LorieHam.com — Interview with Jane K. Cleland
        on No Name Café by Lorrie Ham

June 11, 2008

Today at the Café we have mystery author Jane K. Cleland, whose DEADLY APPRAISAL was released by St. Martin's Minotaur in April of 2007. Since this interview was originally conducted, Jane has released yet another book in the same series entitled ANTIQUES TO DIE FOR — be sure and check it out on her website, janecleland.net. Grab a cup of one of her favorite coffees, Kona or Jamaican, and enjoy the interview.

Café:
Tell us a little bit about DEADLY APPRAISAL.

Jane:
A traditional mystery/cozy, DEADLY APPRAISAL is the second in the Josie Prescott Antiques Mystery series. It's been reviewed as "an Antiques Roadshow for mystery fans." Josie is an antiques appraiser who uses her knowledge of antiques to solve crimes. In DEADLY APPRAISAL, Josie is hosting a charity gala. Midway through the evening the executive director of the charity keels over dead — poisoned. The police don't know if the poison was intended for Josie ... and she uses her knowledge of antiques to solve the crime!

Café:
How long have you been writing?

Jane:
Forever! When I was seven, I wrote a Nancy Drew book. (It was awful!)

Café:
Hey we all have one bad novel in us — at least you got yours out at seven When did your first novel come out? Tell us a little about it.

Jane:
April 2006 – CONSIGNED TO DEATH – Josie has just moved to Portsmouth, New Hampshire and opened her own business. When a potential client is murdered, she finds herself the chief suspect ... and she uses her knowledge of antiques to solve the crime!

Café:
Have you always written mysteries? If not what else have you written?

Jane:
I've written four non-fiction business communications books, most recently BUSINESS WRITING FOR RESULTS (McGraw Hill).

Café:
What brought you to choose the setting and characters in your latest book?

Jane:
Several factors came together. First, I was encouraged to try writing a mystery with a protagonist who is a female amateur sleuth, not based in New York City. Second, having owned a rare book store in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, I naturally gravitated toward that environment. Third, I have an MBA and am fascinated by business. And fourth, when you think about the underlying characteristics and skill set of an antiques appraiser, you have a smart, savvy, knowledgeable researcher — which sounds like a great make-up of an amateur sleuth. Further, an antiques appraiser gets out and about a lot, visiting different places, interacting with various people. More factors: Josie Prescott left her big, important job at a famous New York City auction house after getting caught up in the big price-fixing scandal that rocked the high-end auction world — she was the whistle blower. She moves to Portsmouth, New Hampshire and opens her own business. And finally, Portsmouth is on the rugged coast of New Hampshire, a metaphor for the kind of angst that leads to murder. It's an important maritime community and loaded with history.

Café:
Sounds like the perfect fit for you and it seems to be working. What is the main reason that you write?

Jane:
To entertain, inform, and engage the reader. Because I can't help myself — I'm a storyteller. I love words. I love expressing something clearly.

Café:
Do you write to entertain or is there something more you want the readers to take away from your work?

Jane:
I do write to entertain, but I also hope my books inspire thoughtful reflection. There are always significant sub-plots and themes in my book. For instance, I've written about perception versus reality and the complexity of keeping of secrets.

Café:
Do you have a schedule for your writing or just write whenever you can?

Jane:
Both. Pretty much, I work all the time.

Café:
Do you outline? If not, do you have some other interesting way that you keep track of what's going on, or what needs to happen in your book when you are writing it?

Jane:
I try to outline, but invariably I fail. The characters do unpredictable things and I have to throw the outline away. I keep a Word document called "Plot Threads" to track all the various details.

Café:
If you had your ideal, what time of day would you prefer to write?

Jane:
Traditional business hours — eight to five or so.

Café:
Do you have a day job?

Jane:
Oh, yes. I'm a self-employed instructional designer and corporate trainer. I write seminars and facilitate training for blue-chip clients such as PriceWaterhouse Coopers and the American Management Association.

Café:
Wow how do you find the time to write fiction? Did you find it difficult to get published in the beginning?

Jane:
No, I'm very fortunate. I have a wonderful agent, Denise Marcil.

Café:
Do you have a great rejection/critique or acceptance story you'd like to share?

Jane:
The first mystery I wrote was about a tough guy with a good heart, a male private eye based in New York City. The book didn't sell — but we got the nicest rejections! One of the kindest ones said that among the problems was that the market wasn't strong for male New York-based private eyes, and he encouraged me, if I was interested, to write about a female amateur detective who didn't live in New York. And Josie Prescott, my protagonist, an antiques appraiser based in coastal New Hampshire, was born.

Café:
What kind of promotion do you find most affective?

Jane:
Three things come to mind: I tour extensively; I get a lot of positive feedback about my website (www.janecleland.net) ; and I produce Sneak Previews.

Café:
Most interesting book signing story — in a bookstore or other venue?

Jane:
In a Borders, a lovely woman came up and said how much she enjoyed CONSIGNED TO DEATH, the first book in the series. Especially Ty, the police chief, whom Josie seems to fancy. She asked if Ty would be back in DEADLY APPRAISAL, the second book in the series. I said yes, and added, playfully, "But there'll be a little trouble." When I returned to the store for another event several months later, the same woman was back with another question. "I've been thinking about what you said ... what kind of trouble?" At that moment I realized that the characters, which are so real to me, are also real to readers. I was incredibly flattered.

Café:
Future writing goals?

Jane:
I hope to continue the Josie Prescott Antiques Mysteries, writing one a year. I also would like to write a stand-alone thriller once a year.

Café:
Heroes?

Jane:
I have many heroes. Firefighters, for instance. How incredibly brave they are. Kurt Vonnegut once said that the greatest symbol of man's humanity to man is a fire truck. That just tears me up. And my mom. Always my mom.

Café:
Person you would most like to meet dead or alive?

Jane:
May I name more than one? I'd like to see my dad again; he died when I was young, and I wish he could meet me now that I'm an adult. My friend Sandy who's disabled and unable to travel and who lives far away. I'd like to visit with her. And I'd like to meet Presidents Clinton and Reagan. I could go on, but I'll stop there.

Café:
What an interesting list. What do you read?

Jane:
Mysteries, almost exclusively.

Café:
What are your hobbies?

Jane:
Snorkeling, gardening in my little terrace's window boxes, and cooking.

Café:
Snorkeling — I think that's a first here at the Café. Favorite TV or movies?

Jane:
I confess that I enjoy some reality shows like Project Runway, Survivor, and Top Chef. Two of my favorite movies are Sea of Love and Apollo 13.

Café:
Pets?

Jane:
Three cats. All dolls.

Café:
Family?

Jane:
I'm happily married. No kids.

Café:
What part of the country/world do you live in?

Jane:
New York City. Midtown. Very near the United Nations.

Café:
Cool can I come visit? Any advice for aspiring or beginning writers?

Jane:
What has worked for me is doing what the professions I work with recommend. I don't mean to sound immodest, but I think everyone who's worked with me would agree that I take direction very well. I have observed that most people don't — they become defensive. They say they want feedback but they don't seem to mean it; what they want is affirmation.

Café:
Website?

Jane:
www.janecleland.net. Visitors can hear or read excerpts, participate in an interactive, fun antiques appraisal quiz (called "What's It Worth? You Be The Judge!") and get Josie's mom's recipes, among many other features!

Café:
Where can people purchase your books?

Jane:
They should be everywhere. I saw the paperback of CONSIGNED TO DEATH in a Borders at the airport and thought I'd died and gone to heaven!

Café:
Thanks so much for joining us here today at the Café. Happy Reading everyone!