Who Am I? And Does It Matter?

By Valerie Taylor

At what point does a writer admit to themselves (and others) that they are, in fact, a living breathing author? Must certain events take place in order for that moniker to be valid? 

Events such as completion of a book’s first draft; or when that manuscript is submitted for review to an agent or publisher; or when the book ultimately shows up on Amazon and other online bookseller sites?

On top of that, is publishing one book sufficient enough to proudly write the word Author under a name tag or within a bio?

Personally, I think it is enough. Yet, I’m skeptical whether readers share my perspective, or if they view one book by a writer to merely be a one hit wonder … like a song? Think of Los Del Rios’s Macarena, or Baha Men’s Who Let The Dogs Out, or Debbie Boone’s You Light Up My Life.

When I wrote What’s Not Said, which turned out to be an award-winning romantic comedy, I’d intended that story to be my great American novel — my one hit wonder. And that was perfectly okay with me. I had no visions of grandeur beyond that! I just had a story to tell, and I achieved that goal.

Not so fast, though. I never expect the reaction that came rolling in directly from readers and indirectly from reviewers. They wanted — demanded — to know what happened next with the main characters. What? You’re kidding. After I heard that from multiple sources, I tested the possibility of writing a sequel. I grabbed a legal pad and bulleted out on a single sheet of paper an expanded plot line to be sure I could create enough of a story for another book. Sure enough, What’s Not True was born.

As it happened, when I started to write the debut novel, I knew the end of the story, since it had swirled in my head for a decade or more before I finally put my fingers on the keyboard. As I plotted book two, I knew the middle, which was helpful as the muddy middle is often the most challenging section to write. During that process, I committed to writing what ultimately became known as the What’s Not trilogy. In so doing, I consciously scattered breadcrumbs for a future book. Because I ended What’s Not True with a bang, it was a natural springboard to the final installment, What’s Not Lost.

Why am I sharing all this process stuff with you? Because I found writing a romantic comedy series relatively easy. I just told the story.

Yet, wouldn’t you think after publishing three books in three years when someone asked me, “What do you do?” that the words, “I am an author,” would flow off my tongue as easily as a nursery rhyme? Not so fast. Often I’d start to answer with, “I’m retired … “ and then mumble something to the effect of “I’m an author,” unsure if I really wanted them to ask what I wrote.

Needless to say, with three books under my belt, I had a decision to make. Was I done? Could I rest on whatever laurels the trilogy afforded me?

It was then that I recalled comments I’d received from readers, especially those I met through the book club meetings I was invited to attend through Zoom. “You should write a cozy mystery!” some said. Readers suggested my writing style that encompasses relatable, mostly mature characters; descriptive settings; and believable dialogue could work well in a cozy mystery series.

Switch genres? Abandon my romantic comedy comfort zone? Blasphemy!

But okay! I’m game! Always up for a challenge. And a challenge it was.

I started by taking a week-long online course on writing a cozy mystery series. Read a number of cozies by a variety of authors, including Dame Agatha Christie, of course, among others. Consumed hours upon hours of cozies on television, like Midsomer Murders and The Doctor Blake Mysteries, to name just two.

And unlike how I approached my debut novel, What’s Not Said, this time I did a bit of plotting on paper before powering up my laptop. I altered my process not because I wanted to, but because there are so many elements to consider when writing a mystery.

Take setting. As opposed to the real life settings in the What’s Not trilogy (Boston, Venice, Paris, and Greece — all places I’d been), I needed to build a fictional world. Inspired by a visit long ago to New Bedford, Massachusetts, I created a small town called Chatham Crossing, situated between Providence, Rhode Island, and Cape Cod.

Then I needed a sleuth. Not so much of a problem. I spun off Venus Bixby from What’s Not Lost where she was a minor, yet flamboyant, character just begging for a story to call her own.

Then, I needed a murder victim or two, weapons, a detective, a murderer, a cast of suspects with various motives, opportunities, red herrings. And let’s not forget cats! Oh my!

Clearly, writing a cozy mystery was not going to be as easy as asking, “What if…” each step of the way, scene by scene, as was my practice previously.

But I did it! It took me less than a year to create and publish A Whale of a Murder: A Venus Bixby Mystery in April 2024. High five, anyone?

Then reality hit! How do I get my fourth book out into the wonderful hands of readers? Now that I’ve achieved what some warn writers not to do, i.e., switch genres, how should I describe what I do? Do I write romantic comedies? Or cozy mysteries? Will I finally admit I’m an author?

Fortunately and coincidentally, Independent Bookstore Weekend happened the week A Whale of a Murder hit the shelves the end of April. Spring, it seems, is a natural time of year to launch a new book, especially at book and craft fairs, and at book signings. Seems we all come out of the woodwork as the days get longer, the birds announce the sunrise, and the scents in the air trigger our allergies.

At my first book signing at The BookSmiths Shoppe in Danbury, CT, that weekend, I had the opportunity to showcase both the trilogy and my cozy mystery debut and to test out whether my choice to cross genres would be acceptable to those who matter most: readers.

This is what I learned. I was pleasantly surprised to discover readers are a mixed bag. Some have preferences for one genre over another, others consume a variety, and still others are open-minded and will try something different for a change.

For me, the icing on the cake that day was this: after signing A Whale of a Murder for a lovely woman, she asked, “When will the next book be out?”

Bingo! After four years and four books, it finally happened. I was finally able to admit it to myself … wow! I am an author! Not that it really matters. Isn’t it the journey that counts?

Published by Aspetuck Publishing in April 2024, A Whale of a Murder: A Venus Bixby Mystery is available wherever you buy paperbacks and through Kindle and Kindle Unlimited. 

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Valerie Taylor is the award-winning author of the romantic comedy trilogy: What’s Not SAID, What’s Not TRUE, and What’s Not  LOST. Encouraged by her readers, she’s now created a new cozy mystery series, spinning one of the secondary characters in What’s Not LOST into the role of amateur sleuth in A Whale of a Murder: A Venus Bixby Mystery. When she’s not writing or reading, Valerie enjoys practicing tai chi and being an expert sports spectator. She now resides in Shelton, CT, returning there after enjoying some of the best years of her life in Boston and Seattle. 

Learn more at:  www.valerietaylorauthor.com

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A WHALE OF A MURDER: A VENUS BIXBY MYSTERY

“An utterly charming tale … a thrilling whodunit … with the suspenseful whispers and suspicions of a compelling murder mystery.” — Readers’ Favorite 5-star review

Retro-music store owner VENUS BIXBY will do almost anything to be named to Chatham Crossing’s prestigious Town Committee. But when she stumbles over orange platform shoes in the garden where her birthday party is scheduled to be held, becoming both a suspect and a sleuth is not what Venus had in mind!

BUY HERE:  https://amzn.to/42YtYcZ

 

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