Book Interview: Diane Fanning

Book Interview: A Conversation with Diane Fanning

Is any part of the crime, more specifically the "trophy" left behind at each murder, based on any true story you've come across in your years as a true crime author?

I wrote about serial killer Tommy Lynn Sells who sometimes removed jewelry from his victim and then gave it to a girlfriend.

Marc Evonitz collected underwear from victims. In none of my reading or research have I come across a killer who exchanged trophies but it struck me as a plausible, what-if scenario.

Book Interview: A Conversation with Diane Fanning

Was it easy for you to move into the fiction genre after writing true crime or did you find it more difficult?

I think writing fiction is easier than writing non-fiction. Research plays a very minor role when writing all but historical fiction. In addition to that, when writing fiction, I am no longer stuck with the story ending mandated by reality. It can go where I want, I can kill off the characters I choose, and if I don't like what happened, I can change. You don't have that leeway when you are presenting a factual account.

There was a transition, though, because of the different styles. I think my true crime books get better with each one I write. I anticipate the same will hold true with my fiction. There are, essentially, two ways to write better fiction. The first is to write, write and write some more. The second is to read. You can learn so much from what others have written—what works, what doesn't. I've been an avid reader all of my life.

Book Interview: A Conversation with Diane Fanning

Book Interview: A Conversation with Diane Fanning

Lucinda is an interesting, complex character. I like how real she seems. She struggles with many demons in her past from childhood up to as recent as 2 years prior to the story taking place. How did her character evolve?

Everyone who is professionally involved with crime, whether as a writer, a police officer, or attorney, was drawn to the field by a different life experience. One of my first mental exercises was the creation of a back story—the reason why Lucinda Pierce chose to be a homicide detective. Then, I gave her a physical flaw that was visible to the world—one she could not deny or escape. She grew from there.

Book Interview: A Conversation with Diane Fanning

Book Interview: A Conversation with Diane Fanning

You touch on the blame that is placed, or tried to be placed, with Lucinda for the "murder" of the child at the domestic violence call. It's hard to tell if Lucinda feels guilty because she took a child's life or because she didn't know it was a child when she took the life. Seems to me that she feels she was doing her job and even though the consequences were terrible, she wasn't in the wrong. Can you tell us a little more about her feelings over what happened?

Lucinda always doubts herself. She runs through scenarios again and again trying to find what she could have done to get a different outcome. Even though she does not see a logical alternative possibility to the sequence of events and her decisions, she still agonizes over the death of that small boy.

Book Interview: A Conversation with Diane Fanning

Book Interview: A Conversation with Diane Fanning

Even with her severe disfigurement, Lucinda still manages to gain the attention and attraction of two men. She, of course, doesn't notice it. Are they attracted to her because she is unattainable or because she has such a powerful sense of who she is? Men like confidence don't they?

She does have a great body and from one side, her profile is that of a beautiful woman. But someone with extreme damage to one side of her face could be so self-conscious that it affects their posture and their demeanor. Lucinda, on the other hand, is self-assured. She learned to value herself for her competence and intelligence rather than her looks.

Book Interview: A Conversation with Diane Fanning

Book Interview: A Conversation with Diane Fanning

Why did you allow Lucinda to get so close to Charley? Seems to me that in her profession it's probably not a good idea to become emotionally involved with the victims' families. Could she simply not help it because the link between her and Charley's situations is so strong? Or do we view this as an example of Lucinda allowing someone to help her while she thinks she's helping them?

Although Lucinda works hard at keeping everyone at arm's length, she could not help herself with Charley. She was drawn to the young girl initially because she understood her pain on a personal level. Charley's need for a substitute mother figure pulled them even closer. But it was the girl's personality that made detachment impossible. Charley is bright, open and affectionate and she accepted Lucinda flaws and all. In helping Charley to heal, Lucinda found some healing for herself.

Book Interview: A Conversation with Diane Fanning

Book Interview: A Conversation with Diane Fanning

There is a lot of tragedy in this story. From Ted's loss of his infant child to Evan's loss of many family members, it was hard to feel any hope that these lives would survive these events. But human nature is to persevere on, is it not? Will these people somehow find a way to rebuild their lives and somehow find happiness again?

In writing true crime, I have come across many family members of victims. I have been heartened to discover how so many of them take the tragedy in their lives and find a way to use it to help others.

Yes, some are bitter and stuck in the past but others do rebuild their lives and make them even better than they were before. Granted, there will also be a dark corner in their hearts but many learn how to overcome it and become stronger. Those people are an inspiration to me.

Book Interview: A Conversation with Diane Fanning

Book Interview: A Conversation with Diane Fanning

Is it possible for families to move on after the loss of a parent? Will Charley and Ruby be okay after counseling or do children growing up through this type of situation become a threat to themselves or others as adults?

It all depends on the individual child. There are some who will never recover no matter how much intervention is provided. Because of genetics or personality or a non-supportive environment, they will never be able to rise above the loss.

However, most children are capable of healing and moving forward with their lives. For some, this process will take years—for others, decades. But it is definitely possible.

Love is the most important factor here. Most children can overcome any tragedy if they are wrapped in unconditional love and given the support they need. This father obviously is devoted to his girls even though he does have problems of his own. But he acknowledges them and is getting help for himself and his daughters. I believe there is every reason to be optimistic about the future of Charley and Ruby but only time will tell if that sunny forecast is warranted.

Book Interview: A Conversation with Diane Fanning

Book Interview: A Conversation with Diane Fanning

An underlying theme is at work here of the decisions that law enforcement agents make in the line of duty. How often do you think police officers make a decision that will haunt them the rest of their lives - whether it was a good decision or not?

Unlike most of us, law enforcement members work in jobs that place them in positions where, on a regular basis, split second decisions have the power to destroy lives. Like soldiers in combat, officers in the field can be put into situations where the only possible outcome is the death for someone. For decent human beings, taking a life is traumatic no matter how unavoidable it is.

Book Interview: A Conversation with Diane Fanning

Book Interview: A Conversation with Diane Fanning

Will we be seeing any more of Lucinda? I feel like her story is only just beginning and I'm desperate to find out what happens next for her. Can you give us any insight?

You certainly will see more of her. The second Lucinda Pierce book, PUNISH THE DEED, is written and at the publisher. Severn House intends to releases it in the UK in December and in the US in March 2009.

Book Interview: A Conversation with Diane Fanning

Book Interview: A Conversation with Diane Fanning

How did you get involved in writing true crime? What inspired you to give fiction a try?

When I was nine years old, a man attempted to abduct me. I was spared only because of the serendipitous arrival of another vehicle on the scene. I memorized the license plate on the car and my mother called it in to the police. When they located him, they found evidence in his trunk that linked him to the sexual assault and murder of an 8-year-old girl one month earlier.

This close call gave me a fascination with the psychology of the criminal mind. I did extensive reading all my life but did not take up writing true crime until I heard the story of 10-year-old Krystal Surles. She watched Tommy Lynn Sells kill her friend. Then he slit Krystal’s throat and left her for dead. She survived, got help and without being able to speak, worked so well with a forensic sketch artist that her attacker was identified and arrested within a couple of days. Her courage and determination ended the two-decade long killing spree of a psychopath.

When I heard about what she had done, it resonated with me right away. It was similar to what I had done—but so much more. I simply had to write her story.

Book Interview: A Conversation with Diane Fanning

Book Interview: A Conversation with Diane Fanning

It must frequently be hard to stomach some of the murders you write about. How do you sleep restfully at night knowing that this world is full of "crazy" people?

The violent sociopaths in this world can rob you of your peace of mind, if you let them. I do not think hiding away from the reality of these people can restore it. I do believe that knowledge is power. The more we know about these people, the better prepared we are to avoid becoming victims ourselves.