Candice Fox is an author of crime fiction and creative writing teacher. Candice lectures in writing at the University of Notre Dame, while undertaking a PhD in literary censorship and terrorism. Hades was her first novel, followed by Eden and Fall, the next two books in the Bennett/Archer series.
You’ve published with superstar James Patterson. How was the collaboration process?
It was truly great. James’s working style is a lot different to mine, so in order to work together I had to adopt strategies foreign to my usual process, like plotting, and of course, bouncing ideas about with someone who’s thousands of miles away. James collaborates a lot, so he’s very open to ideas and adaptive. At the end of the day, we both wanted what was best for the book. The whole process was very smooth.
When you’re not reading crime, what’s your preference?
I read a lot of true crime, yes, because I find it doesn’t have so much of a narrative voice that I might accidentally adopt. I’ve just read M.L. Stedman’s The Light Between Oceans for a panel, which was out of my comfort zone, but very enjoyable. Most of what I read these days is for promotional purposes, because I’m appearing on a panel with someone or hosting them for an interview.
What’s one key tip for crafting dynamic characters like yours?
No one is perfect. Everyone’s a little bit stupid, or selfish, or illogical sometimes. It’s important to have characters who swim somewhere in the vast ocean between ultimate good and ultimate evil, otherwise they’re unbelieveable. Even Dr Claw (Inspector Gadget), one of the most cardboard cartoon villains in the world, had a cat. He could care for and love a living creature. There must be shades of grey to everyone.
Join Candice for Damsels, Detectives and Dead Guys: Writing Crime at the NSW Writers’ Centre, Saturday 26 November, 10am-4pm.