JON: How would you describe Sharon McCone and the series of books about her?

MARCIA: Sharon McCone Is my alter ego, best friend, and my vehicle for having a much more exciting and adventurous life. She's Intelligent and brave, but not without her flaws--and she's aware Of them and can laugh at them. The series Is essentially the story Of her life since age 30, when she became a full-fledged Investigator.

JON: Having an on going series that has lasted as long as yours, is hard sometimes to keep it fresh?

MARCIA: Early on I decided I wanted this to be a long-running series, but I realized the danger of It going stale, thus boring not only the reader, but myself Every time I find myself yawning at what I'm writing, I make a change. Sick of describing her studio apartment? Have her buy a house. Boyfriend's turning Into a houseplant? Get rid of him. All Souls beginning to sound too 70s-Ish in the 90s? Have her go out on her own and eventually move her offices. The only way I've been able to keep the series fresh is to change McCone--~both her external circumstances and her inner self.

JON: In the book, While Other People Sleep, Sharon is dealing with a stalker. I think that this is one of your creepier books. What made you decide to throw a stalker at Sharon?

MARCIA: That was also one of my creepier experiences. A friend called me and said there was something he thought I ought to be aware of: He'd been to an event where people were wearing nametags and spotted a woman with my name. When he went up to her and asked if she was me, she gave an Impersonation that would have been convincing to anyone who didn't know me. When he called her on It, she made lame excuses and disappeared. Of course, this activated my. paranoia. What If she did this often? Disgraced me in public? Took it further...? WHILE OTHER PEOPLE SLEEP became a form of therapy, a way to work out my fears--which proved groundless, thank God--via Sharon.

JON: Do you base any of the characters in your books on real people? Because I could swear I’ve met some of them. Especially in Edwin Of The Iron Shoes.

MARCIA: The characters are usually based on pieces of real people--some component of a person's character that interests me. But as soon as I start writing they take on Jives of their own and become much more than what I started out with. Sometimes I’m surprised at the individuals who emerge in the writing process. If you feel as if you've met some of my characters, I'm pleased, because that tells me I'm doing my job right!

JON: I think one of my favorite things about your books is the variety in them. Is there anything you haven’t tried yet that you would like to?

MARCIA: There are dozens of things I'd like to do. For Instance, in the McCone 1’m scheduled to start working on In the fall, I want to use the background of our state government, and have already lined up an Interesting source in Sacramento. I also have an idea for a novel set in the Philippines during the Vietnam era, drawn from my own experiences there.

JON: Do you have any plans to revisit either Elana Oliverez or Joanna Stark?

MARCIA: No plans to return to either of the other series. Joanna's story had run its course, and I don't have anything else to say about Elena. I think both of them are having happy lives now. Currently I'm more interested in continuing to do non-series novels such as POINT OF DECEPTION.

JON: You are often credited as being the first woman to write a female PI. In doing so you’ve inspired a lot of women to start writing mysteries. How does it make you feel to be responsible for cracking open the genre. (and for the better I might add!)

MARCIA: Actually I wasn't the first woman to write a female PI--or even the first contemporary woman. P.D. James' Codelia Grey predated McCone, and Maxine O'Callaghan's Delilah West appeared in short-story form in the mid 70s. I was the first contemporary American woman to write a female private eye ~--but only by a narrow margin. Both Sue Grafton and Sara Paretsky were working along those lines shortly after EDWIN OF THE IRON SHOES was published.

JON: I really enjoy the books you wrote with your husband, Bill Pronzizni. Were they fun to write?

MARCIA: The books with Bill were very enjoyable, and we continue to co-author short stories from time to time. DOUBLE, the "Nameless"-Sharon collaboration, was the easiest, because we simply wrote sections from our series characters' points of view. BEYOND THE GRAVE (Elena Oliverez and John Quincannon ) was more difficult because we were working with different time frames. THE LIGHTHOUSE , a non-series novel billed by its publisher as "a novel of terror," was a process of terror--characters who wouldn't behave, a plot that didn't want to come together, and a copyeditor who attempted to butcher it stylistically. Ironically, it was quite successful, garnering several movie options (never filmed) and a number of paperback editions.

JON: You have touched on an awful lot of different subjects in your books. Is there anything that you would consider taboo to write about?

MARCIA: Not really. There are subjects I don't much like (organized crime, serial killers), but if a controversial topic Is worth writing about, I'll jump right in, regardless of its sensitivity.

JON: How important is research to your writing? Did I hear this correctly, You learned to fly a plane because Sharon learned how?

MARCIA: Research is very Important. I learned to fly because I realized while I could convey the mechanics of it by doing ground research, I couldn1t convey the feel. (Which is wonderful.) A sense of place Is important to me, so I visit the places I write about. I usually know much more about the subject of a par1icular book than I use. (For instance, the dot-com bust, which is the subject of next month's DEAD MIDNIGHT.) In researching for my novels, I've learned ten times more than I did in six years of college!

JON: How much control do you have on the final product, as far as the cover art, the title?

MARCIA: I have total control over the content, although I'm always open to suggestions from my editor; she and I have been working together since the early 80s, so her criticisms are right on. My contract says I have "cover approval"--meaning they send me the finished product and I smile and nod. Actually, there were two times when the covers were hideous, and when I protested, the publisher agreed and redid them. I've only been asked to change a title twice, and I was willing because the publisher was right on both counts.

JON: What is the perfect weekend for you?

MARCIA: A lazy time at our cottage on the Mendocino Coast. Although Sharon and Hy found theirs first, ours resembles Touchstone, except where they have an airstrip, we have woods. An eerie example of life imitating fiction !

JON: Are there any new writers that you think people should not miss?

MARCIA: Yesl Chronicle Books is publishing the first in a series of mysteries set in the Napa Valley, authored by Nadia Gordon and titled SHARP SHOOTER. Brian Haig's thrillers from Warner Books feature a very likable hero and tackle some tough issues. Their packaging Is unfortunate. as it makes them look like "guy books," but women will like them too. MORTAL ALLIES is his new title. Although she's by no means a new writer, Julie Smith's new series about New Orleans private Investigator Talba Wallis is terrific. And I always enjoy Sarah Andrews' Em Hanson mysteries.

JON: What made you move from Michigan to California?

MARCIA: I married a naval officer who was stationed here, but I think I would have ended up in California anyway. The state always had great appeal for me, especially since I wouldn't have to shovel my car out of snowdrifts any more. Since I'm now married to a native Californian, I feel I'm one also.

JON: What other things have you done besides writing?

MARCIA: Nothing. very well, that's for sure. I have no recognizable job skills. But I have been a reporter; an Interviewer, salesclerk, a temporary office worker (in spite of the fact I type badly. and only With two fingers), and a freight forwarder. For a while Julie Smith and I ran an editorial services firm, Invisible Ink, to suppol1 our writing habits.

JON: If you were to recommend just one of your books to someone, which would it be and why?

MARCIA: WOLF IN THE SHADOWS. I think It's one of my better books (It was an Edgar nominee), and it also marked a major change In the series and in McCone series.

JON: Through the magic of fiction, we can send you back in time to meet yourself at sixteen years of age. What advice would you give to this young woman?

MARCIA: Don't compromise your dreams just because someone discourages you; you know better than anyone else what you're capable of. Sit down and write, and keep writing.

JON: Are there any advantages to living in a household with two mystery writers?

MARCIA: Many advantages. We're tolerant of each other's frequently odd schedules. We serve as In-house editors, exchanging work in progress and talking over problems. And, when the newspaper doesn't get delivered or the garbage Isn't picked up, we diffuse our irritation by coming up with perfectly delightful methods to murder those responsible.

JON: If Hollywood came knocking, and let you cast a Sharon McCone Movie, who would you have in it?

MARCIA: Actually, Hollywood has come knocking, and It's likely there will be a McCone pilot on CBS mid-season next year. Since casting hasn't been finalized, I don't think it's appropriate for me to name a preference,

JON: Can you talk about what’s next for Sharon, and what we have to look forward from you next?

MARCIA: What's next for Sharon: DEAD MIDNIGHT will be published In June. 1'm currently working on a non-series novel titled CYANIDE WELLS, which is set in the same county as POINT OF DECEPTION, but featuring different characters. And in 2003 I have a collection of my western short stories, TIME OF THE WOLVES, coming from Five Star.

JON: What’s the most challenging part of being a writer?

MARCIA: Trying to write each book better than the one before. It never gets easier; just when I think I've got one problem In hand, another rises up to take Its place. But I do like a challenge.

JON: Can you tell what your most embarrassing moment was, or is it better to say ”If you didn’t see it, it didn't happen” ?

MARCIA: Since my life Is a series of embarrassing moments, I'd sure the most embarrassing is yet ahead.

JON: What is the one thing that is always in your refrigerator?

MARCIA: Parmesan cheese. Love Italian food!