Please Welcome Lauren Carr: What Writing Murder Mysteries Taught Me About Life

We are thrilled to welcome back mystery author Lauren Carr to Omnimystery News.

Lauren's new mystery, the first in a new series, is Kill and Run (Acorn Book Services; September 2015 trade paperback and ebook formats), but it is not her first book. Indeed, she currently has fifteen novels published and has plans for many more. We asked her to give us her perspective on her role as a bestselling author, and she titles her guest post for us today, "What Writing Murder Mysteries Taught Me About Life".

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Photo provided courtesy of
Lauren Carr

Several months ago, I was on a radio program. During the interview, the topic of my husband came up. The lead host, a long-time fan, announced the interesting fact that my husband of over twenty-five years has never read any of my best-selling murder mysteries. After having fifteen novels published, my husband has yet to read a single one.

New to the show, the other host, who hadn't had a chance to read any of my books, was shocked — as many people are.

"It's okay," I said with a shrug. "It used to bother me, but it doesn't anymore. My husband reads non-fiction and is supportive of my writing in every other way. He doesn't have to read my books."

I was surprised when across the table, this co-host sighed with relief. "Me, too. I don't like reading fiction. I prefer non-fiction."

By the end of the show, this co-host asked for an autographed copy of Three Days to Forever and promised to read it. If he doesn't, that's okay.

I wasn't always so laid back. Ironically, during my career of writing books where the primary goal is to kill people off, I have learned some things about life.

• Everyone is different.
• Each reader reads different things into every book.

When I was a college student, studying literature, I remember, while listening to professors declared, "The whale in Herman Melville's Moby Dick symbolizes …", thinking:

"How do you know that was what Moby Dick is a symbol of? Did Herman Melville say that is what Moby Dick symbolizes? Maybe he just wanted to write a thrilling book about a big white whale and Moby Dick doesn't mean anything?"

As an author who has read reviews and emails from reviewers and readers, I have concluded that I was right.

The plotline for my ninth Mac Faraday mystery Three Days to Forever and the Washington DC backdrop of the Thorny Rose Mysteries were inspired by numerous sources — mostly a series of news events involving terrorism and disagreement in our country about how to handle the rise of Islam and the spread of terrorism — even the debate of "Is it really an issue? Is our country really safe?"

As a writer, I asked myself many "What if's …" Among them, "What if traitors to our country, supporting Islamic terrorist groups, managed to achieve positions high up in our government — even to the point of being a trusted advisor to our president." Thus, one element of the plot in Three Days to Forever involves fictional characters in the fictional president's administration.

Since I don't live under a rock, being aware of the political divide in our country, I issued Three Days to Forever with a "disclaimer" reminding readers that this book is a work of fiction. "It is not the author's commentary on politics, the media, the military, or Islam. While actual current events have inspired this adventure in mystery and suspense, this fictional work is not meant to point an accusatory finger at anyone in our nation's government."

The vast majority of readers took the author note as just that — a reminder that Three Days to Forever is fiction and not meant to be a political commentary.

This disclaimer holds true for the first installment in the Thorny Rose Mysteries, Kill and Run, as well. While much of the mystery revolves around the military and Pentagon setting, Kill and Run is not meant as a commentary against the military in any way, shape, or form. I myself was a navy officer's wife, and still have many friends in the military. My own son is planning to join the military. I am a strong supporter of our military and law enforcement.

My job as a writer is to observe things — how things, people, circumstances, are, and ask, "What if …" Based on my observations during my years as an editor in Washington, I created a compelling backdrop for Kill and Run and the premise for the Thorny Rose Mysteries.

In spite of the author note in the front of Three Days to Forever, I was not surprised when a few readers interpreted the fictional plot as an attack on our current real-life President and a political message. One reader actually pointed to the note saying, "tells me that deep down she probably knows better."

These readers who read unintended messages between the lines and cast judgment on the supposed deliverer of that message have just as much right to their opinion and beliefs as I have to write a series about an elite special ops team working off the grid for the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

The last I looked, we still have the right to freedom of expression here in America … or am I wrong about that?

During the course of my writing career, in speaking and corresponding with readers, reviewers, and writers from diverse backgrounds, I have learned that every single person has different likes, dislikes, beliefs in sex, politics, religions, and worldviews.

Therefore, as an author, there is no way possible to write a book that's going to please every single reviewer and reader. Nor, is it possible to not offend someone reading something between the lines — even if that "message" is only in the reader's mind.

The other day, one reader posted a two-star review for Open Season for Murder, the tenth Mac Faraday Mystery, because I had named a minor character Corey Haim. She found it offensive that I had used the name of an 80's former teen idol who had tragically died of a drug overdose.

"What really got to me in this book though was that one of the lesser characters was named for a deceased Canadian actor, Corey Haim, who died in 2010 of a possible accidental drug overdose. Seriously?? Fine, use the name Corey or Haim but to link the two together? No, I wasn't a fan of the young man but I found the use of his name offensive."

My first response? To google "Corey Haim" to find out who she was talking about. I had never heard of this actor. Nor, had I ever seen any of his movies. Also, I discovered on the Internet that he died of natural causes. While the actor this reader was referring to had a history of drug addiction — he did not die of a drug overdose.

The minor character by that name in Open Season for Murder bore no resemblance to the actor. He was not an actor. He was not a drug addict. He had no emotional issues at all. This minor character was positive in every way shape and form. He was a doctor from a small West Virginia town working to build a free clinic for his neighbors. He was a devoted friend and committed fiancé — which begs the question — how is using the name of someone who had lived a tragic life for a positive character offensive?

The use of the name Corey Haim — pulled out of the air — was completely coincidental. However, based on whatever her experiences may have been, this reader read something between the lines that was never there.

Studies have proven that when it comes to siblings, each child is born into a different family. Think about it. The first-born is born as an only child. The second child is born into an established family. The last child may be born into a big family. In each case, the circumstances — family dynamics — are different. Therefore, each comes away with different experiences and impressions of those experiences. How many of us know of siblings in which one remembers their childhood as something from Nightmare on Elm Street, while one or more saw their family as role models for The Waltons?

Is it really any wonder that authors, reviewers, or readers don't see the same book in the same manner? Are those who read "messages" between the lines (like the reader offended by the name Corey Haim) that I did not intend (since I had never heard of Corey Haim) wrong or stupid or judgmental? Who's right? Who's wrong?

Not me. My only intention is to write thrilling mysteries with plenty of twists and turns. As a human being and author, I respect those readers whose strong beliefs differ from mine. I only ask that they reciprocate with their respect.

After all, how else can billions of people, each one different in their own way, get along on this planet we call Earth if we don't respect each one's differences?

So, when it comes to people, whether they be readers or reviewers or my most devoted fan who still won't read my murder mysteries — who disagree or dislike my books or are offended by the name of a minor character or what they perceive to be my worldview, I say, with a shrug of my shoulders, "That's okay."

That's what writing about murder has taught me about life.

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Lauren Carr is a popular speaker who has made appearances at schools, youth groups, and on author panels at conventions. She also passes on what she has learned in her years of writing and publishing by conducting workshops and teaching in community education classes.

The owner of Acorn Book Services, Lauren is also a publishing manager, consultant, editor, cover and layout designer, and marketing agent for independent authors. This year, several books, over a variety of genre, written by independent authors will be released through the management of Acorn Book Services, which is currently accepting submissions. Visit the Acorn Book Services website for more information.

Lauren lives with her husband, son, and three dogs on a mountain in Harpers Ferry, WV.

For more information about the author, please visit her website at MysteryLady.net and her author page on Goodreads, or find her on Facebook and Twitter.

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Kill and Run by Lauren Carr

A Thorny Rose Mystery

Publisher: Acorn Book Services

Five women with seemingly nothing in common are found brutally murdered in a townhome outside Washington, DC. Among the many questions surrounding the massacre is what had brought these apparent strangers together only to be killed.

Taking on his first official murder case, Lieutenant Murphy Thornton, USN, believes that if he can uncover the thread connecting the victims, then he can find their murderer.

Before long, the case takes an unexpected turn when Murphy discovers that one of the victims has a connection to his stepmother, Homicide Detective Cameron Gates. One wintry night, over a dozen years before, her first husband, a Pennsylvania State trooper, had been run down while working a night shift on the turnpike.

The Thorny Rose Mysteries, the Lovers in Crime join newlyweds Lieutenant Murphy Thornton and Jessica Faraday to sift through a web of lies and cover-ups. Together, can the detectives of the Thorny Rose uncover the truth without falling victim to a cunning killer?

— Kill and Run by Lauren Carr