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Writing Crime

Q&A: Edward Daniel Hunt, Penance
By Kathryn Gandek-Tighe
Posted: 2020-02-27T04:36:00Z

PENANCE is Edward Daniel Hunt’s first mystery that was released in February. The Mister in Crime answers our questions about the story and writing.

How would you describe the plot of the book?

 

Penance is about the race to find Lori Doyle. Ten years ago at age sixteen, Lori witnessed a killing by her then boyfriend and now ex-husband that went unsolved.   Today, she has established a new life in Maine for herself and her daughter under an alias. She has just met someone and is beginning to believe she might have a chance for a better life. Unbeknownst to her, all that is about to change as some seek her out to do her harm and some to do her good.

 

Penance has a little bit of everything including several concurrent love stories, multiple homicides, dysfunctional family relationships and a bit of mystery or at least confusion. The story moves back and forth from Boston’s underside and Maine’s coast. If you can believe that one last homicide can make for a happy ending, this is your book!  

 

What was the a-ha moment that made you write this story?

 

In 2014, one of my favorite authors died at the age of 71: Kent Haruf. [Best-selling author of Our Souls at Night, Plainsong, Eventide, etc.] It was a wake-up call.  An a-ha moment.  I was past sixty and it was now or never. I bought a new laptop just for writing. [Still using it] and have been writing ever since. The general plot for Penance had been floating around in my head for years and I knew it had potential. 

 

What excited you most about writing the story?

 

Positive feedback. Early on, at conferences, I would sign up for any sort of critique of my work. Often it was only for a chapter or so many pages. One well known agent who earlier in the day, as part of a panel discussion said something about knowing if it was a waste of time after reading the first page of any submission. She came on as a really tough, no nonsense agent.  She was somewhat scary. Later in the day she was the one who was going to be critiquing what I had submitted. I was tempted to skip it, not sure if my writing or my ego could take any serious criticism. The first thing she said when I sat down was: “relax, you are going to get published.” She went on to tell me what she liked about it and made some suggestions regarding pacing and focus. I walked out of there psyched and energized. This was the first real independent encouragement I had received and it kept me going for a long time. [And no she didn’t become my agent.] Later on I started sending out chapters from the book thinly disguised as short stories.  Over time some began to be published and I really began thing of myself as a writer and was convinced that Penance would eventually find an audience.      

 

Who is your favorite character and why?

 

Tony Gazzo is my favorite character. While I am attached to all my characters, the possibly autistic, sociopathic, professional hit man is the least like me and the least likeable but also the most complex. There are no black and white characters in the book, only shades of gray and Tony is definitely the darkest shade of gray in the book. He can torture and kill as part of his job but also show glimpses of kindness in his personal life. My short story “Hit Men Have Feelings Too” was comprised of two chapters of the book featuring Tony. It was a finalist for Adelaide Literary Magazine’s 2018 Best Short Story of the Year. His background story sheds some light on why he is the way he is but doesn’t fully explain it. 

 

What was the hardest part about writing a book?

 

Rewriting. After attending a few seminars and reading a number of articles, I was beginning to think I really wasn’t cut out to be a writer. I had no interest developing detailed plot outlines or multiple pages on each character with the goal of knowing my characters much better before sitting down to write the first page of the book. I felt somewhat vindicated when I realized I wasn’t alone in my writing approach. I just start writing and try to keep going. I was at a MWPA’s Crimewave Conference when I first heard the term “pantser” Tess Gerritsen used it when she was on a panel to describe her writing style and I immediately identified with it. A number of other famous writers also describe themselves as being “pantsers”. It doesn’t really make writing any easier but now I understand why I spend so much more time rewriting than I ever do writing.

 

If anyone would care to comment or share, please do. I am always interested in hearing about other writers experience from the actual writing to the trial and tribulations of trying to get published. 

 

Edward Daniel Hunt’s short stories have appeared in the Scarlett Leaf Review, Down in the Dirt Magazine and Adelaide Literary Magazine. “Hit Men Have Feelings Too” was named a finalist in Adelaide Magazine’s 2018 Literary Award Contest for Best Short Story. He lives in Old Orchard Beach, Maine, within walking distance of the ocean.

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