Getting your books published is murder!

A Literary Tea, sponsored by Florida Center for the Book, included Barbara Parker, Kristy Montee (half of the P.J. Parrish writing team), Rhonda Pollero and Elaine Viets on May 31.

After introductions by Eileen McNally of the Florida Center for the Book, Barbara Parker took on the role as moderator, and the authors took turns. First, they described how they became writers. Both Barbara Parker and Rhonda Pollero had earlier careers as attorneys, while Kristy Montee and Elaine Viets started out as journalists. 

They talked about the mechanics of writing-all use computers and lots of Post-It notes of various colors to track shifting plotlines. They mentioned how much easier it was to take a chapter or part of a chapter and move it from the middle of the book to the end of the book with a few key strokes. Elaine Viets remarked, "I e-mailed a finished manuscript to my publisher just this morning, for free - if I had to print it and send it by FedEx, it would have cost $45. I love computers!"

The authors entertained the afternoon audience of over 100 mystery fans by revealing that, yes, Barbara Parker kills off former husbands in her books, and that romance novels are written to formulas. "Never write a love scene featuring a guy who dies later in the plot," quipped Rhonda Pollero.

Elaine Viets, a recent stroke victim, gave credit to her author friends for helping her sell her books by filling in for her on a book tour while she was in bed recovering.  Viets also talked about researching her "Dead-End Job" mystery books by actually taking minimum wage jobs, like being a hotel maid. Her biggest tip to the audience was to tip maids at least one dollar a day; and she said that could make a huge difference in a maid's life.

Following the panel presentation, and question-and-answers from the audience, the authors autographed books that were made available for purchase from the Delray Beach bookstore Murder on the Beach.

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