Q & A With Toby Neal, Author of Blood Orchids
Toby Neal
Toby: I’m from Hawaii and I’ve always wanted to read a really good suspense/romance set here, that showcases the unique setting, culture, multiethnic people and dialects, and yet keeps your attention via riveting story alone. I’ve never found one that really did that—Hawaii novels are often written by outsiders, or are too “niche” to appeal to a mainstream audience. I finally decided to write the kind of book(s) I wanted to read! Blood Orchids is the first of a series of crime/suspense/romance novels starring Leilani Texeira, a flawed but courageous young police officer who’s overcome her past and deals out justice to those who need it.
You
have been a mental health therapist for more than 15 years, was it difficult
transitioning into fiction writing?
Toby: I truly love my
work as a therapist. . . but I was a writer first and always. It’s my curiosity
about people, and fascination with their stories—curiosity and true
interest—that have made me a good therapist. And it’s a desire to explore human
behavior and universal themes that informs my writing. My psychology background
has helped greatly with developing the pathologies of my villains, and
portraying what drives Lei to solve crimes.
How long did it take you to write it and
what was hard/fun about writing your first fiction book?
Toby: Blood Orchids
started as a short story. I’d tried to write novels before and always lost
interest, but this time I started a story about a policewoman who’d been abused
as a child… a woman with scars and flaws, but whose passion drove her to rectify
things for others. I put it on my blog. Then I added chapters. And lo and
behold, about 60 pages in, I realized I had a character I wanted to see grow
and develop, a budding love story, and some great psychopaths to spice it all
up. I was going to finish the book, and my blog followers were rooting for
every installment! I’ll never forget the excitement I felt, realizing I’d found
a character I could write about forever.
You’ll notice I said “found” a character.
In Jungian psychology, there’s an explanation of these discoveries as existing
in the “collective unconscious” of humanity—a deep sea where universal themes,
symbols, heroines and villains appear across every culture. To me Lei is a
representation of one of these universal characters—the wounded hero(ine) who
fights for justice.
The first book took 18 months to complete
a first draft, and since then I’ve built my confidence and “writing muscles”
and can write a first draft in 6 months, even with my full-time work schedule.
You just have to love the story and the characters, and then it’s easy. I’m on
my fourth Lei Crime Novel now!
What
inspired you to write the story?
Toby: Blood Orchids was sparked as an idea by a tragedy that
happened in my community—two teen girls were drowned. I was a grief counselor
in the crisis team that went to the high school to work with the students in
the aftermath. At first we were told they were victims of foul play, though
later it turned out to have been accidental. For months after, perhaps because
it was so traumatic to hear they’d been murdered, I thought about it, and
wondered what it would be like to try and solve such a crime in a small Hawaii
community.
What is
your favorite book that was made into a movie?
Toby: Out of Africa by Isaak Dinessen. The book is meditative
and sublime, meant to be mulled over and savored. The movie has much the same
feeling. I also loved and cried over Sophie’s Choice, and the French
Lieutenant’s Woman. Meryl Streep is just beyond amazing. More recently, Eat
Pray Love was enjoyable though I didn’t think Julia Roberts captured the
author’s quirky, endearing neuroticism quite well enough, and I loved that
book.
If your
book(s) were made into a movie or TV, who would you pick for the main
characters?
Toby: I love this
question because I’d love to see the Lei Crime Novels become either a movie or
TV show! I could see Grace Park or Lucy Liu as Lei—though their appearance
would have to be altered a bit. Lei is ¼ Hawaiian, ¼ Portuguese, and half
Japanese. She has Asian features with freckles, a wide, full mouth that gets
her in trouble, and curly hair (from her Hawaiian/Portuguese side) Her
appearance is unique and reflects the many cultures of our Islands.
How do you think social media sites like
Facebook and Twitter have changed your world as an author?
Toby: I may be one of the few authors who loves
social media, I don’t know! But if I wasn’t blogging, I might never have
finished Blood Orchids, so for me social media is an integral part of
writing. Facebook is about nurturing online friendships with people you may
know from the past or be acquainted with in some way “IRL” (in real life) but
Twitter is about reaching the world. I love both, and use them differently.
What are you
working on now?
Toby: I’m working on the fourth in my Lei Crime
Novel series. Blood Orchids kicks it off, Torch Ginger is second,
third is Black Jasmine… and this one is not titled yet. One of the fun
things I’m doing with these books is that each one is set on a different of the
Hawaiian Islands, so you can get a feel for each island’s unique character and
geography by reading them. Lei has the same love interest through the different
books, so we get to follow her growth, healing and the progress of her
relationship through the different islands and the cases she solves.
What is your
advice for other writers?
Toby: Find a character you really love, you can
write about forever, and then the rest is easy. Write every day if you can.
Believe in yourself, and tell the stories that are in you to tell.
Who are the
authors that inspire you?
Toby: I don’t have just a few favorites. I’m a
voracious reader and read literally everything in the kids’ side of the Kapa`a
Library on Kaua`i when I was growing up! I will even read a cereal box if
that’s all there is to read, so it’s hard to name just a few. Writers whose
influence have colored my writing include Kurt Vonnegut (deep thinking irony),
Diana Gabaldon (her lush, epic Voyager series that follows one great love story
influenced my development of Lei and her love) Michael Connelly (his spare
style of crime novel has influenced me in this genre) Patricia Cornwell, Greg
Iles and Lisa Gardner for dark, fearless ventures into the underbelly of human
behavior and awesome twisty plots. Anne Rivers Siddons for rich regional
writing (which I hope mine can be called someday) and Pat Conroy for great
family and friends stories. Oh dang, there are just so many!
Describe
your writing habits – where do you write?
Toby: I have a cramped little corner of
the bedroom with a cluttered desk that I write at. It’s not glamorous and I
won’t be featuring it in Better Homes and Gardens anytime soon. It actually
doesn’t matter to me, when I’m immersed in a story all I need is to be
comfortable and for my hands to be supported. I have carpal tunnel, so I love
my poky corner because it has all I need: a big monitor, an ergonomic keyboard,
and a comfy chair.
What is the secret life of Toby Neal?
Toby: Many of the situations my characters face are based on personal
experience or those of my clients (though not the guns. I’ve never even handled
one!) There really is a darker side to paradise, and there really are people
overcoming it. I am one of them.
Blood Orchids is available on Amazon, Smashwords and Barnes & Noble.
Visit Toby's blog here
Tags: books authors toby neal blood orchids writing novels
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