Welcome to Fallen Angel Reviews, Kerrie Droban! I would like to thank you for
taking time out of your schedule to interview with us.
PLEASE
TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOURSELF
I’m a criminal defense attorney in private practice in Phoenix, Arizona. I’ve
written and published two novels, In The Company of Darkness and The Watchman’s
Circle, the latter of which received the Daphne Du Maurier and Clara Awards for
mystery writing excellence. I’m a graduate of The Johns Hopkins University
Writing Seminars where I earned my masters degree in poetry/fiction. I actually
began my writing career as a poet and completed a book called The Language of
Butchers, a collection of poems inspired by my experiences growing up in East
and West Africa.
I REALLY ENJOYED THE WATCHMAN’S CIRCLE, FOR
THOSE THAT HAVE NOT READ THIS BOOK, CAN YOU TELL THEM A LITTLE ABOUT
IT?
The Watchman’s Circle tells the story of prosecutor, Maya Jaspers, whose investigation into the brutal murder of a fellow lawyer leads her to prosecute the lawyer’s police officer husband. But Jaspers doesn’t count on the officer’s brother, prominent defense attorney, Guy Tannen who not tries to convince Jasper of his brother’s innocent but also threatens to expose to her an undercover police operation known as The Watchman’s Circle. Their code is silence, a brotherhood. But when Jaspers sniffs too close the cops will stop at nothing-not even murder-to keep their secrets.
ARE YOU WORKING ON ANYTHING AT THE MOMENT?
My latest
project is a completed suspense thriller called The Water’s Edge. It’s the story
of a gutsy homicide detective named Libby Campbell whose investigation into a
double murder threatens to expose the dark family secrets of the DCA, Dusty
Shaddock who wants nothing more than to thwart Libby’s efforts; he knows the
truth will destroy him.
DO YOU HAVE A SET WRITING
SCHEDULE?
I write daily (except Sunday) from 4:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m. out of necessity. My case load and family obligations make it impossible to think let alone write creatively at a normal, sane hour. I actually like getting up before dawn; it’s QUIET! And I love the aroma of fresh coffee in the house.
DESCRIBE A DAY IN THE LIFE OF KERRIE DROBAN
A day in the life of Kerrie Droban . . . crazy crazy crazy. I start my days
at 4:00 and end at 1:00 sometimes later depending on deadlines. I have a heavy
case load so I devote most of my “waking hours” to work related efforts. I do a
lot of post-conviction cases that involve a lot of legal writing, research and
some investigation. I split my days-work in the mornings until 2:00, pick up my
kids (they’re 2 and 4) and play with them until 9:00 when they go to sleep and
then work again. I make time for hubby in the evenings; he’s a great cook and
often makes me dinner. Chocolate helps.
YOUR FIRST TWO CURRENT
TITLES ARE ROMANTIC SUSPENSE. DO YOU HAVE PLANS TO WRITE OTHER GENRES IN THE
FUTURE?
My first two novels are romantic suspense but my latest project has leaned more towards straight suspense/thriller. I like to write in both genres actually. I also write children’s books (believe it or not!) I think the characters in my latest novel simply dictated a different kind of story and so it evolved into straight suspense. My next project will probably be a combination of both again-I love the happy ending and romance is a great thing.
WHO OR WHAT INSPIRES YOU THE MOST?
I’d have to say my job inspires me; every day I get such great material for books. Sometimes truth is stranger than fiction and I find it challenging and exciting to craft stories around some of the bizarre events I encounter in court, in prison and in my transcripts. I’m also inspired by location-my novels take place in Phoenix during the monsoon season. Weather plays a vital role in my books, almost becoming a character in itself. Landscape and place certainly played a big part in my poetry. Ideas and words come to me first as images.
WHAT AUTHORS DO YOU ENJOY READING?
My favorite authors are: Nelson DeMille, Lisa Jackson, Tami Hoag, Lisa Gardner, Harlan Coban.
DO YOUR STORIES JUST COME TO YOU OR DO YOU PLAN THEM OUT?
My books have all begun with an image, or the title itself and the story has evolved from that. I trust my instincts a lot. I tend to create best when I don’t over analyze or second-guess the source. All three of my novels came to me first as titles; The Water’s Edge (my latest) had a theme throughout that became vital to the story. Water and the strange contradiction of it in a desert landscape. Water nourishes, destroys, saves etc… The Watchman’s Circle came as a title and later evolved into the name of the police club. My first novel is the only one so far where I began writing after witnesses a real incident in court-an inmate slashed the throat of a prosecutor while on the chain being escorted into the jury box. The incident struck me and I started to write a “what if” story. The title came later as did the spiders. I never outline or “plot”; rather I let the characters drive me.
HAS YOUR LIFE CHANGED ANY SINCE YOU’VE BECOME A PUBLISHED AUTHOR? IF SO, HOW?
Being published has given me validation as a writer but it hasn’t really
“changed me” per se. It’s gratifying to know that others enjoy my stories; that
my words give them goose bumps. I love to write and the sheer act of putting
words together is thrilling for me; to be able to have others enjoy that too is
. . . well, incredible.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE ASPIRING
AUTHORS?
Read everything they can get their hands on! Reading is the best “tool” of
the trade. Trust your instincts; don’t be swayed by trends or others methods of
writing. It’s easy to doubt yourself when you first start and to let others
dictate how you “should” do something; i.e. outline vs. write. Every writer has
her unique style and rhythm and it’s vital that she find that beat and listen to
it.
ANYTHING ELSE YOU’D LIKE TO ADD TO THIS
INTERVIEW?
Stay tuned for my next release, The Water’s Edge. Thank you all for your support.
Thank you, Kerrie, for interviewing with us. It was a pleasure to meet you and I look forward to reading more of your work! If you would like to learn more about Kerrie and her books, visit her website at www.kerriedroban.com
Interviewed By Cindy
