Robin Spano’s first novel has a little bit of everything: mystery, intrigue, dead politicians, and secret societies. And all set in Toronto! A secret student society takes the blame when the evil, city-destroying mayor mysteriously drops dead during a speech, forcing Clare Vengel, a rookie investigator, to enroll in school, pose as a student, penetrate the society, and solve the case. Dead Politician Society is original, inventive, light-hearted, and a lot of fun. Robin chatted with Books@Torontoist about what it’s like to be a first-time author, how ECW Press changed her mind about the bold cover, and more in the latest edition of Coming Soon!
Torontoist: Give us your one-sentence pitch for the new book, Dead Politican Society.
Robin Spano: A lighthearted mystery where no politician is safe.
Torontoist: How long have you been working on this book?
RS: Two years: One year messing around with the idea, taking writing classes because I was a bit lost for skills; one year writing.
Torontoist: How did it feel when the final galleys arrived at your door?
RS: Ridiculously amazing; I could not stop staring at them. I think the UPS guy thought I was a lunatic when I took the box from his hands, my eyes wide with reverent awe.
Torontoist: What was the editorial process like?
RS: Interesting. I learned a thousand things that have made me a better writer. Everyone who read the story had something new to offer. My sister Erin is a genius detailer—no word escapes her eagle eyes. My aunt Shelley helped with the big picture, like when she said the killer was too obvious too early. My friend Scott told me to read Alice Munro and write more like her(!). And all the industry pros—my publisher, agent, editor, etc.—had really smart (and also varied) ideas for change.
Torontoist: What surprised you the most about the editorial process?
RS: My editor, Emily Schultz, suggested changes that were so small (like word level) but so significant on a quality level. When I first looked at her suggestions, I was kind of disappointed—I wanted more meat. I’d been expecting to dive into a serious rewrite. But when I looked closer and actually went to make the changes, I realized how powerful each small suggestion really was. When I read her book, Heaven Is Small, I could see that skill in action. I felt pretty lucky to have Emily’s eyes on my project.
Torontoist: What about the writing process?
RS: It still baffles me how much fun I can have with my work, and how frustrated I can be with it, all within the same five minutes.
Torontoist: And the production process?
RS: Very, very cool. ECW was amazing at making me feel included every step of the way. They treated me like I had something intelligent to say even about stuff I had zero experience with (like design and promotion).
Torontoist: Did you catch any last-second mistakes?
RS: I can’t remember any 11th-hour crises. Uh-oh. Maybe that means I haven’t caught them yet.
Torontoist: Were you tempted to make major changes to the MS at a late stage in the game? When did you know it was truly finished?
RS: Major changes, no. But minor changes: oh my god. I can’t go through the MS without wanting to move words around or delete a line. It’s never truly finished, because I’m still growing as a writer, so there will always be stuff I would change if I was writing it today. But that’s okay, because Clare is growing too, as a character. I figure we can open up together.
Torontoist: Anything you wish you’d done differently?
RS: Yeah! But if I tell you, that’s giving ammunition to hater-critics who might read this.
Torontoist: What do you think of the cover? Did you have an idea for the cover going in or did the designer take the reins from the start?
RS: I love it now. I hated it on impact. The process was fun. Both the designer and ECW were open and flexible to all kinds of ideas. They started with four bold, distinct concepts, and homed in on the one that was the most popular. Throughout the design phase, they asked me for input, and my friends and family participated with enthusiasm. I’m really glad I didn’t get to make the final call, because I love the cover they’ve chosen and I would never have picked it from the pile.
Torontoist: What are you hoping to achieve with Dead Politician Society?
RS: I hope that it’s an entertaining, thought-provoking read. I hope readers have fun with Clare and want to follow her to her next adventure.
Torontoist: Have you started on a new book or are you taking a well-deserved rest?
RS: No rest for me! I am hard at work on the future Clare Vengel novels. But I’m happiest when I’m writing, so that works well for me. I’m enjoying Clare’s second assignment: she’s undercover at a poker tournament, holding her own against some strong opposition, and her love life is getting intense.
Dead Politician Society will be published by ECW Press in September 2010. The launch will take place on Wednesday, September 15, 6:30pm–8:30pm at Nicholas Hoare Books (45 Front Street East).
Yikes..! Can’t wait!