Writer Daheim says don't let literature intrude

By Belinda Goldsmith

NEW YORK (Reuters Life!) - Mystery writer Mary Daheim says the best advice she received when she embarked on a writing career over 20 years ago was to not confuse her work with literature.

Daheim, a native of Seattle, Washington, has gone on to write over 40 books, with the 23rd in her bed-and-breakfast mystery series, "Scots on the Rocks," just released and appealing to people who prefer a twist of humor with mystery.

She has another series on the go, the Alpine mysteries.

Daheim spoke to Reuters about her love of writing and balancing the practicalities of the industry with writing:

Q: Your first published book in 1983 was a historical romance. Why did you switch to mysteries?

A: "I got into the romance business in 1980 and 1981. It was at its peak and I lucked out. I was extremely ill suited as a writer of historical romance but I was told if I wanted to get published I would have to write bodice rippers ... I knew what was happening in the mass marketing field and I ended up writing seven of those. But I got to the stage when I thought I was not doing that well in sales because true readers of romance realized I was a fraud. I decided to try to write a mystery to try to cheer up my mother who was ill."

Q: Where did you get the idea for the bed-and-breakfast series?

A: "I'd been putting on a series of overnight bed-and-breakfast mystery events at a Catholic school here which were a huge success but a lot of trouble to run. I decided to take one of those plots and turn it into a mystery. I decided to stay with mysteries as I was lot more comfortable with them."

Q: You based a lot of the characters in your books on your family and friends. Do they ever get offended?

A: "Not really. Saying I base my character on them is really a literal term. You start out with a person who has inspired the character but once they get onto paper they develop their own idiosyncrasies ."

Q: Have readers changed over the years?

A: "People simply aren't reading as they used to. They tend to read more non-fiction - self help books, how to get a job, how to save their marriage. I can't imagine not reading but people say they don't have time. People lead such hectic, busy lives that they are just worn out at the end of the day."

Q: What are you reading?

A: "I read a lot of non-fiction. Right now I am reading a book called "Grace and Power" (by Sally Bedell-Smith) about the Kennedy years in the White House."

Q: How long does it take you to write a book?