Music To Thrill: An Interview with Helaine Mario, Author of The Lost Concerto and Dark Rhapsody

Art In Fiction

Welcome to EPISODE 14 of the Art In Fiction Podcast.
In this episode, I chat about thrillers with an arts twist with Helaine Mario, author of The Lost Concerto and Dark Rhapsody, two page-turners listed in the Music category on Art In Fiction which also incorporate Visual Arts, Theater, and more.
This quote about Dark Rhapsody says it all: "As much about art as music, Dark Rhapsody reveals the transformative power of both."
Highlights:

• Background prior to becoming a thriller writer: volunteering, working for Al and Tipper Gore, and more
• Inspiration for The Lost Concerto
• What Helaine loves--music and the arts
• Character of Maggie O'Shea, the concert pianist at the heart of the two novels
• Exploring the depth of characters within the thriller genre
• Other characters in the series, including Shiloh the dog and the characterization of Dane, the villain, as a lover of Shakespeare
• Use of character quirks to add depth
• Plotting advice--to outline or not to outline?
• Writing sequels
• A reading from Dark Rhapsody
• Wordsmithing in the editing process
• The business of writing and marketing
• Self-publishing vs. traditional publishing
• Advice for writers

Helaine Mario brings to her writing a long career working for non-profit boards and giving back to numerous charities, particularly through the Helaine and Ronald Mario Fund. All the royalties from her book sales go to programs that support reading programs and the well-being of children and families.

When it comes to writing, Helaine wants, more than anything, to tell a good story, create characters with depth, and paint pictures with words. She wants to be a storyteller forever.
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Press Play right now and don't forget to check out Helaine Mario's novels The Lost Concerto and Dark Rhapsody, both listed in the Music category on Art In Fiction.
Helaine Mario's Website: https:

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Want to learn more about Carol Cram, the host of The Art In Fiction Podcast? She's the author of several award-winning novels, including The Towers of Tuscany and Love Among the Recipes. Find out more on her website.

Chapters

1. Welcome (00:00:00)

2. Helaine's life prior to becoming a novelist (00:01:45)

3. Helaine on inspiration (00:03:59)

4. The origins of character Maggie O'Shea (00:05:05)

5. Writing thrillers and depth of characters (00:07:51)

6. Women thriller writers (00:08:45)

7. Colonel Beckett and Agent Sugarman in Dark Rhapsody (00:09:49)

8. Reading the Maggie O'Shea series out of order (00:10:23)

9. The genesis of the series (00:10:41)

10. The character of Shiloh the dog (00:11:34)

11. More on inspiration (00:14:08)

12. How Helaine plots her novels (00:16:31)

13. Dane, the villain character (00:18:31)

14. About writing sequels (00:20:01)

15. Advertisement - Buzzsprout (00:22:25)

16. A reading from Dark Rhapsody by Helaine Mario (00:23:35)

17. Wordsmithing (00:27:27)

18. The business of writing and marketing (00:29:02)

19. Publishing - indie or traditional? (00:31:03)

20. Writing advice (00:32:12)

21. Extro (00:33:46)