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| Written By Rick
Ellis, Monday, November 5th, 2007 Sandra Brown is the author of more than fifty New York Times bestsellers, including "Ricochet," which debuted at number two on the Times' hardcover bestseller list in 2006. Brown is one of the acclaimed authors set to appear on season two of the Court TV series "Murder By The Book." I recently spoke with Brown about the show, her books and how her writing has changed over her nearly twenty year career. Q: What made you decide to participate in "Murder By The Book?" Appearing in front of the cameras in this way is certainly a different experience for you. A: I didn't have to be talked into the show at all. I was familiar with it already. I had watched some of the episodes from last season, and loved it. So it was easy for me to agree to participate. Q: How was the story chosen that you would highlight in your episode? Was it your choice or the producers? A: The producers asked me if I could think of a sensational murder trial that took place near to where I live. And my answer was 'This is Texas, you're going to have to narrow it down to more than just sensational or bizarre.' But pretty quickly, I thought about the case of Betty Gore, which is still one of the oddest trials I've ever heard of. Not to give too much away, but the verdict is still unbelievable to me, and it's a fabulous story with all sorts of twists and turns. When they sent me the script...even though I knew how it was all going to turn out...the unfolding story, the twists and turns...it still surprised me. It's difficult to come up with plot twists that are as complex as the ones in this case. I wouldn't change the drama that is already there. Q: You mentioned receiving a script. Was it difficult to read someone else's words? Do you think they accurately captured your style? A: I thought the script was great. The producers are very smart. They wanted a script that reflected me, and they accomplished that. They did the segments at my house. It was very chatty, and I think that if you're familiar with my books, you're going to be very pleased by what you hear and see in the show. Q: Let's talk a bit about some other things. What kinds of books do you read for recreation? A: I truly read every genre. It doesn't matter to me if the story has a rocket ship in it or a stagecoach. If it has a good story and characters that you can connect with, it doesn't matter the settings. Q: You mentioned that you read every genre. Do you have any interest in writing a book outside of your genre? Do you have some unfulfilled need to write the great science fiction novel? A: (laughing). Well, maybe not science fiction. I haven't had any urges that have been that radical. But I do have some interest in writing a more historical novel. It's certainly something I've thought about, and there might come a day when I'll do it. But it's difficult to work out in my schedule. I love the books that I do now, and my readers and my publisher are all expecting a book a year from me. So it's something I would like to...I expect to do at some point. But not right now. Q: You mentioned that you've been writing one book a year for quite awhile. Early in your career you were writing shorter books, and they were coming out more frequently. Has the way that you write changed over the years? Has the creative process changed for you in the years since you began writing? A: When I was writing the shorter books, I was pounding away in a frenzy during school hours because I had younger children. As my children grew up, and the audience for my books expanded, my pace changed. I think one book a year is a good pace for me. It gives me the opportunity to really develop my characters and write the best book that I possibly can. Plus, while I work hard, I also like to play hard. I think it's important for me to be able to take a week off when I need to. I do enjoy my life and I would feel more compressed if I had less time to work. Q: Technology and the Internet has changed the lives of every creative person. How has it changed your life? A: It's become a real source of frustration for me. I personally like to spend time on the Internet. And I am so grateful to the fans who visit my web site and discuss my books online. But the Internet is also a veracious consumer of time. I'm in the middle of getting my web site redesigned right now, and that requires a lot of time. And then there's blogs, and YouTube and everything else. You can get lost in it all, and I try not to let that happen. All of that can detract from the time you should spend writing. And in the end, that's what is most important. The season premiere of "Murder By The Book" premieres Monday, November 5th, 2007 on Court TV. |
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