Madeline (M.M.) Gornell is my guest blogger on Day 10 of The Murder We Write blog tour. M.M. has three published mystery novels — PSWA awarding winning Uncle Si’s Secret (2008), Death of a Perfect Man (2009), and her latest release, Reticence of Ravens (2010) — her first Route 66 Mystery. Reticence of Ravens is a 2011 Eric Hoffer Fiction finalist and Honorary Mention winner, the da Vinci Eye finalist, and a Montaigne Medalist finalist. M.M. continues to be inspired by historic Route 66, and has recently completed Lies of Convenience, which hopefully will have a 2011 winter release date. It is a tale that fictionally connects murder, truths untold, and Chicago’s Lake Michigan with California’s high desert on the opposite end of “The Mother Road.” Madeline is also a potter with a fondness for stoneware and reduction firing. She lives with her husband and assorted canines in the Mojave in a town on internationally revered Route 66. You can visit her online at her website www.mmgornell.com, or her blog mmgornell.wordpress.com
Thank you, Ron, for hosting me on your blog. Your blog topics—like so many others on this tour—are intriguing. Your questions, Why are readers entertained by mystery novels?–and What aspects of the mystery novels you read did you enjoy most? particularly caught my interest.
To start off with, I thought I should say what I call a “Mystery.” For me, it means “Murder Mystery”—a human being is killed by another human being—and the protagonist and reader need to figure out who did the dastardly deed. I think of entertainment as an activity that is fun, and holds your interest. Which I think, is the key (fun, that is) for all literature—fiction and non-fiction. I know someone who never reads fiction of any type, only non-fiction history, and he’s in heaven and completely captivated (entertained) for hours! I honestly don’t think fictional murder mysteries have any particular claim on reader enjoyment. Depends on who you are, and what tickles-your-fancy.
For me, murder mysteries are unique in that the underlying pinning for an author’s story is solving who done it, which in turn provides much of the impetus for the protagonist’s emotions, activities, and interactions—while simultaneously offering the reader a tricky puzzle to solve. But, solving the murder and bringing the bad guys and gals to some kind of justice is not the whole story. For me, the sense of place, the layers of back stories, the human emotions exposed, the characters’ psychological or emotional advancement—these are the key ingredients in a good story!
Which takes me to your other question—which is about the mysteries I read. If I could only read one novelist, it would be P.D. James. She does all those things I just mentioned to my taste, almost exactly. She is my literary guiding light. Also, your question of what aspects you like in a mystery novel, pointed out to me how much what you like to read affects what you write. That sounds obvious and very simplistic, but your own “voice,” literary trends, even the country you live in—can sometimes dilute how that obvious observation plays out. And like with everything else, no rule is hard-and-fast. As much as I like following her protagonist, Adam Dagliesh, I’ve so far been “compelled” by my inner muse to write standalones. Oh well…
Madeline’s books are available at Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble.com, and Smashwords, in paper and e-book formats. Here is the Amazon link for Reticence of Ravens.
Good morning, Ron! Another exciting day on our blog tour. Thank you for having me and asking such thoughtful questions. Made me think.
Madeline
Hi, Madeline. I agree with you–but I have experimented a bit with my last two books and the murder wasn’t the primary plot force.
Always glad to hear anything you have to say.
Marilyn
Madeline, of course mystery fiction is based on the assumption that somebody kills somebody. I confess that’s difficult for me at times, and my most recent “mystery” is about stolen books, not dead people. But I know I’ll never be able to sell it… I’ve been told, and I believe, that great books are all about love and death, and I have to agree. Good post, Madeline.
Thanks for visiting, Marilyn and John. Way-back-when, I had a couple short stories published in Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine. You didn’t have to have a “murder” to be classified as a mystery. So I don’t really know what the generally accepted classification of a mystery is–I do think though that murder offers a platform for strong and deep emotions–and can compel characters to do some extraordinary deeds. That’s my characters I’m talking about–don’t know what I’d do if confronted with a murder. Hmmm.
Madeline
Madeline, you said, “the sense of place, the layers of back stories, the human emotions exposed, the characters’ psychological or emotional advancement—these are the key ingredients in a good story!”
Amen to that, sister.
Thanks, Earl! I’ve actually gone back to my WIP today (the blog tour has had me off my writing-game) and your comment energized me–with several ideas popping right out.
Madeline
I’m so jealous you are making progress in your work. I’m stalled and need to work my way through. I’ve found the discussion interesting about whether murder is the key to a mystery or just the background it revolves around. Murder does take second to character advancement and may be mere window dressing. That’s my conclusion after many discussions on the blog tour. Great post Madeline. You always make me think!
Wendy
W.S. Gager on Writing
Don’t be jealous, Wendy, just got back to it today, and it’s slow going–but at least it’s back “going.” And yeah, a lot of the talk on this tour has been soooo interesting, makes me think too. Thanks for stopping by, and as always leaving your kind words.
Madeline
Enjoyed your post, Madeline!
Really good post, Madeline. I, too, love P.D. James writing. I remember, years ago, when I first discovered her as an author. I felt as if I’d found a gold mine. And I guess I had.
Thanks, Alice. Sure appreciate you stopping by!
And, Jackie, wonderful having a kindred P.D. James lover. I felt the same way you did, it was like how had I missed her for so long – then went back and read everything. Amazing.
Madeline
Ron, thanks so much for having me today. Enjoyed my visit very much!
Madeline
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