IndieView with Harvey Chute, author of Stone and Silt

 

But her mother’s heart and wisdom was so central to who Nikaia was, that I found I was relying heavily on memories and flashbacks to bring that out – – and it was slowing down the story. So I changed strategies …

Harvey Chute – 8 September 2013

The Back Flap

A ruthless murder and a stolen shipment of gold.

At school, sixteen-year-old Nikaia Wales endures the taunts of bullies who call her a “half-breed.” At home, she worries about how her family will react if she reveals her growing feelings for the quiet boy next door.

Those are soon the least of her troubles. Nikaia discovers a hidden cache of gold, and when police find a corpse nearby, her father becomes a suspect. Worse, Elias Doyle is circling, hungry to avenge his brother’s death.

Nikaia desperately searches for clues to save her father. In her quest to find the killer, she learns about the power of family, friendship, and young love.

About the book

What is the book about?

Stone and Silt is a murder mystery set in 1860s British Columbia. A 16-year-old girl, Nikaia, stumbles upon a cache of stolen gold. A body is found nearby, and through Nikaia’s own carelessness her father becomes a suspect in the murder.

When did you start writing the book?

I composed the first scene about – well – thirty years ago! It’s the scene where Nikaia’s native mother gives her a lesson in adversity, and perseverance, by dragging her into the Fraser River. For a long time I played with that scene, revising and refining it. I liked the notion of a caring mother giving a life lesson to her daughter during a troubling time.

I really started fleshing out the novel, though, in the fall of last year.

How long did it take you to write it?

I spent a month outlining the story, and then it took me three months to complete the first draft.

Where did you get the idea from?

I grew up in the Fraser canyon area of British Columbia, and have always enjoyed the rich history of that area. The 1860s were a fascinating period in that area, as the end of the fur trade met the beginning of the gold rush. People from different cultures rapidly flowed into the colony, and with that came all of the tensions you might expect.

I thought it would be interesting to take that exciting time period, and the cultures of the native, white, and Chinese peoples, and mix all of that into a murder mystery.

Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?

Yes! In an early draft, Nikaia had lost her mother to smallpox. But her mother’s heart and wisdom was so central to who Nikaia was, that I found I was relying heavily on memories and flashbacks to bring that out – – and it was slowing down the story. So I changed strategies, and had smallpox affect someone else close to Nikaia, and let her mother live.

What came easily?

I found that the depictions of family life for Nikaia were fun to write. So much was different in those pioneer days, from bathing to dining to shopping to childhood activities. A girl of sixteen was considered ripe for marrying, which seems appalling in this day but was normal back then. People had to grow up and take on adult responsibilities so much earlier in those times.

Her love for family, and loyalty to her friends, are timeless and I felt a connection with those motivations. It made those scenes easy to write.

Are your characters entirely fictitious or have you borrowed from real world people you know?

The characters are fictional, but they are amalgams of people I know. Nana Klat-su, Nikaia’s grandmother, was inspired by some of the native elders from the town I grew up in. Much of the interaction between Nikaia and her father is based on my own experiences in raising my three daughters.

Also, just for fun, I inserted aspects of each of my three daughters, my wife, my dog, and my cat into secondary characters in the book. As my beta readers they have enjoyed finding those characters!

We all know how important it is for writers to read. Are there any particular authors that have influenced how you write and, if so, how have they influenced you?

I have always read a lot, and am inspired by so many great writers. Right now a particular favorite is Ken Follett. I recently re-read his Pillars of the Earth. His ability to depict sweeping historical times by personalizing them with a few characters is fascinating. That definitely influenced me in my writing. For example, in writing about smallpox, I chose to depict its effect on one family, rather than attempt to summarize its overall effect on thousands of native people during the 1860s.

Do you have a target reader?

I like to think that the novel appeals to cozy mystery lovers, and to people who enjoy the triumph of ordinary people over adversity.

One of my beta readers said, “We need more stories like this – about good, loving families.” It’s a story suitable for all ages, and I hope it’s one that not only young adults but people of many ages will enjoy.

About Writing

Do you have a writing process? If so can you please describe it?

I envisioned the story in the classic three-act structure, where Act 1 establishes the conflict and introduces the characters, then ends with a minor climax or motivating moment. Act 2, the bulk of the story, is where alliances form and the tracking down of clues occurs… until it results in a devastating “all is lost” scene. Then Act 3 builds the tension, puts Nikaia and those she loves in physical peril, and pulls things together into a climactic resolution. Then the story ends with a few points of resolution that tie loose ends together – and hints at where things might go from here.

Using that structure helped me control the pace of the story, and I tried to have ever y chapter end with something that makes the reader want to move right into the next one.

Do you outline? If so, do you do so extensively or just chapter headings and a couple of sentences?

I lightly outlined the plot by putting key scenes onto 3×5” cards. I had a few dramatic moments – like the sternwheeler scenes – that I considered “setpieces.” I wanted those to occur at climactic points in the story. So I sequenced those, and connected them with scenes that advanced the story.

I had a set of clues for Nikaia to follow, and so that naturally led to a series of sleuthing scenes. Layered into those were scenes that advanced the romantic interest between Nikaia and Yee Sim, so I worked those into the sequencing as well.

In addition, I used character outlines so I could remember the physical characteristics, mannerisms, and speaking style of various characters. For the “bad guy” I imagined the look and mannerisms of a black crow, and it was fun to use imagery that brought that forward in subtle ways.

Do you edit as you go or wait until you’ve finished?

It’s a combination. In writing a new chapter, I found it helpful to go back and re-read the previous chapters. In doing so, I would refine and re-structure those chapters. In a mystery, there are a lot of ‘plants’ and ‘reveals’ – little details that are laid into the story and that become important later. As the story advanced, I’d go back and insert those plants in earlier chapters.

Did you hire a professional editor?

I was fortunate enough to have my manuscript picked up by Red Adept Publishing. They did a fantastic job of running the novel through content editing, line editing, and proofing. It was a very interactive process that improved the story immensely.

Do you listen to music while you write? If yes, what gets the fingers tapping?

Stephen King listens to heavy metal while he writes, which is fascinating to me. I love music, but am too easily distracted by it while I’m trying to write.

I’ll sometimes have ‘white noise’ music playing the in background – instrumental elevator music. I have a baroque playlist that works well for me. No vocals!

About Publishing

Did you submit your work to Agents?

I bypassed the agent route and instead submitted an early draft of my novel to Red Adept Publishing.

What made you decide to go Indie, whether self-publishing or with an indie publisher? Was it a particular event or a gradual process?

I’ve been involved with KBoards, the Kindle user community, since I started it five years ago, so I had a lot of exposure to self-publishing. The site has many active authors. Some are well known, like Hugh Howey, Debora Geary, Elle Casey, Kate Danley, Anne Frasier, Melissa Miller, Ryne Douglas Pearson, and H.M. Ward. Others are successful up-and-comers, and some are brand new authors. Through my interaction with them I’ve realized the advantages and possibilities of self-publishing and with going with small indie publishers. And I knew Lynn McNamee and Red Adept Publishing from their involvement with KBoards, so I felt I was in good hands when they accepted my submitted manuscript.

Did you get your book cover professionally done or did it you do it yourself?

The book cover – which I love! – was produced by my publisher through their arrangement with Streetlight Graphics.

Do you have a marketing plan for the book or are you just winging it?

My publisher is arranging the distribution of the book through various outlets like Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Kobo, and they’ve organized a blog tour to publicize the release of the book. They’ve been great and they have strong relationships with book bloggers and review outlets.

Any advice that you would like to give to other newbies considering becoming Indie authors?

I’d just say to stop dreaming about it, stop researching the craft of writing, and start writing your story. There’s no right or wrong way, and writing is something that gets better with practice. The first part of Doing It Well is Doing It.

About You

Where did you grow up?

I grew up in Lytton, a small village in British Columbia’s Fraser Canyon.

Where do you live now?

I live in the Pacific Northwest in Bellingham, Washington.

What are you working on now?

I’m in the early stages of planning my next novel… which is probably a year out. And, I’m enjoying the feedback and response from the Stone and Silt publication. The blog tour has been a lot of work but it’s very satisfying to hear from readers and book bloggers. Thank you!

End of Interview:

For more, visit Harvey’s blog.

Get your copy of Stone and Silt from Amazon US (paper or ebook), Amazon UK (paper or ebook), or Barnes & Noble.
a Rafflecopter giveaway