Saturday, January 24, 2015

Interview with Cindy Brown




Cindy Brown visits today to tell us about her new book, MacDeath. And she's giving away a paper copy, so comment below on your favorite work by Shakespeare. US Residents only.


Where did you get the idea for this book? How did you know that was the book you wanted to write?

One day I woke up with a character in my head. I knew the character’s name, Ivy Meadows. I knew that she was a struggling actor in Phoenix, Arizona who also worked part-time for a private detective. And I knew that I wanted her story to take place during a production of Macbeth. 

Why “the Scottish play?” To begin with, I played Lady Macbeth many moons ago, so I have a good feel for it. But the other, creepier reason is that theater lore says that Macbeth is cursed, that all manner of bad things happen during productions. I didn’t believe in the curse until one night during a production of Barefoot in the Park. I had decided to prove the curse was nonsense and so said, ”Oh Macbeth, Macbeth, Macbeth!” right before the show. I became a believer (and a bit of pariah with my fellow cast members) when the theater lost power for 20 minutes in the middle of the performance. 


If you could meet any author alive or dead, who would it be and why?

Shakespeare, of course! I’d love to ask him some serious questions about writing, especially how he managed to go back and forth between tragedy and comedy so well. Also, Shakespeare wrote several sonnets for a mysterious raven-haired lover, “the Dark Lady,” as she’s called. Scholars have never been able to agree on her identity.  Some believe she was a prostitute, others think a married woman-about-town, and still others point to a feminist poet. I want to ask him who “the Dark Lady” really was.  And of course, I want to know if he really wrote all those plays and poems.

Do you ever base characters on people you know?

The other day, Patrick Cox (of Portland Actors Ensemble) was telling me how much he liked Macdeath. When I asked why, he said, “All of us theater people have known and worked with those characters. We’ve all had directors like Edward and fellow cast members like Simon and Bill Boxer.” That’s exactly what I was going for. So yes, the characters are based on real people, but they’re usually a bit of a mash-up of several different character traits. And since I write comedy, I exaggerate wildly.


Do you share any traits with your protagonist?


I am easily distracted—wait, is that Elvis out there? (from an actual conversation: my writers group was deep in discussion when a white pant-suited Elvis walked by the windows of the coffee shop. This is Portland, after all.)




You can see the other stops on the tour here (and where the giveaways are): 


Tour Participants
January 19 - Back Porchervations - Review
January 20 – Kelly P's Blog – Guest Post
January 21 – Latte Da! (blog) - Interview with Cindy
January 22 – LibriAmoriMiei - Review, Giveaway
January 23 – Shelley's Book Case - Review, Guest Post, Giveaway
January 24 – Mystery Playground - Interview, Giveaway
January 25 – The Gal in the Blue Mask - Review, Interview, Giveaway

January 26 - Queen of All She Reads - Review, Giveaway

17 comments:

  1. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  2. Loved your interview with Cindy Brown. Your link to Latte Da isn't showing her page - it's here: http://www.latteda.com/the-boneyard-lounge/
    and
    http://www.editingpen.net/interview-with-cindy-brown/

    We love Cindy Brown!

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    1. Awww...One of the best things about being a debut author is you suddenly realize that people you've never met are actually reading you book and liking it!

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  3. My favorite Shakespeare play is Midsummer Night's Dream. I enjoyed this interesting interview and post, great photos. Many thanks. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

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    1. I'm pretty sure that Midsummer will be the featured play in an upcoming book...

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  4. I love books that take place in theatres, so this is right up my alley. I love the Scottish Play, but I think my favorite would be a comedy, like Much Ado About Nothing.

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    1. Have you seen Joss Whedon's contemporary version? Especially loved Nathan Fillion as Dogberry.

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    2. How on earth did I miss this? I must go watch it now.

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    3. You must! Supposedly it was all filmed at Whedon's house on a bit of a lark.
      And thanks, Deborah, for the chance to be here today!

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    4. I have seen the trailers but not the movie. I knew I must see it, if only for Castle, I mean Nathan. Thanks for the reminder, I'm going to go find it.

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  5. I adore Shakespeare's plays having grown up near Stratford, On and had the opportunity to experience this wonderful theatre. Your book sounds captivating. As You Like It is one that I enjoy greatly. elliotbencan(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  6. Love the newspaper clippings.
    Have you gotten to enjoy the Canadian tv shows "Slings and Arrows"? Good fun.
    libbydodd at comcast dot net

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    1. I LOVE "Slings and Arrows!" Wish they'd bring it back:(

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  7. Great interview. Sounds like great book. Love finding new Author.

    xzjh04@ gmail.com

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  8. Our winner is Kiki W. Look for an e-mail soon.

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