Kathryn
Leigh Scott
has just made the leap to novelist, with the publication
of her first novel, Murder in Prime Time.
We caught up with her to get the inside gossip on her new
project…
What
made you decide to write a novel?
I've always wanted to write fiction—my first attempt
was on my mother's old Smith-Corona typewriter when I was
about nine years old. I recently came across some yellowing
pages tucked inside one of my old schoolbooks and remembered
the afternoon I spent writing my little story. Guess what?
I was writing a mystery about a young girl who explores
the remains of a burned-out cottage in the woods and uncovers
a murder! The prose was pretty basic, but my spelling was
first rate. I've written several non-fiction books and many
magazine articles that have been published, but the novels
I've written always end up in a drawer awaiting rewrites.
What
style of writing do you favour?
I love writing that's clean, clear and specific, that doesn't
draw attention to itself—much the way I feel about
good acting. I'm not drawn to literary fiction, which is
often so convoluted and flowery, or so obtuse and spare,
that I haven't any idea what the story is about. I also
draw on my skills as an actress, writing in 'scenes' and
'acts', and being as specific as possible. I always remind
myself to "show, don't tell" and "if it's
not on the page, it's not on the stage."
You've
gone with a murder mystery slant. Are you a fan of the genre?
My personal library includes every single Agatha Christie
ever written, and I've read many of them multiple times
over the years. I admire Allingham, Sayers, Marsh, Tey,
James, Leon, and have read everything these wonderful women
detective writers have written. I also love Georges Simenon.
For all the wonderful atmosphere and finely drawn characters,
it's always about story. I don't for a minute put myself
in their ranks, but I certainly admire and strive to emulate
their work.
What's
the story of Murder in Primetime?
The story is about a woman who has everything, loses everything
and has to overcome her bitterness and loss of confidence
before she can redeem herself. Her second husband, the love
of her life, turns out to be a conman. There's terrific
shame in being duped, dumped and tossed aside, and that's
what I found so interesting to explore. I continue to work
with homeless people one day a week and use my experience
dealing with individuals, particularly women, who have lost
everything—and have given up on any sort of redemption.
If I didn't have some knowledge of that world, I could not
have written from the perspective I did in creating a woman
in those circumstances who doesn't give up.
The
book delves into the entertainment industry. Is it based
on your own experiences as an actress?
I'm an actress. I approach my work as a writer in the same
manner I do as an actress going into rehearsal. I set the
scene using all of my senses, and draw on every shred of
experience and intuition in creating my characters, and
tell a story. It's fun! I love it! In this book, my primary
character is also an actress of a certain vintage, and I
had a wonderful time revealing all those personal experiences,
some very intimate, that we all go through in Hollywood.
My friend Susan Sullivan, who read the penultimate draft
of Murder In Prime Time, said, "Kay,
this is my world!" There are some sly references that
will make my fellow actors smile… but having said
that, this is fiction. I am not writing about myself or
any particular friends. There is only one character that
I consider a combination of two specific people, and I doubt
anyone could identify them.
Did
writing the book involve much research?
I approached the research for Murder In Prime Time
much the same way I would as an actress preparing a role.
I sought out experts, in this case an FBI man specializing
in fraud and white-collar crime, an attorney in the Justice
Department and a private detective. I'm also very interested
in land use and property zoning issues, and all of that
came into play, too.
Are
there any other fiction projects in the pipeline?
Yes. I am currently at work on my second Jinx Fogarty mystery.
I also have two other novels that are incomplete but in
the works. When it rains, it pours, of course. I've also
been approached about doing two non-fiction books. Frankly,
this is the most gratifying time in life... I am doing exactly
what I want to do!
To
read more about Murder in Prime Time, click
here.
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