Tell us a little about your book. Imagine the cinematic masterpiece Vertigo re-told by its tragic heroine: Judy Barton may be the most-watched and least understood woman in movie history. Generations of viewers think Scottie Ferguson tells us all we need to know about her when he sputters ,”You were his girl!” at the film’s climax. But what if the woman we’ve come to sympathize with is neither Gavin Elster’s mistress, nor a willing accessory to murder? The Testament of Judith Barton tells Judy’s behind-the-scenes side of the story in her own voice. Like Wicked for The Wizard of Oz, it reveals the secret history of a classic film from a mysterious woman’s point of view. Vertigo, with its critical reputation and frequent re-releases, has delighted and disturbed generations of film fans; with its dizzying mix of movie, memoir, and murder, The Testament of Judith Barton will enthrall film and fiction fans alike. What inspired you to write this book? One night we were watching Vertigo again, when Robin paused the film to say, “I think Judy’s the most complex character here- her back story would have to be really interesting. What’s her motivation? Why would she participate in Elster’s plot?” Wendy replied, “A novelist could take care of that, create a biography that foreshadows and explains her behaviour-” By now we were staring at each other – we had to tell Judy’s story. What are you doing to market your book? We’re reaching out to movie bloggers and film academics, and people who know how to write essay, asking them to consider reading and reviewing the novel. What was the biggest challenge you faced writing this book and how did you overcome it? Writing it together! Wendy spews out the rough draft, Robin edits, and then we have to agree on all changes, down to a comma versus semicolon. It’s a testament to our relationship that we’re still married – though neither one of us is jumping at the chance to write another novel together, as it was a painful process. What are the future plans for you and this book? Wendy would like to see her other manuscripts published, and has outlines for a couple more novels of her own; together, we have ideas for a couple novels as well. What is your next project? We’re developing a time-shifting gothic novel about a photographer and a painter, but it’s still in development, as we say. Right now we’re plenty busy marketing Judith Barton. Have you published anything else? Wendy has four other manuscripts completed, which we’re considering releasing soon. • Unknown Among Men, a literary quest mystery set in Dublin and on board the Orient Express • An Heiress of But Small Fortune, a historical fiction set in England’s Pottery District • Looking Oppositely, a historical fiction set in Devon • A Failed Mansion, a tale of real estate corruption set in contemporary San Francisco Any advice for other writers/indie authors out there? Wendy: Quantity, not quality! Truly, so many people say they want to write a novel but never get a single sentence down. During the rough draft stage, just get out a lot of words! Which isn’t to say quality doesn’t matter – that’s where revision comes in. Robin: Never edit in your head. Word processing makes it dead easy to disappear those embarrassing early drafts. Just get something on the page – make it perfect later.
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