Sunday, May 17, 2020

Covid 19 Interview with Author, Deryn Collier

Deryn's first novel, "Confined Space", shortlisted for the Arthur Ellis Award, is just the best mystery and, in view of this time of social distancing, the perfect title! Because she lives in Nelson, I do not get to see her often, but feel as if I am talking with her when I read her monthly letter to her readers. As a fan, I have followed her complex writing journey, including a second Bern Fortin mystery, "Open Secret" and segments of work in progress. She has such a busy life: researcher, writer in residence, mentor, writing teacher, mom, community builder and more and yet, she took the time to share her reflections with us. This is a great time to read "Confined Space" and "Open Secret" and to sign up for Deryn's newsletter. Now, more than ever, we need real conversations and journeys beyond our own windows. Thank you, Deryn! More at www.deryncollier.com.

Interview with Deryn Collier

1. Please tell us about your work, length of time, audience, main goals  

Fifteen years ago, I reorganized my life so that I could have time to write as a regular part of my day. In that time I’ve written six novels, two of which have been published.  

I write mysteries, so my audience is mostly made up of mystery readers, though I hear from a lot of readers that say they don’t usually like mysteries, but they’ve enjoyed my books! 

I’d say when I first started out, my main goal was to see my books in print, and when that happens it is a huge thrill. However, as time goes on, I find what’s more important, and much more fulfilling, is to find ways to connect with readers through stories.   

2. How did you work with people before COVID 19?  

As a writer, I spend a whole lot of time in my writing space, by myself, only connecting with people by phone, email and social media.  

However, last fall I was Writer in Residence for the Thompson Nicola Regional Library, based in Kamloops. I was meeting writers face to face, teaching workshops in person and traveling to libraries throughout the region to give presentations. I met with 400 people over those three months, and that all seems so strange and far away now! 

I think the biggest impact I’ve seen is with book launches. There are a handful of local authors here in Nelson who’ve had books released in the last two months, and we were all looking forward to attending their launches and cheering them on. Of course I’ve purchased their books and am reading them and telling others about them, but it does not feel the same. 

3. How has social isolation affected your work, business, and yourself?  

This time of staying at home happened to coincide with an intense period of writing for me. I had just received a Canada Council grant days before we started to shelter in place, and so I felt I had a very strong mandate to just stay focused and get my book done, and I’m very grateful for that. I think that, without that vote of confidence, it would have been easy for me to lose focus; to start questioning. Does good writing matter if it doesn’t make it into print? What will this pandemic do to the publishing industry? Will anyone ever read this book?  

I wasn’t allowed to ask any of those questions until my book was done. (I finished it last week though, and now I’m asking all of those questions and more!) 

4. What are some new strategies to reach your audience during this time?  

For the last two years I’ve written a letter to my readers every month. It started out very small - I wanted to stay in touch with the 35 or so readers that I had met at various book events that were not on social media. It’s amazing to me how this list has grown of its own accord, through word of mouth, so that now I’m writing to hundreds of people every month. The monthly letters have really taken on a life of their own. 

I write about my work in progress, which is a historical mystery set in Montreal after World War 2. I write about my research process, how I make decisions about character and plot, how I handle the roller coaster of the publishing world. I’m way more open in those letters than I ever would be on social media. What’s amazing, and so touching to me, is the number of people that write back to me. (Like you, Colleen!)  

During the pandemic, I asked my readers to tell me how they were doing, and I was amazed by the responses from all over! Here I was thinking I knew everyone on my list - they were either a friend of mine, or a friend of my mom’s, or someone I had met at an event. But I heard back from people from all over North America, and a few in Great Britain as well. I was really touched to hear their stories of what it’s like to shelter in place where they are. 

5. Do you have a mantra, motto, mentor, role model, song, that leads you on?  

Good writing matters. 

I am always striving to be a better writer. Not in a competitive way - I don’t want to be better than others, and I’m not aiming to write whatever is selling right now. I simply want to be the best writer I can be. And I have to believe that matters, in some way, even if I can’t see a clear path to the end result. 

In the past, success has meant a book deal in traditional book publishing. What will success look like in the future? I can’t know that. I do know for sure that it will involve connecting with my readers, who are eager for my stories. And so I keep working, and getting better at what I do, so that when the time comes I will be ready. 

Social media: 

If you want to get in on the fun, you can sign up for monthly letters here

Twitter: @deryncollier  - https://twitter.com/deryncollier  

Instagram: @DerynCollier - https://www.instagram.com/deryncollier/?hl=en  



Deryn Collier


Studio: I am very fortunate to have a lovely studio space where 
I can go and write everyday. It’s beautiful, sure, but it’s also 
very practical. I have a very analog process -- I love 
ephemera and photos and outlining on paper. I use the 
two, eight-foot long table to spread out my research and 
ideas, which allows me to create a mini version of the 
historical world I am writing about, so I can immerse 
myself in it. 


Work in progress: Getting to down to work on my set-in-
Montreal mystery novel, with a collection of old photos and documents. 

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