>> GEORGIA WRITERS MUSEUM
Stacy Willingham will be the featured “Meet the Author” presenter at 7 p.m. Dec. 6, at the Georgia Writers Museum (109 S. Jefferson Ave., Eatonton). The museum recently caught up with the New York Times best-selling author for a quick Q&A session.
GWM: Is A Flicker in the Dark based on a real story?
Willingham: A Flicker in the Dark isn’t based on any singular story or person, but the idea came to me when I was watching a documentary and they showed a picture of Dennis Rader, also known as BTK, walking his daughter down the aisle at her wedding.
At the time that (photo) was taken, BTK had already killed 10 people, and nobody knew his identity—not even his own family. That image was so haunting to me, and it got me thinking about how we rarely hear from the families of serial killers.
I decided, in that moment, that I wanted to tell a serial killer story shown exclusively through the eyes of his daughter. It felt like a unique pointof- view that raised a lot of interesting questions around family, identity and nature versus nurture.
GWM: Reviewing the story line in this book, as well as your next book, All the Dangerous Things, you seem to have chosen thriller novels as your genre. What makes this genre special to you?
Willingham: I grew up watching shows like Alfred Hitchcock Presents and Columbo with my family, so I’ve always loved a good mystery, ever since I was a kid. My reading choices are much of the same, and it just makes sense to me to write the kinds of books that you enjoy reading. Ultimately, though, I love the challenge of developing a good twist. It makes the entire process fun for me.
GWM: What is the most difficult part of the writing process for you?
Willingham: I’m a bit of a perfectionist, so I am extremely hard on myself in the beginning of every book. First drafts are always bad, I know that, but I always get way too hung up on mine! I also agonize over getting the ending just right.
GWM: What piece of advice have you gleaned from another author that you consider most helpful in your work?
Willingham: Write as though you are the only one who will ever read it. I’m always trying to remember this one, but it’s hard!
I write thrillers, which can obviously be quite dark, and sometimes, when writing certain scenes, I feel a temptation to water down my work when I imagine how people I know will react when reading it … but I know, if I do water it down, then the scene will be less effective.
So now, I just try to delude myself into thinking that nobody will ever read it but me. That way, I’m less afraid to be bold and take risks.
To register for this event, or to order Willingham’s book, contact Georgia Writers Museum at 706-991-5119 or visit online at georgiawritersmuseum. org. Tickets are $45 ($40 each for two or more) and the evening will include gourmet Cajun hors d’oeuvres and specialty drinks. Willingham also will be signing books following her presentation.
-Contributed