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| Meet the Author |
ChrisChat: Why did you write the book that brought you to MuseItUp Publishing?
Marsha:
Chris, I wrote VERMONT ESCAPE because the issue of gambling was a big deal in Texas. In fact, it has been for a very long time. Every two years, lawmakers decide the best way to fund the state without raising taxes. (It’s documented that lightning strikes anyone who even utters the words, “income tax.”) For some, the answer is to allow casino gambling. We’ve had horse race gambling for a time. I read the paper every morning. Some of the stories made me think, what if? What if folks in Las Vegas got behind the push to get casino gambling passed? What if one lone representative fought against them?
Well, the lone representative was my heroine’s father.
My biggest fear was that I wouldn’t get the book published before the state legislature approved casino gambling. The spring of 2013, I paid even more attention than usual to the gambling issue in the Legislature. At the close of May 31, I literally wiped my brow and exhaled a, “Whew!” No casino gambling bill made it through the process.
I’m sure the issue will rise again until one day, it will pass, but that won’t affect my book. For the record, I know of no nefarious people on either side of this issue, just folks who disagree about how to fund the state’s needs. From my background on our local school board, I have an understanding of how things operate in Austin, which helped with writing the story. If the legislature met every year, like they (called the Assembly) do in Vermont that would’ve made the time-line easier to deal with. But when you’re writing a story set in the real world, the author can’t just ignore those “real world” constraints. At least IMHO. 🙂
ChrisChat:
Wow, I don’t know which to ask first. I’m going to take the naïve approach first…I always thought casino gambling was legal in Las Vegas? I know gambling is a verified addiction, something my cousin would refer to as a legal ‘drug’.
Marsha:
Casino gambling is legal in Las Vegas, numerous states, and Native American reservations. It’s not legal in Texas. The question behind the story is how far would owners of Las Vegas casinos go to get the Texas Legislature to approve casino gambling. It would be their casinos that would likely be set up and they stand to make a gazillion dollars.
ChrisChat:
Outside of the real time issue, what other constraints/challenges did you feel pressure from when writing?
Marsha:
As I wrote the book over a couple of years (doing other things in between), the beginning of the book changed from just before the heroine’s husband was killed, to just before her father was killed, to her arrival in the hopefully safe haven of Woodstock, Vermont after both murders.
Then I had some feedback that said a few readers didn’t like the hero. Well, he’s pretty straight-laced when the story begins with his own hang-ups. A friend suggested I needed a “Save the Cat” event, and so right at the very beginning, I inserted a scene with a poochie. That seems to have helped readers see the hero is really a good guy, even if he is cross-wise with the heroine.
ChrisChat:
As an editor, sadly, some information and scenes do get cut. As writers, we pour so much of our thoughts and ideas into a manuscript in order to shape and bring the world to life, it’s difficult to let go sometimes. Have you reused any of these cuts elsewhere? How do you know and accept these cuts?
Marsha:
I started to say I don’t have to cut out the first 3-4 chapters of the book anymore. But I’ve started my current WIP three times. So maybe the cutting happens earlier before I’ve written out the whole thing. LOL That’s an improvement.
In one of the starts of VE, I wrote a “great” J scene when the heroine was overwhelmed with grief at the murder of her husband. Ultimately, I used it in a dream sequence in the book.
Now, when my editor, Rosalie Skinner, pointed out the book really slowed down toward the end, she suggested I needed to cut a fairly long scene between the heroine and her daughter. I confess to a small pang, but she was absolutely right. Cutting the scene made the book tighter. Was it a good scene from a writing standpoint. Yeah, but just because I had to write the scene doesn’t mean the reader has to read it. J That’s why we need editors.
That's all really interesting, Marsha and Chris. I worked in an addictions' re-hab although we dealt with alcohol, drugs and prescription drugs. If you've seen addiction at first hand, a lot of understanding falls into place. As for 'murdering your darlings', Marsha, it's part of becoming the real thing. Anne Stenhouse
Great interview! Having read Vermont Escape, it's fun to hear some of the background info.
What a background! Just make sure no one comes after you. Even in the real world, some of the big guys don't like even fictional fingers pointed in their direction and point guns or knives in response.
Seriously, good luck with the book.
Pauline
Aloha Marsha,
I love reading about some of your processes. I have a REALLY hard time killing off people and one of my characters is now 102. LOL.
It was interesting too about the cutting and sharper editing we do as we go along. I had to cut the start in Henry and Isolde. And it DID work, then did it myself on book 2 without being told. 🙂
I thought it was a great subject matter to write about. You must have had to do a lot of research for it. It would have been really interesting.
Thanks for the interesting read Marsha. Aloha Meg 🙂
I enjoyed the read, Marsha. As a Texan, I can relate to your research and as a writer I can relate to the changes you never even think of until your editor suggests them. Rosalie was one of my editors for From Now On and she gave me so much valuable input. The end result was a much better book.
Hi Marsha and Chris. Thanks for a very interesting interview. I have not read Vermont Escape, but it is now going on my list. It sounds intriguing.
Joan
Hi Marsha and Chris, that was a great interview. I really enjoyed reading your processes behind Vermont Escape, Marsha, and your idea for the story was inspired. I also feel your pain at having to cut a "great" passage. The same thing happened to me. It was like torture! But thank goodness our editors see everything with a fresh eye. Vermont Escape is a gripping read – good to find out how you thought it all up.
Fun to read the behind the scenes action. Definitely resulted in a great read! With states so poor, I am surprised casinos lobby lost. Kudos to TX!
Interesting interview Marsha and Chris and about gambling in Texas. I read "Vermont Escape" and enjoyed Marsha's novel.
Susan
Hey, y'all. Thanks for so many of you stopping by. I don't like this system, Chris, that doesn't let me reply right after everyone. Of course, if I'd been around more today, it wouldn't be quite such a problem. But it's been a good family day. Need those now and again.:)
Anne, you're right anyone who's seen addiction first hand–well, let's just say it really shapes your thinking. Bless you for doing that work. Very tough.
Funny about the passage Rosalie pointed out. As soon as she said it, I knew she was right. I hope I can use it somewhere else, but if not, I enjoyed writing it. Thanks for commenting, Anne.
Heather & Pauline. Hey, gals. Glad you enjoyed getting the background on the book, Heather.
Oh, Pauline, I could hope the book became so well, known someone would come after me. LOL Seriously, I've never read any kind of evidence to suggest the Las Vegas gamblers are behind the push, but it just makes sense they would be. Just becasue they're LV gamblers doesn't mean they're crooks! I guess. 🙂 Thanks for stopping.
Ah, Meg, my darlin'. I believe Anne was referencing my scene I had to cut from VE. Not my characters, though I do off them fairly frequently. (Only the bad ones!)
You have a character who's 102 years old? I really shouldn't be surprised. I have a friend whose father was 103 when he died. And only the last year were there big problems.
Thanks for stopping, Meg. I love your voice.
I didn't think it being research. It was just stuff I read about daily and saw on TV. I'm sure it's because of my school board background is the reason it all clicked for me.
Hey, Susan and Joan. Y'all are sweet to stop by. If you read the book, Joan, let me know what you think.
Susan, I didn't realize you were in TX. Where abouts?
I love how whether we read a particular genre or not, we support each other with FB and Twitter and this sort of thing. MIU rocks!
Hey, Helena. I love to say your name, since I've learned the correct way. It was fine with the accent on the second e, but much classier with the accent on the He. (Only from a former speech and theatre teacher.) LOL
I worked on the book a really long time–like started it in 2009 and then sold in 2013. Gosh the revisions. But I'm a big believer in learning by doing. So it's taken me a while to get the hang of this writing thing. I expect I'll continue to learn and refine the process. Thanks so much for stopping. 🙂
Hey, JQ and Susan, Thanks for stopping by. Well, JQ, it's the Baptists in TX that keep casino gambling from passing. The Rs and the Ds here don't agree on much of anything, but many of them do on this. They're looking for "easy" money. The theme song of TX legislators is "no new taxes." But gambling makes sense to them somehow. Glad you enjoyed the book, JQ and you too, Susan. I've liked your books and look forward to the next ones.
The comment section is going bonkers because I've posted so much. LOL. Now I have two really long words to type. This has been fun. I'll check back later, after I tweet and FB this a bit more.
LOL…that's blogger's comment style. Need to work on next set of questions for you and a few others 🙂
I found Vermont Escape captivating from the first time I came across Marsha's manuscript.
As an author I understand the horror of culling scenes. Editors and authors discuss such measures in detail. They are only undertaken if both agree it will make a positive change.
Another great post, Chris.