The Book…

This Case Is Gonna Kill Me

by Phillipa Bornikova

What happens when The Firm meets Anita Blake? You get the Halls of Power—our modern world, but twisted. Law, finance, the military, and politics are under the sway of long-lived vampires, werewolves, and the elven Alfar. Humans make the best of rule by “the Spooks,” and contend among themselves to affiliate with the powers-that-be, in order to avoid becoming their prey. Very loyal humans are rewarded with power over other women and men. Very lucky humans are selected to join the vampires, werewolves, and elves—or, on occasion, to live at the Seelie Court.

Linnet Ellery is the offspring of an affluent Connecticut family dating back to Colonial times. Fresh out of law school, she’s beginning her career in a powerful New York “white fang” law firm. She has high hopes of eventually making partner.

But strange things keep happening to her. In a workplace where some humans will eventually achieve immense power and centuries of extra lifespan, office politics can be vicious beyond belief. After some initial missteps, she finds herself sidelined and assigned to unpromising cases. Then, for no reason she can see, she becomes the target of repeated, apparently random violent attacks, escaping injury each time through increasingly improbable circumstances. However, there’s apparently more to Linnet Ellery than a little old-money human privilege. More than even she knows. And as she comes to understand this, she’s going to shake up the system like you wouldn’t believe….

The Interview…

Can you tell us something interesting about your writing process?

I am an intense plotter. I use 3×5 cards and put up the act outs and the major scenes for any book on a cork board. It’s something I learned as a screenwriter, and it really helps with novels too.

What part of the writing process is the easiest/hardest for you?

Plotting and writing dialog are easy for me. Writing description, and coming up with titles the hardest.

Is there anything you’re working on now?

I am working on several novels, and a screenplay for Universal Pictures.

Where did the idea for your book come from?

I usually start with a character in a dire situation, and then I have to figure out how they got there.

Are any of the characters inspired by someone in real life?

Most of them are reflections of me. I think writer’s end up revealing an awful lot about themselves in their books.

Do you follow a writing schedule, or just write whenever you get the chance?

I’m a morning writer, but given the amount of work I have right now I do one project in the morning and another in the afternoon. I break it up going to ride my horse, and I’m a gym rat. Getting physical helps the writing process.

Do you listen to music while you write, or do you prefer quiet?

I listen to music.

If you could jump in to any book and live there, which book would you choose?

J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle Earth

What was last book you bought?

The Yiddish Policeman’s Union by Michael Chabon

If you could be any kind of creature (other than human), which would you pick and why?

An Elf or a horse.

Do you remember the first book that kept you up all night reading? What was it?

A Princess of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs

How long did it take you to write your book?

I like to have a year, but I can write them faster if I have to.

Did you use an outline or make some sort of “book plan” before you started writing?

Absolutely. Live by the outline. Die without one.

If you could no longer write, what career would you choose instead?

Horse trainer.

If you could live someone else’s life for two weeks, whose life would you choose?

Hillary Clinton

Of all the little things and simple pleasures in life, which one do you enjoy most of all?

Riding my horse

If you could have a casual, 30-minute conversation by the fireplace with any author, living or dead, who would you choose, and what would you ask?

Jane Austin. How did you make the common place so fascinating and so insightful, Jane?

If you won the lottery tomorrow, what are the first three things you think you would do or buy?

Go back to Italy, buy another Lusitano stallion, and buy an Aston Martin James Bond car.

Aside from family occurrences, what event or accomplishment would you consider to be the highlight of your life thus far?

Hearing my words spoken on a sound stage by terrific actors.

If you could bring back any tradition that seems to have faded into the past, what tradition would you bring back?

Balls and real dancing.

What is the best piece of advice you have ever received in your life?

Never hoard your silver bullet.

What is your favorite sight, scent, and sound for each of the four seasons (if you have four distinct seasons where you live)?

Pinon smoke in the winter, rustling aspen leaves in the spring, the smell of roasting green chili in the fall, the lightning from a summer thunder storm.

Who is your all time favorite fictional book character?

I can’t pick just one. Sophy from Heyer’s The Grand Sophy. Kip from Have Spacesuit Will Travel by Heinlein.

Fun Stuff:

• Coffee or tea? tea
• Paper book or ebook? Both
• Summer or winter? Winter
• Werewolves or vampires? Vampires
• Morning person or night owl? Morning person
• Pantser or plotter? Plotter
• Pepsi or Coke? Coke
• Dogs or cats? Both

Favorites:

• Drink-Coke
• Food-Crab
• Movie-Casablanca
• Book-The Lord of the Rings
• Late night snack-Cereal
• Writing tools-3×5 cards and cork board
• Sport-Riding dressage
• Vacation destination-England
• Music-Classical
• Place to read-Living room
• Place to write-office
• Way to relax-riding and going to the gym

The Author…

PHILLIPA BORNIKOVA has been the story editor of a major network television series, a horse trainer, and an oil-company executive. She lives in the Southwest. This is her first novel.