“I had the flu
once. It was terrible. I couldn’t eat a thing for three hours.”
I
hope you giggled at that line. I think
it’s one of my best. And yes, I am a
tad fond of eating. In fact, you could
list it as my major hobby.
My
name is Melodie Campbell, and I write comedies. I got my start writing stand-up, and that led to a newspaper
humour column and then fiction.
Sure
I’d like to kick the habit and write a ‘real’ book with literary merit.
Okay,
so that’s a lie. Leave The Goddaughter behind? Not write a sequel? I’m starting to hyperventilate. Actually, I love writing comedies. It’s in my blood.
BREVITY
IS THE SOUL OF WIT
It’s
true, usually. Smart comedy is quick –
it dashes in and out and takes you by surprise.
My
latest book, The Goddaughter, is a
Rapid Read from Orca Books. Topping out
at 19,000 words, it is technically a novella.
Rapid
Reads are a new and innovative line of paperbacks. These are short novels for adults with specific guidelines: plots
must happen in a linear fashion with no flashbacks. Language must be accessible
- in fact, ‘plain language.’ This makes
Rapid Reads perfect for adults who are learning English (ESL), reluctant
readers, or anyone who wants a fast read.
Don
Graves from The Hamilton Spectator
calls the Rapid Reads line, “Go-train books.”
Other people take them on planes.
So
when Orca publishers decided they wanted to add comedy to the line, I was
invited to submit. I had a reputation
for quick, fast comedy that turned out to be perfect for
the Rapid Reads guidelines. I wrote
several chapters of The Goddaughter and
sent them in to the editor. He came
back with a contract, and I completed the book by last December.
Rapid
Reads are books with a lot of plot. It
was a perfect match. Why?
Comedy writers take a situation, and ask themselves ‘what’s
the worst thing that could happen now?’
And then, what’s the funniest?
What’s the worst
thing that could happen to The Goddaughter when she is recruited to carry hot
gemstones over the border? Predictable
would be: she gets caught at customs.
But I don’t want predictable. I
want funny.
Instead, they get stolen. By a complete amateur! It’s
embarrassing, that’s what it is. What the heck is she going to tell her uncle,
the crime boss?
Nothing, of course.
She’s going to steal them back.
Or die trying.
And hopefully the audience will die laughing.
Melodie Campbell has over 200 publications and was a
finalist for the 2012 Derringer and Arthur Ellis awards. She is the Executive
Director of Crime Writers of Canada.
Library Journal
says this about Melodie`s third novel, The Goddaughter (Orca Books):
``Campbell`s crime caper is just right for Janet
Evanovich fans. Wacky family
connections and snappy dialogue make it impossible not to laugh.``
THE GODDAUGHTER
Gina Gallo would like nothing better
than to run her little jewelry shop.
Unfortunately, she’s also The Goddaughter, and, as she tells her new
friend Pete, “you don’t get to choose your relatives.” And you can’t avoid them when you live in
Hamilton, and they more or less run the place.
When Gina is reluctantly recruited
to carry hot gemstones across the border, the worst happens: they get
stolen. By a complete amateur! It’s embarrassing, that’s what it is. Pete and Gina have no choice but to steal
them back, even though philandering politicians, shoe fetishists and a trio of
inept goons stand in their way.
It’s all in a day’s work, when
you’re The Goddaughter.
Short
Excerpt from THE GODDAUGHTER
We got through the border with no problem at all. Of course, it`s much easier to get through
borders without a semi-frozen dead body pretending to be asleep in the back
seat.
THE
GODDAUGHTER is available in Chapters/Indigo stores and on Amazon http://ow.ly/dnObH
Follow Melodie’s comic blog at http://funnygirlmelodie.blogspot.com/
Website: www.melodiecampbell.com
