Florio had a blast writing new crime mystery novel

SEELEY LAKE – Approximately 34 people Zoomed in for Alpine Artisans' March 20 Open Book Club reading and discussion featuring Gwen Florio. Florio read from her latest book "Best Laid Plans," which begins a new crime mystery series. She also spoke about her other books and discussed her writing methods.

Fellow writer Richard Fifield introduced Florio to the attendees, calling himself a huge fan of hers not only in her role of novelist but also as a journalist. Florio's 40-year journalism career included work at both large and small newspapers and took her to more than a dozen foreign countries included Afghanistan, Iraq and Somalia. She recently resigned her position as editor of the Missoulian and is concentrating on writing novels full time.

Fifield used words like panache, strength, humility and grace to describe Florio's writing and called her "the most dogged, fearless investigative reporter since Barbara Walters."

Florio has won numerous awards, both for journalism-among them, nomination for the Pulitzer Prize-and for her novels.

There are certain commonalities between her journalism and fiction. For instance, Lola Wicks, the main character in Florio's first five-book crime mystery series, is a former foreign correspondent.

On a broader level, Florio said skills she learned as a journalist have helped her with her novels.

For instance, "Voice is very important in fiction writing," Florio said. "I think many years of interviewing people and listening to them and using those quotes to capture the essence of a person, helped me with dialogue."

She also noted for both newspaper articles and novels, she does a lot of research. In both situations she wants to get the details right, even something as mundane as making sure the peonies she casually mentioned in the novel are blooming at the right time.

Initially, however, Florio said she found journalism and novel writing very different. She expected novel writing to be easier, given all her years of writing to newspaper deadlines, but she said at first she found herself staring at a blank computer screen.

"I didn't know what was supposed to go on it," she said. "It just stayed there, looking blankly back at me. In journalism, you can go out and do interviews and if the story isn't there you do more interviews. So you know your story when you sit down."

In a humorous vein she said, "I've heard there is this creature called a writer who makes an outline and does a synopsis and knows the whole book before they write it-I am not that person. But," Florio added, "I've gotten better at stumbling through and trusting I'll find my way."

Attendee Jenny Rohrer noted "Best Laid Plans" was fast moving with many plot twists and unanticipated changes. She asked Florio how she came up with all those.

Florio replied, "I'm trying to think of a polite way to say I pulled them out of my-ear, let's just say. What I tend to do is know the beginning and end and as I'm writing I sketch out a couple chapters ahead. But if you asked me what would happen six chapters ahead, I'd go 'I don't know.' So a lot of them are driven by sheer panic. The fun thing about that is, when I'm in that panic mode, and I don't know what happens next, and I can kind of feel that it's bogging down, I come up with something that delights me. Partly it's just relief. But I'm hoping it delights the reader too. And so I have that same sense of discovery. And then I just run with it until I run out of ideas and then I have to come up with something else."

After Florio's reading of the first chapter of "Best Laid Plans," Fifield commented that in comparison to her previous novels, "There is a new looseness and a comfortability, a whole new voice.... Lola Wicks was pretty hard core and a lot of your protagonists were prickly pears, but this woman [Nora Best], she's all of us."

Florio agreed with his comments, adding, "I had more fun writing this book than I've ever had. My last book before this had been really serious and pretty dark. With this one – I had a blast writing that first chapter. And then I had to keep it up."

She said she had deliberately tried to put more humor in this book – and enjoyed doing so.

Florio also commented on the marketing aspect of being published. She said, "I think for most writers that part is really uncomfortable."

She added, however, that she did love going to book groups and readings and enjoying discussing her books with readers. And she added, "Getting to know booksellers, getting to know librarians-it's just wonderful."

The Open Book Club's next Zoom event, April 10, will feature Chris La Tray, author of "One-Sentence Journal: Short Poems and Essays from the World at Large." There is no charge, but registration through Alpine Artisans is required. Register at https://www.alpineartisans.org/open-book-club for the Zoom link.