Can you tell us a little about how you started writing; was it something you have always wanted to do?
I’m finding the common response from most authors is that we started first as readers and the idea of writing our own words was an automatic reaction. I was in high school before I realized not everyone wanted to write—in fact, most of my peers hated it!
I got into journalism because I saw that as the most logical way to keep writing and make money.
Who or what has been your biggest influence as a writer?
My father was from the deep South and I come from a family of storytellers. There is a natural rhythm, cadence and colorful word usage that I just absorbed. Needless to say, I’m not the only writer in the family tree.
Your work is very popular with readers and reviewers; how does it feel to have such positive recognition for your work?
It’s gratifying to create characters that people invest in and identify with. The response from reviewers has been positive in ways I never expected. While they enjoy the crime plots, they always seem to focus on Christy and her integrity. My friends talk about her as if she was a real person. Sometimes I find it unnerving.
What do you consider to be the key elements of a great story?
My work is always character-driven, so creating believable people is essential. Introducing readers to aspects of life they may be unfamiliar with is also important. I bring in law enforcement cases and background from my 17 years in the Sheriff’s Department. I also open up about astrology from 35 years of charting horoscopes. And, all of my writing is based in the San Joaquin Valley, a routinely overlooked section of California. But, it all comes down to the words an author chooses to express their story, the craft that makes a story flow effortlessly on the page.
Could you tell us a little about how you develop your characters? Who has been your favorite character to write? The most challenging?
I’m lucky in that I worked with some incredibly colorful people in law enforcement, including the crooks and informants. I lifted them right out of life, changed their names and slapped them down on the page. It feels like I’m cheating. I also do horoscopes on all of my characters, which really IS cheating. But, doing their future gives me plot twists I would have never thought up on my own.
My favorite character to write is Lennie Watkins. She’s a “good ol’ girl,” sleeps around for the fun of it, is fearless and remains steadfastly loyal to my main character, Christy Bristol. When she has a scene, I pull out all stops.
The hardest character I’ve written to date is a meth dealer I called Lloyd Parr in FOOLS RUSH IN. I based him on a very notorious drug dealer in this area. I worked side-by-side with the undercover detective who was the case agent, and much of the story is true. But, I had to see things from this man’s rational. Criminals don’t see themselves as bad or damaged, they think they are smarter than the rest of us. Many readers said, “I hated the man, but there were times I felt sorry for him.” If a writer can manage to elicit that reaction, the job is a success.
Please tell us about the projects you are currently working on; what can readers expect to see in the coming months?
I’m working on the 3rd Christy Bristol Astrology Mystery called A SNITCH IN TIME. I’m also converting a children’s book I wrote over 30 years ago on an old typewriter into a computer. Think Pirates of the Caribbean meets The Food Channel. It’s the history of food starting with the voyage around Africa to India for spices. At the time I wrote it, I was informed by the publishing gods that children didn’t want to read about pirates, they wanted to read about space. What do you think about that, Johnny Depp?
Hollywood came calling and asked for one of your books to be made into a movie. Which one would you choose and who do you see playing your characters?
WHERE ANGELS FEAR would make a great movie, especially the sex club scene. I’d pick Ellen Page to play Christy, Katherine Heigl as Lennie—but she’d have to dye her hair red.
Where can readers find more about you and your books?
At my website: http://www.sunnyfrazier.com
If we asked your muse to describe you in three words, what do you think he/she/it would say?
Brazen, serious, eccentric.
For fun: You are able to meet one character from any book, who would it be and what would you do?
Rodrigo Murietta. And I would do whatever he wanted!
Sneak Peek into Where Angels Fear:
“What can I do for you today?” Serrano said in velvet tones.
“We’re interested in what you can do for us tonight,” Lennie pulled out the matchbook and waved it flirtatiously.
Serrano smiled, a gold cuspid reflecting the light. “Ah, you’ve figured out what the matchbook means.”
“My girlfriend talked to Vince. He said you’d give us directions to the party. I thought maybe you could help us pick out some appropriate clothes.”
Serrano’s eyes narrowed to slits and his lips formed a tight smile. “Would you be going as the ‘S’ or the ‘M’?”
Without missing a beat, Lennie replied, “Guess I’m the ‘S’.”
Christy waited until Serrano disappeared into the back before she turned on Lennie. “I’m not going to be the ‘M’.”
“So don’t.” Lennie turned her attention to a rack of leather vests.
“You’re making me nervous. I never agreed to infiltrate the Sensani.” She fingered a leather jacket, surprised at how soft it felt.
“Let’s just play this out and see where it leads. Will you do that much?”
Before Christy could answer, Serrano came from the back and held a red leather jumpsuit out to Lennie. An array of chrome zippers slashed through the outfit at very strategic spots.
“For you.” He handed Christy two small pieces of black leather and showed them to adjoining dressing rooms.
Christy heard Lennie shedding her clothes in record time and grunt as she climbed into the jumpsuit. Christy turned her attention to the garment in her hands. It felt sinfully good. What would it feel like against her body? As she removed her sweater, Christy scanned the dressing room for a hidden camera.
The bustier laced up the front and was trimmed with black lace sleeves. The matching skirt, brief as an afterthought, was held together at the hips by satin laces. Underwear was going to be a problem.
“How you doin’ in there?” Lennie called out.
Everything Christy had on top was pushed into an impressive cleavage. The laces strained to contain what had previously been a fairly flat chest.
“I’m doing fine,” Christy called back, amazed at the reflection in the mirror.
“Just a few more zippers and I’ll model this jumpsuit for you,” Lennie promised.
The skirt was really too risqué, Christy decided, but it wouldn’t hurt to try it on. She dropped her pants and stepped into the leather skirt. It molded to her hips and flattened her tummy. Skin showed between the satin laces on the side, and her white cotton panties stood out like a flag of surrender. Definitely not the signal she wanted to send.
Lennie knocked on the door. “Show time!”
Christy poked her head out of the dressing room door. Lennie looked like something out of a super-hero comic book. Or an adolescent boy’s imagination.
“You look fantastic!” Christy managed.
“I know.” Lennie stroked the sides of the jumpsuit. “Leather makes me feel wild.”
“Flannel makes you feel wild.” But Christy felt it too. The bustier and skirt fit like a second skin, so tight and making her feel so loose.
Available at Amazon.com and www.oaktreebooks.com
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11 Responses to “Guest Author Day with Sunny Frazier”
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Hi Sunny and thanks for being here today. I love this sneak peek excerpt. What inspired this story?
Raine D.
As with most of my material, it was an incident on my job as a narc secretary. One of my snitches called to inform me that the little peppermint striped fruit & veggie stand on Clovis Ave had been converted into a sex club. He went to use the phone and a naked man opened the door and laughed at him. The snitch felt it was his moral obligation to report it, and I passed the info on to Vice. But, before they busted the place for building codes, I tried to con my captain into letting me go inside and interview the members (Ahm. So to speak.). No dice.
Now, tell me that story didn’t beg to be written!
Christy would blush if someone caught her looking at this page, but would probably inspect it closely when no one else was around! Insightful interview, on your behalf and Christy’s behalf. While I admire Christy, I have to agree Lennie is a great character. I love the way she’s completely unapologetic. Great characters and a great novel!
Great Interview. Sunny Frazier’s comments about her Christy Bristol books made me realize I got it for once. Most author interviews send me scrambling back to the book to see if they’re talking about the one I read. Christy is the best new mystery protagonist I’ve read this year, and Lennie is maybe the best sidekick ever. Makes me wonder whether my protagonist, Hubie Schuze, would go for Christy or Lennie. Can’t wait for the third book in the series.
I always knew you had a thing for Rodrigo! Seriously after reading that taste Where Angels Fear, I’m dying to sink my teeth into it.
Its been too long since I got to see what Christie and Lennie are up too.
Karyne
Raine, I had to stop by and read Sunny’s remarks. LOL. She’s a mess! I’ve read all her books and I’m proud to call her a cyber pal. Even though we haven’t met personally, Sunny did a blurb for one of my books. Great interview!
Hi Sunny and Raine!
Great interview! I loved learning more about the ‘behind the scenes’ of the Christy Bristol mysteries.
Beautiful site, Raine! Very sexy.
Hi Sunny. I went to my Middle Tennessee, Sisters in Crime meeting last night. J.T. Ellison (best selling author of The Taylor Jackson series) was there. We all talked about what books we were reading. I told them that I’d just finished Michael Connelly’s, The Black Echo, and Sunny Frazier’s, Where Angels Fear. J.T Ellison said: “I know who Sunny Frazier is. She’s a member of the national Sisters in Crime group.” I told them the book was great and there were more coming. How neat is that? I move from California where you live to Nashville, Tennesse and keep running into people who know you.
Well, I never (Jack Benny forefinger to temple)…but Sunny, this is naughty good! Hmmm, I wonder what Hetta Coffey (my bad girl) and Christy could get into???? jinx schwartz
What good interview questions and what excellent responses. They were so good that I read them twice. Appreciated the enticing book excerpt, which demonstrated fine characterization, detail, and a marvelous sense of pacing. Now I must read the novel.
i love the cover it makes me think of the song
These boots arre made for wlking