A hearty welcome to today’s guest novelist, Michael Campeta. He’s chatting with me about his new mystery/suspense, The Late Mr. Cary.
Welcome, Michael. Please tell us a little bit about yourself.
I am a native of Albany, New York and completed a master’s degree in Library Science from the University at Albany. I have always enjoyed history, especially the era of the 1920s and decided to set my novel during that time period. I enjoy reading, travel, architecture and history, of course.
Please tell us about your current release.
My novel, The Late Mr. Cary is a mystery set in Manhattan and in Albany, New York. It is January 1928. Megan Cary, a young and stylish librarian, is on her way to the state library conference. On the train, Meg meets Janet Faraday who confides that she killed her son’s father six years earlier—and got away with it.
With her marriage crumbling, Meg can no longer tolerate her husband Adam’s moodiness and philandering. She harbored thoughts of divorce but murder?
During a family visit, Adam mysteriously dies. Meg finds a suicide note and the police want to quickly close the case. So does Adam’s mother Helen, the stern matriarch of the family. Skeptical that Adam would kill himself, Meg hires a private detective whose investigation ultimately unravels family secrets as a series of surprising deaths occur over two cold and snowy weeks in Albany.
Janet soon falls under a trolley and is killed. Yet a witness claims she saw someone push her to her death. Then comes the abrupt death of Helen’s maid. Soon after, a neighborhood busybody, who was present at the time of Adam’s death, falls down her cellar stairs and dies. Meg wonders if these deaths could somehow be related.
The Late Mr. Cary is a classic mystery set in the stately home of an upper crust family in the 1920s, bringing the 1920s to life—amidst a parade of death!
What inspired you to write this book?
This book went through numerous drafts. I was fortunate to share it with fellow writers at the New York State Writers Institute. I also was fortunate to have early drafts read and commented on by two veteran British mystery writers. I received a lot of encouragement from these two writers as well as the writers’ group. I’ve always been impressed with Albany’s history. I conducted plenty of research for my book and like the main character of my novel, I am a librarian, so research was enjoyable for me!
What exciting story are you working on next?
Currently I am working on my next mystery novel, in the same vein as The Late Mr. Cary, with my continuing private investigator in the 1920s in downtown Albany, New York.
When did you first consider yourself a writer?
I’ve always considered myself a writer. I started writing at a very young age and always had a book in hand. I’ve read novels since grade school and haven’t stopped! I wrote a novel in high school and two in college. The Late Mr. Cary is not one of those novels, though.
Do you write full-time? If so, what’s your work day like? If not, what do you do other than write and how do you find time to write?
I am a teacher and librarian, so I write in the evenings, weekends and on vacations. I plan and plot my books extensively and dedicate time to get to know my characters. I give them physical characteristics as well as their own individual quirks. I’ve found knowing my characters helps drive the story and they in turn will tell me more about the story and where it is headed.
What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
For me, it is thinking about the story, having at least the basis to begin and the characters ready to come alive on the page. While plotting and actually writing, different ideas may occur to me which I hadn’t thought of. That makes writing challenging and even fun.
As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I’ve always loved books, writing and reading so completing a degree in Library Science was natural for me.
Anything additional you want to share with the readers?
My novel will appeal to those who enjoy mysteries, detective fiction, history and reading about the era of Prohibition. Flappers and speakeasies are hallmarks of that era. Family conflicts, adultery and even murder were prevalent during this period of decadence and free love. The Late Mr. Cary is a classic mystery set in the 1920s. I hope you enjoy it!
Links:
Barnes and Noble | Amazon Author page
Thanks for being here today, Michael.