celebratingour 2 0 thyear - The Parklander Magazine

urged Viets to useher background inhumor writing to createHelen Hawthorneand the “Dead-EndJob” series books.“As a woman and theowner of the bookstore,I see what sells andwhat women want andthey want a characterthey can imagine asthemselves,” Sinchuksaid. “More than 70percent of all bookspurchased are purchasedby women, so it makessense to give womensomething they enjoy and can relate to. Elaine’s first book in theseries, “Shop Till You Drop,” made the Best Seller’s List and herbooks continuously make the Best Seller’s List.”In fact, her new book, “Half-Price Homicide,” received a starredreview from Publisher’s Weekly. She has also won both the AgathaAward (for best mystery in the style of Agatha Christie) for BestShort Story and the Anthony Award for the “Wedding Knife.”Viets, who grew up reading Nancy Drew, typically writes two booksper year.“I like what I do,” she said. “I write each day. I get up by 8 a.m., havebreakfast, write until 11 a.m. when I take a short break, then sit downand write until 3 p.m. I usually have a late lunch and work at least 6 to8 hours each day.”Viets offered advice for first-time writers.“Writing is an art as well as a business,” she said. “If you writechicklit, or thrillers or women’s fiction or science fiction, know yoursubgenre. Know the award winners and the top sellers. Try not towrite because a subject is suddenly selling. Unless you have a trulyfresh and original idea, your book will be a hard sell. Which goesback to the first part — know your subgenre.”It’s apparent that Viets has gathered all the evidence and clues, interrogatedthe witnesses and suspects, deduced all the motives to solvethe mystery that is writing, leaves no stone unturned and knows hergenres and subgenres inside out. Case closed.Elaine Viets’ booksigning for “Half-Price Homicide” is May 10 atMurder on the Beach Bookstore, 273 NE 2nd Ave., Delray Beach. Formore information, call 561-279-7790.Helen’s wedding shower date is Wednesday, May 12, at 7 p.m. atWell-Read Books, 1374 S. 17th St., Ft. Lauderdale. For reservations,call 954-467-8878.the PARKLANDER65