An Interview with Kelli Jae Baeli

Author of Armchair Detective

As the author, how would you describe your book?

Perhaps it's a glimpse of the psyche of a stone-butch private investigator, who learns to let down her walls. Perhaps it's a romp through an erotic landscape of beautiful women and dark secrets. Perhaps it's a mystery, a love story, a suspense tale, or a personal foray into other dimensions of myself. Perhaps it's all of these things.

Can you tell us the behind-the-scenes story about how Armchair Detective came into being? What was the germ? How did the characters come to life? Is there a character who still lives inside of you?

The idea for Armchair Detective sprang from a void in the female hero department of modern literature. I wanted to create a lesbian character that was at once real and engaging. I hope that's what I've accomplished. It was important for me to present Jobeth as a flawed human—as we all are. And I wanted her to have a good sense of humor, as I feel this is paramount to creating sympathy and a sense of entertainment. Beyond that, I wanted a character who goes through a series of events that challenge her, shed light on her fears, and make her question her own defenses. Much of the material was derived from my own experience as an amatuer sleuth. I was shot at, and I was threatened. And I didn't always handle things with grace. But I've always wanted to be a private investigator, so this book was a way of living vicariously through someone who was. I guess I wanted to be Jobeth.

I used Oklahoma as the setting because I attended a college there for two years and it was a familiar territory. I had already used Colorado as a setting in my first book, and wanted some fresh atmosphere. Verisimilitude is important. It's awfully hard to write about a place you haven't been. So it was credibility issue for the most part.

When I was writing Armchair Detective, I had no idea where the plot would go. Early on, my writing method did not include complete outlining. I much preferred to let the characters tell me where the story was going. A close friend, who is also a writer, pointed out the negative aspects of this method. Although this might be good from a creative standpoint, it was not good from a technical one. I often had to backtrack and change whole passages, and find all references to the changed material. It was easy to overlook something and it became a major undertaking to actually complete the book. But as the years unfolded and my writing methods became more honed, I realized it's the only way I can write. It also keeps the process exciting. And if you can still be excited about abook after you've read through it 50 times, you know you're on to something. I've streamlined the process to help with the time-intensive aspects, and have been writing books that way ever since.

The characters of Phoebe and Jobeth in Armchair Detective are very much alive in my mind. After spending that much time with people--albeit fictional--they become every bit as real as all the virtual friendships we nurture online. When i finished Armchair Detective, I sensed that there would be a sequel. I just finished it and it will be available in March 2010. It's entitled, "Also Known As DNA."

Can you tell us something about you as a writer, i.e. when you started writing, what's your creative process is like, what inspires you, etc.?

I began writing at an early age—poetry, journals, songs. It wasn't until I enlisted in the Army that I actually began to form the ideas that became my first novel, "As You Were." A young woman I met while at Fort Lee inspired me to create a story that sprang from the facts and fantasies about she and I. When I was released, I began writing it in earnest. Much of the flashback material in that book was based on actual events. Once I wrote that, I started immediately on expanding "Armchair Detective," which began as a short-story.

As most writers are, I am inspired by events I would like to see happen to me, or would be interested in reading myself. I had trouble finding what I felt was good lesbian writing back then, and figured I was just as qualified to bring a dish to that table.

When I write, I must have silence. I seem to have developed a one-track mind. When I've had a girlfriend, she has been banished from my office; one in particular, because she is blessed with a multi-track mind, and likes to talk, and her keyboard is loud (she says it reminds her of her old typewriter). I have to have a beverage at all times—usually coffee, and distilled water. I keep myself online, so that I can pop over to my Google bar and do quick research. Many years ago, this wasn't possible, and I think the Internet is a gold mine for authors. I always write on computer, as this just makes the most sense with the large volume of writing and editing that goes on with a novel. One of my ex's (also a writer) told me she used to write on a typewriter, and it was a huge ordeal, and many of her novels were lost because she didn't have copies. These days, it's just wise to protect yourself by having easily-made copies.

I usually start with a seed of an idea—something I'm interested in, some idea that intrigues me, my experience, or a dream I had. From there, I just write until a story emerges. What my early writing lacked was not so much an outline, as a rich store of experience and knowledge. The more I learn, the more my writing improves. The creative process has always fascinated me, and I love that sensation when a character becomes so real that they can surprise me.

How do you keep a balance between family, work, and your writing?

When i first began writing books, unfortunate injuries suffered in the Army hampered me from doing many physical activities. This allowed me plenty of time to focus on the craft of writing--and that's mostly just about continuing to write as much as possible and learn as much as possible about how to do it properly. So having injuries and physical limitations has allowed me to devote as much time as I liked to my writing. This time was the foundation of my growth as a writer. This may have not been possible without the injuries. There's always a silver lining.

Can you tell us something about you as a person?

I am a highly creative person and express this in myriad ways, though writing is my passion and the thing I spend 90% of my creativity upon. Since I now have 22 books under my literary belt, I do spend a great deal of time with the marketing and business side of writing. I am in dire need of a personal assistant, but I fear that will not be forthcoming.

I enjoy reading a great deal in many genres, both fiction and non-fiction; I admit to my addiction to TV and movies, as well. When you live alone, you have more time to do that. And it helps keep me company. I also enjoy intelligent conversation with someone at a coffeeshop or pub, or with a glass of wine in front of the fireplace. I am interested in a great many subjects-- science, humanism, and social psychology, among them. And have a lust for learning that never seems to wane. I walk everyday, since I am now able to do that, and it's a great way to clear my mind and get the exercise I missed out on for so many years. I am single, and not loving it, as I thrive in a relationship, and am weary of spending so much time alone. Writers, in particular, are easily trapped in solitary lives, and this is never healthy. Humans are social creatures and it's actually harmful for us to be alone too much. It also tends to stunt creativity, so I do strive to have all the social life I can. Since moving to Denver, I feel I have finally found a place to call home and I am enjoying all this region has to offer. Hopefully, I will be partnered again soon, and the balance will again be in place in that regard.

If you had a chance to be mentored by one author (living or dead), who would you choose and why?

I have been lucky enough to correspond with Madeleine L'Engle on occasion, and I admire her body of work. I also found out a few years ago that I was related to Rita Mae Brown, and it was eery because I followed her earlier work with such interest. I have been mentored by Dean Koontz, though not with his knowledge. When I realized how good he was at keeping me turning pages, I began to study his techniques more carefully, so that I could learn how he managed to do that. I also admire Laramie Dunaway (who is really Raymond Obstfeld), and Darian North. Other than that, I'm not sure who I would choose. I read all of only a few authors, and the rest are random finds, and certain books.

Despite the wisdom that says you can't take it with you, if you could take four things with you when you leave this world, what would they be?

Since I don't believe in the afterlife, and am not religious, this would be a moot question for me. But the things I cherish and appreciate IN LIFE are honesty, integrity, humor, intelligence, my cats, my best friends, my computer, my camera, my iPhone, and My Chevy Blazer. Yeah, that's ten. But I hardly ever follow the rules.

What is your view of epublishing? What opportunities does it provide for you and for other authors? What do you think is the future of epublishing?

E-publishing is an incredible opportunity for writers to avoid the morass of the publishing industry. It's a very direct way of offering up our gifts to a reader. It's not so much about luck, now, but more about getting the work out, and letting a readership decide how well it should do. It's more honest. We all know that there are many books out there that aren't that great, but somehow, they are successful. I like the idea that you can be judged by your work, and not by who you know, or how lucky you are. And it is perhaps one of the greatest tragedies that so many great writers throw their manuscripts in a drawer to gather dust, awaiting that major contract, when they could just be sharing it. That's why i decided to be an Independent publisher, to get my work out. I enjoy all aspects of it--the typography, cover design, editing...marketing and self-promotion, notsamuch. Again, I need that personal assistant.

What other published works do you want us to know about?

Armchair Detective was my first published work. I have 22 others (see my website) and another 5 or so in progress. I have 7 novels, 8 non-fiction books, and 7 anthologies. I seem to have this inexplicable drive to just keep writing as many books as I possibly can. Maybe it's because I feel it's my mark on the world, my reason for being here, and my legacy.

What projects are you currently working on?

Currently working on Somewhere Else, Quintessence (novella), Chewing Pencils: Writing, Editing & Publishing in the Digital Age, Another Justice (novella), Certainly Not a Spoon: Quips & Quotes of Jae Baeli, and also toying with ideas for a 3rd book in the Armchair Detective series.