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QUESTIONS FROM READERS

Beverly Barton answers readers' questions about her writing process, the amount of research she conducts for each book and the upcoming sequel to THE DYING GAME.

BethAnn from Bakersfield, CA: Please send me a complete list of your books, including the order in which the series should be read. Beverly, thank you for sharing your gift with readers such as me.

Beverly Barton:

Beverly Barton Zebra romantic suspense novels:

AFTER DARK, EVERY MOVE SHE MAKES, WHAT SHE DOESN'T KNOW
(AFTER DARK's secondary character, Quinn Cortez, is the hero of KILLING HER SOFTLY. EVERY MOVE SHE MAKES and WHAT SHE DOESN'T KNOW are not connected to other books.)

Cherokee Pointe Trilogy:
THE FIFTH VICTIM, THE LAST TO DIE, AS GOOD AS DEAD
(Grifftin Powell was introduced as a secondary character in AS GOOD AS DEAD.)

KILLING HER SOFTLY, CLOSE ENOUGH TO KILL, THE DYING GAME
(These books are connected by secondary characters. Griffin Powell is in each book.)

For a complete list of all of Beverly Barton's books, please go to www.beverlybarton.com.

Debra from East Rutherford, NJ: How much of the story was based on actual murders, and how much was imagination?

Beverly Barton: A combination of both fact and fiction. I do a great deal of research about actual murders, serial killers, law enforcement agencies, etc., so that when I plot a novel, I have the background information from my research to form a logical, realistic basis, then I use my imagination as I'm writing. I have an empathic personality and have always had the ability to put myself in someone else's place and "imagine" what it would be like to be that person.

JD from Ocala, FL: Ms. Barton, will you be elaborating on Dr. Yvette Meng? I feel her character could be a main storyline.

Beverly Barton:Dr. Yvette Meng will be a major secondary character in my February '08 novel, THE MURDER GAME, a sequel to THE DYING GAME. You'll learn a great deal more about her and about her past association with Griffin and Sanders. I am fascinated by Yvette and hope to, sometime in the future, use her as the heroine in one of my books.

Jonathan from Vienna, VA: In what other books do Griffin Powell and Sanders appear?

Beverly Barton: Griffin Powell makes his first major appearance in AS GOOD AS DEAD, then he shows up again, along with Sanders, in KILLING HER SOFTLY and CLOSE ENOUGH TO KILL.

Judy from Higley, AZ: When you write, do you have the plot determined in its entirety and then flesh it out, or do you have a more general outline, and then have the writing of the story dictate where you go with it?

Beverly Barton: I create what I refer to as a "skeleton plot," and I always do this in pencil because I know I'll be making numerous changes along the way. I need to know who the killer is, who my hero and heroine are, and the basic storyline before I write the book. But the characters evolve as I'm writing about them and getting to know them, and they dictate where the story goes from one chapter to the next.

Leah from Baltimore, MD: Do you base your characters on real people? Where does your inspiration come from?

Beverly Barton: I do not consciously base my characters on real people, but I know that sometimes they have similar characteristics to people who have been a part of my life; and sometimes, a character will be a combination of several people I know. Most of my heroes display qualities I admire in men and have seen in my grandfathers, my father, uncles, husband, son and son-in-law.

As for my inspiration? It comes from everywhere. Anything that touches my life could, at any given time, spark an idea for a novel --- a song I hear, a newspaper or magazine article that I read, a news report I see on television, etc., a conversation I have with another writer or with my editor, where we bat ideas back and forth.

Lynn from Camp Hill, PA: Why are you making your readers wait for another book for the solution?

Beverly Barton: If I had tried to tell both stories in one book, it would have been 800 pages long. In THE DYING GAME, I gave the reader the complete story about Lindsay and Judd, and about the Beauty Queen murders. In THE MURDER GAME, the game changes, as do the type of victims the killer chooses.

Mary Jo from Whitney Point, NY: If you wanted to send copies to my book club, we'd be happy to read and discuss them.

Beverly Barton: How many copies do you need?

Nanci from Ashley Falls, MA: Are you a pantser or a plotter? Do you use charts and character questionnaires, etc., or do you just write and let the story and the characters take you where they want to go?

Beverly Barton: I'm a combination of the two. I do not use charts or character questionnaires, but I have sketched the layout of a small town to use as a guide and keep everything clear in my mind. Each book is different and my preparation varies. I always jot down information about characters as they appear in the book, things like physical appearance and any significant personality traits. But I do this as I'm writing. I come up with a basic idea for a book, the major characters and the setting, and I always know who my villain is beforehand. Then I sit down, start writing and let the characters take me on the journey, which can change directions at any time.

Nancy from Henderson, NV: Was any research done on the type of serial killers you portrayed?

Beverly Barton:I have numerous research books, many on profiling and serial killers, and am always on the lookout for new ones. I've also spoken to and corresponded with numerous law enforcement officers who have been a font of information over the years. I do my best to make my villains as realistic and as true to their real-life counterparts as possible. However, I create my own fictitious killers and haven't based any of them on real-life murderers.

Pam from Florence, MS: No questions, but I would like to thank you for the signed copy. I plan to look for your earlier books while waiting for the sequel to THE DYING GAME.

Beverly Barton: You're very welcome. I'm delighted that you plan to look for my earlier books.

Pat from Southgate, MI: When is your next book coming out?

Beverly Barton: THE MURDER GAME is scheduled as a February '08 release.

Rose from Pittsburgh, PA: How did you get from YANKEE LOVER to THE DYING GAME? What happened to you? You were good in your earlier books, but now you are a BESTSELLING writer in my opinion. Great writing skills! Congratulations! Please never stop writing! I am hooked! Thank you all very much for choosing me to preview this book --- I consider it a privilege. Thanks for signing your book for me, too. I'll keep it always, together with your other earlier books I've collected through the years.

Beverly Barton: I grew as a writer. YANKEE LOVER was my first novel, published by Silhouette Desire in 1990. During the years I created romance books for Desire and Intimate Moments, I developed my writing skills. If a writer doesn't learn and grow and evolve, her writing becomes stagnant. I'm fortunate that I've been given tremendous creative freedom at Kensington to write my Zebra romantic suspense novels. Creative freedom inspires a writer to produce her best work.

Thank you. I truly value my readers and appreciate their loyalty.

Sandy from Greenfield, MA: How did you ever come up with such an idea for the plot? Your research is so thorough, so believable. I must get back to the book.

Beverly Barton: The idea came about because in KILLING HER SOFTLY, I mentioned that Judd Walker was engaged to a former Miss Tennessee. When I decided that Judd's new wife would become one of the killer's victims, the idea hit me --- why not make all the victims beauty queens?

Vikki from Oak Harbor, WA: What is the history between Griff, Yvette and Sanders? Will I find these answers in a previous book? If so, which one? I do plan to read your other books that are already available. Will Barbara Jean and Sanders develop a relationship in any future book you plan to write? Will Barbara Jean continue her employment with Griff? Did Barbara Jean really see Pudge as the killer, and not Pinkie?

Beverly Barton: The history between Griff and Sanders (and their past connection to Yvette Meng) will be explained in the February '08 book, THE MURDER GAME. Yes, readers can expect the relationship between Barbara Jean and Sanders to develop into a romance. Yes, Barbara Jean will continue to work for Griff. Barbara Jean saw Pinkie, but she will probably never allow herself to remember more about the man who killed her sister. However, when the new murders begin in THE MURDER GAME, Barbara Jean will have to deal with her memories of the day she discovered her sister.

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