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Cozy Clues: Exploring Mysteries with Diane Bator
23 Plays6 months ago
Join Liz in this episode as she chats with author and book coach Diane Bator. Together, they delve into the world of coaching and crafting cozy mysteries. Diane takes Liz through the intricate process of plotting mysteries and designing captivating covers, offering a behind-the-scenes look at the art of creating compelling and cozy reads. Get ready for an engaging discussion filled with tips and insights for aspiring writers and mystery enthusiasts alike.
Bio:
Diane Bator is a mom of three, a book coach, and the author of well over a dozen mystery novels and many works-in-progress. She is the host of Escape With a Writer, a blog to promote fellow authors and is a member of Sisters in Crime Toronto, the Crime Writers of Canada, and the International Thriller Writers. She is represented by Creative Edge Publicity.
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Diane Bator Web & Author Pages:
Website: https://dianebator.ca/
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Connect with Liz
Website https://lizbullardwrites.com
Email: [email protected]
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Transcript
Introduction and Guest Introduction
00:00:00
Speaker
Welcome back eReads podcast listeners. I'm your host Liz and this is my podcast where I talk about books, authorship, and all the different parts of the creative process. Today I'm excited for you to meet Diane. You will just feel her joy and love for books coming through the episode. We have a lovely chat about cozy mysteries as well as her career as a book coach.
Unconventional Bookmarks and Cozy Mysteries
00:00:23
Speaker
So if you're a struggling writer please reach out to her She definitely has the joy and the sensitivity to walk you through any stage. So let's jump right in and get to know more about Diane.
00:00:37
Speaker
Welcome, Diane. How are you? I'm great, Liz. How are you? I am doing really well. And to welcome you to the show, I have a bookish question for you, which is something light in and number in regards to books. Are you ready? Absolutely. All right. So my question that I thought about for you is, um I actually saw this, I was scrolling and I was like, this would be a good question. So do you prefer to use bookmarks or do you dog ear the pages when you're reading? It depends how desperate I am. Really fair. Currently I'm reading a book and I actually have somebody's business card as a bookmark. So it's kind of, I've used napkins, I've used all kinds of things. And if there's nothing nice and flat, then I will talk here. I'm sorry to all of you, but it happens.
00:01:32
Speaker
It does, but you know what, I think my favorite bookmarks are the ones that are unconventional, like the um ah business card or the napkin napkins make really good bookmarks. Sales receipts do too. Yes. Love a receipt. Absolutely. Do you have like a favorite non-conventional bookmark? Not really. And like I said, it's just whenever Sandy. I love that. If anybody's looking for it later.
Diane's Amateur Sleuth Series
00:01:59
Speaker
Yes. I'm kind of thinking about the unconventional makes me think a little bit about your novels because you write in in mystery is that correct. I do I started off writing mystery and then somebody said well you write cozy mystery i'm like I don't know what that is.
00:02:18
Speaker
But that's what I write. So cozy mystery is just mysteries without the blood guts and gore. You just have a mystery. You have an amateur sleuth. And they're a little more on the lighter side, if you can call murder on the lighter side at all. But it's they are a little bit lighter, a little less so overwhelming, shall we say. Absolutely. And you mentioned ah one of the characters being an amateur sleuth. Is that your main character? or what ah What is her day job? It's obviously not being a detective or seamless about being a detective. Can you share more about who she is? Absolutely. I actually have four different series. So my main character in my Glitter Bay Mysteries, which my newest one is coming out very soon, if not already.
00:03:09
Speaker
Lakin and Sage, because I alternate between the two sisters, they run a vintage shop called Vintage Sage. So they really don't solve murders, but murders seem to find them everywhere they go. My Gilda Wright mysteries. Gilda is actually the receptionist of a karate school. So that comes into play a lot. I can imagine. Right. And my newest book that just came out is Dead Man's Doll. Audra is that also you cozy? It is a cozy week. That's an interesting cover for a cozy. We kind of darken the cover just on a whim just to see what would happen because the first book I love I don't have the copy with me. But to and drop dead cowboy has a really great cover that I just couldn't resist. So we just this series in particular, I'm trying to keep them a little darker covered. And the stories are still the same.
00:04:07
Speaker
sort of on the lighter side, but there is, there is a little bit of walking the fine line, I guess you could say. But in that series, Audra and her best friend Mary Lee actually run a craft shop. So they have this little Wednesday group that meets and can either encourage them on these mysteries or create trouble.
Role of a Book Coach
00:04:30
Speaker
So, and in my series, the Wild Blue Mysteries, it's eyes I, It's actually a team of private detectives who get involved with women in the community in the way that they have to help them with all these mysteries and the women are a big part of solving the mysteries because they're not the actual detectives, but they can talk to all these people without people asking questions.
00:04:56
Speaker
Interesting. And I'm very intrigued by the cover. And then when you said like they run a craft shop, I'm like, ah, I can see that. um I like that it's a darker cover because I i don't tend to lean towards cozies, but that would definitely catch my eye and I would stop. um I'm definitely um sold by covers. And that's why I thought, because before it was a very kitschy kind of cover and it was a lady with, you know, it was one of those cartoony kind of ones. And I was like, you know, let's try something a bit different with this and see what happens. So, so far, so good. Absolutely. But not only do you write, you also coach people as well. I do. yeah and Yeah. During COVID when we were stuck at home with not much else to do.
00:05:45
Speaker
I came across this book coaching course and I thought, you know what, that's really funny. Cause I sort of do that anyway. Um, I convinced other people, but don't convince them, but I helped them with their books. I helped them with their getting the support they need to actually write their book and get it out there. And I'm very proud that I've been able to help a few people with editing with, you know, just telling them how to get their books there. I'm actually going to a book launch today after this. for a friend that he wrote a cookbook and now he's writing a series of kids books. I'm just like, wow. Oh, lovely. Yeah. Let me pick your brain because I've had book coaches on, but we really haven't talked about what it is to be a coach. So kind of tell us what is kind of like the day to day, what do you do as a book coach? It depends on the person. um Some people will come in with a book already written and they're looking for a little support to get it
00:06:45
Speaker
out into the world. Some people will just come in and go, I have this idea, but I don't know what but to do with it, where to start, what you know where to go. So it really varies ah person to person. um I have one lady, we just published her book. I helped her with that process too, which was like, wow. But um it was her memoir that she used for a court case, actually, which was really crazy. And then once it all came out, people are coming to her going, well, I want to read this. I want to read this. So now we've had to take that next step and publish it. So it was kind of fun and a bit more work than expected. But hidden by it it's been really great. And she was so excited. I think she's been ordering copies through me. I think she's already sold like 75 copies just on her own. so Oh, wow. Yeah. And it's only been about a month and a bit. So.
00:07:40
Speaker
Oh, that's amazing. And it's also like, I didn't necessarily make the connection that you can connect with the book coach at different stages of the process. Absolutely. Is there a particular stage that you enjoy meeting people at, whether that's like at the idea stage, at the publishing stage, like when do you most kind of like enjoy that process? I've been really lucky to get to help people right from the very beginning. And it's really great because I'm one of those people I love to encourage people and say, once that book comes out, we're putting it on my blog. Cause I also do, um, a blog called escape with a writer, which may eventually go into a podcast or I working on all these ideas that just, they're just ideas on paper at the moment. But I do interviews with authors, like I said, mostly on paper right now.
00:08:34
Speaker
It goes on to my blog and I share it with all of my social media. We just share their book and hopefully we can sell a few extra copies, but that's always been my thing is supporting and encouraging other authors, no matter what stage. Oh, I love that. And I think like that is so great about the like writer or community. It really is supportive. um Everyone's so open to sharing information. So like I love that. And I love that you get to do this as like part of your job is you knowm getting to support people. I know it's the best,
Book Coach vs. Editor
00:09:06
Speaker
it's like you, you get to talk to all kinds of authors. I know, absolutely, because it can be lonely, right? Like something, you know, you're in your, you know, home you're or wherever you are, you're writing, and it's really nice to connect with others. And like, everyone has had that fear or that apprehensive apprehension or this question of, can I do this? And it's such a comforting process to talk with people and hear, yeah, we all go through that.
00:09:30
Speaker
Absolutely. That imposter syndrome, that one that says, Oh, yeah, I wrote this, but it's really awful. It can eat it anybody, you know, any stage of the game, like somebody who's just starting out to I've got 15 books now published in their stays. I'm like, what am I doing? This is nuts. I actually I did a helped a friend with a book launch a few weeks ago. And he He last minute said, hey, can you help me do a Q and&A thing? So I'm like, cat okay, that'll be fun. So I took his sheet and I looked at it and I said, okay, as a published author, I have one question for you. This was his very first book. I said, what are you thinking?
00:10:15
Speaker
Everybody got a good chuckle. And he's like, yeah, you know, we all have a story that has to come out. And this was mine. So I like that answer. Yeah, that better. So Absolutely. um In talking about imposter syndrome and things like that, you know, if a client comes to you and they're struggling with that, you know, or if they have struggled with that, what are any tips or any ways that you guide them through that process? That's a hard one. It really is because, you know, everybody has such a different perspective on what that means to them and and what they need to be supported. Right. now
00:10:52
Speaker
I have a couple of friends that are like, well, I'll put it out there if nobody reads it, who cares. And yet you have other people going, but I want it out there and I want to make a million dollars. The truth of it is you're going to put your books out there. You're not going to get a million dollars. That's the top like 5%. The rest of us, we write books because we love to write books. If we sell books, we get really excited and we do these little dances. yeah and you know the chances chances are you're going to be putting in a lot of hard work and it's going to get frustrating but like you said the writing community there's so much support out there and if you're not getting support from other writers you're in the wrong group.
00:11:40
Speaker
Absolutely. Absolutely. And I think that is also really critical in thinking about imposter syndrome. Just having that other person that's like, yeah, I believe in you, like just having that outside validation can be very helpful. But also like, again, the reminders of the complexity of it, right? think There's so many different views on it. And so like, you know, I'm just glad that they have you to help guide them through this process. I mean, you know what, it's always fun. They're like, we joke around so like I will, the people that I've been working with, I will help them with edits, with ideas that, okay, this is a great concept, but this doesn't flow. You have to make this work a little more, a little better so that when people read it, they're not sitting there going, wait a minute. I don't, just a minute ago, this happened, but now this was happening. I don't understand.
00:12:29
Speaker
So we really work on that kind of flow, we brainstorm. If there's, I'm stuck with this idea, I want this to happen, but I don't know how, happy to brainstorm. So yeah, it's a lot of fun. Absolutely. So kind of a little question, and you mentioned kind of like brainstorming and editing, you know, um how does a ah book coach differ from an editor? Can you kind of share a little bit about that? An editor will just look at your book. They will go through line by line, or they give they could be a concept editor. They just go through and they say, it's a is this working? Is this flowing? If you're working with a book coach, and not all of them will do edits. They will do a ah flow edit. They will do you know the concept thing. But it it
Getting in Touch and Diane's Writing Journey
00:13:23
Speaker
varies from coach to coach as to what you get. and And some of them, how much you have to pay for sure. um
00:13:29
Speaker
but I've been working with a few people that, you know, I know they can't pay a whole lot right now, but we work on the basics and we get them to that point where they can send it to somebody else for really good at it. And then it can go somewhere. So, but yeah, we have started with a couple of people right at ground levels. it's to Yeah. You have to look into what each coach does and most of them will have it right on their website. or you can email them and say, what exactly do you offer? Very nice. And so what if people are listening and they want to get involved with you? How can they best do that? Best, you can go to my website. It's dianebaiter.ca.
00:14:14
Speaker
um I've got a whole lot of stuff on there, including, which my newest book will have to go up there very soon. I haven't got it there yet. but so There's a lot of fun things to find. You can reach out to me and ask any questions. I'm more than happy to help. Lovely. And kind of curious, jumping back to to mystery a little bit, what, what made you start writing in that genre? Like, you know, did you always know, like, what was that like? yeah You know, when I was a kid, I've always loved mysteries, puzzles, I'm sorry, you know, unexplained things, that sort of thing. But in my writing,
00:14:52
Speaker
I never really went that way, which was very strange until about 2010, 2011. And I found out about this contest and they took one of these old murder mystery party games that people used to play in their homes. And this publisher that I was working with at the time, they used the characters, the clues, the settings, everything from this game. And you had to write a 10 chapter novella. using all the characters, each one, each chapter in a different point of view, which if you need an exercise in point of view, that's a great idea. That sounds like it. It was just incredible. And I ended up winning the contest. and Anyway, I think I'm writing the wrong thing. So whatever book I was working on at that time, I switched completely over to mystery and here we are 15 later. So
00:15:50
Speaker
Oh, that is so fun. That is so fun. And I love that to think about like, taking like a game to write different points of view, right? The cool part is, is I was in a, um oh my gosh, the Salvation Army store, not long later. And I found the same game. And I'm like, okay, it has to come home with me because that's just the thing. Yes. Oh, I love that. I love that. I love that. yeah And you you have um a book coming out in May. um and And can people pre-order? Please tell us more about this novel. It is already up for order because we are doing a book launch coming up soon. I'm just waiting for details. um It is called All That Shimmers. And it is book three in the Glitter Bay Mysteries series, which
00:16:40
Speaker
is one of my most fun and what i one of my most popular. um It's two sisters, as I mentioned earlier, they run a vintage boutique called Vintage Sage. And all kinds of weird things happen to them, including, I think it was the but first first book. um No, sorry, the second book. um One of the designers that, Laken, who is the older sister, or the younger sister, sorry. Lakin used to work with this designer in LA and he comes up to help them with their new expanded business and ends up being murdered. And in the meantime, he's brought his sidekick along, whose name at the time was Hamlet, who later comes out and says, well, I'm not really Hamlet, my name is Quinn, and please call me she.
00:17:39
Speaker
Wow. And it was a moment where it's my favorite moment in the whole series so far, really, when the two sisters have to sit back and they actually have a private conversation later about, okay, what do we do? Like, what do we do with this person? We don't get this is all just mind blowing to the one sister for sure. And, and she said, well, that's what she wants to be called. This is who she is. So Let's treat her the way she wants to be treated. And Quinn has become one of my absolute favorite characters and we'll be getting her own book coming one day, but just not yet. Wow. Yeah, that is exciting. And I, you know, I always love when people kind of toy with
00:18:23
Speaker
um mostly like real life issues or concepts, because sometimes it helps you sort through things and like having that
Character Inspirations and Writing Advice
00:18:30
Speaker
relatability. So I love that. I love that you kind of explored that. absolutely Well, and it all only started because I actually, I work um full time for a live theater. And I work in the box office. And this but looked like a gentleman came in one day and was ordering tickets and I asked for the name and She said, my name is Tiffany. And I just went, okay, last name. And it was just, you know, you just had to roll with it, right? But it was just, it was that moment where it was that kind of, Oh, okay. Well, that's not what I expected. a c And that's the moment. And
00:19:15
Speaker
We have become great friends. She actually signs all of her stuff, love Quinn. so So it's really sweet. And she just thinks that's the greatest thing in the world, that she was an inspiration for a character in a book. So. Absolutely. That is it's beautiful tribute. And I think that also a great reminder, again, to be open to the world around us and to the experiences we have and how they touch us. Absolutely. Absolutely. And if I stepped out of line at all with Quinn, she would let me know in a heartbeat. I love that. Yeah. Absolutely. Diane, thank you so much for for sharing your experience in all the different areas and and things that you do. um and Please tell like if someone's listening and they're just like, you know what, I think I want to be a book coach, but they don't know where to start. Where should they start? What should they do? um There are lots of places you can actually take courses to become a book coach. um I strongly recommend reading
00:20:15
Speaker
books, and you don't necessarily have to focus on a particular genre, because you you may end up with different people with different genres, but you might want to specialize, but do a lot of reading in whatever genre you want to work with. um Read books about writing, and about marketing, and about everything to do with writing, because yes, there are a lot of them out there. And a lot of people have their own opinions, of course, but as they say rules are meant to be broken, so sometimes you have to break a rule to make something really work.
00:20:56
Speaker
Absolutely. I like that reminder as well. um All right. To my final questions, but before I do that, you know, what if someone's like, okay, I think I want to write a mystery, but I don't feel clever enough to come up with these problems and how to solve them. You know, and how any suggestions or advice for them? You know, it's really crazy what you can learn from the news. Yeah. And it's honestly, um, Like they say, there's things that come up in the news that you're like, you just can't write that. Like people won't buy it. And yet it's in the newspaper, it's in social media. And it's, you know, you just have to think outside the box sometimes. um If you are starting to write a mystery, um there's two schools of thought. You can be a dancer or you can be a plotter.
00:21:50
Speaker
Panthers like me, who we just tend to write from the top of our head, whatever comes to us. And then once the first draft is done, you go back and you plot pop in all of the clues that you need to get to the end of the story and don't make it too obvious. But don't just throw something out there at the end that was not in the rest of the book because no people will not read your books after that. these won um plotters are those people who sit down and they go okay, chapter one, this is going to happen, chapter two, this is going to happen. I have tried that. It doesn't work out for me. um I followed it to about chapter eight, and then I just kind of went out the window. So
00:22:37
Speaker
That's me. It's whatever works for you. Some people love the detailed planning.
Embracing Different Writing Methods
00:22:44
Speaker
Some people like me just I'm going to go sit in the coffee shop and write for an hour and whatever comes comes. Let me tell you, I'm always so comforted when, you know, not nothing against the plotters. I still love y'all. But when pantsers come on and they're like, yeah, like I have 12 books or I have 200 books and I just, I pants my way through. That always gives me such joy um because I'm just like, I try to like, okay, let's do this. And it it will work a little bit, but then my brain just has to go off this way. So I'm always comforted and I'm like, it can happen. You can dance your ways through a series.
00:23:20
Speaker
You know the cool part. And I always kind of went, Oh, maybe I'm doing this wrong. Maybe. Right. I was fortunate to sit in on a I think it was international thriller writers had a really great workshop and some big name mystery writers. And they asked that question. And out of, I think there were five writers, it was basically half and half. Wow. So I'm like, okay, whatever it goes, goes. Right. It was comforting, right?
Closing and Future Invitations
00:23:52
Speaker
so Absolutely. Diane, thank you so much. um And I can imagine those that work with you just, you know, it just feels such joy and and comfort. um It's been really great having you on on the show. So thank you.
00:24:06
Speaker
Oh, it's been really great being hairless. Thank you so much. Again, Diane, please come on back and share anything anything that you have going on. and i Thank you so much. I definitely will be grateful too. Bye.