Dying In The Dark_ A Tamara Hayle Mystery Part 18

A: Mysteries are basically morality plays in which good ultimately triumphs over evil. That's why so many readers love mysteries. They can count on the bad guys, or girls, getting what they deserve. Mysteries also offer readers an opportunity to see the world from someone else's perspective, to walk in another person's shoes. I hope that readers leave my books with a deeper sense of the issues that confront many African American communities: the impact of poverty, crime, and despair. My books are sold in Europe, and I occasionally get e-mails from Europeans, who are fascinated with certain aspects of life in Black America of which they weren't aware, such as the importance of skin color, social cla.s.s, and family. But, of course, my main goal is for my readers to enjoy the books because they're good reads good reads-exciting, interesting, and entertaining.

Q: Where do you get your ideas and your great t.i.tles?

A: I get ideas from everywhere. I'll be walking down the street and an idea will suddenly come to me. Writing is very magical. I get my t.i.tles from poems, spirituals, jazz songs, or old sayings. Dying in the Dark Dying in the Dark is a line from a poem by Langston Hughes. My t.i.tles offer me a chance to share my love of poetry, my memories, and a sense of spirituality with my readers. What more could a writer ask! is a line from a poem by Langston Hughes. My t.i.tles offer me a chance to share my love of poetry, my memories, and a sense of spirituality with my readers. What more could a writer ask!

Q: Are you Tamara Hayle?

A: I wish I were as tough as she is, but I'd turn tail and run if one of the meanies she confronts ever turned up in my life. I've never been a police officer, never owned a gun, and certainly never shot anybody. But I do love Blue Mountain coffee, Sleepytime tea and barbecued ribs. Don't ask about Basil Dupre.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

VALERIE WILSON WESLEY has auth.o.r.ed seven Tamara Hayle mysteries and the novels has auth.o.r.ed seven Tamara Hayle mysteries and the novels Playing My Mother's Blues, Always True Playing My Mother's Blues, Always True to to You in My Fas.h.i.+on You in My Fas.h.i.+on and and Ain't n.o.body's Business If I Do, Ain't n.o.body's Business If I Do, for which she received the 2000 award for excellence in adult fiction from the Black Caucus of the American Library a.s.sociation (BCALA). Many of her novels have been Blackboard bestsellers and for which she received the 2000 award for excellence in adult fiction from the Black Caucus of the American Library a.s.sociation (BCALA). Many of her novels have been Blackboard bestsellers and When Death Comes Stealing When Death Comes Stealing was nominated for a Shamus Award. was nominated for a Shamus Award.Ms. Wesley is also the author of several children's books. She is formerly the executive editor of Essence Essence magazine. Ms. Wesley's fiction and nonfiction for both adults and children have appeared in many publications, including magazine. Ms. Wesley's fiction and nonfiction for both adults and children have appeared in many publications, including Essence, Family Circle, TV Guide, Ms., Creative Cla.s.sroom, Essence, Family Circle, TV Guide, Ms., Creative Cla.s.sroom, and and Weltwoche, Weltwoche, a Swiss weekly newspaper. She is also a 1993 recipient of the Griot Award from the New York chapter of the National a.s.sociation of Black Journalists. Ms. Wesley is a graduate of Howard University and has master's degrees from both the Banks Street College of Education and the Columbia Graduate School of Journalism. She is married to noted screenwriter and playwright Richard Wesley and is the mother of two grown daughters. a Swiss weekly newspaper. She is also a 1993 recipient of the Griot Award from the New York chapter of the National a.s.sociation of Black Journalists. Ms. Wesley is a graduate of Howard University and has master's degrees from both the Banks Street College of Education and the Columbia Graduate School of Journalism. She is married to noted screenwriter and playwright Richard Wesley and is the mother of two grown daughters.