I sat down to write this profile of Sandra Ruttan and the lyrics
to Maria’s Song by the nuns in the Sound of Music inexplicably
popped into my head. If you replace Maria with Sandra, it’s
a good fit.
“How do you solve a problem like Maria?
How do you catch a cloud and pin it down?
How do you find a word that means Maria?
A flibbertijibbet! A will-o'-the wisp! A clown!
Many a thing you know you'd like to tell her
Many a thing she ought to understand
But how do you make her stay
And listen to all you say
How do you keep a wave upon the sand
Oh, how do you solve a problem like Maria?
How do you hold a moonbeam in your hand?”
Now don’t misinterpret what I’m saying here.
Sandra isn’t a problem. Sandra is the wave upon
the sand, the moonbeam in your hand. She’s the
cloud you can’t pin down. An amazingly talented
writer, she is a whirlwind of activity that routinely
humbles all around her. A successful magazine editor,
blogger, short story writer and novelist, Sandra has
conquered the crime fiction community. Whenever she
goes to a conference, people rush to describe her impact
on them. Every time her magazine, SPINETINGLER, is published,
the community talks for days about the content. When
she writes a short, the crime fiction world stands up
and takes notice. Her blog is a regular stop for many
of our most lauded authors, and her sense of community,
the way she opens her soul and bares all is the draw.
But how much do we really know about this moonbeam?
When I cyber-met Sandra, it was on DorothyL. I was struck
by her posts, immediately went to the SPINETINGLER website
and started thinking about how I could submit to the
magazine. As happens often with the Internet, we touched
base. I couldn’t believe I was talking to THE
Sandra Ruttan. Our first phone conversation lasted two
hours, and I knew, right then and there, what a special
person Sandra was, and how much my life would be enriched
by calling her my friend.
Then Killer Year popped, and we started to work together
to promote our group. A professional through and through,
she became the lifeblood of Killer Year, as she manages
to do with every endeavor she touches.
I was lucky enough to read her debut novel, SUSPICIOUS
CIRCUMSTANCES, which dropped in January 2007. The complex
layers of the book are an excellent metaphor for Sandra
herself. In the book, I never knew what was coming,
was always surprised by the confluence of events. That’s
how I feel about Sandra, I just never know what she’s
going to do next that’s going to enrich all our
lives.
I compiled some questions for Sandra, a feeble attempt
to catch the wave upon the sand. I have to tell you,
I sent the questions attached to an email, with a note
that said “Something to get me started, if you
will.”
I received an email back immediately (the girl is prompt,
too) asking if she needed to do a strip tease for me.
After I stopped laughing, I realized I’d sent
the email without the attachment. As always, Sandra’s
wicked sense of humor catapults any situation to a highly
comedic level. Her answers were both serious and playful,
and I learned a few things about her life that I wouldn’t
have otherwise known. So, without further ado, I give
you some brief insights into this gloriously deviant
mind.
J.T.: When did you start writing?
Sandra: I was always writing as a child, scribbling
down ideas accompanied by bad drawings.
J.T.: What was the first book you wrote?
Sandra: The first full-length fiction manuscript I finished
was a book eventually titled Suspicious Circumstances.
J.T.: What was the first crime novel you read?
Sandra: I read Trixie Belden as a child. I read some
Agatha Christie in my teens years, but I can’t
remember the first one. I will say that the book that
won me to the genre and had the biggest impact on me
was The Falls by Ian Rankin.
J.T.: Were you always into crime fiction, or are you
new to the genre?
Sandra: My passion for crime fiction stems back about
five years, to when I read Rankin’s The Falls.
I’d always harboured the dream of writing, and
I remember thinking that if I could write half as well
as Rankin, I’d be happy. Of course, I was lying.
No serious writer is every happy, they’re always
pushing themselves to do better.
J.T.: What’s are the main differences between
Canadian crime fiction, American crime fiction and British
crime fiction?
Sandra: The use of ‘u’ in many words, and
whether you reference bacon butties or breakfast sandwiches.
Seriously, that’s a good question. America produces
more thriller writers, and the gun culture lends itself
to different types of crimes than British fiction traditionally
does. Canadian crime fiction has been dominated by quirky
cozy/amateur sleuth offerings without much serious attention
to crime or much in the way of police procedurals. We’re
starting to see that shift a bit, and all I can say
is, it’s about time. When I read books about idiotic
cops who can’t find evidence they’re looking
for that some baker or cashier just stumbles across
and they solve the whole case, it makes me scared that
people really think our police are so inept, and annoyed
that nothing like that happened when I worked as a baker
or cashier. As it currently stands, 90% of the Canadian
crime fiction submitted to me for reviews requires complete
suspension of belief. I don’t find that to be
the case with most British or American crime fiction,
and I prefer a healthy dose of realism and believability
in what I read.
J.T.: How has running Spinetingler changed the way you
write and read?
Sandra: I pay more attention to writing and common writing
errors now, so I try to weed those out in my own writing.
Unfortunately, it makes it hard for me to completely
lose myself in a book because I look more at structure
and language, and try to pinpoint what sets the great
writers apart from the average.
J.T.: Why did you and Kevin start Spinetingler? What
was the thought process?
Sandra: Kevin wanted to give people a chance to be published,
based on the merit of the stories and the writing, not
on their publishing history. He’d started to realize
how hard it was for new authors to break in. We’ve
published authors and well-known writers, but we still
get a real thrill when Spinetingler publishes the first
story by a new writer with talent.
J.T.: Do you prefer writing short stories or novels?
Sandra: Novels. Short stories are tough. [They] require
very precise, tight writing and you don’t have
the latitude to explore subplots and tangents. And I
love subplots and tangents. [With shorts] you have a
few words to develop character, setting, situation and
then wrap it up. What I like about writing novels is
that you have time to build the scenarios, to play with
the twists and to bring depth to your characters through
their actions.
J.T.: What is your writing process?
Sandra: There is typically some idea that starts to
weigh in the back of my brain. Eventually, it takes
root and grows, to the point where it’s on my
mind a lot. With books, I tend to have some starting
point, and I never know where the book will go. I don’t
outline. I tend to be a ‘by the seat of my pants’ writer.
Once, I knew part of the ending of the book when I started,
but I didn’t know what happened between page one
and that point.
I tend to write fast for a manuscript. I do a typical
draft in about six weeks. I usually do one edit before
sending it in, or give it to one of my critique partners
for feedback first.
J.T.: What’s you favorite animal?
Sandra: The wolf, followed by turtles.
J.T.: What’s your favorite movie?
Sandra: Crash, The Usual Suspects, LOTR The Two Towers.
Sorry, I can’t narrow anything down to one, other
than my favourite author.
J.T.: What’s your favorite band?
Sandra: Right now, I’m listening to a lot of Jackie
Leven and Sarah McLachlan.
J.T.: Do you listen to music while you work?
Sandra: Sometimes. It seems to depend on what I’m
doing.
J.T.: What’s your favorite holiday destination?
Sandra: Some place rich with history and culture, or
with lots of active things to do. Tunisia, Costa Rica,
Ireland, Scotland, Portugal, Italy… Those are
some of my favourite places, of the 25 countries I’ve
been to.
J.T.: Did you go to University?
Sandra: I did study at university level in communication
theory, but didn’t complete my degree. I was working
full time and studying by correspondence, and then I
got sick and wasn’t able to continue.
J.T.: Who is your favorite short story writer? (Since
we all know Ian Rankin is your novel God)
Sandra: Um, Ian Rankin. Following closely by Stuart
MacBride, though. And Stephen Blackmoore kicks ass.
I hope he gets off his butt and writes a book soon.
J.T.: What advice would you give new writers?
Sandra: Read lots, and pay attention to style, to language,
to structure. Write lots. Don’t give your work
to friends who’ll say they love it. Give it to
serious writers and editors who’ll tell you if
it sucks. An honest critique is priceless if you’re
able to process the constructive criticism and improve
your writing.
J.T.: If you could pick three people to spend an afternoon
with, who would they be and why?
Sandra: I know I spent an afternoon with Ian Rankin
in July but I’d still pick him. This time, I might
actually speak.
Seriously, he’s one of the most interesting people
I’ve ever met. Beyond that, it gets tricky. I
just had a chance to sit in the bar with Laura Lippman
and Denise Mina, but I’d do it all over again
if we could chat longer. I’m fascinated by how
people approach their writing, their life, what makes
them tick. You could essentially throw in the names
of any author I admire – Simon Kernick, Cornelia
Read, Stuart MacBride – and I’d be thrilled
to have a chance to hang out with them. This week I’m
hanging out with Mark Billingham, and I’m really
looking forward to that. Cornelia and I recently hid
in the back of a coat room and swapped childhood wish
fulfillment stories. Stuart and I sat up debating reviewing
ethics with a group at Harrogate. I spent more than
an hour interviewing Simon in person in July… The
truth is, most of the people I’ve wanted to spend
time with, I have spent time with. Many of my heroes
in this business have become my friends.
Now, I haven’t had that much time to chat with
Ken Bruen. And I adore Ken Bruen...
J.T.: Briefs or boxers?
Sandra: Boxers.
J.T.: What other cultural activities do you enjoy?
Sandra: Photography would be the biggie, although I’m
quite rusty. It’s been almost two years since
I just went shooting and when I travel for conventions
I only have room for the digital camera.
J.T.: Can you draw or paint?
Sandra: I can paint fence posts. Okay, I can paint a
bit. I can draw a bit. I took art.
J.T.: DAVINCI CODE, tripe or delight?
Sandra: I haven’t read it, but I have my suspicions
I wouldn’t like it, which is why. I hated the
Bridges of Madison County and something about DaVinci
Code smacks of the same vibe for me. Different subject
matter but far too hyped.
J.T.: If you had the opportunity to write a book with
the profile of THE DAVINCI CODE, would you choose that
kind of life and controversy?
Sandra: I would hope not.
J.T.: What's the genesis for SUSPICIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES?
Sandra: I wanted to put two people together who didn't
know if they could trust each other and play with that.
I'm interested in what makes people decide they can
trust another person, why it is crises produce strong
bonds and whether those bonds can last. I felt it was
more fun to go from the position of uncertainly about
the case in question, because there was so many ways
the story could evolve.
J.T.: Why a reporter?
Sandra: I have a background in journalism, and it was
easier to step into a reporter's shoes. There's so much
you learn when you start writing it was nice to have
one comfort zone to work from.
J.T.: Why name a character Lara, knowing full well people
will want to mispronounce it Laura instead of Lara rhymes
with Sarah?
Sandra: People will mispronounce anything, so you can
never be certain. I get two main pronunciations of Sandra,
and it seems a straightforward enough name to me. I've
heard people pronounce Rebus as Rebbus. You really can't
win when it comes to names. I did have a different name
for Lara originally, but was advised to change it and
agreed with the reasoning. It's hard to find a name
that fits a character that's already evolved in your
mind. Lara worked with me, so I went with it.
J.T.: Are you writing a series with these characters?
Where is it going?
Sandra: I expect there to be a second book. I have some
thoughts on it, but my next book is the first in a different
series, set in Canada and centered on the RCMP. And
this is no cast of Dudley Do-right RCMP officers, either.
It's Canadian noir, which is something I love writing.
All I can say is that I'm not finished with Lara and
Farraday, but where we go from here is still in the
early development stages.
J.T.: How much of your personality do you put in your
characters?
Sandra: More than I'd like to admit. Lara adopted a
number of characteristics from me. Farraday is controlling.
He gets that from me. Still, there are a number of things
about them that aren't true of me. Lara has more obvious
similarities, but she isn't me.
J.T.: What would you like to see happen with the characters?
Sandra: Lara has some things in her past she needs to
come to terms with, particularly if she is going to
get involved with Farraday.
J.T.: With the series?
Sandra: I'm only thinking one book at a time at the
moment. As long as I feel the characters interest me
and have room for growth, there's potential to write
about them but I don't want to just do a series to do
a series. If I'm going to write more books about the
same characters, it has to be for the right reasons.
Otherwise, the writing will suffer.
And...
J.T.: What's your favorite food?
Sandra: Chocolate. Followed by tomatoes.
Chocolate and
tomatoes. I can’t sum her up any better. Smart,
funny, talented, diverse, yes, she epitomizes them all.
But the study in contrasts makes Sandra Ruttan an author
to watch for.
ABOUT THE INTERVIEWER
JT Ellison is a thriller writer based in Nashville, Tennessee.
Her debut novel, “All The Pretty Girls”, will
be published by Mira Books in November, 2007, with subsequent
novels coming in May 2008 and November 2008. A graduate of
Randolph-Macon Woman's College and The George Washington
University, Ellison had a career in politics before turning
to crime fiction full time. Her short stories have appeared
in Demolition Magazine, Flashing in the Gutters,
Mouth Full of Bullets and Spinetingler Magazine. Ellison blogs at www.Murderati.com
and is a founder of Killer Year. More information on her
work can be found at www.JTEllison.com
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