An Interview with Harley Jane Kozak
By Cherie Jung
[April, 2006]
Harley Jane Kozak is the author of the popular Wollie Shelley series. Wollie (pronounce Wally) is looking
for Mr. Right, in a sea of Mr. Wrongs. All she really wants is true love, success as a designer of greeting
cards, and to enjoy life. Unfortunately, trouble and dead bodies tend to trip her up on her way to achieving
those goals. Wollie is one of the most refreshing amateur sleuths to come along in quite awhile.
For the readers who haven’t picked up a copy of your book(s) yet, will you clue us in on your protagonist’s
unusual name? Wollenstonecraft Shelley.
HJK: Wollie’s mom married a guy named Vince Shelley, and decided to name her children after the famous Shelleys -- in Wollie’s case, Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley, author of Frankenstein and her mother, Mary Wollstonecraft, a renowned feminist of her day who wrote a treatise called Vindication on the Rights of Women. Wollie disappointed her mother by not being quite the ardent activist or literary star that her name suggested.
And your pen name -- Harley Jane Kozak -- isn’t that a bit unusual, too? Is there a story behind it?
HJK: It’s also my maiden name. I was born Susan Jane Kozak, and traded in Susan for Harley in my 20’s in a moment of mad impulse. I changed it legally, and so, while there are a handful of people who still remember me as "Little Susie Kozak," they’re dying off fast.
What do you think makes this series so popular with both readers and critics?
HJK: Wow, that’s a tough one. I’ve been very fortunate in my reviews, but until I’m on the New York Times Bestseller list, I think I’ll pass on the first part of that question. That will give me time to come up with a profound answer.
Some authors feel that if they have a great first book, it’s hard to follow with a second book that meets the expectations of the readers. When your first book DATING DEAD MEN was such a hit and won so many awards, including the Agatha, Anthony, Macavity and Romantic Times awards, did that make you nervous about releasing your second book?
HJK: By the time the first book was winning those awards, the second book had already been released, and (thank God) critically well-received, so that allayed my anxiety considerably. I keep waiting for the fear of failure to recede for good, but my author friends who’ve written dozens of books assure me it never will.
I realize it’s a marketing tool, but most of the advertising I’ve seen refers to your books as some combination of "chick-lit," romance, comedy, and suspense. And there are lots of comparisons of your writing with that of Janet Evanovich. Do you feel the "chick-lit" label, for instance, is helpful or hurtful, or neither in promoting your books? Are you comfortable with the labeling?
HJK: I’m fine with the term "chick lit," which, as you point out, is mostly a marketing term -- shorthand for booksellers, publishers, and reviewers -- and not really on the radar of the general public. Yes, it’s controversial, but I’m pretty easygoing, so I mostly stay out of the debate (although I did contribute a short story to an upcoming anthology entitled This IS Chick Lit!) And I’m always happy to be compared to Janet Evanovich, whose books are great fun.
In your blog and in earlier interviews you mention that you are working on the third book in the "Wollie" series -- the working title is DEAD EX, I believe. You also mentioned that you have an idea for book #4 in the series, and a non-series book already written, "on the shelf" I believe you said. Do you plan to continue the series beyond book four? Or are you anticipating writing other non-series books? Or perhaps starting a new series?
HJK: I’m something of a flake, with a new inspiration every other day. Ideas come fast and furiously, and the writing happens slowly, so by the time I’m finished with Book #4 in the series, it will be August 2007, and who knows what I’ll do next? I don’t mean to sound cagey, but honestly, while I’d love to do all of the above, the only hardcore plans I have are for DEAD EX and Wollie #4.
If you could change anything about your main character, what would you change?
HJK: Great question. Sometimes I’d like her to swear more. But having begun with a certain sweetness of tone, I don’t think that’s going to happen.
You have a family -- a husband, three children, two dogs and a cat. How do you find time to do research and write?
HJK: Well, the cat died, so that’s certainly freed up some time. But that is the $64,000 question. I have an au pair, which helps. My mind is always half on my book, which probably gives me a glazed look during carpool (if I'm not actually writing on my laptop, waiting in the carpool line). I never watch TV (really; I do watch films as I exercise, though) and I never just hang out, lunch with friends, read for pleasure, or take a break. Is this a recipe for a heart attack?
Interviewers tend to ask the same questions. Is there anything about your series, your character(s), or DATING IS MURDER that you haven’t been asked, but wish someone would ask about?
HJK: You know, this is the nice thing about being busy and having small children: no short term memory. Thus, every time someone asks a question, it’s like the first time anyone’s ever asked the question. And in fact, yours are pretty distinctive, so I’m sure I’ve never been asked some of these before. Thanks! Also, I never intended my first book to be the start of a series, so I’m as surprised as anyone, and just making it up as I go along.
For more information, please visit Harley Jane Kozak's website at
www.harleyjanekozak.com or her blog at
http://thelipstickchronicles.typepad.com/the_lipstick_chronicles/
Photo credit: ©David Laporte
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