Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Tara Moss is in the Fibro

The first time I interviewed Tara Moss, I wanted to hate her. It was way back in the days when her first novel, Fetish, was on the stands. She was the model who'd started writing. Tall, blonde, gorgeous. With a book. Your basic nightmare.

We met at a cafe in Bondi, she all Bambi limbs and giraffe eye-lashes. Me, hiding behind my stenographer's notepad, wishing myself elsewhere. But she confounded my expectations. First up, she was just really nice. Professional nice, but also personal nice (yes, Virginia, there is a difference). Down to earth, obsessed with blood and gore, and Smart. Really smart. A quote from my ensuing story is on her website:

"Forget all the cliches about international models... Tara Moss has literally rewritten them."

Since Fetish (which was shortlisted for the Ned Kelly Award for Best First Crime Novel), there have been four other books in Tara's phenomenally successful series about Makedde Vanderwall, a tall, blonde, gorgeous model who solves crimes. Add to that, this year, a new character in a new series as The Blood Countess introduces Pandora English.

And now, though seven months pregnant with her first child, Tara has graciously agreed to spend some time in the Fibro for my monthly writer's Q&A. Bless!

Does crime writing require a particular set of writing skills?
Tara Moss: "There is a lot of focus of concise plotting in suspense writing, but I think all good novel writing requires a disciplined plot and much, much more. I begin with character. For me, plot is extremely important, but still secondary to character development and motivation.

"I also value research quite highly. My crime novels take me to dark places and my research can be intense and, at times, disturbing. I believe that authenticity is important in all writing, and hands-on forensic and investigative research is a must for me. Not all writers are interested in hands-on research, of course - like getting their PI credentials or being choked unconscious for a scene - but I do find that my favourite crime writers have a similar dedication to research and experience. I believe it shows in the writing."

Was it the popularity of vampires that led you to The Blood Countess? Do you see vampires staying with us for a while?
TM: "The Blood Countess is the first in a series of novels where the real world and the spirit world or supernatural connect - a paranormal series, if you will, but not really a series about vampires. The title refers to the real life figure of Elizabeth Bathory, a noblewoman from the 1600s. The next novel in the series, The Spider Goddess, comes out next year and draws on Greek mythology. In the world of Pandora English, my new heroine, there are mediums, psychical scientists, vampires, ghosts and mythological monsters of all kinds. And even a touch of satire on precisely the current fads you're talking about...

"I think that somewhere in the human subconscious we crave stories that explore the dark side of the psyche - stories about vampires and villains, monsters and cold-blooded killers. We need to explore our most primal fears in our storytelling. It's what compels me to write about crime, mystery and things that go bump in the night."

You've said you take your research seriously. Does that get easier once you've established a character and a series? How did it feel to start all over again with Pandora?
TM: "It was wonderfully liberating to create new characters and an alternate New York for this series. My novels for the past 12 years have centred on Mak Vanderwall and I felt it was time to branch out and literally create a new world in my writing. I will continue to write crime and to write Mak, but also this new series. Creatively, I think variety and fresh challenge is very important. Research for this new series is totally different, but challenging and fascinating for me."

Writers are constantly told they must blog/tweet/get themselves out there... How do you balance the writing time with all the other things that make up a modern writer's life?
TM: "Novel writing takes priority, along with my TV commitments on CI Network and 13th Street, some of which involves delving into the criminal mind, reading books and interviewing fabulous authors - it's a tough life! I don't spend a lot of time blogging or tweeting, but it's something I enjoy in my downtime. I find that Twitter and Facebook are wonderful mediums to communicate directly with readers and fans. It doesn't take long, and the contact is rewarding."

How different do you think your writing life will be with the new baby?
TM: "Writing is my fulltime job and I will continue working to support my family. It's a bit early to predict how motherhood will change my writing, if it does at all - don't expect new stories about kittens and cupcakes! It might just be time for that spooky children's book I've been dreaming up for years..."

Do you love reading crime fiction? Ever tried writing it?

21 comments:

  1. Well done Al, have bought Tara's new book for my daughter for Christmas, partly because she's enthralled with supernatural novels, and partly because I want to read it myself.
    Can't wait.

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  2. Very interesting, thank you so much.

    Do you think it would be OK for my daughter to read? She has read all of twilight if that is any indication. She is 11 but mature. xx

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  3. Not sure Bern. When in doubt, I read them myself first. Just to be sure, you understand.

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  4. Thanks Tara and Al. This was so intriguing to read. I'm going to buy The Blood Countess for my Sydney trip.

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  5. Tara Moss was my brush with celebrity at the Canberra Airport a few years ago. She was and still is the most beautiful woman I have ever laid eyes on in real life! Immaculately coiffed golden hair, tall on spiky black patent heels, tailored suit, slender and elegant, she was arranging something on her mobile with someone in Melbourne while I (looking totally the opposite)was waiting for a plane to come in. Did I even utter a word to her? No, not even one, after all I really didn't know her. Lucky you, to get to know her for real!

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  6. Thank you for this fabulous post x

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  7. @Naturally Carol - I couldn't really say I 'know' her. Only in a professional sense. If I spotted her in an airport looking that fabulous, I'd have to hide behind a pillar or something, given my usual state in airports...

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  8. You know all the cool kids. She is one smart cookie, which is totally unfair given her appearance as well! You know I love a vampire so I might just have to check this book out (I haven't read any of hers as I wrote her off as a supermodel.... have learned something this morning :)

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  9. Great Interview... I love crime fiction...never tried to write it..find it hard just stringing two sentences together to be honest

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  10. I'm going to have to check her out. I'm intrigued.

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  11. You've peaked my curiosity I might have to pick up this book.

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  12. Great Q and A.
    Hopefully the only thing that will change about her writing after the baby, is learning to write while asleep!

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  13. Tara is sort of the antithesis of the agency girl I wrote about on my post today... she's beautiful but she hasn't let that get in her way of being funny and smart and kind too.

    Kinda just makes you wanna punch her. But it's refreshing at the same time!!

    x

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  14. Tara is sort of the antithesis of the agency girl I wrote about on my post today... she's beautiful but she hasn't let that get in her way of being funny and smart and kind too.

    Kinda just makes you wanna punch her. But it's refreshing at the same time!!

    x

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  15. That's a great interview!

    Love reading crime drama (when I have time to read an actual "book"). Can't say i'd ever try to write it - I tend to stick with things I know. I'm all about art imitating life :)

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  16. I do love crime fiction (second only to cheesy romance, if I'm honest). But I don't know Tara Moss (yet). Thanks for the introduction!

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  17. Actually looking at Tara was like looking at a piece of art! She was so much more georgeous than the surrounding people. I knew exactly how I looked but didn't care really, everybody else was in my category beauty-wise too. Work wise though, she'd have to still have ability and I think she does have to work hard on being an author. People like that just have a few choices of profession that I don't e.g. modelling or t.v.

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  18. ah... i do enjoy her books! love the interview - i agree, don't think she's the typical supermodel type - did you know that she found her partner on RSVP!! i read that somewhere once, i wonder if its true? gorgeous gal like that having needing a matching website to help her out! this post, so relates to your sisters!! beautiful and smart? lucky girl xx

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  19. How cool! Love the interview. But common: gorgeous, smart, artistic... it's really not fair Tara... share it around okay? HA!

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  20. Fantastic interview. I have read all of Tara Moss's books. She fascinates me.

    I just admit though I have just recently read The Blood Countess and I didn't enjoy it as much as her crime novels. Maybe my expectations were too high. I almost hate myself for say that outloud ☼

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