Author Q&A: Featuring Theakston's Crime New Blood author Kristen Lepionka

Today the Crime Warp hosts the third of Val McDermid's New blood panelists Kristen Lepionka  on her blog tour for The Last Place You look ... and I have to say I loved this book. It;'s really lovely to have you here today, Kristen, so let's crack on! 

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Liz: tell us a bit about The Last PLace You Look

Kristen: THE LAST PLACE YOU LOOK is a private investigator mystery introducing Roxane Weary. Since her cop father died in the line of duty, this PI’s only active investigation is the bottom shelf of her liquor cabinet. When she becomes a death row inmate’s last shot at proving his innocence, she uncovers a string of missing teenaged girls and a tangle of secrets in a quiet Midwestern suburb.

Liz: How long did The Last PLace You Look take to write

Kristen: I spent about six months on the first draft of THE LAST PLACE YOU LOOK, followed by a few months of ignoring it, then another three months of major revisions. The ins and outs of the plot itself went through a couple iterations, but the climax of the story stayed the same throughout.

Liz: Could you describe how the germ of an idea develops into a full-blown novel?

Kristen: A novel is a little like a tornado—it starts with one little idea swirling around, but then it starts pulling stuff into its spiral and everything gets bounced around and smashed together inside. THE LAST PLACE YOU LOOK started with the main character’s name, which got me thinking about the type of troubles a woman named Roxane Weary might have (because all

good mysteries are about 2 things: cities and troubles). Then the tornado pulled in some elements of podcast I’d listened to recently at the time (season 1 of Serial) and the rest is history. Well, plus the aforementioned six months of writing.

Liz: I love the tornado analogy... very apt.  Any tips for would-be writers seeking publication?

Kristen: Always be working on your next idea. Even if you have 1000 short stories out on submission, and 500 queries out to literary agents, don’t just sit back and wait for something to happen. The waiting will make you feel like running around screaming, so you may as well channel that excess energy into writing your next story.

Liz: Any writing exercises you’ve found particularly useful as a writing stimulus?

Kristen: I like to take personality tests on behalf of my characters, such as the Myers Briggs Type Indicator. It either serves to confirm that I know the character well if I can correctly predict their type, or it shows me areas to develop them further.

Liz:  What a brilliant idea!  If you weren’t a writer what would you like to do?

Kristen: By day I’m a graphic designer, but if I could go back and do it all over again, I’d be a librarian. Even if I wasn’t a writer, I still couldn’t stay away from books. Is that cheating?

Liz: What is it about Crime fiction as a genre that turns you on?

Kristen: One thing I love is the “puzzle” element—figuring it all out. I’m nosy, curious, detail-obsessed, and I can’t stand not being able to solve a riddle, etc. Crime fiction satisfies the same part of my brain that just has to know all the answers. I also like exploring human nature through the drama and violence that comes with the territory. People show their true colors when (a) you’re moving furniture with them, and (b) under extreme stress. I think there are fascinating truths we can uncover by telling stories about people’s dark side. But mostly, we all know the world isn’t fair—but crime fiction allows us as readers and writers to punish the bad guys, at least on the page.

Liz:  Which author are you cosying up with tonight? 

Kristen: I’m almost finished reading Peter Swanson’s excellent HER EVERY FEAR at the

moment, and it’s unbearably creepy as it nears the conclusion. I don’t want to give anything away, but I’ll never look at rustling curtains the same way again.

Liz: Do you linger in your research period or do you rush your research to get stuck into the writing?

Kristen: I love research, and generally keep stepping out of the story to perfect certain details the entire time I’m writing it. But as far as initial research goes, I do enough to get the story started and then dive into the writing, because lingering too long in the planning phase sometimes makes it hard for me to ever start writing it.

THE LAST PLACE YOU LOOK by Kristen Lepionka is published by Faber & Faber (July). Kristen is appearing on the New Blood panel at the 2017 Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival in Harrogate on 22 July.