LeGarde Mysteries

Interview by Nancy Luckhurst, editor, March 2008

Q: E.B.White once said, "Writing is an act of faith, not a trick of grammar." Do you agree?

A: Hmmm. Good question, Nancy. An act of faith? I’m not so sure if that works in my case. To me writing is more like the proverbial itch that needs scratching, a fundamental thirst so strong it must be quenched before life can go on. I feel cheated if I don’t get my writing “fix” each day.

Of course, I do trust my readers – in an intimate act of faith – to process my words without turning on me, which is unfortunately part of writer’s angst. I guess that really is an act of faith! And naturally, I don’t expect them to read stuff fraught with grammatical errors. That said, grammar is not the essence of writing, just a necessary cousin to words poured from the heart.

Q: Do you think there are inherent differences between writers and non-writers?

A: Another excellent question, one I haven’t pondered before. I guess if we define “non-writers” as those who don’t currently write and who don’t have the skills/talent/drive to write, then I’d be able to analyze it properly. Some folks are “writers,” but don’t know it yet. But they share many inherent mechanisms with established writers. Let’s lump these “potential/future” writers into the “writer” category and compare them with the folks who have no desire to put pen to paper, ever!

I’ve noticed some commonalities that propagate across writers.

- Writers soak up every little detail in the world around them and are consumed with the need to record it for all time. This is much like an artist or photographer in many regards.

- Fiction writers have stories that pummel them from the inside, begging to be let out. They dance with delight when given an opportunity to spin a story from an original idea. For example, my critique partner, Patricia Fowler, just sent me a scene that popped into her head. No story line was attached to it, but the characters captivated me and the setting was glorious. I wanted more. I suggested a few twists that could happen to these lovely characters, she countered with a few spicy ideas, and I added some fanciful notions to that – and we were both in Heaven, delighting in the possible permutations of this book-to-be.

- Fiction writers pay special attention to dialogue and dialects. They often have a talent for mimicking accents with the written word, and can masterfully recreate life-like conversations.

- Writers often read voraciously. A frequent complaint is that they can’t find enough time to do both – read and write. But by reading, they are taught by some of the best. That’s how I learned to write – by reading and absorbing the literary nuances of my favorite authors.

What about non-writers? I think these folks – whether readers or not – are equally absorbed by their own passions, whether they be medical researchers, astronauts, or armchair quarterbacks. Being true to one’s soul is the key here. It doesn’t matter if you write or don’t – as long as you pay attention to your calling and love your family.

Q: What is your favorite part of the writing process?

A: My favorite part is that mind-dumping whooshing that happens when a story flows out of me for the first time. It’s immensely satisfying – like an amusement park ride. The scenes tumble out – sometimes planned, sometimes popping out of nowhere. The characters deepen. The action gets my blood pumping. And I can’t wait to get back to the computer each day to dash down the next chapter.

Q: What makes a character interesting?

A: I can only answer this from my own point of view as a reader. I am drawn to characters who live and breathe, to whom I can relate, and who I distinctly visualize. I usually am drawn to “real people” characters who exhibit heroic efforts in their own lives and who sometimes have a twist of the exotic. But occasionally I’m taken by an “evil” character, such as the character Jenner, in SW Vaughn’s series that starts with “Broken Angel.” (coming soon from Lachesis Publishing)

Q: How well do you feel you know your characters?

A: I know them inside and out. I have to – since I’m a series writer! But sometimes I forget a stray element when I move from one series to the other. Thus, I keep a list of “reminders” about their history, etc. on hand to keep me honest.

Q: Gus LeGarde seems to be a virtuous and admirable husband, father, and friend. Will we see a darker side of Gus in future books?

A: There is no darker side of Gus. What you see is what you get! LOL.

Of course, Gus will always be faced with failings or flaws that keep him humble. I believe there is enough “darkness” portrayed by commercial vehicles today and purposefully created a character of great inner strength and tenderness, one who young people would strive to be like and from whom all folks could learn.

Q: Are there any types of scenes you find particularly difficult to write?

A: Fortunately, I have a rather vivid imagination. If I can “picture” the scene, like a moving playing in my head, I can write about it. For scenes based in areas where I have little or no experience, I’ve got movies and other books to help me create it.

Perhaps, though, I do avoid such material. I don’t have any scenes where a surgeon is operating on a patient, or a smart-as-a-whip lawyer is cross-examining a criminal. Since I don’t have a lot of experience in those arenas, I guess that’s why I don’t write about them!

Q: Is it difficult is it to stop tinkering once you've completed a story?

A: God, yes. It’s impossible. If I pick up something I wrote a few years ago, I cringe. It’s never good enough. If I didn’t have deadlines, I’d never be done. Of course that absurd desire to perfect the book is balanced by my all-consuming need to start the next novel. So it works out in the end.

Q: Have you ever trashed a story before it's completion? I remember reading how Stephen King threw out his initial work on Carrie, and only after his wife Tabitha retrieved it from the garbage and encouraged him to continue with the story did he decide to complete it. Of course, we all know how that turned out!

A: Not yet. But I’m considering it with my current WIP. LOL!

Q: Gus is portrayed in your books as an avid gardener and cook. Are you a good cook and do you have a specialty dish? Do you have any plans to write a cookbook and incorporate some of the recipes for dishes you've mentioned in your writing?

A: I guess I’m a pretty good cook. My family seems to think so, anyway. I love using fresh garden vegetables and making all kinds of soups. But I don’t have a specialty dish. Hmmm. I guess I’ll have to work on choosing one! But I do hope to publish a Gus LeGarde cookbook some day. All of the meals Gus prepares in his books are based on real meals I made. The only problem is I don’t measure anything. Ever. I just throw it together and it comes out tasty. So I guess when the cookbook comes out, I’ll have to back track through Gus’s meals and recreate them with photos and measurements.

Q: You've mentioned in other interviews that engineering is your "day job"; do you find engineering disciplines helpful in your writing career?

A: Indeed I do, because I work with a wealth of wonderful people whose lives I share in one respect or another. The stories that come out of real life are superb fodder for plot ideas and spin-offs. There is also a great commonality in the realm of solving mysteries in engineering. Whether you’re solving a complex problem in a digital printer or trying to design a new dry ink to meet tough industry standards, the methods required to solve such challenges can be similar to that of solving a murder mystery.

Q: Some people feel it requires selfishness (in addition to hard work and a lot of luck) to become a successful writer. Do you share that opinion?

A: I agree with the hard work and luck comment, but I don’t think one necessarily has to be to selfish to get one’s writing done. It’s possible to balance your writing with home life and still be a loving spouse/parent/friend to those around you. Note I said, “possible,” and not “easy!” It’s hard to balance both without making yourself into a martyr or becoming too self-involved.

Q: If you could write only one more book, what would it be about?

A: Oh, Nancy, you just made my heart stutter. Only one more book? I can hardly imagine it. But if I were diagnosed with a deadly illness and had to choose today – it would be one more book from Gus’s childhood, a literary romp through the sixties that would make readers swoon with nostalgia.

Thanks, Nancy, for the unique and insightful questions and for being a host on the Tremolo book tour.

Interview by Marta Stephens, author of crime mystery Silenced Cry

                        March, 2008.

MS: Aaron, you have four Gus LeGarde Mysteries published: DOUBLE FORTE (2004), UPSTAGED (2005), and MAZURKA (2008). These books reflect the character of Gus LeGarde at varies points in his adult life. Yet, your third book, TREMOLO: CRY OF THE LOON (2007) portrays Gus LeGarde at the tender age 11. What prompted you to depart from the format you established in the other three books?

AL: I was a supremely happy child, Marta. And some of the most delightful times of my youth happened while spending summers at my grandparents’ camp in Maine. Even though the last time I was there was in 1961, when I was nine, the memories constantly invaded my brain, begging to be documented and let out. To tell the truth, when life got really tough, I’d frequently picture camp – particularly the swing my grandfather made for me. I’d imagine jumping from the swing, running down the sandy hill to the dock, and jumping into the cool green lake. It was a scenario that I’d frequently taken part in, in real life as a child, and there was something so immensely refreshing about the event that it popped into my consciousness repeatedly. To be frank, it was probably driven by a need to self-comfort during traumatic times.

MS: What challenges did you encounter with respect to the writing the same character in a younger voice?

AL: To tell the truth, Marta, I found it the most natural thing in the world. I just put myself back into my own childhood brain and wrote it as I remembered it. Of course, the villains and chase scenes, etc. were thankfully fictionalized, but I just pictured how I’d react as a child in these scenes and wrote it. I penned the original book in about 12 weeks – with little editing done afterwards, except for typos and one chapter I inserted.

Of course the real answer to this question is that I’m really still 11 years old inside, and it was my own voice that took over for TREMOLO.

MS: Every author has their own “ritual” so to speak that they follow when the sit down to write the next book. How do you know when the next one is about to emerge? What process do you follow? Are your plot ideas triggered by specific incidents or do you allow them to simmer a while before you dip your pen in the inkwell? (Sounds so much more eloquent than “pound on the keyboard” doesn’t it?)

AL: The first five or six books came out of me with a reckless rush. It was as if memories from my past begged to be recorded and stroked back into “reality.” Many of the scenes from the books originated from my life. The fear of losing my wife made me imagine how it would feel to lose a spouse. So, when Gus mourns for Elsbeth, the feelings are rooted in similar fears of loss in me. Also, I used my father’s death and my feelings of desolation during that period of my life as triggers for the agony Gus felt. There were (and are) many stories waiting to be let out – so I just kept writing them as they tumbled forth.

Most of the time, however, I collect a loose bunch of ideas and go forward with them – no outlines or chapter breakdowns are written ahead of time. For example, when I wrote VIRTUOSO (the fifth LeGarde mystery, in the queue to be published), I knew I wanted to start with a small plane crash in a field near Gus’s house. I knew he would save the pilot, who ended up being a childhood friend with a deep secret. It would be my “art” book, including one theme that dealt with a fake Monet. I envisioned a historic mystery that included Gus’s ancestors and an artist named Daniel Ridgeway Knight, and a scandal involving singers at the Eastman School of Music, which my daughter Melanie attended. Of course, there were no tenors like the one that tried to seduce Gus’s step-daughter, Shelby, in real life. And last of all, I pictured a chase scene at the Metropolitan Opera House and Central Park. That’s how it started, and when I began writing, things gelled, new ideas came to fruition, and deeper themes emerged.

That’s my usual approach. So far, it’s worked well for me. Sometimes I think it’s because I’m lazy and don’t want to plan it all out ahead of time. And sometimes I think it’s a good way to foster impulsive creativity. What do you think, Marta?

MS: Your approach is probably closer to what most writers do. The stories or part of our stories are usually sparked by something in our hearts or background. I love every detail that you’ve written into TREMOLO. Common every day things that only those of us who lived through or grew up in the early sixties would remember (i.e.: the feel of a 5 cent recycled green pop bottle against the lips, “...soft lavender sweater with small pearly buttons was worn backwards ... on her feet were black Capezios...”). How much of the book was drawn from memory? Were there parts that you needed to research?

AL: Every little detail came from my memory. We had those green pop bottles on the porch at camp, and I can still feel the bottles against my lips. I remember the girls in school wearing those Capezios and sweaters turned around backwards. Why, I’ll never know. But small details like that stick in my memory. There was one thing I had to look up, however – it was when the Beatles songs, etc. were released. I lived through the eras, adored the Beatles, and followed their lives with intense fascination, but I couldn’t remember what year which song came out. I also did a little research on the mystery woman in cabin 15, but mostly it was a fantasy meeting with her, a tribute of sorts.

MS: Anyone who knows you, knows your devotion to your family. What legacy do you hope to pass on to your children and grandchildren through your writing?

AL: What a great question. I guess I hope that someday my family will remember me through my books. They’ll read about Sam Moore’s gardens (in Healey’s Cave and the sequels to come) and remember the same details from my gardens…I hope they’ll remember the mock orange bushes and their heavenly scent, the Japanese Knotweed colony that I battled one whole summer, or the yellow tomatoes I grew and tended each season. I’ve tried to capture most of my great family feasts in Gus’s books, so perhaps they’ll recreate them some day. But most of all, I want them to relate to a passion for life, for finding the truth, for being strong and facing evil, for loving one another, for being brave and honest and trustworthy, and for communing with nature to find joy and to maintain good health, and for being good stewards of the land.

MS: Please tell us about your other books and what’s in your publishing future?

AL: I began DOUBLE FORTÉ late in 1997, but didn’t really get serious about it until a few years later. I rewrote the whole thing in 2000, and then the writing bug bit. It bit hard, and I couldn’t stop. The stories just flew out of my brain and begged to be released. I wrote the final version of DOUBLE FORTÉ and the rough drafts of UPSTAGED and MAZURKA in one year, spending about three months on each. Since then, I’ve written TREMOLO: CRY OF THE LOON, FIRESONG: AN UNHOLY GRAVE, PORTAMENTO, VIRTUOSO, COUNTERPOINT, and LADY BLUES: FORGET ME NOT, the next books in the LeGarde mystery series. DOUBLE FORTÉ and UPSTAGED have been available since 2004/5. I just received my first 200 copies of TREMOLO in the mail today, and it’s official release date is mid Nov. MAZURKA will be released in May/June 2008.

I’ve also started a new paranormal mystery series, called Moore Mysteries. HEALEY’S CAVE, the founding book in “the green marble series,” will be released in June 2008, to be followed by the next two books in the series which are ready to go.


For those of you not yet aware about Lazar's latest book, TREMOLO: CRY OF THE LOON, here's a little to wet your interest.

Summer, 1964: Beatlemania hits the States, and the world mourns the loss of JFK. For eleven-year-old Gus LeGarde, the powerful events that rocked the nation serve as a backdrop for the most challenging summer of his life.

After Gus and his best friends capsize their boat at his grandparents’ lakeside camp, they witness a drunk chasing a girl through the foggy Maine woods. She’s scared. She’s hurt. And she disappears.

The camp is thrown into turmoil as the frantic search for Sharon begins. Reports of stolen relics arise, including a church bell cast by Paul Revere. When Gus and his friends stumble on a scepter that may be part of the spoils, they become targets for the evil lurking around the lake. Will they find Sharon before the villain does? And how can Gus–armed only with a big heart, a motorboat, and a nosy beagle–survive the menacing attacks on his life?

***

Interview by Beryl Singleton Bissell, aclaimed author of The Scent of God

February 2008

I loved reading Tremolo, as I knew I would. What a charmer the young Gus is, which leads me to my first question. As I was reading Tremolo, I kept thinking what fun it would be if you created a series of these "young Gus" stories for middle readers. Sort of like the Hardy Boy's of the late 20^th Century. Do you have any plans for such a series and if not, why?

Actually, I do have plans to continue the "young Gus" series – at least two more books. I haven't aimed these at any age group in particular, however. It seems my oldest readers (one of my favorite readers is 98 years old!) enjoy the young Gus romps as much as the YA crowd.

I still haven't "shown" my readers the year after Tremolo, when Siegfried is struck on the head by a motorboat and loses most of his faculties. Poor Sig. He's my angel on earth. ;o)

And let's face it – I probably won't be able to rest until I have "documented" Gus's whole life! I've written another prequel that takes Gus and Elsbeth to Boston in the late sixties, when they both attended the music conservatory. It's a delicious hippie aged adventure, replete with flower children, white slave traders, and plenty of emotional plunges.  That book may generate some of its own sequels. Gus and Elsbeth are just married in Portamento and they discover their pregnancy at the same time that Gus's grandmother becomes seriously ill. Multiple traumas happen to our poor hero! On top of that, he almost gets pecked to death by a peacock. But that's another story for another day…

I've noticed how totally good and loving your main characters are, and how brutally evil the criminals are. Most of us, even the most jaded, have elements of both good and bad within us. Can you explain why you've chosen to present your characters as either good or bad.

It's strange, but I never really "chose" to do this. It's just the way it tumbled out of my brain. I'm not sure why, because I'm certainly aware of how most folks are a blend of good and bad. Maybe it's just exposure to too many movies where characters are painted that way. Or simply the way my crazy imagination works.

Better yet, it could be my passion for opera. You know there are always the good guys and bad guys, and rarely anyone in between. I think that must be it.

I am interested in ways that your writing has impacted your life. Can you tell us about how writing changes or strengthens you?

This is a great question, Beryl, one that I know you have great insight to in your own life.

When life gets tough – I turn to my writing for solace, borne of escapism. Sure, family and friends help soothe life's woes, and they are fantastic sources of comfort. Especially those hugs I get from my little grandsons. But there's something uniquely satisfying about turning to the parallel universe I control (when I can't control anything else) and "taking charge." Gus LeGarde and Sam Moore (protagonists of both mystery series) are a lot like me, and by creating scenes with them I'm able to participate in virtual adventures. Or to relive the loss of a loved one – and work out those feelings. Or to recapture the joy of childhood. Or to get my blood pumping in my virtual armchair by running helter-skelter through the woods after a bad guy. Or to enjoy "visits" with my beloved father and grandparents, who are populated throughout the books. You get the drift.

But even if life wasn't fraught with its own very real problems (we have plenty of medical problems in our family), I'd still write. I have no choice. I need the stimulation of the creative process every day. I need to connect with readers. I live for that.

There's nothing more satisfying that coming across a reader in the local grocery store who stares with star-struck eyes and tells me how she wants to marry Gus LeGarde. And so does her mother. LOL. It's great.

Seriously, though, there are deep connections that bind us together – whether they are through themes of loss, honor, family, nature, gardens, music, art, or any common element that resonates with readers. I always encourage my readers to connect with me at aaron dot lazar at yahoo dot com.

How does your family react to your writing and your writing life and its demands?

You'll laugh at this one. Or maybe not. Could it be a common problem? My family is jealous of my writing. It's not like I squirrel away in a secret place to write for hours during the day. I don't. Though sometimes I wish I could! I get through the day's needs – engineering, commuting, dinner, babysitting, dishes, catching up – and then I take just an hour or two to write and promote.

Whether it's late at night or in the early morning, I need a few hours for myself. It was impossible when my three daughters were younger and needed me for everything. You know, laundry, homework, packing lunches, driving everyone to drama club practice, band practice, soccer games, or piano lessons. But as they matured and became more independent, I found the time to pull away just a little.

Even now, it's never enough. Promoting takes so much time away from the pure writing process that it's sometimes frustrating. But "nobody ever bought a book they haven't heard about," so it's a necessary part of the business. 

My wife is proud of me, but sometimes she gets jealous of "me and the computer." I try to explain that it's "me and my books," but she always mentions about that darned computer. Says we're joined at the hip.

My daughters seem proud – but they haven't read all of my books yet. I think that's because "it's just Dad," and they can read them anytime. I guess it's like that "in your backyard" scenario. I live near Rochester, NY, and I've never visited the George Eastman House. Because it's right there and I can visit "anytime." Shameful, really.

So now can I add more sex and violence to my books?

Originally I wanted to write stuff that was titillating, but wholesome. I avoided the sex scene details, worried what my little girls would think of their daddy. As time went on, though, in the later books I have added some mild steam to the mix. Nothing scummy or graphic – just sensual scenes between Gus and his wife. In Mazurka, which is due out this year from Twilight Times Books, Gus and Camille enjoy their first "time" together in Paris on the night of their honeymoon. My readers have waited a LONG time for this event. 

With your busy schedule as an engineer, gardener, chef of family feasts and other meals, photographer, blogger, father, grandfather, how do you find time to write?

It's not easy. On top of the above tasks, I also do the cleaning, laundry, home repairs, shopping, and bills. Oh, I hate doing the bills. Maybe someday when I'm rich and famous (LOL) I won't have to worry about the struggle. But it never seems to end, even when you think it's going to "get easier this year." But things worthwhile are never easy, are they?

I manage to balance it by putting family first and writing second. The rest comes along for the ride. I also cook healthy feasts on Sundays and we eat off of that every night during the week. Lots of veggies, poultry, and fish. And if the oil change in the car is a little overdue, or if my weeds aren't all neat and tidy like Sam Moore's gardens (the creep is retired; I'm so jealous!), or the kitchen floor isn't shining… well, so be it. I've gotta write. I have no choice.

Thank you, Beryl, for these lovely questions! Unique and insightful, they gave me an opportunity to chat about stuff I usually keep to myself.

---

 

Interview by Mayra Calvani, author.

 

 

Nice to have you here, Aaron. Why don’t you start by telling us a bit about your book, and what inspired you to write such a story?

Thank you, Mayra. It’s a pleasure to be here. I’d love to tell you about Tremolo and the inspiration behind it. Here’s a blurb that describes this coming-of-age mystery featuring young Gus LeGarde:

Tremolo: Cry of the Loon, takes place in the summer of 1964, when Beatlemania hits the States, and the world mourns the loss of JFK. For eleven-year-old Gus LeGarde, the powerful events that rocked the nation serve as a backdrop for the most challenging summer of his life.

After Gus and his best friends capsize their boat at his grandparents’ lakeside camp, they witness a drunk chasing a girl through the foggy Maine woods. She’s scared. She’s hurt. And she disappears.

The camp is thrown into turmoil as the frantic search for Sharon begins. Reports of stolen relics arise, including a church bell cast by Paul Revere. When Gus and his friends stumble on a scepter that may be part of the spoils, they become targets for the evil lurking around the lake. Will they find Sharon before the villain does? And how can Gus -- armed only with a big heart, a motorboat, and a nosy beagle — survive the menacing attacks on his life?

I wrote Tremolo for myself, first of all, and intended it to be the “quintessential joyful shout of childhood,” so-to-speak. I know that sounds strange and possibly selfish, but I was compelled to write it. My summers in Maine were so magical, so precious, that I needed to capture each and every memory. The drive was strong -- impossible to ignore.

It just so happened that I’d already referred to these magical summers in my first two books in the adult Gus LeGarde series, so Gus fit right into the camp. I loved picturing him as a young boy with Elsbeth (his future wife) and Siegfried (before his debilitating accident). What fun it was to introduce Gus’s parents and grandparents, who are distant memories in Double Forte’ and Upstaged. And being able to present Elsbeth as a living, breathing girl, rather than a mournful memory, was most satisfying.

How would you describe your creative process while writing this novel? Was it stream-of-consciousness writing, or did you first write an outline? How long did it take you to write it?

I wrote the first draft of Tremolo in about three months, working about two hours per day. Years later, I did add a chapter or two in during revisions, but mostly the edits were writing style changes and tips I’d picked up since writing the draft. It just poured out of me, no outline was written, nor did I have a list of events that would happen in upcoming chapters. I had vague ideas of themes that would come into play — such as meeting a mysterious famous figure, Gus’s first crush, the blueberry scene, the missing girl, etc. But I hadn’t put it together in any logical form. It just tumbled out, as most of my twelve books have done.

Have you ever suffered from writer’s block? What seems to work for unleashing your creativity?

Once in a while I get stuck on a scene. It just doesn’t seem to come as freely as it should. One thing that doesn’t work is to just sit and stare at the screen! That’s useless, in my case. So I snap my laptop shut and let my brain recharge. I stop what I’m doing and go about living life for a while. I take long walks, play with my grandkids, visit friends, cook great feasts, take photos, and garden. After a few days I usually find the creative juices rejuvenated and the ideas spring forth.

How was your experience in looking for a publisher? What words of advice would you offer those novice authors who are in search of one?

This is a tough question. It all depends on what intended market for which one writes. If you want to be successful financially, independently able to support yourself on your writings, and known globally, you need a hell of an agent and a big publisher with deep pockets. Of course, on top of that, you need to write a book that will sell hundreds of thousands and propel you to the top of your field, lots of luck, and good timing. If you’re happy with moderate sales and local success, you will do well with a small press or independent publisher. And if you just want to hold your book in your hand and have it available for friends, family, or a narrow niche market, you can do well with a POD publisher. I’m quite happy right now with Twilight Times Books -- it’s an excellent traditional press with a great reputation and a dynamic owner.

What type of book promotion seems to work the best for you?

I’ve done well with local book clubs, book sales events (like at local wineries!), word of mouth, and Internet efforts. I love Gather.com, and have earned many wonderful readers on that site. I do blog and have an extensive list of email recipients who receive the LeGarde newsletter. (If anyone’s interested in receiving it, please email me at aaron.lazar@yahoo.com)

What is your favorite book of all time? Why?

I know it sounds like a copout, but I really have too many from which to choose. Some of my all time favorites include works by John D. McDonald, James Patterson, Dick Francis, Clive Cussler, Laurie King, Lillian Jackson Braun, Rex Stout, Peter Mayle, Tony Hillerman, Dean Koontz, SW Vaughn, Lesia Valentine, Marta Stephens, Patry Francis, Beryl Singleton Bissell, Bob Burdick, and Lad Moore. Recently I’ve thoroughly enjoyed Dean Koontz’s Odd Thomas series. What I love about all of these writers is their ability to transport me to their worlds -- seamlessly. I love mysteries most of all, and find them most satisfying when they’re done well.

I can tell you my favorite movie of all time, however… without a doubt, it’s To Kill a Mockingbird!

Do you have a website/blog where readers may learn more about you and your work?

Indeed, I do! Folks may stop by at http://legardemysteries.com to learn about the nine LeGarde mysteries that are in various stages of publishing. Also, they may visit http://mooremysteries.com to get to know Sam Moore and the three green marble mysteries that have been completed so far.

Do you have another novel in the works? Would you like to tell readers about your current or future projects.

Yes, I’d love to tell you all about the books that are already in print and those coming.

LeGarde Mysteries by Aaron Paul Lazar

Double Forté is a chilling mystery set in the Genesee Valley in Upstate NY. When Gus discovers a child shackled to a bedpost in a remote cabin, an ex-cop gone bad terrorizes his family from the wintry woods. Packed with memorable characters, hair-raising chase scenes, and touching family moments, it’s a solid page-turner. ISBN: 9781413728385 Available Now

Upstaged, features a disturbed stage mother, a deviant predator, and a twisted saboteur who lurks backstage, terrorizing the drama club with deadly, psychotic games. Lush, vibrant, and delicious. A feast for the senses that will leave you breathless! ISBN: 9781413772586 Available Now

Tremolo: cry of the loon, the prequel to Double Forté, features eleven-year-old Gus, Elsbeth, and Siegfried in a stirring and nostalgic trip back to the summer of 1964. Gus's first crush, the potential birth of a new sibling, a murderous lakeside camper, and a mysterious high profile guest vie for top billing. ISBN: 1933353082 Available Now

Mazurka, a contemporary mystery set against the dazzling backdrop of Europe, follows newlyweds Gus and Camille LeGarde as they chase down a family secret with the potential to change history. When Gus’ brother-in-law is framed for the murder of a Nazi, the couple is plunged into a cat-and-mouse game where the stakes are lethal and the future of Europe hangs in the balance. June, 2008

Firesong: an unholy grave, pits Gus and Camille against drug lords with a backdrop of a tornado, forest fire, collapsing salt mine, and the discovery of a fantastic local link to the Underground Railroad. The entire town is threatened as Gus and Camille unravel the truth behind reprehensible dealings in their country church and the scandal of a missing town supervisor.

Virtuoso spirits Gus into the world of art forgeries and teenage traumas. A deadly but talented tenor takes the family to New York City for a near-death escape at the Met and a chase through Central Park. In this story, Gus reconnects with an old friend who shares a stunning secret as he struggles to recover from the loss of a long time companion. Gus and Camille discover a tie to the past via his great, great aunt, Emma Cunningham.

Portamento takes place in 1969 when Elsbeth and Gus were students at the New England Conservatory. White slave rings, an engaging flower child, the Boston Rock scene, and the titillating reckless abandon of the sixties set the stage for Gus's sudden need to grow up fast for the sake of his grief-stricken father and impending fatherhood.

Counterpoint showcases Gus’s friend, Officer Joe Russell, and the return of Camille’s abusive ex-husband, Greg. As Joe slowly loses his mind, Greg slithers back into Camille’s life, absconding with daughter, Shelby. Gus needs Joe’s help to rescue his newly adopted daughter and struggles to save both from fates most deadly.

In Lady Blues: forget-me-not, Gus LeGarde unravels twin mysteries of an abused Korean seamstress and a 1940s jazz ingénue whose pianist lover disappeared overseas on the same night Glen Miller’s plane was lost in English Channel. Gus helps an Alzheimer’s patient reclaim his identity, while dodging a drug company who will silence any witness to keep the truth of their breakthrough Alzheimer's treatment under wraps.

Introducing Moore Mysteries:

In Healey’s Cave, sixty-two-year old retired family doctor Sam Moore still mourns the loss of his little brother, who disappeared fifty years ago. While working in his garden, he discovers a marble that glows green and warms to his touch. Sam is whisked back and forth through time as he untangles the mystery of Billy's disappearance. With the support of his wife, Rachel, who suffers from MS, he fights to prevent the murder of his grandson by a serial killer who has engaged in ghastly murders for five decades. 2008

In One Potato, Blue Potato something is seriously wrong when the Moore’s daughter Beth goes missing. Meanwhile, a bomb explodes in the back of Yasir Khoury's Dry Cleaners, escalating fears of terrorism and anti-Iraqi bigotry. As Sam fights the tide that threatens to sweep his daughter away, the green marble thrusts him between past and present, revealing a shocking link between Beth and the terrorists.

For Keeps: In the third Sam Moore mystery, Sam’s old girlfriend shows up dead, inciting suspicions about his involvement and the coroner, a med school colleague whose husband is about to leave her, reveals she has a crush on Sam. When she is murdered in her own morgue, Sam is once again in the hot seat. A member of Sam’s own family is brutally killed, and he is locked in a psyche ward until he reconnects with his talisman, the green marble. His goal: to change time, and bring his loved one back to life.

Thanks for stopping by! It was a pleasure to have you here!

Thank you, Mayra, for the invitation. It was an honor!

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An Interview by Jane Corn, author, January 19, 2008

Questions: What is your earliest memory of writing and what did you write? When did you feel you wanted to be a writer and how did you sit down and start working on the LeGarde mystery?

Lazar: Hmmmm.That' s a great question. I remember writing stories in school for English class and writing a fantasy short story about meeting the Beatles for an English class, for a contest. I journaled profusely in high school.

It is probably easier to remember when the reading bug hit - that was in 3rd grade.I got in trouble for laughing during math class while reading a book that featured a kitten sleeping on a mattress in a store while thestore window had a sign that noted "Sleep like a kitten". I was severely reprimanded!

During my late teens and twenties, I just "knew" that I wanted to write a mystery series someday. I didn't commit to the Legarde series until my father died, in1997, an event that sent me into a tailspin. I'd lost eight family members in the previous five years and needed a release for the pain. I was completely bitten by the writing bug and it hasn't stopped pestering me since!

Questions:Could you discuss something about the time and place of Cry of the Loon and why that moment in history - the Beatles, Martin Luther King and other seminal events? I felt waves of nostalgia as I read this book.

Lazar: Nostalgia is what this book is about for me. I included pivotal events in 1964 because they affected me deeply. Kennedy's assassination remains fresh in my memory. I recall sitting with my father in our living room, watching the funeral. I'll never forget John-John and Caroline.

There was a time, believe it or not, when my library did not carry any of Martin Luther King's books and this was a northern town! I'd ask for them and be told, in hushed tones, that they weren't available.

Of course the Beatles were a huge part of my life. An inveterate Beatlemaniac, I saved every penny to buy the newest LP. Back then, a LP (long playing single, on vinyl) cost about three dollars and a single was less than a dollar.

Question: How and why did you pick a mystery, coming of age story, backed with suspenseful events?

Lazar: I've always adored mysteries. I'm not sure I can write anything but a mystery. The coming of age was a natural extension of Gus (main character) being only eleven years old.

Question: Did the plot come to you planned or with most of the details there?

Lazar: The plot didn't come to me planned. It just came to me as I wrote. No outlining went into this one. Usually, I collect a handful of loose ideas - setting, highlights, characters - and start writing. It can veer off into unexpected areas. As I wrote, I kept remembering my childhood summers in Maine with more and more clarity. I wanted to capture those summers  - the joy of nature, the sheer wonder of lakeside summers and every little detail of a camp.

Since it has been torn down for condos now, it was especially important for me to record it for posterity. The actual plot of the story sort of came along for the ride, from missing girl to a mysterious woman. Theywere almost incidental to the strong sense of place, of a sense of"being there" and of returning to a place where I was supremely happy.

Question: What do you believe is most compelling about this book?

Lazar: There is the simple purity of a life lived without so many gadgets. I didn't intend to feature this aspect. Gus and his friends had no toys, television, computers or videogames. A walk in the woods, riding horses, swimming, fishing,boating...these things are so much better than the electronic cocoons with which we've surrounded ourselves. I'd love readers to see the value in that.

From a reader's perspective, I think, they will like the characters and the sense of being there. I hope they fall in love with Gus and his family and want to read the rest of the series.

Question: What have you learned that you'd like other writers to know?

Lazar:

Lessis more. Avoid adverbs and use stronger verbs. Avoid phrases that aren't needed but are commonly used. I've posted many of these on my website at:
www.legardemysteries.com

Also, expect and even welcome rejection. If you aren't receiving lots of rejection notices, you aren't submitting often enough. Keep writing.The more you write, the more your skills develop.

Question: Who are your favorite writers?

Lazar: JohnD. McDonald, Dean Koontz, James Patterson, Clive Cussler, Laurie King,Lillian Jackson Braun, Rex Stout, Tony Hillerman, Dean Koontz, Bob Burdick and Lad Moore.

Question: Most recent book you read and enjoyed?

Lazar: Brother Odd, by Dean Koontz. I love his Odd Thomas series. His writing shines and he is an inspiration.

Question: Do you have a motto or favorite saying that guides you?

Lazar: "Take pleasure in the little things". When life has become unbearable due to family illness or loss, I enjoy what God has given us for free - a frosty field on a sunny wintry morning, cornflowers growing wild by the roadside, the flash of love in my grandsons' eyes or the taste of a freshly picked apple. These things comfort me and I think we should savor them and recall them in their full glory when things get tough.

Question: What other aspects of Tremolo would you like readers to know about?

Lazar: Family is important and it is paramount in Tremolo along with honor, bravery and friendship. Having a strong relationship with naturei s a key part of the book. Again, I'd like readers to consider spending more time outside, taking walks in the park, renting a rustic cabin by a lake (instead of going to a theme park). Simple pleasures.

Question: What do you think is essential for writers to do- besides write and persevere?

Lazar: Read Stephen King's On Writing. Find good, trusted critique buddies. More than anything, read. Find writers you respect and love and let them be your teachers. Read what you love - and then write what you love. Let your genre evolve from your passion.

For further information, please check out:
www.aaronlazar.blogspot.com

www.legardemysteries.com

www.mooremysteries.com

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INTERVIEW WITH AARON PAUL LAZAR by Lesia Valentine.  December 2007

I want to begin by saying that I was honored to be named on Tremolo’s acknowledgements page, and also to have been one of the first to read the story. I know it’s based on a summer camp you visited often as a child, so tell us a bit about that.

And let me begin by saying, Val, that you are a superb editor whose insights and skills helped improve the book immensely.

Now, to answer your question. Camp was a magical place for me. My father’s parents ran it, and from my earliest years until age nine I spent summers there with my parents. Dad helped in the kitchen with my grandfather and we all pitched in. It was very rustic, but nobody minded. With the clear water and sandy bottomed lake, we felt as if we were in paradise. I always remember the sensation of being there, of running down the path toward the water, when times get tough. It really helps.

You’re a busy man! You have three daughters, two grandchildren, and your beautiful wife, Dale (seen on the cover of  Upstaged ), often needs your assistance to get through daily life. You have extensive flower and vegetable gardens, do all or most of the cooking at your house, are an accomplished pianist, talented photographer, give lots of book signings, and have a full time job. It makes me tired just thinking about it! Yet, you’ve managed to write how many novels?

I’ve just finished my twelfth book, entitled For Keeps.  It’s the third book in the Sam Moore paranormal mysteries series. It really isn’t too hard to crank out the books, even when you work full time. I just need an hour or two a day (usually either early morning or late night) to let myself travel to my parallel universe. It’s wonderful therapy. And it fulfills my insatiable need to create.

In what genre do you classify your novels? Mystery? Suspense? Something else?

I think of my books as pure mysteries. Some of them border on suspense. Others perhaps literary. But mystery really covers it all.

How old were you when you began writing, or would you rather say how many years you’ve been after it? Where are those roots; I mean, what inspired you to write your first novel, and which is it?

My father died in 1997 when I was 44.  It crushed me. I always knew I wanted to write a mystery series, but figured it was going to happen when I retired, when the kids were all settled in their lives and I had plenty of time on my hands. But when he died, I needed to release the pain somehow. Writing was the answer. It took me a few years to get established in the genre – the final version of Double Forte’ was completed in rough form in 2001. After that, the books just tumbled out every few months.

Some of your characters are based on real people. Do they know, and how do they feel about it? Does this question bother you, because I have to say that when I’m asked this question, I feel that by verifying it, I’m thought less of as a writer, as if I couldn’t pull a good story or characters out of my imagination, or that I’m too nostalgic, or need to let go of the past. Do you have such insecurities?

Most of the inspiration for characters are motivated by loved ones I’ve lost. Gus is based a lot on my dad, Maddy on his mother, and Sid on his father. Although Johnny is just like my little grandson Julian, he was created before Julian was born. But now there are many similarities, and I use some of Julian’s antics in the stories. Gordie, my other grandson, is the model for Timmy, Sam Moore’s grandson. And of course, Elsbeth, Camille, and Rachel are loosely based on my wife, Dale. She doesn’t seem to mind, since they are the women with whom Gus and Sam fell in love. ;o)

Of all the Gus LeGarde stories, this is the only one that delves into his childhood. What inspired you to go there?

I couldn’t wait to revisit my childhood in Maine and always wanted to write the quintessential “joyful shout of childhood” book – and this was it! I needed to get out all those memories and scenes that invaded my heart and brain, and it just seemed natural to plunk Gus, Elsbeth, and Camille in that setting. I also wrote another “prequel” to Double Forte’, entitled Portamento. That takes place in Boston in the sixties, when Gus and Elsbeth are attending the New England Conservatory of Music. It’s my “hippie” book.

You’ve also begun a new series of paranormal stories featuring a character named Sam Moore. Is he based on a real person as some of the LeGarde characters are, or is he purely fictitious?  What inspired a paranormal series? Have you experienced paranormal events in your own life?

Sam is the guy I wanna be when I retire. I’m jealous of him, and although I’m not wishing my life away, I can’t wait to reach his stage of life. His gardening passions are mine, but we did vary in careers. Sam was a family doctor and I’m an engineer by day.  Rachel is loosely based on Dale, who has MS, but who is not in a wheelchair like Rachel. Dale helps me with that part of the story. Lila (Sam’s white cat) is based on Milo, our white cat. And as I mentioned earlier, Timmy is a lot like my red-headed grandson, Gordie. Gordie gives me amazing material!!

The paranormal part of this story came from pure imagination. One day as I was rototilling my garden, I found a green marble. I held it in my hand, and wondered about the little boy or girl who lost it. I imagined being able to hold it in my hand and be transported back their life. Of course, the mystery part of it started to creep into my brain and that’s how it all started.

I’ve had some experiences with my father seeming to contact me after his death. I know it sounds odd, but it was a rather strong and amazing sensation. It comforted me greatly.

You and I and S.W. Vaughn used to have a very active critique circle, but the two of you are so prolific, I had to drop out to get some of my own writing done. Who are you working with these days?

I miss your participation in our circle, but I totally understood that you needed to get your own work done. I loved your book, Rain Coming and can’t wait until it is published! It’s a powerful story.

I still work with Sonya (SW Vaughn) and I’m so grateful for her enthusiasm and insight. She is one of my favorite authors of all time, and I can’t wait until she becomes a household name. I also have a great friend, Nancy Luckhurst, who used to work at Kodak with me. She’s a tight writer who has the ability to see what makes a reader “stutter” over awkward phrases, etc. And now there’s Marta Stephens, author of Silenced Cry, has just started reading For Keeps, the third book in the Sam Moore series. I’ve helped edit her new book, the sequel to Silenced Cry and loved it.

You’ve written twelve books; I’ve rewritten the same book about that number of times. Is there ever a point where you say a novel is done, as good as it’s going to get, and there’s nothing left in it that you wish you’d done differently?

I’ve written twelve. I’m never really happy with them, even when they are given up to the publisher. Each time I go over one, I think it’s awful. Until I “polish it” and let it sit awhile. Then, after time passes, I read it again and think it’s awful again! But you have to let it go at some point. So hard to do, but necessary if you want to keep your readers happy!

Would you like to say a few words about your agent, editor, and / or publisher?

Yes! Lida Quillen is my publisher, owner of Twilight Times Books.  I’m very happy with this company and proud to be part of her outfit. Recently TTB was awarded membership in the Mystery Writers of America, a rare opportunity for an independent press.

What do you think of Amazon’s new electronic book reader, Kindle?

I’m not much for e-readers. I like to hold the book in my hand, turn the pages, and be away from electronics for a while, especially while reading at night or on a plane trip. I understand the appeal, however, and hope it does well for those readers whose life it fits.

Here’s an opportunity to tell us about any upcoming events you’d like us to know about:

Thanks! In January I’ll be meeting with a book club in Canandaigua NY, and in February with a group in Dansville. After that, the new season will start up and I’ll be doing my winery circuit again. Check it out at www.legardemysteries.com/events.htm.

It was always a pleasure working with you, Aaron, and I'm honored to be your hostess this week. Thanks for letting me.

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Interview conducted by Kathryn Esplin-Oleski, journalist and writer.

2008

 

How long have you been writing? What stirred you to write?

I’ve always enjoyed writing – since grade school when I filled journals with romantic musings and wrote zany stories. But the real “call to write,” that obsession that demands hours per day at the keyboard and won’t relent until it’s satisfied, started in 1997 when my father died.

 

Dad was an energetic, intelligent Renaissance man. He taught music and played piano, tended large gardens, cooked amazing soups, loved his family and his dogs with great zest, and embraced life with an unbridled passion. He was the model who inspired Gus LeGarde, the protagonist of the LeGarde Mysteries. Now the fact of the matter is that I’m actually a lot like my father, so there are strong elements of me in Gus, too. It’s an interesting amalgam.

 

I always planned to write a mystery series some day – the notion seemed so natural, especially after having enjoyed the books of Agatha Christie, John D. MacDonald, Rex Stout, Tony Hillerman, and many more over the years. I had planned to start my series when I retired, when my daughters were grown and on their own, and when life afforded more time. But when Dad died, I needed a release. Badly. And writing became my balm as well as a vehicle to honor my father by sharing some of the things he taught me about life in stories.

You are enjoying tremendous success with your Gus LeGarde Mystery Series. How long have you been writing mysteries?

I began Double Forté late in 1997, but didn’t really get serious about it until a few years later. I rewrote the whole thing in 2000, and then the writing bug bit. It bit hard, and I couldn’t stop. The stories just flew out of my brain and begged to be released. I wrote the final version of Double Forté and the rough drafts of Upstaged and Mazurka in one year, spending about three months on each. Since then, I’ve written Tremolo: cry of the loon,, Firesong: an unholy grave, Portamento, Virtuoso, Counterpoint, and Lady Blues: forget me not, the next books in the LeGarde mystery series. Double Forté and Upstaged have been available since 2004/5. I just received my first 200 copies of Tremolo in the mail today, and it’s official release date is mid Nov.  Mazurka will be released in May/June 2008.

 

I’ve also started a new paranormal mystery series, called Moore Mysteries. Healey’s Cave, the founding book in “the green marble series,” will be released in June 2008, to be followed by the next two books in the series which are ready to go.

In what ways would you say your Gus LeGarde mysteries differ from or are similar to other mystery series?

LeGarde mysteries don’t follow a formula. They include villains, yes. And action. And always several twists, turns, and shockers. But what differentiates the books from most typical mysteries are the rich natural settings and family drama that occur in the background. I call them “country mysteries,” or “lyrical mysteries,” depending on my mood. Although my readers refer to them as page turners, there are those who come back time after time simply to see what happens to the characters. They fall in love with the people in my parallel universe, and become deeply invested in their lives. I try to keep the action going and not drop the suspense, but I do allow myself moments to paint portraits with words, to describe the lush scenery of the Genesee Valley, and to bring gourmet family feasts into the mix.

 

Are there any mystery (or non-mystery) writers who have influenced you greatly?

I adore many writers – in no particular order: John D. MacDonald for his Travis Magee series; Laurie R. King for her Sherlock Holmes and Kate Martinelli series; Dean Koontz for his Odd Thomas series; Stephen King for his dialog (the best and most natural in the world); James Patterson for his scenes with Dr. Alex Cross, Nana Mama, and his children; Clive Cussler for the delightful adventures of the Dirk Pitt series; Dick Francis (always wished he wrote a series); Tony Hillerman for his character development and scene painting; S.W. Vaughn (aka Sonja Bateman) for her face-paced, gripping fiction; and Marta Stephens for her newly debuted crime mysteries featuring Sam Harper.

 

Tremolo will be published shortly and you have more planned next year.
Are you writing more after 2008? Do you plan to keep the series going for a long time?

 

There are currently nine LeGarde mysteries and three Moore Mysteries ready to go. God willing, I plan to create several new works each year until the day I die. My personal goal is to write 100 good books that transport folks to a world they crave. I’m fifty-four now, so that means I need to stay healthy for another half century. I’m working hard at that, doing lots of hiking with my daughters and grandsons, and eating healthy veggies from my gardens.

Does your life - your family, children, grandchildren - your work, hobbies - does that influence what you write at all?

Absolutely. Aspects of my family frequently pop up in my stories. Our traumas. Our fears. Our joys. Funny stories from my grandkids.

Sometimes, though, it’s almost scary. Take for example, the character of Johnny, Gus’s grandson. I invented him because I was missing that cuddly stage that my college-age daughters had long outgrown. I loved that I could meet them for lunch, have deep conversations, and enjoy our new adult relationships. But I missed the toddler stage and was craving grandkids. Two years after I invented Johnny, Julian, my first grandson, was born. He has brown hair, big brown eyes, and ended up being very much like Johnny. Now I model much of Johnny’s character on Julian. Now that we have Gordon, Julian’s red-haired younger brother, he’s the model for Timmy in the Moore Mystery series. His antics provide some of the best kid scenes ever. And the LeGarde twin girls are based on my memories of my own twin girls, Allison and Melanie.

 

My hobbies such as gardening, photography, cooking, and enjoying nature are fundamental to both the LeGarde and Moore series, as well as my passions for classical music, the blues, art, and joys of raising kids. Although I didn’t intend to do this, life lessons infiltrate the works as well, such as how to cope with a major losses or grief.

Do you base your books on real life at all?

Everything is fair game for story material. Whether it is events that happen in my own life, to my colleagues, on the news, or in the community, they all spark ideas that often end up – sometimes deliciously twisted – in my stories. I also modeled several characters after my grandparents, whom I adored and all four of whom we lost. But they can live on in characters like Maddy, Gus’s match-making secretary, or Oscar and Millie Stone.

Do you plan to write (or have you written) non-mystery books?

That’s a great question. Since the LeGarde mysteries have a literary element to them, I’ve often thought of writing a standalone “literary” novel. I think I’d like to do it from the point of view of a young boy, somewhere around Gus’s age in Tremolo. (eleven) If I could just find time to get all the rest of the darned mysteries out of my head, maybe I’d have time to try something different!

If you had to do it all over again, would you choose to be a mystery writer?

I would. Mysteries are what gets my blood pumping – both reading and writing them. It’s a given.

Thank you, Aaron.
Thank you, Kathryn. So nice to visit with you!

A Gottawritenetwork.com Interview

DENISE: I have a problem with your website, I can't get off of it because I enjoy listening to the wonderful selections you've included. Tell us about your love for music and what we might hear when being invited to your home.

AARON: I grew up in rural New England, surrounded by music, art, literature, gardens, bountiful family feasts, and a host of animals. My father was a classical music professor with a passion for French composers. I inherited my fascination for Chopin from him and would frequently wake up in the morning to the sound of Dad playing the piano directly beneath my bedroom. The strains of mazurkas, nocturnes, and especially the waltzes were balm for my soul.  Dad was also passionate about Beethoven, Ravel, Debussy, Saint-Saens, Scott Joplin, and many other composers.

I grew up in the sixties, so there's a part of me that also loves music from that era. The Doors, Beatles, Stones, Jeff Beck, Led Zeppelin, etc. were my favorites. I also enjoy folk music and the blues.

If you visited our house you'd probably first hear the music from Thomas the Train! My two grandsons, Julian (3) and Gordon (2) live with us. But, if the boys were asleep and my daughter, Melanie, was home, you'd hear her singing an aria from Puccini or Mozart. If you could hear what's piped into my headphones while I work, it would be anything from Marcelo Alvarez (my favorite new tenor) singing in La Boheme, to Pine Tree Perkins playing a wicked blues piano. I also love musicals (gasp, yes, I'm admitting it!) My daughter, Melanie, was in all the shows in high school and I fell in love with them, from Annie to Quilters.

Opera does play a huge part in my life - which probably explains why my nightingale, Melanie, hopes to sing on the stage of the Met someday. I bombarded all three daughters with music from all of the above sources. They all played piano, French horn, trumpet, or violin at some point in their careers. Allison, Melanie's twin, loves the sixties stuff like I do.  It's so funny when I see her listening to my favorite albums.  Jennifer, mother of my two toddler grandsons, was in the band in high school and led the children's choir in church when she was very young.  I’m so proud of all of them.

One of the most moving experiences of my life involved the final performance by Luciano Pavarotti at the Met a few years ago. He performed in Tosca, one of my all time favorites. Each time he'd reach one of the soul-wrenchingly beautiful arias, I broke down. The tears ran down my face and I was deeply touched. It's embarrassing to admit, but it's true! The emotion came from two sources - first, for the end of an era: a great tenor who'd never sing in the States again; secondly, for the pure beauty of the music. It kills me. It's just gorgeous. 


DENISE: Gotta Write has just learned about you. We have a lot of catching up to do regarding The LeGarde Mysteries. Let's start from the beginning, tell us about your "cast of genuine, unforgettable characters," what setting might we find them residing in and what "unique predicaments" are they experiencing. And yes, we have all day.

AARON: My cast resides in a parallel universe that I assiduously tend. The setting is primarily in the towns of East Goodland and Conaroga, N.Y.  These fictional towns are based on Groveland, NY and the nearby historic college town of Geneseo. It's about an hour south of Rochester, NY, just west of Conesus Lake, the western-most Finger Lake.  Surrounded by gorgeous rolling hills and lakes, the area abounds with dairy farms, bountiful crops, orchards, forests, and antique homes. 

I hover over my characters like a worried parent in my waking and sleeping hours. They are my second "family," and I have a great affinity for them. Each character has a detailed back-story, some of which have actually been transformed into books.

Gus LeGarde, my protagonist, refers to himself as a "hopeless romantic, a wistful Renaissance man caught in the twenty-first century." No stranger to passion or heartache, Gus lavishes love on his family and dog as he mourns the loss of his lifetime soulmate, Elsbeth. He teaches music at Conaroga University, imparting the love of the classics to his young students. He is passionate about French Impressionist painters, nature photography, and gardening.  He spends hours cooking lavish gourmet meals for his family and friends. He drives an old Volvo sedan, plays Chopin etudes to clear his mind and feed his soul, and has an impeccable inner moral compass.

Gus was created to honor my father, who died shortly before I began the series. He lives in fictional East Goodland, N.Y. in a rambling 1811 farmhouse that overlooks the Genesee Valley. He is the head of a large and varied household, including his daughter, grandchildren, brother-in-law, housekeeper, and a menagerie of animals. Gus's predicaments are often two fold, and involve both family and nasty villains. As Double Forté opens, he despairs over the loss of his wife and soul mate, Elsbeth. In this book he meets and, to his great dismay, falls hard for Camille Coté. Bewildered by these unexpected feelings, he suffers through most of the book with a case of unrequited love. Meanwhile, his heroic nature gets him in trouble. He discovers and rescues a kidnapped mute child, unleashing the fury of the beast who abducted her and killed her mother.

Camille Coté is a spirited, vivacious woman whose heart aches for the lost children of Upstate New York. In her capacity of social worker and therapist, she defends unwanted children and lavishes them with all of her love. She adores animals, theater, international cooking, and child psychology, and within these activities she very successfully hides from the traumas of her past. Divorced for five years from her abusive husband Greg, Camille faces the world with a bright smile, yet still harbors deep wounds. Maddy, Gus's secretary, introduces Camille to him in Double Forté. Camille has long, mahogany-colored curls and luminous chestnut eyes. She joins Gus in the quest to help the young mute child recover her voice and to keep her from the animal who seeks to reclaim her.

Okay, I'm going to admit this. Siegfried, Elsbeth’s twin, is my favorite character. He is a true gentle-giant, whose child-like soul encourages solid friendships with men and mothering instincts in women. Bob Williams, a reviewer for CompulsiveReader.com, calls Siegfried, "a man of true splendor - simple, true and fearless." Siegfried is fiercely devoted to the LeGarde family. Gus calls Sig his "behemoth brother-in-law." He stands at 6'8," has a long, blond ponytail, and relates exceptionally well with animals and children. Siegfried suffered severe brain damage due to a boating accident at the age of twelve. The brilliant young boy awakened after the coma with severely limited faculties. After much therapy and retraining, he graduated from high school at the age of twenty-one. He lives in the updated carriage house on the LeGarde property and works at Freddie's veterinary clinic.

I've included characters to honor all four of my grandparents. Oscar and Millie Stone are my maternal grandparents, to a tee. Madelaine Coté and Sid are my paternal grandparents. I planned this as therapy and as a tribute to them, having lost them all in the past decade. It's a bit selfish, but when I create a chapter with them, it's like a visit. I know that sounds nutty, but it's true! I miss them all dreadfully, and this is the best way I've found to deal with the loss.



DENISE: For this interview, let's focus on "Double Forte  and "Upstaged."  You've explained on your website http://www.legardemysteries.com/doublefort.htm that "Double Forte" is set in East Goodland, New York and the Belgrade Lakes of Maine. Tell us about your chilling mystery which begins with small-town college professor Gus LeGarde's emotional struggle dealing with his wife's suicide and his second chance at love with the daughter of his secretary. How is the actual mystery introduced? How does Gus become involved?

AARON: While skiing over the hills of the Genesee Valley on a cold January morning, Gus discovers a mute child shackled to a bedpost in a secluded cabin. While he attempts a rescue, the kidnapper suddenly arrives home. Baxter, an ex-cop gone bad, escapes with the child on a snowmobile that tumbles over a steep incline. Gus follows, to find the snowmobile flaming at the bottom of the gorge and the child trapped on the side of the cliff. He nearly dies in a daring rescue and discovers that Baxter, who leapt from the vehicle before the crash, has escaped into the woods.

Meanwhile, Gus is thrown together with Camille Cote’, the vivacious, dark-eyed social worker who's called in to help with the poor child. The mystery deepens as they learn that Baxter murdered the child's mother. The ex-cop terrorizes Gus and his family as he lurks in the woods, stewing in hot revenge.

The action escalates when Gus's grandson, Johnny, disappears. Gus and his daughter, Freddie, are frantic. Harold, Freddie's rotten-to-the-core, philandering husband, is off on another amorous rendezvous while they search for the boy. Meanwhile, Harold's business partner turns up dead in Gus's back woods. Siegfried, Gus's best friend, is unjustly accused of the murder. Gus struggles to prove Siegfried's innocence as Baxter relentlessly threatens his family.

Add a heart-pounding chase through the foggy woods, a monster snowstorm, and a near drowning in a cold Maine lake, and you have Double Forté.

DENISE: You've said that you gathered material for "Upstaged" while your daughter, Melanie, took part in a high school production of Bye, Bye Birdie. What amazed you about the entire production is "the art of taking a group of relatively scattered young people and creating a cohesive, dynamic, entity." Why did you feel driven to capture it in a novel?

AARON: It's hard to explain, but everything that comes in through my senses ends up coming out in a book.  Sights, sounds, aromas, textures, and emotions… they all bubble around in my mind and bump into each other with increasing ferocity until they're released again.  It's kind of like an artist, I suppose. I need to get these images out on my "word canvas," so to speak, and then I can breathe again. Is it compulsive? Yeah.  Obsessive? Indeed.  But I can't control it and am never sated until the job is done. 

Bye Bye Birdie was a very colorful musical. It featured a huge cast with spirited fifties-style music. I sat in the back of the auditorium every night while the cast rehearsed.  The resonance of the process stuck in my head - the vibrant colors and sounds, the teenaged angst and drama, the wild array of costumes, the hard work that went into the set construction behind the scenes, and even the personal tragedies and triumphs that occurred in the background.  They haunted me until I was able to capture them in Upstaged. 

DENISE: Tease us a little with the plot of what Gus and Camille are up against when a disturbed stage mother, a deviant predator and a twisted saboteur lurk backstage.

AARON: Upstaged opens as Gus agrees to help Camille with the high school musical, Spirit Me Away. Somebody's playing pranks on the cast and crew.  A snake is dropped from the catwalk into the prop room.  Camille is violently shoved from the stage when the power goes out during a storm.  The star performer crashes to the stage when the platform railings are sabotaged.  The pranks turn deadly as one of the crew members is killed. Gus was standing beside the victim, and may have been the target.

Gus suspects handsome Brazilian exchange student, Armand Lugio, who exudes sexuality and has Camille in his sights. The police question the philanthropic school superintendent, whose past is sealed in an official state file. Agnes Bigelow, stage mother extraordinaire, goes beserk when her daughter isn't cast in the lead role.  She seems troubled, but could be crazy enough to be responsible for the pranks.

In the background, Freddie, Gus's daughter, is pregnant with the child of her murdering ex-husband.  When she goes into labor on Thanksgiving night, no one expects driving rain and a sliced radiator hose that strands them on the side of the highway in the middle of the night. 

DENISE: You created a musical of your own while running into obstacles attempting to gain rights to use existing musicals. Share this challenge and how it led to writing the seventh book in the series.

AARON: I originally wrote Upstaged to the tunes of Bye Bye Birdie. I'd assigned my characters to the specific roles of the musical, and even had interspersed some of the song lyrics into the scenes. I knew, at the time, that I'd need permission to quote the songs, but wasn’t sure about referring to the characters. I finally contacted the song owner's agency and discovered that using the lyrics would be prohibitively expensive.  And I never found anyone to answer my questions about the intellectual property rules for referring to copyrighted characters. So, I finally gave up and decided to write my own musical! To make it even more interesting, I decided to create a musical that Gus was supposed to have "written" back in his days as a college student at the New England Conservatory. It was written in the early seventies, and the setting was Boston.  The Boston Sound had just been "discovered," and hippies flocked to the Commons for love fests.   Because I always wanted to do a flashback book to the sixties, it all gelled. I rewrote Upstaged, focusing on the new musical, at the same time that I wrote Portamento. Portamento is the first time readers are able to meet the adult Elsbeth, other than through Gus's memories. The musical, Spirit Me Away, includes many fictional "songs  to which I wrote "lyrics.  The characters have their own history and back stories, and the complex plot is filled with an unrequited love quadrangle. It's fun, and actually, rather like the plot of the most outrageous operas! I often thought it would be fun to hand it to a composer who'd actually write the music - whether operatic or musical theater style - and see it come to fruition in a real production!

DENISE: What's life like living in upstate New York? Tell us about your family, two dogs and three cats. It wasn't clear if you all share one home. If you do, how do you keep the peace? How do you also get three cats to get along without observing behavior problems. I have two and one likes pouncing on the other. I guess he thinks he's a toy.

AARON: Upstate New York is bucolic and lush. The ground is exceptionally fertile, and crops cover the rolling hills. We live in the country on three acres. I have massive gardens that cover about an acre and a half. Vegetables, flowers, fruit trees, and berry gardens fill the property. Within a half mile are dirt roads. We used to ride our horses everywhere, before my wife became ill with Multiple Sclerosis. The cover of Double Forté is actually Hunt Hill Road, just a few minutes' walk from our house. Our house is an 1811 Greek Revival home, with a large addition recently built for my wife's mom. She's a sweetheart, and we get along fabulously. My wife and I live in the "old" side of the house with my daughter, Jenn, and her two boys. Jenn is studying to be a nurse. My twin girls, Melanie and Allison, both attend college. Melanie is a voice student at the Eastman School of Music, and Allison studies art at Keuka College.  When everyone's home, it's a wild household.  The family feasts are large and noisy.  And I love it!
We now have one dog and four cats. Sadly, Frisky, the longhaired mini-dachshund on whom the Boris character is based, had to be put to sleep recently. He was my mother-in-law's companion and is sorely missed. Max, our lovable mutt, is the same dog who's featured in Double Forté, except he's not quite as heroic.  He's a great watchdog, good with the kids, and loving - but he'd rather sleep on our bed than chase villains through the foggy woods! 
Now, those four cats are another story.  Milo is the newest and the troublemaker.  He's a young male, with a sleek white coat and blue-green eyes.  He attacks, pounces on, and basically terrorizes the three older cats by trying to get them to play with him.  Jasmine, Allouette, and Tristan spit and run when they see him coming! It's a madhouse, some days! 

DENISE: Tell us about your experience with your publisher(s) and about your personal challenge toward publication.

AARON: I've learned a great deal about this very complex business since Double Forté was released in January of 2005.  I walked into it rather naïve and clueless.  At this point, I've confirmed that the most likely path to financial success in this business is through the traditional publishing world.

That said, Print On Demand (POD) is a great, flexible, resource-saving technology.  What POD means is that when a customer clicks on Amazon to order Upstaged, for example, the printer gets the order on the spot, prints, and ships the book directly to the customer.  He doesn't have to use up financial and printing resources to produce a large run of thousands of books.  It's a smart way to publish. 

However, there are problems associated with this business model.  Many POD publishers don't have the financial clout that the traditional presses do. The top publishers in the business have the resources to heavily promote their authors and provide large advances, although the trend is to eliminate advances on royalties altogether. But chances of being picked up by them are 1 in 50,000.  And chances that you'll become a bestseller are much slimmer than that.  Only 2-3% of the books produced today actually make it to the bookstores!  There just isn't enough shelf space.

Another huge difference is bookstore presence.  Most POD publishers won't take "returns,  and therefore aren't stocked in the chain stores.  However, as I'm writing this, I've just been informed that my publisher has decided to take returns, which is great! Being stocked in a store like Borders, for example, puts your book out there across the nation.  Most POD books these days are sold through online stores, publishers' websites, and the authors themselves.  It's not uncommon to find authors with boxes of books in their trunks.  But this model does not lend itself to large sales. An author who sells a few thousand in this capacity is considered very successful, as opposed to a best selling author who sells hundreds of thousands of books.
So, the short answer is that POD technology is wonderful, but the current model isn't conducive to financial success for most authors.  I'm currently seeking a new agent/traditional publisher for Mazurka, the third book in the series.

DENISE: Will you explore writing another series or a stand alone novel?

AARON: I've started another series that will run in parallel with the LeGarde series.  It features Sam and Rachel Moore. In The Green Marble, a sixty-two-year old gardener discovers a marble while rototilling the garden. He is whisked back and forth in time as he untangles the mystery of his young brother's disappearance fifty years earlier. Sam supports his wife, who suffers from Multiple Sclerosis, while fighting to prevent the murder of his grandson by a serial killer who has engaged in ghastly crimes for five decades.

Though I plan to continue writing the LeGarde series until I drop, I may also someday attempt to dabble in different genres.  Who knows, maybe I'll write a romance one day! 

DENISE: What is the most difficult part of writing for you?

AARON: The first thing that pops into my head is, "Not having enough time to write!" or "Having to wait forever to get all of my books to my readers," but, I don't think that's what you meant.  Seriously, the toughest part of the craft is editing. The easiest part is the creation phase, of course.  That's like a wild, whirlwind ride. I follow my characters through hair-raising adventures, concentrating more on getting the story out than whether or not it shines.  I'll do a bit of quick editing the next day, and then go on to write the next chapter.  The difficult and boring part is coming back to the book a year later and being ruthless. I cut out all the annoying adverbs (thanks to Stephen King's book, On Writing), activate ugly passive sentences, remove unnecessary adjectives and prepositions, and make sure I haven't goofed up the plot or created a conflict in the story somewhere. Usually, my editor friends pick up those inconsistencies for me, then I swallow my pride and move on. 

Another part that's tough is opening up your heart and soul to the whole world and waiting for the rejection or adulation that may come.  I'm going to plagiarize myself here and paste in a little bit from an article I wrote about this in my Seedlings column in Bob Burdick's newsletter, The Back Room:

…I have this persistent fear that I will be "outed" as a fraud by the next highbrow literary critic that comes upon my work. Even though complete strangers have given surprisingly glowing reviews to my first (and worst) book, even though my readers tell me otherwise, I can't get over the fear that a "real" writer will some day come along and renounce me, banishing me into the netherworld of faux writer fools who tumble around with ridiculous stories and are woefully inadequate when put to the task. 

I know it's absurd. I've told friends, many friends, who write beautifully, that they are writers simply due to the process. If it's in your blood, if you can't stop, if your day is filled with the details of the next chapter, if you write for therapy, then you are a writer! You don't need a degree in English Lit or Composition to qualify. Heck, my degree is in Engineering. You don't need a degree, period!  And yet, I have trouble applying that philosophy to myself.         

I guess I've been slowly improving. Taking part in an author's fair, being called a "local author" by newspapers and radio hosts, and being dubbed a "Genesee Valley Writer," has helped. As I receive more and more reviews from strangers (those who don't "have" to tell me I'm good), the anxiety has lessened a tad. But still, each time I know someone is reading the book, this annoying worry niggles around in my brain. Will they like it? Will they see through me and spotlight the flaws? Will my still-fragile author ego be smashed?
It's so silly. I really hate it. I have to stop caring that when I've bared my soul to the world, it might get trounced on, smashed, and spattered with criticism. I guess it's time to admit... I am a "real" writer. And that's a step in the "write" direction…

Thanks for your time, Aaron!

--Denise Fleischer, gottawritenetwork.com webmaven
September 16, 2005

Nocturne by Donizetti from the opera, Don Pasquale, is performed by Melanie Lazar (sophomore at the Eastman School of Music) and tenor Nathan Oakes.  Piano accompaniment thanks to A. David Hurd.