Child of Crime Writer's Profession Inheritance Leading to My Own Career Choice
Writing appears to be an inheritable trait for some, as demonstrated by Abbi Waxman, whose mother Paula Gosling, a successful crime writer, profoundly impacted her career and writing style. Gosling published 15 mysteries during her career, which earned her several prestigious awards, including the Gold Dagger and the John Creasey award. However, her main influence on Waxman encompassed more than just her accomplishments, but her work ethic and passion for writing.
Waxman recalled that her mother, an avid mystery writer, possessed a unique perception of the world, viewing it as a potential breeding ground for murder and violence. This perspective often resulted in speculative musings on seemingly insignificant events she encountered in daily life. Despite her fascination with crime, Gosling primarily wrote 'cozies', indicating a preference for less graphic content. Her odd, yet charming demeanor, with her affection for puzzles, weird facts, and a poison ring, rendered her a bit peculiar to outsiders.
Gosling's writing also meant a household overflowing with intriguing books, ranging from autopsy texts with graphic images to books on forensics and weaponry. Her perpetual quest for accuracy in her stories fueled the presence of these questionable books within their home, and her children had easy access to them.
Notably, Waxman's first written novel was a mystery, though it was far from satisfactory. After writing a better mystery, she discovered that plotting a crime and concealing it proved challenging, so she switched to lighter, everyday themes, like love, family, and romance. Despite her early success in this genre, Waxman found herself yearning to return to crime writing, a desire that was eventually fulfilled as market trends shifted, paving the way for her debut in the crime genre.
Upon revisiting the mystery novel, Waxman collaborated with a friend, a successful TV writer, to reassess the plot's structure and make necessary revisions. The experience highlighted the difficulties of crafting a compelling crime story and caused Waxman to question her mental stability. However, Waxman channeled her determination, recalling her mother's perseverance, and sought assistance wherever possible to perfect her crime writing skills.
In time, Waxman completed her first crime novel and hoped her mother would appreciate it as much as she had enjoyed reading hers. Observing her mother's influence on her work, Waxman now realizes that her own children find her peculiar, much like their grandmother, further underscoring the enduring familial tradition in crime writing.
Abbi Waxman's foray into book writing expanded beyond the realm of crime fiction, delving into lifestyle, fashion-and-beauty, and entertainment, yet her mother's influence always lingered, inspiring her to maintain a collection of mysteries in her household, instilling a passion for the genre in her children as well.
