Ask the Author: Russ Smith
Answered Questions (4)
Russ Smith
By talking to people. All of my characters are based on friends, family, and acquaintances. I enjoy exploring class and cultural differences.
Russ Smith
I got the idea for"Table 29 - A Murder Mystery" during dinner conversation while crossing the Atlantic on the Queen Mary. We were talking about interesting people we had met while on a ship. After I described some past dinner table companions, someone suggested that I write a book.
I chose to place my story on an ocean liner because I love to travel by ship. Also, I thought the unique environment of the isolated community on a ship, where passengers and crew quickly develop relationships that may only last a few days or weeks, would make an interesting venue for a murder or two.
I decided to make the story a murder mystery because I enjoy reading them.
I chose to place my story on an ocean liner because I love to travel by ship. Also, I thought the unique environment of the isolated community on a ship, where passengers and crew quickly develop relationships that may only last a few days or weeks, would make an interesting venue for a murder or two.
I decided to make the story a murder mystery because I enjoy reading them.
Russ Smith
I came across a very large scrap book that documented a trip around the world trip on the RMS Carinthia, in 1925-26. This gave me the idea for my next murder mystery, which has yet to be given a title. I'm currently doing more research on the ship, its captain, the passengers and crew, and I'm developing the storyline. I plan to start writing in a few weeks and hope to have the book finished by spring of 2018. Meanwhile, a few items got past my editor in my first book, "Table 29", so I'll need to get those fixed.
Russ Smith
I set up a routine - blocks of time, usually the same time of day, and the same place to write. If I am ready to write, I usually run past my dedicated time slot and keep going. If I find that I am not in a mood to write, I use the blocked time to do research on the web about details and background for my book. The two different activities (writing and research) support each other. When I'm writing, I come up with things that need to be researched. When I'm researching, I come up with things that need to be written about.
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