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A former high school English teacher, Kijewski had no notions of a writing career. She did write articles for local periodicals, and found "the process intriguing," but she "hated research, hated taking notes and reporting accurately, and hated the kind of money" she was making. "So one day the light went on, and I said, 'Maybe I should be writing fiction.' The minute I started writing fiction, I was hooked," she recalls.
Bartending at night and writing during the day, Kijewski completed four novels over eight years. All were rejected multiple times. Then she heard about the Best First Private Eye Novel of the Year contest sponsored by St. Martin's Press and said to herself, " 'Gee, how interesting. I can do that,' " despite the fact that she was neither a reader of mysteries nor were her four unpublished novels mysteries. Her entry ultimately became the first Kat Colorado book, Katwalk. It won the St. Martin's contest and also garnered Kijewski a Private Eye Writers of America Shamus Award as well as an Anthony Award (voted on by the attendees of Bouchercon, The World Mystery Convention).
"Now I do research that I define as fun. For instance, what is not fun is to go to a library and look up stuff. It is fun to call one of my cop buddies and say, 'Let's have lunch, and I'll ask you a ton of questions, and you'll come up with something warped and twisted for my next plot.' " Her latest book, Honky Tonk Kat centers on country music star Cody "Dakota" Jones, a childhood friend of Kat's who is receiving vague, but frightening threats. For background, Kijewski went on tour with country singer Lari White. "I rode on the bus with her and her band and had backstage passes. Lari was wonderful about sharing her time, as were her band members. It was really an insider view." Lari White and several other well-known entertainers make cameo appearances in the story, adding to the realism Kijewski strives for and achieves.
The Kat Colorado novels are, by design, not formulaic. In each book Kijewski examines a topic that interests her. For instance, Wild Kat is built on the premise of a whistle-blower; Alley Kat Blues is a study of spiritual and material excess; and her next book (working title, Kat Scratch Fever) is about extortion. The freedom to choose and comment on issues of the day should be exercised with care according to Kijewski. "It should always be secondary to the plot. If you are bringing in something, it should be because it furthers the plot or the development of character in some way."
Below the basic plot lies Kijewski's fascination with the motivation that would "push a good person-a person who was good at least at one point-to step over the line and kill. Most of us are capable of killing. I think most of us would kill either in self defense or to protect people we love." Rarely, Kijewski feels, is the answer the almost cliche bad childhood. "We have many examples of people who do come out of a negative childhood and become towering, powerful figures. Maya Angelou comes to mind."
The modern mystery has evolved from the whodunit puzzle of years ago, to one of greater character depth and psychological exploration. "Art, whether literature, music, or painting is a changing thing and is a reflection of the times in which it was created and the personality of the creator." Kijewski creates an extra layer of tension in her novels by testing her characters' ability to do what they need to do on the job and yet remain objective. "I am very aware," says Kijewski, "in my own life of the need to step back and take out the emotional elements." By immersing her characters in situations of physical and emotional danger, Kijewski not only propels the story forward, she focuses the light on questions of motivation and behavior.
Some authors say that their characters take on their own lives and dictate the events in a novel. Kijewski feels that she is the one directing the plot of her books. To that end, she will make a brief outline for each book, knowing well in advance who the victim will be, how he or she will be done in, by whom and why. "I'm the one in control," she declares. Kijewski maintains that control with a schedule that includes four to five hours writing new text each day and devoting an hour or two to editing. More and more time, she says, is devoted to the business of running a business.
In the face of today's violence, are Kijewski and Kat optimistic about people and society? "I believe that people are basically good, that most people want to do the best thing. But we all have differing answers as to what the best thing is. I'm a very optimistic person-individually and for society. Kat, as an individual and through her chosen profession as private investigator, has as one of her goals to make the world a better place. Which is something of a romantic notion, but an important one. If we get to the point of losing hope as individuals or as a society, we're really lost."
Bruce E. Southworth is a freelance writer in St. Paul, Minnesota.
©1996, ProMotion, inc.