Alida, Robert, and Kathryn bring guest author Judy Walker to the Round Table to do a special genre episode. Judy is the author of Sydney Brennan Mysteries. She shares with us the elements of the PI novel and what makes it a PI story instead of another category of mystery. The role of setting is huge, but not as a big as the novel’s point of view. Do you know which POV is best for the PI?
VIDEO
AUDIO
SHOW NOTES
Why did Judy start writing PI novels? And how did her background help with the details? What are some pitfalls to avoid when writing a PI novel? And why is the narrator so important? We dive into the gray zone of legality in a PI novel, as well as how to add complexity, even if your narrator doesn’t have an arc.
Go visit Judy at her website judykwalker.com
What we talked about:
Judy gives us a little background on the Sydney Brennan Novels. (3:04)
How did Judy start writing in the PI genre? What drew her to it? (5:02)
Do you have to get the details right in a PI novel? (9:00)
What are the issues writers should be aware of if they set out to write a PI novel? (11:24)
What makes a PI novel? (14:28)
Why is the narrator so important in a PI novel? (17:01)
What is the motivation behind a PI character? (20:23)
The gray zone of a PI, and the additional characters that supply complexity. (23:04)
How does Sydney work in the gray zone? (25:09)
Is Judy a plotter? (28:35)
LINKS
Things we mentioned:
Nightmare in Pink by John D. MacDonald
Elizabeth Peters
Robert Parker
Robert Crais