Author Robert Spiller writes what he knows

Colorado Springs mystery novelist, Robert Spiller is the author of the Bonnie Pinkwater mystery series, which includes The Witch of Agnesi (2006), A Calculated Demise (2007) and his latest book, Irrational Numbers (2008), all published by Medallion Press.  His series is set on the eastern plains of Colorado and feature Bonnie Pinkwater, math teacher and amateur sleuth, who solves murders on the side; both familiar territory for Spiller, who teaches math and loves puzzles, “The mosaic of laying out clues in sequence, revealing just enough but not too much, planning final confrontations, and tying up loose ends is so, so fun.”   A good writer writes what he knows, and Spiller draws on his knowledge as a math teacher and other life experiences,

            “All the high school and small town happenings--the crowded hallways, Bonnie's            

            enjoyment of teenagers, the rodeos, the academic competitions, the county fairs,      

            the survivalist mentality--they are from experience.  Bonnie and I also share a     

            passion for historical mathematicians--actually know more than most people

            would ever care about.  As for the murders--they are partially drawn from stories 

            I've heard while working on the Plains for almost twenty years.”

Spiller has known that he wanted to write since high school, although he didn’t begin to write seriously until he was well into midlife. His first book was a science fiction novel that never sold, but did take second place in the Pike’s Peak Writer’s Convention contest.

His advice to aspiring writers:

            “Join writers’ organizations, get in a critique groups, enter writing contests, write            

            every day, finish projects, then submit them to agents and publishers.  Submit a lot,

            and stick with it through the rejections (I once got twelve in one day).  

            While submitting one project, work on another.  Keep writing.  Keep writing. 

            Keep Writing.”

Spiller, himself is a member of  Mystery Writers of America, Pikes Peak Writers and Sisters in Crime.

He has recently been working on the second book in a new young adult mystery series. Neither book is under contract as yet, but there will definitely be more to come from this southern Colorado author.