Red, White & Dead (MIRA, August release) is the third book in Laura Caldwell's summer mystery trilogy.Did you know where you were going to take Izzy McNeil as you began writing Red, White & Dead?
When I began the book, Red, White & Dead, I only knew I wanted someone from Izzy's life, who she believed was gone, to actually be alive. I realized such a plot was rather soap opera-ish (I grew up watching Guiding Light), and I also knew that a writer can get away with such a plot probably only once. So I thought of Red, White & Dead as my only shot to get it right. When I began, I didn't know the person who would turn out to be alive. I ended being thrilled with the entire story line, and felt it came pretty organically (as far as coming-back-from-the-dead story lines go).
As for Izzy's trip to Italy in the book, that wasn't planned. However, in the month of June 2008, I found myself in Rome, Italy, teaching international criminal law and writing Red, White & Dead at the same time. I was in this amazing city, still trying to write about Chicago, another amazing city. But, as anyone who has spent time in Italy knows, Italy can be all-captivating. It became clear that Izzy had to take a trip to Rome as part of her quest for that certain person who had returned to her life. It became so easy to write about Rome as I sat at a cafe in front of the Pantheon, or on a bench in the Palazzo Barberini.
Did you begin the third book immediately after finishing the second book?
Oh, yeah. I began writing Red, White & Dead immediately following Red Blooded Murder, the second in the Izzy McNeil trilogy. Because MIRA's excellent plan was to put out the books back-to-back-to-back in one summer, there was no time to slow down. However, the upsides of that were many. Continuity, for example, became more controllable. When you write a series of books a year apart, you can lose control of the tiny details--the color of someone's eyes, the way they feel about a particular issue. But when you're writing them one right after another, all those details become simpler to manage. The other upside was the ability to get the novels in the readers' hands as soon as they were ready. I know that when I'm reading a continuing character, I prefer to have another book in a series available as soon as I get hooked on that character. I wrote hoping that people would in love with Izzy McNeil as much as I did and would want to keep reading about her.
How long did you have to write Red, White & Dead?
I didn't have long to write Red, White & Dead, because of the deadline for getting the books out back-to-back-to-back. Ultimately, it was written in under 6 months with the unbelievably hard work of my editor, Valerie Gray, and the help of my assistant.
What was going through your mind as you began the third book?
Laura--As I began the third book, I really wanted to ensure the character of Izzy McNeil not only remained true to the first books, but that she continued to flower. I wanted Izzy to grow as the books progressed. There are many series books where the protagonist does not 'grow up', so-to-speak, and those are fun. However, I wanted Izzy, and all of the characters involved, to mature (or at least develop) as time passed and as so much happened in their lives. I've always been fascinated with how people respond when the figurative rug gets pulled out from under their life. It happens not only to Izzy in these books, but to other characters, and I really wanted to see how they would all react.
Will there be a fourth Izzy McNeil book?
Laura--I hope so! I've already plotted some of it, but would like to hear from readers too, on what they'd like to see happen in the later books. Like the first 3, I want all of the characters to grow and flourish, and maybe fall down and then pick themselves up again, and ultimately I want them to have a hell of a good time.
Visit Laura on the web at www.lauracaldwell.com
Oh, yeah. I began writing Red, White & Dead immediately following Red Blooded Murder, the second in the Izzy McNeil trilogy. Because MIRA's excellent plan was to put out the books back-to-back-to-back in one summer, there was no time to slow down. However, the upsides of that were many. Continuity, for example, became more controllable. When you write a series of books a year apart, you can lose control of the tiny details--the color of someone's eyes, the way they feel about a particular issue. But when you're writing them one right after another, all those details become simpler to manage. The other upside was the ability to get the novels in the readers' hands as soon as they were ready. I know that when I'm reading a continuing character, I prefer to have another book in a series available as soon as I get hooked on that character. I wrote hoping that people would in love with Izzy McNeil as much as I did and would want to keep reading about her.
How long did you have to write Red, White & Dead?I didn't have long to write Red, White & Dead, because of the deadline for getting the books out back-to-back-to-back. Ultimately, it was written in under 6 months with the unbelievably hard work of my editor, Valerie Gray, and the help of my assistant.
What was going through your mind as you began the third book?
Laura--As I began the third book, I really wanted to ensure the character of Izzy McNeil not only remained true to the first books, but that she continued to flower. I wanted Izzy to grow as the books progressed. There are many series books where the protagonist does not 'grow up', so-to-speak, and those are fun. However, I wanted Izzy, and all of the characters involved, to mature (or at least develop) as time passed and as so much happened in their lives. I've always been fascinated with how people respond when the figurative rug gets pulled out from under their life. It happens not only to Izzy in these books, but to other characters, and I really wanted to see how they would all react.
Will there be a fourth Izzy McNeil book?
Laura--I hope so! I've already plotted some of it, but would like to hear from readers too, on what they'd like to see happen in the later books. Like the first 3, I want all of the characters to grow and flourish, and maybe fall down and then pick themselves up again, and ultimately I want them to have a hell of a good time.
Visit Laura on the web at www.lauracaldwell.com
