We are delighted to welcome author Mark Stevens to Omnimystery News today.
Mark's fourth mystery to feature Colorado hunting guide Allison Coil is Lake of Fire (Midnight Ink; September 2015 trade paperback and ebook formats) and we recently had the opportunity to spend some time with him talking about the series.
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Omnimystery News: How did the Allison Coil mystery series come about?
Photo provided courtesy of
Mark Stevens
Mark Stevens: An interesting question in my case! I had written four stand-alone mysteries before I finally found a small publisher in 2007. The head of that publishing company read #3 and #4 of the four books I had drafted. He took a liking to #3, which was Antler Dust and featured this tough, outdoorsy hunting guide named Allison Coil. Now, don't get me wrong. I love a good series. Nevada Barr, Craig Johnson, Michael Connelly — on and on. But I never thought I'd write one only because I didn't know how I would come up with all the plausible jeopardy that I would need to put a main character through so much, well, agony. How many murders does one cop solve in a lifetime, let alone an amateur sleuth? But I also know that mystery readers actually enjoy that element — they want to see their heroes ride again. Am I right? Well, Antler Dust did well. It drew great reviews and then I came up with an idea for a second book. And a third. And a fourth. And I'm now writing the fifth. So, it's a series. But it didn't start out that way.
OMN: Into which genre would you place this series?
MS: My books are mystery-suspense. And also contemporary westerns. My main character is a female hunting guide (that's Allison) but I like to include many points of view including, often, the bad guy. In the first book, the reader knew "who done it" and got to watch the bad guys squirm and do other bad things as Allison tracked them down. Well, one sought redemption his own way immediately. The other went the other route — and got meaner. Labels? I think they help readers dial in the territory for a book. They are a short-hand entry point to know what they are getting into. However, I try not to think too much about the category as I write.
OMN: Your most recent book in the series, which is published today, is Lake of Fire. Tell us something about it that isn't mentioned in the publisher's synopsis.
MS: The climax of the book takes place in a heavily-traveled spot in Glenwood Canyon on I-70 (and nearby). This is just a few miles east of downtown Glenwood Springs, on Colorado's Western Slope. It's one of the most stunning and dramatic locations in Colorado. It's also one of the most heavily travelled.
OMN: How much of your own experience have you included in the books?
MS: The main character was inspired by a real-life female hunting guide. I would never have dreamed her up — or would have known someone like her even existed. (But she does!) I remain in touch with her and she has been a big help in fact-checking the wilderness and hunting-related details. She answered a question for me, about vultures, last month. Yes, I pull heavily from current events. The first book involved animal rights and big-game poaching. Buried by the Roan drew inspiration from the controversy over fracking. Trapline deals with immigration and for-profit prisons. Lake of Fire touches on issues involving climate change and anti-government "sovereigns." The next book deals with … well, let's just say the subject is topical.
OMN: Describe your writing process.
MS: At this point, I'm a complete seat-of-the-pants writer. I don't plot. I have a rough idea of where things are heading, but I never jot down the plot or outline ahead of time. My approach is to set up a situation for my character and watch them respond and think it through. And stand back and watch the fur fly.
OMN: How do you go about researching the plot points of your stories?
MS: I interview experts. I do ride-along with wildlife officers and cops from the area (Rio Blanco Sheriff's Department, for instance). Making an error really worries me so I try and make sure expert eyes read my books before they go to print, too.
OMN: If we could send you anywhere in the world to research the setting for a book, where would it be?
MS: The island of Majorca. I have a plot in mind and have thought — always thought — that Majorca would be the perfect setting. Have I been there? No. I need an island and an international crossroads so I think it would be perfect. Four weeks of research, two years of writing. Scratch that. Six months of research, three years of writing. Sign me up!
OMN: What advice might you offer to aspiring writers?
MS: Read, read, read — and read some more. Study what you read, read a wide variety of genres, read new stuff and read old stuff. Really old stuff. Oh, and write as much as possible. Write every day. Make writing time a priority, whatever it takes.
OMN: Suppose your series were to be adapted for television or film. Who do you see playing Allison Coil?
MS: Amy Adams would make a great Allison Coil. First, Amy is from Colorado and second, well, she'd be perfect.
OMN: What kinds of books do you enjoy reading?
MS: I read all over the place. I read non-fiction like The Wright Brothers by David McCullough and crime fiction like The Mercy of the Night by David Corbett (highly recommended if you like, say, George Pelecanos). I'll read anything that somebody thinks I might like. I try to read a variety of genres, but can't quite do straight-up romance. (Though I'll take suggestions.) There are a ton of great writers right here in Colorado — it's hard keeping up with the books they produce.
OMN: Do you have any favorite series characters?
MS: I am a big fan of Patricia Highsmith — so my answer has to be Tom Ripley of The Talented Mr. Ripley and many more. They weren't all great books. The first three are the best, I think. Nobody could get under your skin like she could. I'm glad to see she's getting her due with new movies — like Carol and The Blunderer and last year there was a movie released based on Two Faces of January. She's tough to capture on film, though — her narratives and interior thoughts of her characters make for tough translation. She was one of a kind. Nobody else like her.
OMN: Create a Top 5 list for us on any topic.
MS: Top 5 Books You Should Read:
1. Double Indemnity, James M. Cain;
2. Unknown Man No. 89, Elmore Leonard;
3. Suspension of Mercy, Patricia Highsmith;
4. Let the Great World Spin, Colum McCann; and
5. Possession, A.S. Byatt.
OMN: What's next for you?
MS: Finishing Book #5 in the Allison Coil Mystery Series, the one about … well, let's talk more about it next time!
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The son of two librarians, Mark Stevens was raised in Lincoln, Massachusetts, graduated from Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School and, four years later, from Principia College in Illinois. He has worked as a reporter for The Christian Science Monitor, The Rocky Mountain News and The Denver Post. He also worked as producer for The MacNeil/Lehrer NewsHour and in school public relations. Stevens is married and lives in Denver with his wife and two daughters.
For more information about the author, please visit his website at WriterMarkStevens.com and his author page on Goodreads, or find him on Facebook and Twitter.
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Lake of Fire by Mark Stevens
An Allison Coil Mystery
Publisher: Midnight Ink
A giant wildfire is roaring through Colorado's Flat Tops Wilderness. The massive blaze is wiping out Allison Coil's precious hunting grounds, and the flames have set their sights on the beautiful ranch owned by her boyfriend's family.
Allison and longtime friend Trudy are shocked to learn that a body has been found in the fire ravaged forest — a friend who was a reclusive environmentalist with an unorthodox idea for the battle against global warming. Along with reporter Duncan Bloom, Allison burrows into an underground group of anti-government extremists. As they strike close to home and hurt those closest to her, Allison vows hell might not be punishment enough for this cabal of sinister fanatics.
— Lake of Fire by Mark Stevens
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