Alice Holman
Interviewed by: Lauretta Pierce
A wife, mother and grandmother who loves to read and write.
I always read mysteries and so that is what I wanted to create - one of my own.
It evolved on it's own. At first I was writing sheer comedy with Billiemae
thinking she had killed somebody. It was actually kind of a relationship book. Then I realized it could be developed into a real mystery, something I would like to read.
I have such a hard time coming up with titles that in sheer frustration I snatched that title from Amelia's list...the one where she kept notes on who she would kill if she knew it was her last day on earth.
No, I thought I did but then it turned out differently. The characters decided who did it.
There are unfortunately more abusive men out there than we like to think about. A friend of mine was married to an abusive man and I wanted to explore the "whys" of an abusive relationship.
They are both composites of people I have known over the years.
All mother/daughter relationships are not smooth. As a matter of fact, many of them are strained. As young women grow up they do question their mother's actions. And in exploring why Maris took the abuse that she did, I had to explore what kind of home life she had, what she had witnessed as a child that made her think that domineering males were acceptable people.
Yes, it is in the works right now.
I let my imagination run away with me. I thought how scared a philandering husband would be if his lover's husband suddenly confronted him but in such a way that he had no reason to shoot Rick or something else awful.
In building the character of Nikki, she had to have a reason for disliking her mother as much as she did. Ordinary circumstances wouldn't have caused the kind of venom she exhibited.
Any place, any time, anywhere.
Just enjoyment. Don't know that I had any messages in mind.
Gosh, I hope not!
I don't know that I ever saw any requirements. I attended the conference, I
was asked to be on a panel when some other author wasn't able to attend and
they shocked my pants off at the end of the day when they announced the winner and it was me!
The Last Days Murder List
May 2002
2. What inspired you to write a mystery novel?
3. How did you come about your storyline?
4. How did you come about the title "The Last Days Murder List"?
5. Did you know when you begin writing "The Last Days Murder List" who the killer of Amelia Benson would be?
6. Why did you choose to make the character Rick so abusive to his wife Maris?
7. How did you came about the characters Billiemae and Pharaoh?
8. Why did you choose to have a strain between Maris and her mother Eugenia?
9. Will there be a sequel to "The Last Days Murder List"?
10. How did you come about the funny scene with Rick, Ken and Glory?
11. How did you come about Nikki's character and the reason she was living with Tosheeda?
12. What type of atmosphere do you require to write?
13. What message would you like readers to receive from reading "The Last Days Murder List"?
14. Are there any of your personalities in your characters?
15. What were the requirements for you to win the Chester Himes Black Mystery Award?