Writers' Rituals – J. D. Webb
The Mysterious Writing Habits of Crime Writers From Around the World
Are writers obsessive-compulsive? Overly superstitious? Or do habits and rituals provide security for writers who never know where the next idea, or the words to write it, will come from?
Searching for clues to the secrets of writing, Suite 101 has an exclusive interview with J. D. Webb, known for his mystery books, Shepherd's Pie, Her Name Is Mommy, and a cozy mystery Moon Over Chicago.
How much research and plotting do you do before you're ready to write a book?
Probably way too much. In Moon Over Chicago I was searching the web for something, I don't even remember what, and came across an article on ostrich farms. I was so engrossed I had my antagonist, a florist by trade, run an ostrich farm as a hobby.
What hours do you devote to your writing and what time of day do you prefer to write?
I try to write at least four hours in the morning during the week except on our 'date day.' Saturdays are for family, Sundays are for church.
Do you take breaks, and if so, what do you do during them?
Well, breaks are not what I call them. Usually they are for emergency missions. I write murder mysteries you know, so it has to be something exciting. Like seeking out a safe place to buy printer paper, avoiding that killer on the highway while rushing to buy some bread and milk, maybe even stalking a person to do some job around my house. Sometimes I even help damsels in distress who may not be able to open a real heavy door.
Where do you write?
I write in my office mostly, but also with my secret notebook in hand, I may overhear a conversation that could lead to a crime or while waiting for the doctor/dentist I spy a suspicious looking character who may wind up in my book..
What do you write with?
Computer because with my handwriting I should have been a doctor.
...and why is that your preference?
It's so much easier to make corrections. When I do hand write something, it may be running along the margin and becomes very hard to decipher when I get back to Einstein, my computer.
Describe what you like to keep within arm's reach while you're writing.
A thermos of water and a bag of jellybeans.
Describe the things you can see when you look up from your writing.
My pipe rack with fourteen pipes gathering dust, a window with the blinds drawn, (it's sunny today), a 20 inch by 36 inch target from my last episode at the State Police shooting range. The suspect is crouching, and pointing a handgun at me. He has 9 out of 10 shots in his chest. I fear for his health.
What was the first thing you wrote which was published?
A sci-fi short story called "The Game of His Life" about a tennis player loosely patterned after John McEnroe who gets hit by a car and he's to play one game of tennis to see if he makes it to heaven.
What is your latest book?
The latest is Her Name Is Mommy. Chicago PI, Mike Shepherd spots a tot all alone on a bench in a busy mall with no sign of her parents. He finds out her mommy has been kidnapped from the mall. He makes it his quest to rescue the woman for the little girl.
Find out more about J. D. Webb and his books, here.
Read about Peter May, Jane Finnis, Ruth Dudley Edwards and many other Writers' Rituals.
J. D. Webb
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Her Name is Mommy by J. D. Webb
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