Okay, these aren’t “frequently asked questions” as much as they are “randomly selected reader questions my hubby asked me.” I suspect he slipped in a question or two of his own as well. But I’m a mystery writer, I’m suspicious of everything.
1. Are you Lora Weaver?
No. None of my characters are based on specific people. But I do share some background and traits with both Lora and Camille. For instance, I too was a social worker, I’m half Anglophone and half Francophone with some First Nations thrown in (so I’m told), spent most of my adult life as a vegetarian, and I may or may not have a tenuous relationship with cell phones.
2. Do you eat ice cream out of the container?
Who doesn’t? It’s non-dairy ice cream these days, and sometimes I fancy it up by placing it on a saucer.
3. Is your husband the inspiration for your super sexy male characters?
No.
4. Could you give better answers?
Could you ask better questions?
5. Why did you set the Lora Weaver series in Montreal?
I was born and raised in Montreal. It’s what I know and love.
6. Is the series about Lora? Or Lora and Camille? And why did you make Lora a New Yorker?
Well, the tag is “A Lora Weaver Mystery.” But the friendship between Lora and Camille is crucial. And I made Lora an American because one of the joys of Montreal is that it’s a multi-cultural city, and I think the contrast of experiencing the city from both the local and newcomer perspectives is fun.
7. What can you tell us about the Caron clan?
The Carons are your typical loving French-Canadian family: big, entangled, and opinionated. They’re increasingly Lora’s surrogate family and an important influence in her life.
8. Bagel, baguette, or challah roll?
Easy. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
9. How many books will comprise the series? Do you have a number?
No. No limit anyway.
10. You use French in the stories. What’s your approach given that your audience is largely English?
I try to make it easy for readers to understand the French by peppering it in and using words that translate well. But French culture is a huge part of life in Montreal, and the books wouldn’t be authentic without it.
11. How do you write? Lots of planning or off the cuff?
Somewhere in the middle. I know the basic plot and the ending when I start. But everything else is a free ride.
12. Where do the names Ping and Pong come from?
Ping was the name of my very first cat, so it’s an homage of sorts. And I liked the idea of teaming it with Pong for Lora’s dog. Both Ping and Pong draw their traits from all the pets I’ve had, but Pong looks like my dachshund/whippet dog.
13. Do the Lora Weaver books have to be read in order?
Every book in the series is its own complete mystery so may be read as a standalone. Although there is a progression in Lora’s personal life that can be fun to follow along with from the beginning, just like meeting someone for the first time and then getting to know them, it’s easy to pick up any book and then go back to learn more about Lora’s life.
14. How do the novellas figure into the series?
I like to think of the Lora Weaver main series titles as light mystery and the novellas as mystery light. The main difference is that the longer books feature a PI case whereas the novellas are often more Lora finding herself in trouble she has to finagle her way out of.
15. Will Lora and Laurent ever get together?
You’ll have to keep reading the series to find out. :)
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