Please welcome my guest author, Gayle Roper.
A while ago I was talking with my editor about my next book, and she said, “We’re loaded with small town settings. How about an urban locale for your next book?”
Yikes, I thought. I am so not urban! I live in the middle of Amish country.
“Sure,” I said. “Urban. Why not?”
Why not indeed. Urban people think differently than we suburban guys. They live differently. How could I wrote with any authenticity about living in a city? I knew my city would be Philadelphia because it’s about 30-40 miles from my home. It’s where I go when I go to a ball game or attend a play or concert. But there’s a big difference between running in and out for an event and living there.
I wanted to honor my contract, so I started praying about how I could write urban with my limited expertise. In the meantime my husband and I went to Philadelphia to see Les Miserables. We got there early and were walking around, gawking like the tourists we were, when we stumbled on a lovely little cul de sac of Colonial era homes.
For those of you familiar with Elfreth’s Alley in the historical section of Philadelphia, the homes we stumbled on looked just like that famous street, narrow attached three story houses lining both sides of the street, all meticulously kept with flower boxes and shiny doors and roller shutters Melbourne.
“It’s a neighborhood,” I told Chuck.
“Yes, it is,” he agreed.
I grinned. “I can do a neighborhood. We have them in the suburbs.”
So I had my setting. There was still the issue of that urban mindset.
Aha! My main characters won’t be urban. So how do I get my non-urban characters into one of those lovely row homes? A legacy! Instead of a crumbling manor house on the Cornwall coast, it’s a lovely historic home in center city Philadelphia.
And I had overcome my greatest obstacles—until my editor asked, “How are you going to set this book apart and make it unique?”
Apparently the setting itself wasn’t enough.
Unique, I thought as I pulled out my New York Times Crossword puzzle book and began my hours long quest to fill in all the blanks, which I actually do sometimes. And the unique piece fell into place. The clues to the mystery would be in the form of crossword puzzles.
I had great fun creating the puzzles, none of them anywhere near the sophistication of the Times but fun for those who like puzzles. For those who don’t, the answers are not only revealed in the text but the puzzles are filled in in the back of the book. Best of both worlds.
And thus Fatal Deduction began. Soon I had twins, the good one and the bad one, who had to live together in their deceased aunt’s home for six months if they wanted to profit from the legacy. If either left, the legacy was lost to both.
Then come the threats. And of course there’s a handsome hero who is a Ben Franklin authority who spouts Ben Franklin quotes at odd times. There’s the little old lady who lives across the street and two teenaged girls and a bi-polar ex and….
I have two copies of Fatal Deduction I’d be happy to give away to people who like puzzles or who don’t. It doesn’t matter so long as you like the story. Just leave a comment with your email or contact information within the next week. USA only.
About Gayle
Gayle Roper has authored more than 45 books. She has won a Carol Award, the RITA Award and finaled repeatedly in the Christys. She has won the Holt Medallion three times and twice her titles have won the Inspirational Readers Choice Award. Several writers conferences including Mount Hermon have cited her for her contributions to the training of writers. She has been chair of the MM mentoring program since its inception. You may visit her website at www.gayleroper.com.
Congratulations to Jody R. and Lee Ellen H! Each won a copy of my guest Patrick E. Craig’s novel, the Road Home!
I have been to Philly many times. The thing that stands out is the way each section is so ethnic. I stayed in Manyunk, the Italian section and every Wednesday the town smelled like spaghetti and every Friday it smelled like a fish fry…and everybody talked like Rocky. My husband worked in the Irish section just recently and it is like a little Ireland with all the pubs. Carolann Ellmore barlenbay@comcast.net
You’re right, Carolann. Philadelphia is a city of many ethnic neighborhoods. One of my coming titles is set in Italian South Philly. Are you still in the area?
We are right outside of Philly. My husband still has many friends there who call him everyday. I was just up there a few month ago. I still can’t get used to the closeness of the houses. I used to go up to a food distribution center called Jetro’s with my husband all the time. They are right next to the football stadium. Carolann Ellmore
I grew up in Detroit and would enjoy reading your new book very much. We met at a writers conference ages ago – in Mpls or Wheaton, can’t remember which. Congratulations on your new book. God is always stretching us. God bless.
I would love to win. angelachessnut246@gmail.com
Thanks for your comment and entering the contest!
I’d love to win your book! marthajane1@hotmail.com
Good luck!
was thru Philly a year ago…narrow roads, lots of traffic….loved the old bldings though…such character in the faces of the designs….
mandn@wisper-wireless.com
Narrow roads, mandn, because the city was built long before the need for superhighways appeared. Driving around there is definitely a challenge.
It sounds interesting and a different style of writing than I have been reading lately. But it is always nice to change a little and read about a variety of topics and styles. I think I would enjoy this very much! Sonja.nishimoto (at) gmail (dot) com
Sonja, congratulations on taking a chance on a new writer and a different style. That way may lie wonderful discoveries and adventures.
I’ve never been to Philly but it sounds like an interesting city. Perhaps some day I will be able to check it out.
I love puzzles! Fatal Deduction sounds like a read right up my alley!
Blessings!
Judy B
judyjohn2004 (at) yahoo (dot) com
Judy, you’d enjoy Philadelphia and th surrounding area for its rich history. I hope you get to come some time soon. And three cheers for being a puzzle lover!
Thanks for the chance to win!
Mary D
quilteddaisydean@gmail.com
Best of luck, Mary D!
Oh my Gayle. How interesting. Both what the Editor wanted and how you figured out how to start your story. To me that would be such a hard request. Figured you might have to spend awhile with someone who lived in that area. I’m not very good with puzzles, but would love to read your book. Please put my name in for a chance to win it. Thanks Kate for asking Gayle to be your guest.
Maxie mac262(at)me(dot)com
I didn’t mention, Maxie, that I had one of the twins coming from the area where I grew up and the other from the area where I vacation. It made it easy to refer with knowledge to where they wished they were.
I love puzzles and I love to read. Please enter me in this contest. Thank you for this great interview.
wwchildren at gmail dot com
Wilani, it’s hard to ever get bored if you love puzzles and love reading. Every day can be an adventure! Good luck in the contest.
I would love to win. I am finally having my full shoulder replacement October 23rd, so need so reading while recuperating. Thanks for the great interview. bgauthier49@live.com
Ouch about the shoulder replacement, but it’ll be great afterwards. You’re wise to line up the reading material ahead of time. May it all go well.
Love your books. I have actually read this book and really liked it. Wouldn’t mind reading it again. My first copy has been shared with family members. Not sure which state it is currently in! Jahaefner@aol.com
Love that you shared Fatal Deduction with family, Julie. Sorry it’s somewhere that’s not with you. Maybe you’ll get another copy in the contest. Maybe. (:
I would love to win one of your books,it sounds very interesting. lora_dietrich@yahoo.com
Lora, your name is in the pot. Best wishes in the contest.
Would love to win this or any of your books.
seraphinangel7@aol.com
Seraphinangel, we’ll see what happens in the contest. I hope you have a chance to read one of my books sometime soon.
It sounds very cool! I love puzzles! I can’t wait to read this book! a_stonecipher@yahoo.com
Stonecipher, your name shows you love puzzles. Hope you win!
I’d really love to win your book! It sounds amazing!
hannahpeasha(at)gmail(dot)com
Hannah, thanks for the lovely comment and best wishes in the contest.
I love any type of puzzle. Keeps my mind fresh and alert. Please accept my entry in the book giveaway.
Dawn Crawford
dcofohio@yahoo.com
Dawn, it’s always great to meet a puzzle lover. I play for the mental stimulation too. You are in the contest.
I would love to win and read this book.Thanks for the chance.jackie_tessnair@yahoo.com
Jackie, thanks for entering the contest. Good luck!
That’s the fun of creating fiction!!
Hey, Ane, good to hear from you!
I love puzzles, keeps my mind thinking and I love the challenge! I would love to win! Linda Z.
Thanks for writing, Linda! I’ve heard puzzles keep the mind functioning well. I love a challenge too!
Puzzles keep us young, Linda. So good to hear from you.
I am a huge fan of Kate’s and would love to become one of yours as well.Welcome to you and your books.Kathy
jtownred@yahoo.com
Thank you for your lovely comment, Kathy, and for entering the contest! Good luck!
Thanks for the kind welcome, Kathy. I hope you enjoy my books too.
What a unique book! I loved reading how it came to be.
may_dayzee(at)yahoo(dot)com
Thanks for writing, Kay, and entering the contest!
May, maybe you’ll get a chance to read Fatal Deduction by winning it. Who knows?
Loved reading how this book came to be. I love puzzles. This sounds like a great book! Thanks for the chance to win a copy!
tscmshupe [at] pemtel [dot] net
I’m a puzzle lover too, Sally! You’re officially entered in the contest!
Sally, best of luck in winning a book. Thanks for the kind comments about the blog.
Gayle, your book sounds like it’d be very interesting! Would love to be a winner! And I do enjoy puzzles. Have never been to Philly but I love reading about places where I’ve never been. It’s a way of visiting for me. God bless you in your writing.
Mary Ellsworth
mdegram218@centurylink.net
I hope you get a chance to go to Philadelphia some day, Mary. Lots of great history and lovely sights and sites. In the meantime, maybe you’ll get to visit through the book.
Haven’t been to Philly in years. Would love to win
Come on back, Rita. Maybe you will by winning a book. Good luck.
This sounds like a great book. I like puzzles, so it should be really interesting.
susanmsj@msn.com
Do you do number puzzles too like Sudoku, Susan? Best wishes for winning a book.
This book sounds very interesting! I have visited a lot of different places only while reading books! I’ve never been to the east or west coasts but read a lot about them! I would love to win this book!! Donna d.brookmyer@yahoo.com
Good luck, Donna, on winning a book which will give you a Philadelphia fix until you get to the real place.