A Writer's Voiceby Lori Avocato The following article first appeared in New Jersey Romance Writers' The Heartline Herald. Permission to reprint is granted to sister RWA Chapters with permission to author and chapter. Thank goodness I've found my voice. Voice is what comes across in our work. It comes from who we are, where we're from, and how we view the world. I believe there are unique bits and pieces of us in our characters. My own voice didn't truly come out until I switched genres. I had nine romantic comedies published before I switched to mystery. True, those earlier books had hints of my voice, but the ah ha moment was never there. It occurred when I decided to write a mystery. But who am I? How did I turn into a mystery writer? As many writers, I read since childhood. Grew up on Nancy Drew, Cherry Ames series. Followed in Cherry's footsteps and became a nurse. After years of hospital nursing, I decided it really wasn't my "calling." Adventures were in the back of my mind. With military parents, serving my country was the right thing. I joined the Air Force. First lieutenant. Separated as a captain. The military honed my independence, organizational skills. I married a fighter pilot--that may be where my original genre of romance came from. And, boy, did the military give me plenty of fodder for my stories! After I had my two sons, my niggling desire to tell stories came out often. Keeping them age-appropriate, I really didn't tell mysteries to my boys until they were older. But, oh, what campfire stories I told then! I enjoyed making up rhyming words, much like Dr. Seuss. Looking back, I guess that was all part of my voice, too. My voice further developed during those years. Well into motherhood, I picked up a small romance novel in the local CVS and thought Hey, I can write one of those. If you've stopped laughing, I'll tell you I first took the military/organized approach to my new career. But I soon got past that and studied my new craft. I bought books on how to write, attended workshops and nearby conferences, and took at-home programs. I learned the craft of writing by sitting down and writing and writing until nine books were published, along with three others would never see the light of day. My "ah ha" moment came when I read a humorous mystery. This is what I want to write, I thought. Contemporary, funny, mysterious story with a touch of romance. Back to the write what you know stuff. Since I'd been a nurse, I decided my sleuth would be, too. But how many murders could occur in a hospital before they shut the place down? Since I was now a retired nurse (read burned out) I thought burning my heroine nurse out of her career appropriate. I live near Hartford, CT, full of insurance companies. Medical insurance fraud! The Pauline Sokol Mystery Series was born. I'd lived near a neighbor who'd been medically retired for a shoulder injury (yet I'd see him out chopping wood). My first plot was born. In A DOSE OF MURDER, Pauline Sokol takes up her new career investigating medical insurance fraud--but keeps getting thrown back into nursing. And dead bodies are not from natural causes. The series sold to Avon Mysteries. There will be a book out twice a year THE STIFF AND THE DEAD followed (Viagra fraud and the senior citizens). Then I threw Pauline into a mental institution--ONE DEAD UNDER THE CUCKOO'S NEST--so she could find who was committing fraud. Most recently Pauline sails away in DEEP SEA DEAD as a cruise ship nurse. Talk about living vicariously through our characters! My voice grows stronger with each book. Pauline hasn't let me down yet for plots, fun, humor, and whodunits! I've found the makeup of a writer involves all sorts of goodies like voice, life-experiences, talent, learning, studying the craft and--lots of luck! After having nine of her romances in print, Lori Avocato decided to try her hand at humorous romantic mysteries. She consequently sold a six-book series to Avon Mysteries. To read the first chapters, visit Lori's web site at www.LoriAvocato.com.
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