Jill Elizabeth Nelson Interview

Q: Your main character in Reluctant Burglar and Reluctant Runaway, Desiree Jacobs, has a very interesting and unique job. How did you come up with this character?
Desiree is a capable, sassy, and daring museum security expert, and I literally dreamed her up. One early morning I came awake all tense from a dream where I saw a woman in black sneak into an estate home, take a painting from a wall, and put a painting back. In the odd way of dreams, I knew she was taking the forgery and putting the genuine back. If that wasn’t bizarre enough, I also knew that if she were caught, disaster would follow for many others besides herself. After I woke up, I asked myself what kind of career might someone have that would give them cat burglar skills without making them a crook. Museum security expert was a perfect fit.

Q: In Reluctant Runaway you start with Desiree hard at work trying to steal expensive art. How do you research the details to write such an authentic crime scene? And how do you come up with her crazy capers?
My imagination is rather wild and crazy for one thing. I have a couple of criteria for my opening capers. One, that they be believable. Two, that they be fictional. I’ve read widely about various real-life art thefts, and believe me, most of them are pretty dull. Many are simply thugs romping into a museum, pointing guns, and snatching what they want. Very inglorious. However, some, like the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum theft, are quite involved and effective. Most of that property has never been recovered. While I may use elements of true-life capers in my stories, I deliberately fictionalize my scenarios in ways that seem logical and believable, but aren’t real. I don’t care to use my communication skills as an author to show someone how to actually steal something. Now you know one of my writer secrets, so shhhhhh!

Q: Both books give us great information about the art world. Has this been an interest of yours in the past or did you learn as you researched the book?
As I mentioned, the To Catch a Thief series was born out of a dream. The concept captured my imagination and sent me on a rewarding trail of research. I blog about art theft news on my web site, and I have a presentation entitled “Art Snatchers and Thief Catchers” that I do for various groups. However, art has been an interest of mine all my life. I enjoy beautiful and interesting pieces. I even took a ceramics class in college. Like Desi, I’m not particularly talented in drawing or painting. However, I do enjoy writing about the art world.

Q: Your male character and love interest in both books is Tony Lucano, an FBI Agent. Was it a struggle to learn enough about the secretive FBI to make Tony realistic?
Tony is a blast to write. I have a lot of fun with him and his annoying partner. In researching, I found several books written by former agents. There are also textbooks outlining the various FBI careers and duties, as well as any number of history books on the FBI. I read a bunch of these in preparing to create characters that function in this rather private and daring world. The FBI has a course they offer to the public to familiarize them with their branch of law-enforcement. I haven’t had an opportunity to enroll in that course because it hasn’t been offered in my area. However, I have spoken to FBI personnel on the phone. They were cordial, professional, and guarded, but I don’t blame them. Why would they want all their business out there for the bad guys to read about? When I went to Albuquerque last year to research Reluctant Runaway, I spoke to an agent, and I went to the FBI headquarters. My web site blogs dated June 9, 2006, and June 23, 2006, detail my wild and crazy adventures in Albuquerque.

Q: Can you tell us when the final book, Reluctant Smuggler, is due to release?
Smuggler comes out in January 2008. The manuscript is written, and we’re just getting into the editorial process. For this one, Desi and Tony spend a lot of time south of the border in Mexico on the trail of a murderous gang that smuggles stolen artifacts, drugs, and human beings.

Q: What spiritual message do you want your readers to take away from the To Catch A Thief series?
Each book has its own spiritual theme or themes. Overall, I hope readers see the faithfulness of God reaching through every situation and realize that no circumstance they face is beyond His ability to see them through.

Q: What’s God been doing in your life lately?
He’s very patiently teaching me how to stay strong spiritually in the midst of all the busy-ness that would like to dominate my time and rob my relationship with Him. I’ve got a ways to go and more to learn.

Q: Whose books do you love to read?
Wow, that’s a loaded question! The shorter list might be the ones I don’t love to read, especially among Christian fiction writers. My tastes are pretty eclectic, but as far as writers in suspense, mystery, and romantic suspense, I’d like to mention a few new authors with yummy stuff out there. Christy Barritt’s Hazardous Duty, first in the Squeaky Clean Mystery series, is a fun read. Brandt Dodson’s got a good thing going with his Colton Parker Mysteries. The first one was Original Sin. He’s got a couple more out since then. Also, Claudia Mair Burney wowed me with Murder, Mayhem, and a Fine Man. I look forward to more from her. There are certainly others, but these are my most recent reads.

Q: What inspires you write?
Deadlines! The “muse” can go on vacation, but I can’t when I’ve made a commitment to have a story in on time. I consider my deadline a matter of integrity, and do everything in my power to meet it. God respects that, and He’s never failed me yet when I’ve painted myself into a plot corner. He always shows me the way of escape, and the story comes together.

Q: What is the hardest part about being a published writer?
Balancing life demands (especially with a full time job besides writing), marketing, and writing. These days, the author needs to be as fully engaged in promoting their books as they do in writing them. I enjoy the book signings, the interviews, the blogging, and the speaking engagements, but I can’t let them overtake my writing time, and I certainly don’t want to neglect the relationships with God, family, and friends that are important to me. It’s a touchy balance to maintain.

Q: Do you have a scripture verse that expresses your overarching writing message?
I don’t have scripture that encapsulates only my writing. I do have a composite scripture that I use as a life-guide.
Preach the Word! Be ready in season and out of season…fulfill your ministry. II Timothy 4: 2a and 5b.
However, I’ve dubbed myself with an author tagline that I hope conveys a message that is in everything I write-Live the Eternal Adventure! We’re all caught up in this great adventure in God, and I want to urge people to go for it! Live the adventure to the full! After all, we’ve got eternity. Why not?

Q: Tell us about the moment you heard that Reluctant Burglar would be published?
During the Christian Writers Group conference in September of 2005, I was a bad girl and left my cell phone on. No way was I going to be unavailable if my agent tried to reach me with the results of the pub committee meeting at Multnomah. During the banquet on the last night of the conference, the blessed thing rang. I scooted into the hallway before I got stoned, took a deep breath, and said, “Hello.”
It was my agent. In a doom and gloom voice, she told me to sit down. My heart hit my toes. Then she yelled, “They’re offering you a three book contract!”
Now my heart did a Snoopy dance. The rest of me sat frozen. Words fall short in a moment like that. (I know, shocking admission for a writer.)
God has such a great sense of humor. The theme of the CWG conference where I got the news was, “Answer the Call!”

Q: Any advice for a writer who’s striving for publication?
Keep at it. Don’t give up. Hone your craft. Be diligent. Be consistent. Don’t despise the day of small things-they lead to much bigger. Fellowship frequently with other writers and people in the publishing industry. You never know which divine connection will open the door to your dreams!

Q: What’s one thing about becoming published that was not what you thought it would be?
I had only a hazy concept of the many processes a manuscript goes through before it becomes a book on a shelf for anyone to buy. No wonder it takes nine months to a year to get it published! I also have a heightened respect for all the people in various departments at publishing houses who work together to get these books out. It’s amazing all the things that have to flow together to make it happen.

Q: Do you only write in the suspense genre?
No, I have a completed contemporary women’s fiction manuscript and a fantasy manuscript. I thoroughly love writing romantic suspense, though. I’ve always favored the whodunits in my reading, and even in my television viewing. (If there’s a Columbo rerun on TV, go away world!) And since pretty much anything I write contains an element of romance, combining the romantic with the suspenseful is a great fit for me. I never rule out writing other things, though. As I said, my tastes are eclectic.

Q: How many novels did you write before Reluctant Burglar?
Since when? Since the sixth grade when I penned my first novel, a ridiculous mystery about a group of kid sleuths? Well, we maybe shouldn’t go that far back. In the five years prior to the publication of Burgler, I wrote the fantasy and women’s fiction manuscripts I mentioned earlier. I hold out hope for those to be published one fine day.

Q: Anything else you would like to tell our readers?
Drop by my web site for a little entertainment. My wonderful web designer has done a great job with the layout and graphics. <a href=”http://www.jillelizabethnelson.com”>http://www.jillelizabethnelson.com</a>
I’ve got an art IQ matching game on my Stealth and Wealth page, with a monthly drawing for a signed copy of my latest release. The site is loaded with fascinating factoids about art theft. Plus, browsers can watch a video trailer of Reluctant Runaway, as well as read excerpts of Reluctant Burglar and Reluctant Runaway. My links page contains referrals to a lot of excellent authors to suit any taste.

Thank you to Jill for sharing this look into her writing life.