Ask the Author: Cheri Vause
Answered Questions (9)
Cheri Vause
The worlds of Dune. As that is my favorite SF trilogy, it would be fascinating to smell the spice on Arrakis, to see and ride a huge worm, and to travel to the planet Caladan, where the House Atreides ruled. The contrast would be astounding: One desert, the other green and fertile.
Cheri Vause
Two by Craig Johnson in the Longmire series, and finishing the dozen books I've begun yet didn't finish because I was interrupted with a deadline. I have two novellas to complete before I submit them to be published, and one to edit before submission. As I've started a new series, I have lots of research to do, then, I can relax and read about my favourite Sheriff.
Cheri Vause
Every time we crossed the bridge from our house into the town of Astoria, we always saw the same man walking in the same direction, no matter what time of day it was. One afternoon I said, "Must be a glitch in the Matrix," to which my kids became uneasy. I was trying to be amusing, but it unsettled them. It's a mystery that would fall under SF rather than thriller or mystery alone. Sometimes truth is stranger than fiction. And Twain was right. If I wrote a story about it, the whole thing would have to make sense. True life doesn't.
Cheri Vause
I love ballet. A hundred years ago I did a little dancing, and ballet has always been my favorite, and the old musicals. I had a discussion with my daughters about choreography when some film came out that was from an old Bob Fosse staged musical. Even though the dancing was interesting, it was not Fosse's. They kept arguing with me until they went to see one of the musical's he choreographed using his choreography. They both came home and said,"Wow, mom! I see what you mean. It's so much better." Most of the musicals today employ cheerleader style dancing, which is interesting, but not stemming from the classic style of ballet.
This gave me an idea to employ a murder mystery surrounding a ballet company. Also, being a fan of The Red Shoes, and other ballet centric stories, I thought it was a perfect fit, like a ballet slipper. The Night Shadow is a ballet choreographed by the Grande Ballet Master himself, George Balanchine, and I employed a noirish atmosphere surrounding night shadows.
This gave me an idea to employ a murder mystery surrounding a ballet company. Also, being a fan of The Red Shoes, and other ballet centric stories, I thought it was a perfect fit, like a ballet slipper. The Night Shadow is a ballet choreographed by the Grande Ballet Master himself, George Balanchine, and I employed a noirish atmosphere surrounding night shadows.
Cheri Vause
I love to read, and I'm particularly fond of the classics. I do read a new book, now and then, but I find the old ones are more poetic, and the characters are real, believable, and filled with nuances that just aren't there in the new ones. Occasionally, I do find a good book that is new, and I ask, "How could I make this story better?" That launches me into a new plot, with new characters, and a new mystery to be solved.
I also love to watch movies and old television shows. Right now I'm watching, The Naked City, and, The M Squad. These are incredible shows. Not only is the acting superior, but the plots are fascinating. They are also a snapshot into that era, and the mindset of the people. The maturity of the characters and the plots makes today's shows look like a bunch of people acting like children throwing temper tantrums. The quality is just not there. Nudity and sex do not make up for a lagging plot with no intricacies and nuances.
I also find old movies put me in a certain mood. The black and white films are the most atmospheric, and the acting is unequaled, along with the music and pacing. No camera tricks or CGI, just a good story. These are the things that not only inspire me, but help me to create atmosphere in my stories.
I also love to watch movies and old television shows. Right now I'm watching, The Naked City, and, The M Squad. These are incredible shows. Not only is the acting superior, but the plots are fascinating. They are also a snapshot into that era, and the mindset of the people. The maturity of the characters and the plots makes today's shows look like a bunch of people acting like children throwing temper tantrums. The quality is just not there. Nudity and sex do not make up for a lagging plot with no intricacies and nuances.
I also find old movies put me in a certain mood. The black and white films are the most atmospheric, and the acting is unequaled, along with the music and pacing. No camera tricks or CGI, just a good story. These are the things that not only inspire me, but help me to create atmosphere in my stories.
Cheri Vause
I'm preparing The Night Shadow for publication. My publisher has slated this myster to be released in September. It's the first in a short series about two private investigators who were former partners with the New York Police Department. The setting is in 1964, when the world began to revolve in a different direction. Having lived during the sixties, I'm intimately aware of the difficulties of that period. I show how two people who lived during World War II had a difficult time with the changes brought about through violence, corruption, and a changing culture that had irreparably damaged the world.
Cheri Vause
If you're considering self-publishing and you haven't written for any other medium, like a magazine, or newspaper, it might not be a good idea. You should do the work first. Too many today just launch themselves into print before they have been rejected by agents or publishing houses, and they are not prepared for their book to just lay there, like a dead bird. Rejection is humbling, forces you to get better, and, if you're lucky, those rejecting you might give you some advice. You must be molded by hard knocks and defeats to become a better writer. If you're a one-hit-wonder, you'll never grow or mature your skills. Even the classic authors suffered through rejection, but they honed their skills, and became great.
Cheri Vause
I create puzzles for people to solve, and put them in a world populated with fascinating people. I can't think of anything better to do with my time than share great ideas with wonderful people.
Cheri Vause
I take walks in nature. Sometimes I read a beautifully written book. It always works.
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