Author Interview—Erica Miner

I have been having lots of fun with lunches and dinners with friends, playing Mexican Train (a dominoes game), and attending a party where Dan, my bass-playing husband, got to jam with the band. If you love music like we do, you will want to read this interview with Erica Miner, author of Aria for Murder: A Julia Kogan Opera Mystery. Enjoy the interview!

About the Author

Former Metropolitan Opera violinist Erica Miner is an award-wining author, screenwriter, arts journalist, and lecturer. Her debut novel, Travels with My Lovers, won the Fiction Prize in the Direct from the Author Book Awards, and her screenplays have won awards in the WinFemme, Santa Fe, and Writers Digest competitions.

Based in the Pacific Northwest, Erica continues to balance her reviews and interviews of real-world musical artists with her fanciful plot fabrications that reveal the dark side of the fascinating world of opera, bringing murder and music together. Aria for Murder, published by Level Best Books in Oct. 2022, the first in her Julia Kogan Opera Mystery series, takes place at the Metropolitan Opera. Drawing on Erica’s own real-life experiences working at the Met with superstars of the music world, Erica’s young violinist sleuth, Julia Kogan, investigates high-profile murder and mayhem behind the Met’s “Golden Curtain.” Sequels taking place at Santa Fe Opera and San Francisco Opera are due for release in 2023 and 2024, respectively.

Erica is also a top speaker and lecturer on classical music and opera. She has presented pre-concert lectures for the Seattle Symphony at Benaroya Hall; Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of California San Diego and the University of Washington; the Creative Retirement Institute at Edmonds College in the greater Seattle area; and Wagner Societies in Boston, New York, the Bay Area, Los Angeles, San Diego, North Carolina, and New South Wales (Sydney, Australia).

Interview

Who or what inspires you to write?

Anything and everything. I especially like to tell stories about my experiences, many of which are quite unique. I’m also inspired by other writers and artists with whom I feel an affinity and who have expressed an interest in working with me on projects that focus on our shared passions. In my case, it’s all about music!

Music is a great way to connect with people, since almost everyone likes some kind of music. What is the best thing that has happened because of your writing?

For me, writing has opened the door to meeting so many wonderful people. In particular, once I started getting out there and talking about my books I began to encounter a whole new echelon of readers who are passionate about books and music, especially opera, and are interested in my author’s journey. That also holds true for my lectures; I’ve had opportunities to meet and greet and share my experiences and to expand my horizons way beyond my desk and my computer to which I’m chained most days. The appreciation I receive for what I do via my writing is the most valuable thing for me.

Finding readers who appreciate our writing is truly wonderful and makes all of the hard work feel worthwhile. What is the most difficult thing you have experienced about writing or publishing?

Getting published! That is always the greatest struggle for writers. Whether you’re trying to get an agent or just working directly with a publisher, convincing someone who can get real attention for your work is the hardest thing ever. Closely followed by marketing, which is a huge challenge. Marketing guru Dan Poynter used to say, ‘Writing is 5 percent writing and 95 percent marketing.’ Truer words were never said.

It’s so true that marketing is where the heavy lifting comes in. Was there anything you didn’t do during your writing or publishing journey that you wish you had?

I wish I had informed myself of the importance of marketing and all that goes into it and written up a marketing plan in advance of publishing my first book.

I was totally inexperienced in that department, and I didn’t know nearly enough about it. I could have learned much more from connecting with other writing colleagues—which is the other thing I wish I had done much sooner.

Creating and then, most importantly, following a marketing plan can make a huge difference for traditional and self-published authors. Do you have a publisher and/or agent, or are you an indie (self-published) or hybrid author?

I have always worked directly with publishers. I was really fortunate to be referred to them by associates in the writing and music worlds. I feel quite lucky in that regard.

You are very lucky, getting a publisher without an agent can be quite a challenge. Which genre(s) do you like to write in, and why?

As a writer of both novels and screenplays, except for sci-fi and horror, I never met a genre I didn’t like. My first novel, a romance, won the Fiction Prize in the Direct from the Author Book Awards. I then wrote a semi-autobiographical young adult novel based on my high school journals. As a screenwriter, I’ve won awards in the Drama, Romantic Comedy and Mystery genres, but I’ve also written Action Adventure and Supernatural scripts. I was able to get my name known through these. But my overall passion is the mystery genre. I’m told I have wicked imagination! Since I’m also addicted to opera, the two make quite a combination. In bringing murder and music together, I’ve set out to prove that opera can kill you. So far I’m told I’ve succeeded quite well! Aria for Murder, The first in my Julia Kogan Opera Mystery series, was a finalist in the 2023 Eric Hoffer Book Awards. The sequel, Prelude to Murder, being released this month, is already garnering a lot of buzz. And I’m starting to put my thoughts together about the sequel, which will be released in 2024.

Congratulations on your book awards! I’m amazed at how many genres your work encompasses. Do you outline your books before you write them?

Absolutely, to a fault. I’m obsessed with outlining: the exact opposite of a pantser. I spend multiple months creating and refining my outline before I write a word of a novel. Of course, changes happen as I progress with the writing, but I must have a blueprint to guide me. Otherwise, I’m lost. This is especially important in the mystery genre. Mysteries are like jigsaw puzzles; if one piece is slightly off, or missing, the entire plot falls apart. Thus, it’s super important to have that outline, that architecture in place to refer to, in the very difficult process of crafting a novel in that genre.

Having an outline for a mystery makes total sense and probably helps lead to success. How do you define success as a writer?

A successful writer is one who has a) mastered the essence of the writing craft and b) struck a balance between the need to create and the pleasure of giving joy to those who can appreciate the wonder of a great story.

That is such a beautiful definition of success. If you could have lunch with any author, who would it be?

Sylvia Plath. One of the most brilliant writers of the twentieth century, she could have been one of the greatest of all time if her emotional-mental state—not to mention the severe restrictions on women writers in her time—had not held her back from fulfilling her true potential. As a woman writer born in a generation not liberated until I was in young adulthood, I think she and I would have much to talk about. Plus, I like the idea of her being resurrected in our time.

I still remember how reading The Bell Jar by Plath affected me many years ago. It was not a happy adventure, but such an important book. Tell us about a great adventure you’ve had.

One of my greatest adventures was traveling in Europe on my own as a single woman. I wrote about it in my first novel Travels with My Lovers. It actually was a frightening experience in many ways. I’m not talking about going on an organized tour with strangers; I’m referring to getting out there alone without any companion for support, having the chutzpah to meet new people and explore the world. I used to be quite shy—though that all changed when I started writing and lecturing—and I had to summon up every shred of my courage to tackle that kind of traveling. But I had married very young and became a mom early on, so I hadn’t had the opportunity to discover what was out there in the world. Once my kids were old enough to spend time with their grandparents, I decided I deserved to take off on some adventures and see the places I had grown up wanting to see. I met brand-new individuals, saw the great capitals of Europe, and despite glitches here and there, had the time of my life. Plus, I got to write about it!

Your solo travel in Europe sounds like a brave adventure. Erica, thank you so much for sharing some of your writing and life experiences with us!

Readers, you can find out more about Erica and her books at her website, https://www.ericaminer.com.

Aria For Murder

When young violinist Julia Kogan, a rising star in the pit at the Metropolitan Opera, witnesses the assassination of her mentor, a famous conductor on the podium, she is thrust into the investigation when her best friend and colleague is accused of the murder. As the ruthless and clever killer haunts the hidden recesses of New York’s Lincoln Center, Julia must unmask the murderer or become a victim herself. A compelling mystery, replete with devious characters, glorious music, and plenty of behind-the-scenes dirty laundry.

Readers, what’s your favorite kind of music? Let us know in the comments!