Interviews

Author Interview: Rob Osler

Even if you haven’t heard the term “quozy mystery” before, you can probably work out exactly what it is. Today’s interview is with the genius mind that coined the term: Rob Osler! If you’re a fan of cozy mysteries, but you feel they too often aren’t gay, then you should check out Rob’s books.

And don’t forget: you can follow Rob on twitter too!

Have you always known you wanted to be a writer? How old were you when you wrote your first story?

I have always enjoyed telling stories. As a child, I spent much time on my own and imagined myself on adventures in exotic and faraway places. It wasn’t until after graduation from college, and I was trying to find a job, that a friend said, “You like to write, what about a job that lets you write a lot?” That revelation led to a career as a copywriter and then as a marketing strategist. About ten years ago, I started writing my first novel and discovered how fiction perfectly taps into my imagination while demanding good writing to convey the story.

What are your favourite genres to read and write, and are there any genres or tropes you wouldn’t write?

I have always loved mysteries. Agatha Christie made an indelible impression on me at a young age. I love the puzzle inherent in a mystery. Another influence was Armistead Maupin’s Tales of the City novel and series. At the heart of his books are big-hearted friendships and urban adventures. Both Christie and Maupin were inspirations for my tale of a newfound friendship between a pint-sized gay ginger blogger and an overly confident Black butch lesbian who form a very amateur crime-fighting duo.

When you close your eyes and imagine an apple, what do you see? An actual apple, a sketch of one, a blackness? Do you think that impacts your writing process?

I picture an actual physical apple, from curved stem, across its variegated surface, to perhaps a slight blemish in the skin. I’ve learned that subtle details bring a reader into a story—opposed to a detailed description. I only hope I’m more successful than not in executing the idea.

Which three authors would you say influenced your writing the most?

Lyndsay Faye for the pure craft of writing, choosing which words in what order to put onto the page. I find myself rereading sentences to luxuriate in her talent. Her latest, The King of Infinite Space, is a fine example.

Agatha Christie for plot. It’s easy to take a story like Murder on the Orient Express or Endless Night (less well-known) for granted. But delivering a story so at the big reveal (whodunnit), a reader slaps her forehead and mutters, “Of course! I should have seen that. All the clues were there.” That’s not easy.

Amy Stewart and her delightful Kopp Sisters series for characters. Starting with Girl Waits with Gun, Constance Kopp and her two series are distinctive, engaging, and entertaining characters. So much so that this reader continues to gobble up each new book in the series.

When you’re building your world, what do you focus on? How do you try to make it come to life?

I do my best to balance several elements necessary to enable a reader to immerse themself in a scene. First, the character must be fully realized by having a distinct presence: personality, physical characteristics, positive attributes, faults, quirks, etc. Then that character must be placed in a scene that gives a reader only just enough description so they can envision the surroundings. If there is dialogue, it must be true to the distinctive way each character speaks—and if it varies—how they speak to that particular character with whom they share the scene. I also believe one highly unusual or unexpected feature is better than a long list of descriptors. Devil’s Chew Toy’s main character, Hayden McCall, has a shock of orange-red hair. His BFF and crime-fighting partner, Hollister, has a Mohawk.

What projects are you currently working on? Can you share any details yet?

My next short story, Miss Direction, will appear sometime next year in Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine. Perry Winkle is many things: karaoke MC, nosey neighbor, non-binary cross-dresser, and amateur sleuth. When a dead body is found in the Yucca Palms community club room, Perry throws himself at the case. But unmasking the killer will require Perry to first uncover the true identity of the mysterious dead woman who went by the name Miss Direction.

Also, I have a new historical mystery novel, titled Murder at the Nat, that my agent will soon be submitting to publishers for consideration. The year is 1908. To save her brother from the gallows, detective Harriet Morrow—who does an occasional bit of detecting as Harry—travels from Chicago to a distant state capital, where she discovers a corrupt police force, an orphanage with children missing, and a chilling mystery that begins and ends at the celebrated Natatorium.

Three images that capture the aesthetic of your book?

A backyard lesbian kegger party.

Karaoke night at the gay dance club.

A speedboat rescue across the bay.

Three songs you would put in your book’s soundtrack?

Born to Run by Bruce Springsteen (Burley sings this at Karaoke)

Family Affair by Mary J. Blige (Hollister’s favorite artist)

Falling Hard by Stanley Kellogg (a fictional new country artist who appears in the book). Fun fact: a friend and I created the actual song! Check it out here.

Which of your characters would you most want to fight a zombie apocalypse with?

As Hayden would say, “Hollister! One thousand percent, Hollister!”.

You’re stuck on a desert island and you’re allowed only three (LGBT) books. What are you taking?

Tales of the City by Armistead Maupin.

Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan.

The Swimming-Pool Library by Alan Hollinghurst.

You can collaborate on anything with anyone in the LGBT community: who would it be and why?

Armistead Maupin. He is the living writer that has had the greatest influence on me.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Rob Osler writes the Hayden & Friends contemporary mystery series featuring a rainbow of kick-ass characters. With Devil’s Chew Toy, Rob coined the term, “Quozy Mystery,” giving a unique label to the colorful sub-genre of cozy mysteries featuring LGBTQ+ main characters.

His short story “Analogue,” published in Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine, won the 2022 ROBERT L. FISH MEMORIAL AWARD for best short story by a debut author as part of the Annual Edgar Awards presented by Mystery Writers of America.

Born and raised in Boise, Idaho, Rob attended college at the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Washington, where he graduated with a degree in Philosophy. Years later, he earned a master’s degree in business from the University of Washington. Rob was a copywriter and brand strategist before turning to fiction writing. After many years of living in Chicago, Seattle (the setting for the Hayden & Friends series), and San Francisco (where he still spends time), Rob resides in southern California with his long-time partner and a tall, gray cat.

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