In addition to political thriller The Hidden Light of Mexico City, Carmen Amato is the author of the Emilia Cruz mystery series set in Acapulco, including Cliff Diver, Hat Dance, Diablo Nights, and the collection of short stories Made in Acapulco. Originally from New York, Carmen’s experiences living in Mexico and Central America drive the authenticity and drama of her writing. Visit her website at carmenamato.net for a free copy of The Beast, the first Emilia Cruz story.
Carmen:
First of all, thanks so much for inviting me to chat. I’ve been up to my ears in the fourth Emilia Cruz mystery, KING PESO, and am happy to take a break!
Penn: Every writer has their own idea of what a successful career in writing is, what does success in
writing look like to you?
Carmen:
What a great question! Success as an author used to mean the New York Times bestseller lists and a royalty from a recognized publisher. Now, it’s about building a community of readers and fellow authors who share ideas and experiences.
Success means being able to give back. In 2014, along with fellow authors Jerry Last, Norm Hamilton, and Sharon Lee Johnson, I donated a dollar for every Kindle book sold to water.org, the charity co-founded by Matt Damon to bring clean water and decent sanitation to communities worldwide. Our goal was to provide 25 people safe and clean water for life. We exceeded our expectations with resources for 31 people.
This year I’m focusing on helping other authors achieve their goals, with free resources on my website, carmenamato.net for those who have always wanted to write a mystery series but didn’t know how to start. Plus a free story, “The Beast,” which is the first Emilia Cruz story and tells how she came to be a detective.
Penn:
Tell us about your new book? What’s it about and why did you write it?
Carmen:
I have two projects going on right now. The first is AWAKENING MACBETH, a romantic suspense novel with a paranormal twist released as a serial on my blog at carmenamato.net. It wrapped on 1 March with episode 65. Later this year, it will be published for ebook and print.
The fourth Emilia Cruz novel, KING PESO, will be out this year as well. KING PESO opens as Emilia believes she has been selected for a task force investigating the recent murders of three law enforcement officials. The El Trio victims have nothing in common, except that Emilia worked with all of them. But of course, nothing is as it seems.
Penn:
How much of the book is realistic?
Carmen:
Not just KING PESO, but the entire Emilia Cruz mystery series is very authentic to what is happening in Mexico today. Emilia’s challenges are pulled right from the headlines. There’s no need for me to make up bizarre serial killers when cartel violence and corrupt politicians provide more than enough inspiration. For example, Emilia’s perpetual hunt for women who have gone missing—referred to as Las Perdidas or the Lost Ones--was inspired by the hundreds of women missing from the Juarez area.
Carmen:
First of all, thanks so much for inviting me to chat. I’ve been up to my ears in the fourth Emilia Cruz mystery, KING PESO, and am happy to take a break!
Penn: Every writer has their own idea of what a successful career in writing is, what does success in
writing look like to you?
Carmen:
What a great question! Success as an author used to mean the New York Times bestseller lists and a royalty from a recognized publisher. Now, it’s about building a community of readers and fellow authors who share ideas and experiences.
Success means being able to give back. In 2014, along with fellow authors Jerry Last, Norm Hamilton, and Sharon Lee Johnson, I donated a dollar for every Kindle book sold to water.org, the charity co-founded by Matt Damon to bring clean water and decent sanitation to communities worldwide. Our goal was to provide 25 people safe and clean water for life. We exceeded our expectations with resources for 31 people.
This year I’m focusing on helping other authors achieve their goals, with free resources on my website, carmenamato.net for those who have always wanted to write a mystery series but didn’t know how to start. Plus a free story, “The Beast,” which is the first Emilia Cruz story and tells how she came to be a detective.
Penn:
Tell us about your new book? What’s it about and why did you write it?
Carmen:
I have two projects going on right now. The first is AWAKENING MACBETH, a romantic suspense novel with a paranormal twist released as a serial on my blog at carmenamato.net. It wrapped on 1 March with episode 65. Later this year, it will be published for ebook and print.
The fourth Emilia Cruz novel, KING PESO, will be out this year as well. KING PESO opens as Emilia believes she has been selected for a task force investigating the recent murders of three law enforcement officials. The El Trio victims have nothing in common, except that Emilia worked with all of them. But of course, nothing is as it seems.
Penn:
How much of the book is realistic?
Carmen:
Not just KING PESO, but the entire Emilia Cruz mystery series is very authentic to what is happening in Mexico today. Emilia’s challenges are pulled right from the headlines. There’s no need for me to make up bizarre serial killers when cartel violence and corrupt politicians provide more than enough inspiration. For example, Emilia’s perpetual hunt for women who have gone missing—referred to as Las Perdidas or the Lost Ones--was inspired by the hundreds of women missing from the Juarez area.
Penn:
Have you included a lot of your life experiences,
even friends, in the plot?
Carmen:
I often build characters around traits I see in other people, both good and bad. One of my best sources of inspiration are politicians, especially those running for public office.
For example, I was in the airport in Burlington, Vermont, a few weeks ago. A tubby little man had wedged himself into a corner across from the line for the ticket counter. He was running for a city council office getting everyone in line to sign his petition to get on the ballot. He had a captive audience and was totally immune to people’s discomfort with his spiel. I never asked his name, but his sales pitch and persistence will help shape a new character.Penn:
How do you write – lap top, pen, paper, in bed, at a desk?
Carmen:
I outline each book on sticky notes. Each plot line, or thread, gets a different color. Each sticky represents a scene. Once I have the scenes arranged on the wall in the correct sequence, the sticky notes get transferred to a poster and hung over my desk. I will revise the outline 2-3 times during the initial drafting period.
I often write a scene longhand in a spiral notebook, then type it in. Editing the complete manuscript is the most fun. That’s when the story really comes to life. I love to heighten tension, add drama, amp up the action.
Penn:
What genre are you most comfortable writing?
Carmen:
Mysteries appeal to all of us. The intrigue. The tension. The suspicions. Insinuations and motivations. Dialogue in which one character tries to break the other. The confession that turns out to be a lie.
*shiver*
The Detective Emilia Cruz novels are police procedural mysteries, in which competing motivations and agendas drive the narrative. HIDDEN LIGHT and AWAKENING MACBETH cross over into the romantic suspense genre but have mysterious elements.
Penn:
What is your greatest strength as a writer?
Carmen:
Persistence. I always finish a manuscript.
Notice I did not say speed.
Penn:
What books have influenced your writing?
Carmen:
GONE WITH THE WIND, by Margaret Mitchell. Remember when Rhett Butler abandons Scarlett O’Hara on the road to Tara as the Yankees take Atlanta? Scarlett wants to call him all the names her father had called balky mules but can only come up with “cad.” It was a memorable scene because for the first time, I was completely inside a character’s head. I want my readers to have that same experience.
THE KEY TO REBECCA by Ken Follett. This thriller was really my role model for THE HIDDEN LIGHT OF MEXICO CITY. Follett’s early novels all have a tension-filled storyline, interesting characters with complex relationships, and multiple voices that are all integral to moving the plot forward.
Not to mention the hot sex scenes.
Ahem.
Penn:
When you wish to end your career, stop writing, and look back on your life, what thoughts
would you like to have?
Carmen:
I was not bored.
And I wasn’t boring, either.
Penn:
Thank you Carmen. I appreciate you taking the time to talk with me today. I look forward to the next Emilia Cruz novel.
Have you included a lot of your life experiences,
even friends, in the plot?
Carmen:
I often build characters around traits I see in other people, both good and bad. One of my best sources of inspiration are politicians, especially those running for public office.
For example, I was in the airport in Burlington, Vermont, a few weeks ago. A tubby little man had wedged himself into a corner across from the line for the ticket counter. He was running for a city council office getting everyone in line to sign his petition to get on the ballot. He had a captive audience and was totally immune to people’s discomfort with his spiel. I never asked his name, but his sales pitch and persistence will help shape a new character.Penn:
How do you write – lap top, pen, paper, in bed, at a desk?
Carmen:
I outline each book on sticky notes. Each plot line, or thread, gets a different color. Each sticky represents a scene. Once I have the scenes arranged on the wall in the correct sequence, the sticky notes get transferred to a poster and hung over my desk. I will revise the outline 2-3 times during the initial drafting period.
I often write a scene longhand in a spiral notebook, then type it in. Editing the complete manuscript is the most fun. That’s when the story really comes to life. I love to heighten tension, add drama, amp up the action.
Penn:
What genre are you most comfortable writing?
Carmen:
Mysteries appeal to all of us. The intrigue. The tension. The suspicions. Insinuations and motivations. Dialogue in which one character tries to break the other. The confession that turns out to be a lie.
*shiver*
The Detective Emilia Cruz novels are police procedural mysteries, in which competing motivations and agendas drive the narrative. HIDDEN LIGHT and AWAKENING MACBETH cross over into the romantic suspense genre but have mysterious elements.
Penn:
What is your greatest strength as a writer?
Carmen:
Persistence. I always finish a manuscript.
Notice I did not say speed.
Penn:
What books have influenced your writing?
Carmen:
GONE WITH THE WIND, by Margaret Mitchell. Remember when Rhett Butler abandons Scarlett O’Hara on the road to Tara as the Yankees take Atlanta? Scarlett wants to call him all the names her father had called balky mules but can only come up with “cad.” It was a memorable scene because for the first time, I was completely inside a character’s head. I want my readers to have that same experience.
THE KEY TO REBECCA by Ken Follett. This thriller was really my role model for THE HIDDEN LIGHT OF MEXICO CITY. Follett’s early novels all have a tension-filled storyline, interesting characters with complex relationships, and multiple voices that are all integral to moving the plot forward.
Not to mention the hot sex scenes.
Ahem.
Penn:
When you wish to end your career, stop writing, and look back on your life, what thoughts
would you like to have?
Carmen:
I was not bored.
And I wasn’t boring, either.
Penn:
Thank you Carmen. I appreciate you taking the time to talk with me today. I look forward to the next Emilia Cruz novel.
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