with Stephen Kaminski
We are delighted to welcome mystery author Stephen Kaminski to Omnimystery News today.
Stephen's second mystery to feature the dabbling detective Damon Lassard is Don't Cry Over Killed Milk (Cozy Cat Press; August 2013 trade paperback and ebook formats).
We recently had the opportunity to catch up with Stephen to talk about his books.
— ♦ —
Omnimystery News: Introduce us to your cast of characters.
Photo provided courtesy of
Stephen Kaminski
Stephen Kaminski: I have a host of recurring characters in my mysteries — the amateur detective protagonist, his twice-widowed mother, two love interests, and several neighbors. I develop these characters and their relationships with one another over time. For example, Damon Lassard — my protagonist — pursues the local weather girl while his best friend Rebecca pursues him. And Damon's neighbor battles alcoholism and depression despite Damon's best efforts to assist. Meanwhile, some characters stay largely the same, such as Mrs. Chenworth (the local gossip) and Damon's mother (who continually injects her wicked sense of humor).
OMN: Don't Cry over Killed Milk is published by Cozy Cat Press. Should we assume it is a cozy mystery?
SK: Yes — the sleuth is an amateur, there's a lot of snappy dialogue, and I avoid overt sex and violence. An advantage to using a label is that I've been welcomed with open arms by numerous Internet forum moderators and bloggers who specialize in this sub-genre.
OMN: Have you included any of your own personal or professional experience into your books?
SK: The first book in my Damon Lassard Dabbling Detective series (It Takes Two to Strangle) involves the murder of a traveling carnival owner. As a teenager, I worked at several carnival stops in small towns and learned quite a bit about what happens behind the scenes — I was able to incorporate a fair amount of that knowledge into the backdrop of the story.
In the second installment of the series (Don't Cry over Killed Milk), the victim (Jeremiah Milk) suffers from a congenital condition known as amniotic band syndrome, which deforms his fingers. I was born with this condition so I have a unique perspective into it. Once the motive behind the murder begins to unravel, you'll see that I chose not to make Jeremiah a saint. Because I'm affected by the same condition, I didn't feel obliged to be as politically correct as most treat someone who has a physical malformation (i.e., I didn't feel the need to treat him as a "good guy").
OMN: Complete this sentence for us: "I am a mystery author and thus I am also …".
SK: I am a mystery author and thus I am also a person who is fulfilling a lifelong passion. I've always been an avid reader and longed to write. With a demanding full time job and a family, it was difficult to realize that I could find the time to write mysteries if I set my mind to it. The creative writing process now serves as my daily "down" time and it's truly invigorating.
OMN: What kind of research do you do while developing your story?
SK: I certainly fact-check my books by using a combination of Internet research, first-hand experience, and consultation with those who work in the relevant roles in their everyday lives. The most exciting part of research is to discover something largely unknown to the lay public that will fit well into your story.
OMN: What kind of feedback have you received from your readers?
SK: My favorite questions from readers revolve around (a) how I designed my intricate plots and red herrings, and (b) what will happen next for Damon — in terms of his love life and career path. I also welcome all constructive criticism — knowing what readers don't like helps make my writing better.
OMN: What kinds of books did you read when you were young?
SK: As a teenager, I was devoted to British thrillers — Ken Follett and Jeffrey Archer were my favorite authors. Over time, I transitioned to reading mysteries — those by P. D. James and Ruth Rendell (two more British authors) as well as books by Jonathan and Faye Kellerman and John Sandford. But the authors that most heavily influenced my writing are Agatha Christie (for her detailed and complex plotting), M. C. Beaton (the quintessential British cozy writer), and Lawrence Block (for his subtle wit).
OMN: Do you have any favorite literary characters?
SK: Bernie Rhodenbarr (Lawrence Block burglar series); Hamish Macbeth (M. C. Beaton highlands mysteries); and Special Agent Dale Cooper (from Twin Peaks).
OMN: What's next for you?
SK: I'm plotting the third book in the Damon Lassard series — to take place on the high seas! I hope to have it completed for release in September 2014.
— ♦ —
Stephen Kaminski has practiced law for over a decade and currently serves as General Counsel to a national non-profit organization. He is a lifelong lover of all types of mysteries and lives with his wife and daughter in Arlington, Virginia. For more information about the author and his work, please visit his website at DamonLassard.com or find him on Facebook.
— ♦ —
Don't Cry Over Killed Milk
Stephen Kaminski
A Damon Lassard, Dabbling Detective Mystery
Jeremiah Milk lived a life filled with emotional extremes. Amniotic band syndrome — a congenital condition — left his fingers and toes malformed. Ridiculed as a child, he became an adolescent hermit. As an adult, Jeremiah's wounds healed when he landed a position as a park ranger and married a woman who loved him despite his physical appearance. But fate ripped his life to shreds when his wife and infant son died on the same night in separate calamities. Shortly thereafter, the tides turned once more as an act of Jeremiah's ostensible benevolence translates into a financial boon. The book on Jeremiah's life closes without mercy when he's found murdered at Tripping Falls State Park.
Damon Lassard — Hollaydale's loveable civic leader, amateur sleuth, and Jeremiah's neighbor — springs into action. He's obstructed by a prickly lieutenant, but wriggles information unknown to the police from a colorful bevy of suspects. Aided by his best friend Rebecca and his reluctant ally Detective Gerry Sloman, Damon engineers a deep dive into Jeremiah's past to solve the crime. Along the way, Damon strengthens his relationship with the breathtaking Bethany Krims, cracks a local horticultural mystery, and tries to tame his wickedly sarcastic mother.
0 comments:
Post a Comment