Mystery queen
Melodie Campbell wrote her first novel on a dare. Since then the Burlington, Ont.-based author has written 17 of them. Many are in the mystery genre, including The Goddaughter comedic crime-caper series and her latest novel, The Merry Widow Murders. She’s also scored bestsellers in fantasy with the Rowena series.
What’s your hometown?
Toronto mainly, West Vancouver for high school.
When you were growing up, what did you want to be?
A mystery writer! First I wanted to be Carolyn Keene [author of Nancy Drew books]. Then Agatha Christie. Instead, I became a director of marketing, which some people might say is criminal.
What was your first job?
Bell Canada, in the toll plant, where the long-distance switching machines were located. Talk about being thrown headfirst into the world of men! Yes, I was probably a token experiment, but it went pretty well for both of us. Bless them for seeing my potential.
Why did you start writing novels?
I was at the bar of the Toronto Press Club, and a well-known male Toronto Star columnist said to me, “You’re a humour columnist, you’ve won a slew of short story awards. Why don’t you write a novel?” I answered, “Because they might make me write a second one!” So he dared me. I have avoided scotch ever since.
What’s the hardest part about writing a book?
The length of time it takes. I can write a crime short story in a week. I love writing short stories — I’ve had over 60 published. A novel takes me 1,000 hours to write with edits, so about a year. That’s an incredible amount of time, memory, dedication and coffee.
Any advice for aspiring novelists?
Write the book you wish someone else would write, so you can read it.
What’s your biggest-ever career mistake?
In 1993, I had a wacky play performed in Toronto. A television producer was in the audience. He came up to me after and said, “You are completely nuts. I’d like you to come to Los Angeles and write pilots for me.” We kicked around a deal that I ended up declining because it would have meant moving my husband and two preschoolers to the States. Besides, who had ever heard of HBO in 1993? This has to be the worst mistake ever made by someone not legally insane.
What’s your career highlight so far?
A crowd of students cornered me to say I was their “rock star” for writing The Goddaughter series. That beats out all 10 crime fiction awards I’ve received.
Name someone you admire.
Agatha Christie. She was the best, and she wrote in a time when women had an even harder time getting published. A close second is Dorothy Parker, for her wit and sheer bloody guts.
Your favourite all-time book?
The entire Inspector Montalbano series by Andrea Camilleri.
What are you reading now?
I’m making my way through the Bryant and May series by Christopher Fowler. Crime with great Brit humour.
Your favourite all-time movies?
All zany comedies: The Wrong Box; the Russians Are Coming; The Pink Panther; Best in Show. I love satire.
What’s your motto?
Recent studies show approximately 40 per cent of writers are manic-depressive; the rest of us just drink.
What trait do you most admire in others?
Compassion, hands down.
What do you do when you’re not working?
All writers dream of the day they can give up their day job and make writing their work. Trouble is, when you do that, you lose your hobby! But if you’re talking about interests, I’ve always been mad about cars. My first car was a Triumph Spitfire; my second, a Lotus Europa. I’ve had two Corvettes. And I have my motorcycle licence.
What’s the best advice you ever got?
If you want to be admired, get a dog.
What is your most treasured possession?
Probably my Arthur Ellis Award statue for excellence in crime writing from the Crime Writers of Canada, followed by the Derringer Award medal from the Short Mystery Fiction Society in the U.S.
What’s one thing most people don’t know about you?
I got my start writing comedy. I wrote standup for comedians and did some standup myself but didn’t like a liquored-up crowd. From there, I was offered a newspaper humour column, and that led me to humorous fiction.
What’s your best Queen’s memory?
Science Formal ’76 with my late husband David Campbell, BSc(Eng)’76. We were together for 40 years. Many kind classmates sent condolences after Dave died, but Michael O’Connell, BCom’78, helped me find my way back from grief. We were married two years ago. I will always be grateful that Queen’s brought us together.
Who was a favourite professor?
Carl Lawrence was the most influential because he prepared me for how challenging it would be for a woman in business in the late 1970s. You might say he demonstrated how tough it would be.
Your favourite travel destination?
England.
What’s on your playlist right now?
Rachmaninoff, Elgar, Ella Fitzgerald, PDQ Bach, Great Big Sea.
What’s your idea of perfect happiness?
A dinner party for eight, with clever, witty friends. I love great conversation.