanks for writing.

I don't know if we're the only married couple, but I do know that if there are others, there aren't too many others.

We try not to let our wonderful successes-thanks to you readers-sway us psychologically. If you get too involved in that kind of stuff, your writing suffers. It's about the novel, not about us.

We write, one book at a time.

From Sonia M.:
I have long been a fan of your work and your husband's and appreciate your taking the time to answer our questions.

Your work usually is very psychological in nature...Do the troubles and torment that you write about ever affect you?

Answer:
Good question.

As a matter of fact, it does. Sometimes when I write sad situations, I actually cry. When I write scary situations, my heart races in my chest. If my novels don't affect me, how can I expect them to affect you?

As far as being tormented, all I have to do is read the paper, and I'm depressed. That's why I love the NY Post. It's so different from the broad sheets. It makes me smile.

From Jane C.:
I did want to ask about how Ms. Kellerman works efficiently, if time is a concern, so here goes: Do you have a full outline of your books from the outset or do you have an initial outline that remains fluid during the writing process? Do you come up with the character and situation first and then try to fit the pieces together? Or do you start with the crime itself?

Answer:
There are all sorts of ways to write a book. I work with an outline and try to have as much of the stories and as many of the characters at the outset. It makes writing much easier. You either pay with time and energy in the beginning or you pay in the end.

From Gather Editorial:
What would people be surprised to know about you? In previous interviews, we found out that Dean Koontz collects Art Deco radios from the '20s and '30s and that David Baldacci drives a mean speed boat.

Answer:
I like to call myself Betty Crocker with a 'tude. I love domestic things like cooking, baking, and I even used to sew. It's hard having to do them day after day that gets to be a bother. Still, I, like Rina, love trying out new recipes. I love babysitting my granddaughter and I love waking up and walking around the house when no one is up. I do my exercises when it's still dark and then I watch the sun come up.

From J.C.:
I just bought a Kindle book reader. As an author, will such a device affect your residuals negatively? IF so, I may sell it. Most books cost far less to put on Kindle. As a book collector, I also buy plenty of actual books but the Kindle is convenient and portable.

But I also feel strongly about supporting writers. So your take on Ebook readers would be much appreciated. I know your books are available on Kindle and I'd like to know if that has a negative impact on your income. Thank you.

Answer:
So far as I know, we get money for each download. As far as I'm concerned, as long as it's legal and isn't pirated, wherever you read books is fine with me, including libraries.

From Sheila H:
Have you ever been involved in a murder case...in any capacity?

Answer:
Good question.

Thank God I've never been involved in a murder! The closest I've ever been was a body dumped in an alley behind my house. So far as I know, that murder was never solved.

From Julie:
I'd be interested to know what inspired Ms. Kellerman to start writing and when; and specifically what inspired her to write in the crime genre.

Answer:
I was inspired by my love of mysteries and by my husband. I love crime fiction because it deals with contemporary issues. And as I stated before, it has a beginning, middle and an end. I like the logistics of it.

Thanks for writing.

From Susan:
I think it is fantastic that in your "Peter Decker" books your character returned to his Jewish roots. did you base that instance upon a real happening to someone in your life or was it purely artistic license? I am always interested in hearing how authors put those kinds of happenings with in their works with such ease.

Answer:
Good question.

Decker wasn't based on anyone in specific but all of my characters obviously come from my brain. When I originally wrote my first novel, THE RITUAL BATH, I of course, didn't know that it was going to be my first novel. So I wrote it with a lot of side plots to make it as interesting as I could. Decker just naturally evolved as I was writing the novel.

Thanks for asking.