Jill Elizabeth Nelson Interview

Q: The last time we talked,( if you missed our previous interview with Jill, it can be found here), was after the release of Reluctant Runaway. Could you tell us a little bit about what has happened in your writing world since then?

I’ve had an increase in the amount of traveling and speaking to civic and church groups, as well as writers and readers groups. In fact, I’ve added a speaking page to my web site where people can readily find my topics- http://www.jillelizabethnelson.com/speaker.shtml. I’ve also changed agents, due to my former agent retiring from the business. I’m very happy with my new agent. Due to her efforts, I’ve got a new two-book contract with the Steeple Hill romantic suspense line.

Q: Now that the To Catch a Thief series is complete, what is next to come?

Good question. It leads right out of my answer from the previous question. Evidence of Murder, the first of my titles for Steeple Hill, releases in February of 2009. I’m deep into this manuscript and jazzed about it. Here’s a little taste: When a new business owner discovers photos on her property of a decade-old mass murder, she and the surviving son of the massacre become targets of a desperate and powerful killer.

Q: All three of the To Catch a Thief books have great detail about the art world. How did you become interested in this?

I’ve always admired the fine arts, though my gift seems confined to word-craft. In college, I took pottery and glass-blowing. However, the focus of my series came about because of a dream. I woke up in a cold sweat one early morning from a dream about a woman dressed in black who sneaked into an estate, took a painting off the wall, and replaced it with an identical work of art. The odd thing was that I knew she was stealing the forgery and leaving the original. What bizarre behavior for a thief! I also knew that if she were caught, disaster would follow for many people, not just herself. Taking those nuggets, I began shaping them in my waking mind into what eventually became the plot for Reluctant Burglar, first in the series.

From there, since my heroine, Desiree Jacobs, is a museum security expert, it was a natural progression to keep the books centered around art and antiquities theft. Burglar features the European masters, Reluctant Runaway focuses on American and Native American art, and my current release, Reluctant Smuggler, spotlights Hispanic art.

Q: How did you choose Mexico as the one of the prime settings for Reluctant Smuggler?

I wanted an exotic location that was still in close proximity to the United States because my characters do a fair amount of traveling back and forth. Plus, it fit my plot criteria as being a potential source of smuggling activity in the areas of human and drug trafficking, as well as the black market antiquities trade.

Q: Is any of the artwork you use in your book real or are they from your very creative imagination?

The artists mentioned by name are genuine. The Crown of Pakal at the beginning of the book is fictitious, but based on real pieces and a researched understanding of Mayan culture.

Q: Though you invented the Brotherhood of the Claw, you say it is based on the real gang, Mara Salvatrucha. Could you tell us how you researched this group and the most interesting thing you learned in your research?

The MS13, as they are commonly known, is a vicious international gang that originated in El Salvador. They specialize in whatever crimes against humanity will make them the most money, and they have little fear of the authorities. Killing an officer-or anyone-means nothing to them. Members tend to have a lot of tattoos, a detail that didn’t feature largely in my fictional gang. Many cities, particularly on the Eastern and Western seaboards, have active membership. I was particularly dismayed to find out that our federal government has found it necessary to have whole conferences on ways to deal with this organized evil that has embedded itself in our country.

Q: What is the funniest thing that has happened to you as a published author?

The demon-possessed spike-heeled shoes, without question. A year ago, I attended a small writers retreat that included several book signing events. But, silly me, I forgot my good loafers to wear with my dress pants. My dear, thoughtful roommate, Susan May Warren, offered to lend me a pair of her shoes-spike-heeled dress boots. I have rarely been more miserable in my life, hobbling around in those. How any self-respecting female willingly subjects herself to such agony is beyond me. Evidently, my feet were NOT made for walking in those boots. After one day of suffering, I thrust the diabolical things back at her and wore my orange, tan, and white tennis shoes with my dress pants. I don’t think a soul noticed the odd footwear, and I could actually smile at people without a wince.

Q: Tell me one thing about being a published author that you least expected.

I was amazed at all the processes a manuscript goes through before it becomes a book. No wonder it takes nine months to a year for the title to release. Every step takes time, from the back cover copy to the reader letter to the study questions to the cover art, plus three full rounds of manuscript edits, each becoming more minute and picky. But that’s what it takes to get the best book possible out there on the shelves.

I’m also amazed at how much less time I have to read for pleasure. Deadlines will do that to you!

Q: What books are you reading now?

Ah, another good question that leads right from the previous answer.

I have a mile-high to-be-read pile, but it tends to grow rather than shrink because of my limited time to indulge one of my biggest pleasures. Virginia Smith’s Stuck in the Middle and Sharon Dunn’s Death of a Six Foot Teddy Bear are high on my radar right now. One is a hoot of a chic lit, the other is a humorous cozy mystery. My books are more intense with the suspense element, but I like to include humor too. Readers like a touch of comic relief. That way, they don’t gnaw their nails completely off.

Q: What advice do you have for an aspiring yet unpublished writer?

Finish what you start. It’s phenomenal how many unfinished manuscripts molder on hard drives. If you’re serious about being a novelist, a publisher needs to see that you can finish a book.

Never give up. Succeeding as a writer takes time, dogged perseverance, and a thick skin.

Find fellowship. You’ll get where you’re going much faster if you hook up with others on the journey.

Read what you like to write. Your enthusiasm will leak into the book.

Study books on craft and apply it to your writing.

Attend writers conferences and/or join on-line writers groups in order to meet people in the industry.

Write! Write! Write! Um, did I say write?

Q: Anything else you’d like to tell us?

I’ve recently updated my web site with some fun new things, including an audio file of me reading the first chapter of Reluctant Smuggler and a fresh art matching game for a monthly chance at a signed copy. Be sure to take the opportunity to sign up for my e-newsletter. Approximately every other month, subscribers receive a devotional thought, art theft news, exclusive offers, an update on my appearances, and the latest book news. Drop on over to www.jillelizabethnelson.com.