Writers and Readers discussion

Please welcome writer Robert Downs to our Q & A discussions. Robert is the author of Falling Immortality: Casey Holden, Private Investigator and aspired to be a writer before he realized how difficult the writing process was. Fortunately, he'd already fallen in love with the craft, otherwise Casey might never have seen print. Originally from West Virginia, he has lived in Virginia, Massachusetts, and now resides in New Mexico.
To learn more about the author or Casey, visit the author’s website: http://www.RobertDowns.net

Robert's Goodreads Profile:
Robert Downs

A.F., thank you for having me, and I also appreciate the advance promotion.

Hi Robert, just wondering how you stay motivated. Do you force yourself to write even when you don't feel like it? What's your writing schedule like?

Thanks, Robert.

Hi Jeanne,

I heard John Grisham say once, and other authors echo this, but you have to put butt to chair, even if it's not going well. With that said, there are certainly times when I don't want to write, or I have other things on my mind, so I'll skip a day or two, but I try to force myself to write some of that time, otherwise it's easy to get sidetracked and start missing more than just a few days.

Since I have a day job (I'm a budget analyst with the government), my writing schedule can be a bit haphazard. So whenever I have time, I try to write. That means I'm often writing in the evening, when I don't have prior engagements, or on the weekend, when I can carve out (hopefully) a couple of hours or so at a time.

Thanks for your questions, Jeanne.

Thanks, Robert. Sounds like we write in very much the same way, lol

Best of luck with all your endeavors :)

You're welcome, Jeanne. Thank you. Best of luck to you as well!

Hi, Robert!
Nice website. :) Casey Holden IS quite a character! I can definitely see how he could take over your story.
"Falling Immortality: Casey Holden, Private Investigator" has gotten some amazing reviews. Congrats on those!

Are you doing your own publicity, or have you hired a PR Agency? If you are doing your own PR, what do you think is the hardest part of it?

Also...I'm from Wheeling, WV! Where are you from?

Have a good day.

Take care,

Nora Weston

Hi Nora,

It's great to see a fellow West Virginian on the site. While I've never been to Wheeling myself, that I remember anyway, I've heard very good things about the city. I'm from Fairmont, WV.

Thanks. As my dad likes to tell me, he's my alter-ego. I have some of his traits (not all), but I have a lot more filters in place than he does. Every time I start writing one of his stories, I just have to hang on and enjoy the ride.

I'm glad you like the reviews. It's been an interesting experience, and not always an easy one, to seek out and get reviews, for my publisher and I. But I think we've finally found the right track. Goodreads has been a huge help, and there are quite a few groups (including this one) that love to help authors. And I literally can't say thank you enough times.

As for the website, I'm glad you like it. I sought professional help for the initial build, as I knew I was out of my league when it came to website building, and my wife learned she was a bit out of her league as well. I try to update it about once a month, or every other month, with new content. Whether that's a review, a sample writing post, or just updates to my author tour page, I hope it keeps the curious coming back for more.

Unfortunately, I don't have a PR Agency, so my publisher and I are on our own. Rainbow Books Inc., my publisher, has been very good about trying to solicit some of those reviews I mentioned, and we were lucky enough to get three of them from our initial review packages. I'm in the process of trying to expand our reach by getting them to look at car-related websites, and we'll see what happens if I can get them to start heading down that road.

Honestly, when it comes to PR, none of it is particularly easy. Marketing my book has certainly been harder than writing it. It's also hard because you create publicity or marketing efforts, and most likely, you will not see immediate results. But you are doing what you can to create buzz. And I'm still trying to figure out what will give my novel and I the most buzz. So for me, the hardest part is trying to figure out what does, and doesn't work with my marketing efforts. If you name it, I've probably tried it.

Thanks for your comments and questions, Nora. You do the same.

Hi Robert~

Thank you for sharing this time with us. I have just started reading Falling Immortality: Casey Holden, Private Investigator and so don't know if this question is answered as the book goes on...how did you choose the title? It's very intriguing!

Also I'm interested in how you chose the voice for this book, this sort of hard-bitten, wise-cracking investigator? Is is a voice you wanted to try out, or one you kept hearing in your head that insisted on being heard?

I lived in Roswell, NM, for awhile and traveled several times to Albuquerque. Beautiful place.

Mari Mann

Hi Mari,

First, on behalf of my publisher and myself, I'd like to thank you for picking up my book, or downloading it, whichever the case may be.

I'm glad you like the title. It's a bit different for a mystery, but I came up with it early on in the process, and I couldn't think of a better one. My publisher liked it, even though they probably thought it was a bit outside of the genre, but they couldn't come up with a better one either. So, in the end, it stuck. I've gotten both positive and neutral comments on it, as it's a bit different, but I think it fits the book and the character rather well.

The voice was really with me from the beginning. First person can be a bit tricky, because the reader is investing so much in this one particular character, and you're really seeing everything from his point of view. I knew I needed a strong voice to make it work, and when I sat down to write Casey's story, his voice was just there. It came immediately and rapidly, almost like it had been bubbling below the surface, and it was almost like my muse said, "Here you go. Let's see what you can do with this." I have a lot of fun writing his stories, and each one ends up being quite the adventure. I hope some of my enjoyment gets transferred to the reader as well.

My wife and I have plans to make it to Roswell, although we haven't yet. As for Albuquerque, the weather is great and so are the people.

Thanks for your comments and questions, Mari.

Hopefully I'm not about to ask something that's already been answered and I'm missing it, I'm just catching up!

I did see in an earlier post that you work as a Budget Analyst. I was wondering if you had any experience in the law enforcement field in some way before deciding to write a book about a PI, or if you off research and other stories and such?

Hi Mia,

No, your question hasn't been asked yet, and it's certainly a valid one. I don't have any experience in law enforcement. What I do have are relatively good analytical skills, which in some cases can be to my detriment, since I tend to analyze everything. However, with writing, it's more of a blessing than a curse. I also have this need to learn about anything and everything, no matter how trivial it may seem at the time. And I love mysteries, whether it's a book, movie, or TV show. When I write, I invariably analyze and utilize these different data sources, on some level that I'm not even aware of, and hopefully, I create something new, along with a believable story.

I'm not a big fan of research, so I tend to take John Grisham's approach: I tend to do as little as possible. The exception being when I don't know enough to make whatever scene or character seem believable. Then, I dig just enough to be dangerous.

Thanks for your question, Mia.

I write suspense stories, which sometimes mean characters who investigate (from any number of perspectives) but don't have "real" experience myself, so I was particularly curious about others in the same place. Thanks for the response!

Good luck with your suspense stories, Mia. And you're welcome.

Falling Immortality is on my TR list, and I hope to get to it soon. Where did you get your idea for the plot?

Hi Lee,

First, I'll thank you in advance for the read. As to your question, it just sort of came to me. I had a beginning in mind (reading a number of the late Robert B. Parker's Spenser novels, as well as other mysteries helped in this regard), and I had an ending in mind, but I really had no idea how I was going to get there. I sort of figured it out as I went along. I'm not a big fan of outlining, because I figure if I surprise myself when I write it, then hopefully the reader will be surprised when he or she reads it.

A couple of things saved me when writing this novel that hurt me when I had written other manuscripts that now constitute almost two file drawers worth of material. The first is that with first person the reader sees what my main character sees, and this certainly works well with mysteries. The second is that mysteries have to follow a certain formula, and so the confines of the mystery genre helped determine my plotting. And I also knew I wanted it to be a fast-paced, entertaining read with plenty of action.

Thanks for your question, Lee.

Thanks for your answer, Robert.

I too am a Parker fan though I prefer the Jesse Stone novels. Do you read primarily in the genre in which you write? I love mysteries, but don't write them (I write procedural thrillers and heavy psych literary fiction). I can easily come up with plots in these two lines, but have never dreamed up a who done it type mystery. That's why I asked.

Hi Lee,

I used to read primarily mysteries and thrillers, but my wife has gotten me to branch out. Now I try to read just about anything that captures my attention, since writers can learn from everything we read, but I still find myself primarily seeking out books within these two genres.

Thanks for your question, Lee.

Hi Robert,
I can see your reasons for the 1st person writing, but I wonder if it could apply to thrillers, especially the kind where investigators are trying to catch a mass murderer (such as the one in Bikini by James Patterson). I'm asking because that's the kind of book I read and write.

Hi Jacques,

I have to confess I've read a number of James Patterson's novels, but I haven't read Bikini, so I'm not sure of all the intricate plotting techniques used in the novel. However, I can address your question from a broader perspective. I haven't seen first person used much in novels that are specifically marketed as thrillers. Why? Most thrillers are written in third person, so you can get multiple perspectives within the course of the novel, which increases the thrill if you will.

But that doesn't mean you need to rule out first person either. If you have one investigator, you could treat it more like a mystery, with elements of a thriller: more intricate plotting, increased pace, etc. If you want multiple investigators, you can use first person with multiple characters; however, you would need to give each one a unique voice, and make them different enough that the reader can easily distinguish the various investigators, as well as the serial killer. A tricky thing to do, but it can be done effectively. I believe Jodi Picoult does this in her writing.

I hope this helps.

Thanks for your question, Jacques.

Hi Robert,

I read your write-up on GR for Falling Immortality and it's got a humorous edge to it. It sounds like your book just might be funny. Was wondering if you normally inject humor into your work.

Hi Erma,

I certainly hope so. Or at least that was one of the goals when I set about writing Falling Immortality. Some books and characters obviously lend themselves more easily to humor than others, and I've always enjoyed making other people laugh. I like to think I have a decent sense of humor, so if I'm doing a decent job, my humor should transfer to my writing. I rather enjoy putting extreme characters in extreme situations, so I've done a bit of that with this book.

Thanks for your question, Erma.

I've a big fan of mystery/crime novels and I was wondering what the hardest part about writing a mystery novel was for you?

Hi A.F.,

First, on behalf of all mystery writers out there, I'd like to thank you for your support of the genre. As to your question, it's certainly a good one, as well as an intriguing one, and as you're well aware writing isn't easy.

But since your question relates more specifically to mysteries, I'd have to say the hardest part of this genre (and I've written manuscripts in other genres that are yet unpublished) is making sure the reader doesn't find out whodunit too early. You also have to carefully place clues along the way, but you still want the reader to be a bit shocked and surprised by the ending.

Thanks for your question, A.F.

Robert,

Your answer to A.F. really hit the nail on the head. It may be why I write thrillers rather than mysteries: I always know who the bad guys and good guys are (although some of my good guys are insecure about the goodness of their actions). This makes the plotting easier for me though readers have told me that my plot twists (and particularly endings) have surprised them. Still, I'm in awe of those, like yourself, who can construct genuine who-done-its. :)

Nadine wrote: "Hi Robert,

What advice would you give a budding writer who is interested in writing in the mystery/suspense/thriller genre?"

Hi Nadine,

In my mind, your question is more of a two-parter than just talking specifically about the mystery/thriller genre. First, I should probably address your question from an overall writing perspective, and then I'll more specifically look at the mystery/thriller genre.

As to writing in general, these are the three pieces of advice I've gotten that have helped me the most: write on a fairly regular basis, read as if your life depends on it, and persevere in the face of rejection.

You don't have to write every day, but you should craft out a time that works best for you, and try to stick to it as often as possible. I don't do it as often as I should, but if you get away from it for too long, you'll start thinking of excuses of why you don't have time to write, and trust me, it's easy to come up with plenty of them.

You should also read as if your life depends on it. You should read both in the genre you want to write, as well as outside your genre. You should read both good books, and maybe ones that aren't quite as good, since you'll learn valuable lessons from both.

Lastly, you can't let rejection get you down. You have to write, because you can't imagine not writing, and you have to write first and foremost for yourself. When the going gets tough, and it probably will get a little bit tough at times, you either need other writers you can talk to, or you need a good friend or family member who will listen to you vent.

As to specifics within the mystery/thriller genre, readers will have certain expectations with these types of books, and you should make sure you know what these are. With mysteries, and depending on the specific sub-genre of mystery, the crime may take place on center stage, so to speak, or it may take place off-stage (cozies); you'll want to leave clues along the way, but you don't want to give away the big surprise too early, unless it's more about why the crime took place; and you'll want to read different authors within the mystery genre.

If you're writing a thriller, you'll want to decide what sub-genre of thriller you're writing, legal, psychological, etc., and you'll want to make sure you understand the expectations within these various sub-genres. Also, thrillers are going to have more intricate plotting and an increased pace, and more than likely, you're going to want multiple points of view. Again, read several different authors within the genre to get a feel for the type of thriller you would like to write.

Sorry for being a bit long-winded, but I wanted to ensure I properly answered all aspects of your question.

Good luck in your writing endeavors. And thanks for your question, Nadine.

Lee wrote: "Robert,

Your answer to A.F. really hit the nail on the head. It may be why I write thrillers rather than mysteries: I always know who the bad guys and good guys are (although some of my good guys ..."

Hi Lee,

I appreciate your comments. I'm certainly a huge fan of both genres, and eventually, I'd like to write in both genres. I really like the increased pace and more intricate plotting of thrillers, but it's still really nice to read a good genuine whodunit. I don't know if I succeeded with Falling Immortality, but I tried to incorporate aspects of both genres.

No real questions. I'm just lurking, catching up on questions and answers. D'you suppose being good at budget analysis helps you analyze spending on publicity?

Nadine wrote: "Robert,

Oh, you weren't long-winded at all. I appreciate every word. It's just the advice I need. Thanks so much.

~ Nadine"

Hi Nadine,

Glad to hear you found it useful.

Sheila wrote: "No real questions. I'm just lurking, catching up on questions and answers. D'you suppose being good at budget analysis helps you analyze spending on publicity?"

Hi Sheila,

Interesting question. I never realized how much I'd use my business degrees (I have both an undergrad and MBA) when it came to writing, and let's face it, there is a business aspect to writing, especially if you want to do it effectively. Most of what I know about business doesn't come into play until the marketing of novels, but if you aren't effective in your marketing efforts, you'll probably have a bit of trouble breaking out as a writer.

I don't necessarily analzye my spending on publicity yet, since you need to see various inputs and trends before you can do that effectively. But I am gathering a whole lot of data, as I attempt to figure out what works and what doesn't work when it comes to marketing novels successfully, and I have spoken to various authors about publicity. I've learned a heck of a lot about marketing novels, through marketing this one, and you can bet that I'll be a bit smarter when I market my next novel in this series Graceful Immortality.

Thanks for your question, Sheila.

I just want to echo Nadine's thanks for the thoughtful answer to her question.

Hi Lee,

Thanks your comment.

I'd like to thank everyone that participated in this discussion through your questions, your comments, and through reading.

Thank you for answering my question. For a mathematician, I'm really bad at bothering to gather data. I shall have to work on it.

You're welcome, Sheila. Thanks for participating.