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Kit Sloane is the author of two books featuring film editor Margot OBanion and Max Skull. She lives on a Northern California ranch with her college professor husband, four horses, two goats, five cats, and a lovable dog named Sally. When she is not writing she and her college professor husband can be found mucking out the stables on their ranch and teaching disabled children how to ride.

Kit also contributes to Futures magazine and has a column in most issues on writing and the writing life. She has also had a number of short stories published.

Her first book Final Cut is set in the movie business and has bits of old Hollywood and new Hollywood in it, Final Cut tells the story of an insiders experience in the film business with characters from every corner of the film industry world. Her second book Grape Noir is set in the wine valley. Margot and Max are supposed to be on holiday amidst food and wine groupies. When a murder occurs Margot and Max become suspects.

1. Ayo What was the very first mystery fiction book that you read?
   Kit My step-mother handed me Josephine Tey's The Daughter of Time when I was eleven. It had just come out and was a great hit in the United States. I adored the book and was "hooked," as we say in America, on mysteries in general and on British writers specifically!
2. Ayo What made you decide to write mystery fiction?
   Kit Actually I just wanted to see if I could write a book. Since I loved mysteries, I decided to try the genre. I love the idea of puzzle-solving. And, since my books, are heavily slanted on characterization, I liked the idea of several books involving the same people. I never thought I'd Finish one novel, must less a series!
3. Ayo Who were your influences when you decided to start writing
   Kit Since I didn't begin writing full time until I was forty-five, I had already read a great deal of everything! My favor ite writers are an eclectic bunch, from Graham Greene (I think his opening paragraph in Brighton Rock is my fa vorite first paragraph, period!) and John Le Carre and C.P. Snow, to Jane Austen, Dorothy L. Sayers and P.D. James. Hm, they're all British! And, In many of their books, they have continuing characters. There seems to be a theme here!
4. Ayo Do you still find time to read crime fiction yourself? If you do which genre do you prefer to read and why?
   Kit I tend to reread my old favorites. I still prefer the cozy where the emphasis is on characterization and ambiance. I love to read description!
5. Ayo Do you enjoy being part of the mystery community?
   Kit Yes, it is lovely for all us writers to emerge from our quiet rooms to find like-minded people, thanks to the Inter net, and then, hopefully, to meet these new acquaintances face-to-face. The Internet was how I met Lizzie Hayes and learned of Mystery Women! I do hope to come to England someday and attend one of your events!
6. Ayo What were the last five books that you read?
   Kit 1. Personal History, the autobiography by Katharine Graham, the famous newspaper publisher absolutely a stun ning book. I couldn't put it down, all 600-plus pages. 2. Gaudy Night by D.L.Sayers, this is the most ROMANTIC book I've ever read! This summer I've reread all the Peter Wimsey novels. I do enjoy rereading my favorites at different stages and ages of my life. 3. Kidnapped by Robert Louis Stevenson. Yes, I'd never read it and next plan to read his Treasure Island! 4. Wordstruck by Robert MacNeil. I do love biography 5. Writing the Mystery by my dear friend G. Miki Hayden. She's a great editor/teacher/writer and writes about all t he things I should probably be doing in my novels!
7. Ayo I understand that you are a movie buff? What is your favourite movie and why?
   Kit That's a wonderful question. To me, it's akin to what is my favourite book? The answer being, it just depends. Since I've been interested in my characters' relationship lately, I'd say a great favorite film of mine is Moon struck from 1987. It has a wonderful ensemble cast and is about all sorts of family relationships. It is funny and hopeful. Also The Thin Man series, the Nick and Nora adventures from stories by Dashiell Hammett from the thirties and forties, are very stylish, very American and fun.
8. Ayo Final Cut is all about the movie business and Hollywood? What made you decide to set your first book amongst these people and how come you know so much about the movie industry?
   Kit A good friend of mine is an excellent film editor. She introduced me to Many of her co-editors. The film editors I met were all women; smiling, quiet, unobtrusive, rather shy people. And all their technically creative work was a long way from the perceived glitz of Hollywood. The concept of filmmaking as this utterly collaborative in dustry employing hundreds of people With diverse personalities, talents, and goals appealed to me deeply. My protagonist evolved out of this setting. Also, perhaps even more helpful, my artist daughter Annie (who does my covers!) often works in production and tells me all the gossip!
9. Ayo Your second book Grape Noir is set in the wine valley. Why did you decide to set it there?
   Kit The wine trade is another traditional business which is yet another collaborative industry aiming toward a differ ent goal, great wine. It's fun to take an established organization and throw a wrench into their well-oiled gears. Plus the ambiance of wineries is so beautiful. I like the idea
10. Ayo Margot is very shy and retiring while Max is very opinionated what do you think makes their relationship work.
    Kit I felt it important to team reticent Margot with a partner who is all the things she isn't, a partner who insists on dragging her out of her wallflower mode and into real life. Max is also handsome, faithful, talented and funny and he loves her. He may be a trifle shallow, but he's a devoted father to their teenage son and he thinks Margot is wonderful. As a friend said of Max, "What's not to like?"
11. Ayo What's next for your characters film editor Margot O¹Banion and her lover flamboyant director Max Skull?
    Kit I don't believe marriage is in their future. They work together, they're together most of the time, but they live apart. Each of the them deal with the tensions of their professions differently and, believe me, Max would not be a tranquil domestic partner. But they're both secure in their live-elsewhere romantic relationship and also in their business partnership.
12. Ayo What do you find the most difficult when you are writing?.
    Kit The middle. Seriously, writing the middle of the book is somewhat of a chore for me. It's necessary to maintain momentum and to keep the story building, but compared to writing the beginning and, my favorite, the climactic ending, writing the middle is hard work
13. Ayo When is your next book due and do you have a title for it yet?
    Kit Bad Actors should be out next spring. Here is a preview: When Max attempts to use a venerable Hollywood high school as the prime location for his new film, Margot u ncovers deep dark secrets hanging over the elegant Art Deco facade. A story of persecution and revenge, piece b y piece Margot reconstructs a mosaic depicting madness and deceit among a cast of characters intent on preservi ng a united front against a sinister past. Sinister, yes?!?
    
    
14. Ayo Do you have a website and how can people contact you?
    Kit I have a fun website at http://www.kitsloane.com. I do hope people will log on, sign my guest book, say hello, and look around! Also our publisher's website is attractive and informative: http://www.deadlyalibipress.com
    
    Thanks Kit for taking the time out to talk to us.
    

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