Tell us about yourself.

I live in San Francisco, am married to a bookseller and have a young son. I have a masters in education and have lived in Europe.

Are you coming to mystery writing from another job?

I substitute from time to time, at a children’s center where I've worked for several years. However, I feel my real job starts after I go to the keyboard in the morning and arrive in Paris. No customs or passport control and no annoying jet-lag. My trip ends at 2:45 when I pick up my son from school.

What led you to write mysteries?

Call me a longtime reader! Ever since reading Nancy Drew under the blanket with a flashlight! The fact that mysteries and suspense stories have a resolution in some form; whether nabbing the baddie or foiling the criminal's scheme feels extremely satisfying to me.

Tell us about your road to publication.

Murder in the Marais took three and a half years to write. The publication process took longer. I started the book when my son began kindergarten and my book is now published the summer before he starts fifth grade. Belonging to a writers group has been very important, for me, to get feedback and critique along the way. I had no agent and submitted my book to the publisher who amazingly accepted the manuscript. I'd researched the market before and knew this publisher published novels set in foreign countries and work that didn't fall in the 'mainstream' category

. What kind of research was involved for your first book?

The core of Murder in the Marais comes from a true story -- some of the experiences my friend's mother -- a Parisian Jew, experienced during the Occupation of Paris. Her story haunted me and years later when I began to write Murder in the Marais I had to go to Paris, hit the cobblestones and research at the Jewish Center in Paris. I talked and interviewed anyone who would speak with me. I also found much material at the Holocaust Center of Northern California. With their help, I connected to the Oral History Project and met a survivor who opened her heart and shared her similar experiences with me. I feel this made my book so much richer.

Who are your influences as a writer?

I'm influenced by so many but I'd say the larger influences have been P.D. James, Ruth Rendell, Phillip Kerr, Leo Malet and definitely the Bronte sisters!

What does your family think of having a mystery author in their midst?

So far, they like it. My husband, a bookseller, calls my work literary suspense and has been my one-person cheerleader from day one. My son has started writing his own mystery. His fifth grade classmates are enthusiastic as well. Now they know what 'forensics' means and have volunteered to write the screenplay should I ever get Murder in the Marais optioned for a film.

Tell us about plans for future books.

I'm at work on the next in the Aimée Leduc investigative series -- tentative title is Murder in Belleville. The Belleville quartier is a fascinating area to me -- working class, once the home of Edith Piaf and home to waves of immigrants over the centuries. High unemployment in France and the strong cultural identity from Algerian and African immigrants keeps tension high in this area. If I can keep myself tied to the chair, we're hoping for a 2000 year release.

How can readers get in touch with you?

Please go to my website at carablack.com and e-mail me at Chamaret@aol.com--I'd love to hear from everyone! Cara, thanks for joining us,and best of luck! Readers, we have a review of Murder in the Marais -- check it out.

August 11, 1999