Who Killed Marcia Maynard? Or The Psychoanalyst is Dead: by Alma H. Bond
Published ASJA Press (iUniverse)
ISBN 9780595458967
Genre: Mystery
Cover price: £8.00
What is your book about? The third book in Alma Bond’s Mary Wells mystery series, Who Killed Marcia Maynard? or The Psychoanalyst is Dead has just been published by ASJA Press.
Dr. Marcia Maynard, famous child psychoanalyst and infant researcher, was murdered in her bed at the El Dorado Apartment House in Manhattan by an unknown killer. Psychoanalyst Mary Wells helps solve the mystery with her astute analytical and psychological skills. Wells and her lover, Detective John Franklin, are an almost unstoppable team. Finding someone angry enough to kill Maynard was not difficult, as many people had been mistreated by the doctor. The suspects included her beautiful Indian housekeeper, Asha Rupashi, whom Maynard continually abused and who was a beneficiary in Maynard’s will, her chief associate and co-author Dr. James Whirter, a man her colleagues said she treated “like a lapdog,” Rogerio Chavez, a Chinese restaurant delivery man whom Maynard had insulted and infuriated, and several suitors whom she had rejected. Another suspect is the stunning psychoanalyst Ruby Malone, who had given a paper in Maynard’s area of expertise. An observer said, ‘Maynard wiped up the floor with her in front of the entire membership. One by one, she cut down each of Malone’s points so viciously she couldn’t catch her breath enough to answer.” Could Ruby have killed Maynard, to get even with her for the public attack?
A young boy Buster Baines, who saw the delivery man sneaking out of Maynard’s back door, is kidnaped before he can testify. Dr. Wells’s car is brutally attacked, and a fire started in it from which she narrowly escapes with her life. Chavez is suspected as the arsonist in an attempt to get rid of the sleuth on his trail. After interrogation of numerous suspects, the killer breaks down under the ingenious psychological questioning of Dr. Wells.
Why did you write the book? I wrote this particular book because the victim is based on someone I both loved and hated. Writing it “cured” me of both feelings.
Where did you get your inspiration from? I enjoyed writing the first two books in the series, The Deadly Jigsaw Puzzle and Murder on the Streetcar, as a welcome relief from my usual heavy biographies, i.e. The Autobiography of Maria Callas, a Novel, Who Killed Vriginia Woolf?, and Camille Claudel, a Novel. Because I enjoyed writing the first two mysteries so much, I was delighted to begin the third.
How does your book differ from others that are similar? Unlike other writers of mysteries, I am a psychoanalyst who was in private practice for 37 years. I believe my background makes me highly qualified to understand the behavioural aspects of the criminal mind.
Why did you choose POD? Writing the books was fun, and I wanted them published as quickly as possible. I didn’t suspect they would be as well received as they were.
What do you see as the advantages and disadvantges of this method? Publication is fast, the author maintains control over how the book is edited and publicized, and reaps the financial rewards of its sales. The disadvantages are that it is difficult to get the books into bookstores, and to get reviewed by the most prestigious publications.
How did you market your book? I send out many postcards advertising my books, and find word of mouth most helpful. I also send out many review copies, and have been most successful in receiving fine reviews.
What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome? The prejudice in the industry against POD books.
What would you say to others considering POD? If you can get a good agent or publisher, your book would have more prestige. On the other hand, it is very difficult for a newcomer to find such representation, and publication takes much longer, so going the way of the POD is a good alternative. After all, there is nothing like holding that first copy of your book in your hand, no matter who the publisher is!
Where can I get a copy of your book? amazon.co.uk
for more details, see my own website at http://alma_bond.tripod.com/
1 comment:
I personally think POD is a terrific source for writers to get their work to the market. However, since there is very little discrimination in what can be published through POD, the industry does produce some poorly written books that could have been much better had the author hired an editor to work with them before submission. The lower quality of writing gives the POD industry a bad reputation, but overall, I would choose it again. It's the marketing (as well as quality) that sells a book. If an author is a good salesperson, a POD book still has a great chance to gain sales revenue even though it may not be on the shelves at bricks and mortar bookstores. Online outlets offer a great opportunity for sales.
I have a podcast about writing, publishing and book marketing. If anyone is interested you may listen to the free audios at http://yvonneperry.blogspot.com
Yvonne Perry
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