Cheryl Hagedorn is an up-and-coming mystery writer, author of Park Ridge: A Senior Center Mystery. I invited Cheryl to tell us a little bit about her book and to share her thoughts about writing. I know that Cheryl was hoping for more of a dialogue, so please, don't just read her post. Leave her comments. Ask her questions. Show her some love.
And now, a Guest Post, from Cheryl Hagedorn:
Truth be told, I had contacted Jeff about hosting me on my virtual book tour and thought that he would be interviewing me. Failing that, I thought we might compare writer-ly notes about mysteries. When I followed up, I learned that as a communicator I hadn't done so well. Jeff was expecting a Guest Post, similar to the one he did on Marketing Tips at my site.
Ah me.
I thought about it for a bit but couldn't decide what to write about. Then I remembered that Lynn Voedisch just began her virtual book tour on June 1st. On one of the sites at which she was a guest, she also was not interviewed but took the opportunity to write a personal essay about her book.
I thought that was a pretty spiffy idea but I'm not much of an essayist.
Simply put, the story in my novel, PARK RIDGE: A Senior Center Murder is this:
After years of being told by fellow members of the local senior citizen drop-in center to "get off their whats-its and do something besides play cards," four elderly pinochle players do just that. But somehow, no one expected them to commit murder.
By virtue of my writing about senior citizens, I've landed myself smack dab in the middle of a new genre called Geezer Lit. Who knew? With phrases like the Silver Tsunami and Little Old Lady Lit, it seems we Boomers are coming into our own. I use Boomers and seniors synonymously - Marlys Marshall Styne corrected me the other day so maybe I'll stop doing it. According to Marlys, everyone older than a Boomer is a senior. So there are Boomers AND seniors, not Boomers ARE seniors.
Peter Abresch and Maddy Hunter have been writing about seniors and/or Boomers for quite a while now. Peter's Elderhostel series and Maddy's Passport to Peril series both feature groups of seniors. So what I did was not ground-breaking. What does set my book apart is that the murderers are seniors who approach murder with the same ruthlessness they bring to pinochle. There's nothing funny about it
Of course, that depends on your perspective. One of the first reviews I got said that my book was "uproarious, delightful, funny." I was appalled. Yep, true enough. I thought that I had written a serious book and here's a reviewer telling folks how amusing it was. I could hardly contain myself as I wrote to ask her what was so funny. She replied,
"I really enjoyed your book. The characters were funny. It wasn't a slap you in the face humor. Perhaps it's because I have a nursing home ministry that I found the humor. The people at the card table reminded me of my husband's grandmother. She said exactly what she was thinking. She considered it wisdom.
"And the people sitting there playing cards and nonchalantly talking about murder and in their minds plotting one struck me as ironic and funny."
Ah me.
For reviews and interviews, even the book trailer I put together, you can visit my author blog. For an eclectic mix of senior citizen info, mystery writers and books, writing conferences, etc. you can visit the Senior Center Murders blog. And if you have a book discussion group, I've posted questions for your use on my website.
Park Ridge: A Senior Center Murder by Cheryl Hagedorn. Booklocker.com, Inc., ©2007. ISBN: 1601450230 (paperback), 204p.
19 comments:
Cheryl-
Thanks for the guest post.
"By virtue of my writing about senior citizens, I've landed myself smack dab in the middle of a new genre called Geezer Lit. Who knew?"
I have found that many aspiring authors cannot accurately identify the genre or subgenre that best describes their book. In fact, many aspiring authors will announce with pride that their book does not fit any established genre. It seems to me that this is one of the reasons why aspiring authors struggle with their query letters and book proposals.
Now that you know you write Geezer Lit, do you think that will make it easier for you to pitch your next project? Do you think it would have helped when you were pitching Park Ridge?
I don't know if you belong to the Murder Must Advertise forum, but there's been a LOT of talk about Geezer Lit lately. We're all trying to find ways to pitch what we've done. The consensus seems to be that if we stick together that our chances will improve.
I'll be able to say to a publisher, "Look, maybe you should consider this again. So-and-so and 20 others just like him or her are being snapped up."
At least I hope it will work that way!
I enjoyed the guest post. You are funny without trying to be funny and I love your humor. I wouldn't say that "Park Ridge" is a funny book but there are bits of it that brought a smile to my face...like the death by banana. Who knew? But then, I guess death comes in many ways. Thanks for the post.
Ah, yes, the murder by banana. Why does that app-peel to so many people?
Maybe geezer lit it catching on because some many of us "boomers" are quickly becoming geezers. Yes I am talking about "my generation".
Humor is in the eye of the beholder and often when characters match people we know we are more likely to see the humorous side. A little humor can help get a serious point across. I enjoyed your first book and look forward to your second
Speaking of pitching, Jeff, I just got my first rejection from a publisher. Any words of advice?
Hi, Cheryl. I enjoyed your post. What's with the "geezer" term? The word means "an eccentric old man" (according to the American Heritage Dictionary). If I were a man, I don't think I'd like it much. Does that mean I'm a "crone" (old woman or hag?) I don't like that either. There I go sounding like the English prof I once was! Anyway, for me, senior citizen is just fine. I definitely am one. You Boomers will get there, too--no choice. As someone said, "Old age is not for the weak."---Marlys
Cheryl -
The only way to get a rejection is to finish a manuscript and then have the courage to submit it, knowing that rejection is a real possibility. So, my advice is, wear that rejection like a badge of honor. Keep writing. Keep submitting. And keep looking for the publisher who will be passionate about what you write. Good luck!
I enjoyed this very much--particularly regarding how your writing was unexpectedly received. Much luck to you!
So, if everyone older than a Boomer is a Senior, does that mean that I will never be a Senior? That would be good news, I suppose!
Where does one obtain your book?
Nancy, I like the way you think!
I also wanted to say a word about the choice of geezer as a designation. The magazine GeezerJock features pretty big in my second book about the Senior Olympics. GeezerJock, believe it or not, is a real magazine for master athletes. Master meaning over 40!
And, Marlys, it wasn't my choice. I'm not particularly fond of Little Old Lady Lit either :-)
Hi, Cheryl. Maddy Hunter here. I'm excited about your series! I'll have to run out and buy your book. Question for you-- when I'm writing my seniors, I seem to borrow from all the episodes with my own grandmother when I was a child. Funny how those memories are still so fresh. When fleshing out your characters, do you borrow from your own experiences with your grandparents, or do you create more from personal observations of seniors?
Gosh, Maddy! Great to have you stop by -- I'm a big fan of your books.
Unfortunately, my maternal grandparents died before I really got to know them. My paternal grandparents lived too far away for more than just vacation visits. So I took a good look at my parents - they're in their eighties and at the folks at the real Park Ridge Senior Center for inspiration. (I could have looked in the mirror, too!)
Ooops! In response to Nancy's comment, my book is available from BookLocker and all online bookstores. It can also be ordered from your local brick-and-mortar.
I agree with Marlys that there's a big distinction between Boomers and geezers. We Boomers span the late 40s to late 50s and that's hardly in the senior citizen designation. AARP magazine has even retooled to publish three editions for three age groups. The youngest-feeling edition is for Boomers.
My question is why did you choose the name of a Chicago suburb for the title? I know it takes place in Park Ridge, but why not Park Ridge Rampage or something like that? Just curious. I don't do mysteries, I just read them. So I don't know what goes into a good mystery title.
Lynn from CWA (Boomer)
As for the designations, what matters to me is that people see the gray hair and give me the discount!
I think Geezer Lit should be replaced by Silver Tsunami Lit -- except that I'm partial to alliteration and I'm stuck thinking of a word with an initial s-sound that means lit.
As for the title, you're probably right. Any suggestions on how to spiff up Senior Games which is the second book?
Hey, I color my hair. None of that gray stuff for me! Keep them guessing is my strategy.
As for titles, I'm simply awful at titles. I changed one in midstream when an agent had the ms. She wasn't selling it anyway. The only title that ever came to me immediately was the one for the novel I am working on now, and that was a surprise.
Come to think of it, at the newspaper I could never help the copy desk with headlines, either. I seem to be blocked in that area.
Lynn
My parents are boomers and will soon be seniors (in two years they hit 65); although, Mom believes she's a senior now :-)
Your book, although not meant to be funny, does sound like a delightful and amusing read. It gives me hope that when I am a senior, I will have things in my life (like your book) that will entertain me in my older age. Thanks for sharing it with us.
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