Interview with Trisha Sugarek ( Author, Playwright, Poet)

Trisha Sugarek 

Where are you from? 

 Born and raised in Seattle, Washington but have lived all over this incredible country!

Tell us your latest news?  

I have developed and published The Empowered Woman's Journal and Handbook  a series of Journals/Handbooks for the Creative Writer who dwells in all of us.  It is a journal with ‘How To’ sections, tips and famous quotes to inspire the writer.  275+ blank, lined pages provides plenty of space for your creativity.

When and why did you begin writing?

  After 25 years in theatre, I wrote my first play in 1994. Why?  Because the stories started coming to me and I was compelled to write.

When did you first consider yourself a writer? 

 When I wrote that first stage play.  It was easy and I felt at the time it was fairly well done.  Little did I know at the time how much I had to learn.

What inspired you to write your first book?  

Meeting women who wait for their husbands while incarcerated.  Keeping their families together and standing by their man in the hopes that one day he will return.  I met these brave women in the reception area of a state prison for men, while I myself was waiting to go in to interview a convicted murderer.

Do you have a specific writing style?  

Narrative, story telling.

How did you come up with the title of your book or series?  

‘The World of Murder’ left the door wide open for subject and title ideas.  Each book in the mystery series is the same:  “The xxxxxx of Murder”.  (Act, Art, Dance, Angel, Taste)

  Tell us a little bit about your cover art. Who designed it? Why did you go with that particular image/artwork?  

My cover illustrator and graphic designer is David White, here in Savannah, GA.

Who is your favorite character from your book and why?  

Some of my favorite characters from my novels are:  Violet: she’s a determined, successful woman in the 1920's, but a very flawed human being and aren’t we all?  Alma: She’s one of my (representational) Women Outside the Walls. She loves Charlie with all her heart, she’s not ashamed of who she is (a stripper) and she has a funny, street smart humor.  Detective Stella Garcia: (World of Murder)  She’s a tough cop in a man’sworld.  But she does it with class. 

 Give us an interesting fun fact or a few about your book or series:  

The World of Murder started out as a ten minute mystery play written for the classroom.  Friends and fans insisted that I finish the story for them.  It became a short novel.  Same friends and fans came back and said, “you’ve got a series here!  We want more.”  I’m currently working on Book 5.
 
 

Do you have any unique talents or hobbies?  

I am an artist. Watercolor, pen and ink and charcoal.  I also write a lot of poetry.

How can we contact you or find out more about your books?  

www.writeratplay.com and www.amazon.com

 What can we expect from you in the future? “Song of the Yukon” is two thirds completed.  A saga of a woman who homesteads in Alaska in the 1900’s.    Book 5, “The Taste of Murder” will be released later this year.  
 Do you have any tips for readers or advice for other writers trying to get published? Writers: Keep writing and never give up.  Checkk out my blog; it is dedicated to the art of writing. 

Readers:  You might enjoy my monthly interviews with best selling authors, also on my blog:http://www.writeratplay.com/category/a-writers-take/ 

 Is there anything else you’d like to say? 

 Thank you for this opportunity.  

 And now, before you go, how about a snippet from your book that is meant to intrigue and tantalize us: 

                “The Taste of Murder” ©

“Judges, I prepared a sweet and sour duck, making a sauce using the cotton candy, red wine and veal demi-glace. With pan roasted brussel sprouts with pancetta.  Please enjoy!”
The three judges sampled the plate, chewing and looking at the contestants. 

“Very nice,” Matt Murphy was the first to speak.  “The sweet and sour is delicate and doesn’t overwhelm the duck.  It’s the best entrée for my palate.” 

“Thank you Chef,” Alex beamed.

While the other judges critique the dish, Kirikos was practically gobbling his entrée.  He was clearly a big fan of the sweet and sour sauce.

“Adding the pancetta to the roasted sprouts,” Judge Alexis Gemignani began, “was a brilliant move.   Repur-posing cooked duck is not easy but you were able to do it successfully.  Also many contestants either drown the protein in sauce or don’t put enough on the plate.  Here you also succeeded.  I would put this on my menu.”

“Thank you so much, Chef.”  Alex was beside himself at the praise from one of the finest chefs in the country.

Jeff Kirikos, sitting next to Alexis, began to cough and claw at his tight shirt collar. Alexis turned to him; the director yelled ‘Cut!’ The chef’s personal assistant, stand-ing behind the cameras, began to walk to him.  Before anyone could react Jeff fell forward, his face landing in the almost empty plate of sweet and sour duck.

Alexis stood, her chair tumbling over.  “Jeff!” she bent over the prostate form of the unconscious man. 

The director yelled, “Call 9-1-1!”

Chef Matt, the third judge crossed to Jeff and sat him up.  Steve Parsons grabbed a napkin and began to wipe sauce and duck from his face and spoke to him in low tones.