Drinks and Starters

IN THEIR OWN WORDS - authors and guests share thoughts, comments and musings with 24/8.

Featuring Author Mehmet Murat Somer

Penguin Books, 2008

An exotic, completely different and to some outlandish cast of characters that laced with excellent dialogue and humor typify this mystery series. A sinister mystery that captures a certain culture in Istanbul that involves the lavish nightlife of transvestites intertwined with politics and the ruthless local mafia.

One of the “girls” that works at the club, Buse, seeks out the transgender hostess, minority share club owner and the unnamed hero/heroine of the story to express fears regarding her safety. This transvestite boss channels Audrey Hepburn in her dress and manner in her nightlife persona. Like Superman he has a day job as a computer security analyst.

Buse had an affair many years before with a now high ranking official who has become aware that she has some tokens of their relationship that he believes will ruin him. Others who are ruthless and would not mind seeing his demise as is politics are also after these documents. It is the belief that the transvestite and her hostess boss possess these documents or know of their location. Buse turns up murdered and the transvestite boss pursue the case whose threats she did not take seriously. This is not the first time this transvestite has solved a mystery and it will not be the last.

24/8 Q & A with author Mehmet Murat Somer:

What do you want your US audience to know about the Turkish Delight Mystery series? 

MMS - First of all they are fun! Jolly books... Touching the unknown territories? Or as Val Mc Dermit said about them: "A cappuccino of a book - the froth and fizz on top disguises the dark and bitter beneath"

Well my major character is a transgender person, an amateur sleuth... And majority of my readers are women!

Where did you draw inspiration for your hero/heroine?

MMS - Well, first of all I, humbly, consider my self a good crime reader. And as everybody knows, there are many straight male and female detectives in the crime literature. Only a few gays, with a splash of bisexuals. So, I started to think, why not a transgender one. And as far as I know, my hero is the first and only one, yet .

I had, infact still have, two aims:

First was to try to alter the perception of transgender people. Which is not very welcome in most societies. Especially the transvestites. They are either presented as either slapstick fun material or potential criminals by the media. Merely third page news, inferior films and novels. For example start with the popular “The Silence of the Lambs” and I can name many more. And as a result transvestites are perceived by many, as potential criminals, doomed to be street hookers but nothing else, with almost no moral values. Or half-wits.

I don’t like this attitude at all.

And my first objective was to present a likeable, intelligent, witty, refined, well educated hero/heroine decorated with “positive skills”. Not the typical, stereotyped drag-queen. So, I furnished him/her with contrasting and considerable talents and skills… Plus lots of knowledge and warm wit. I try to put the transvestites, the transgenders in a different perception angle.

And having a transgender protagonist helped me a lot. Whenever I want, I entered him as a seductress with an Audrey Hepburn alter-ego, or as a handsome gentleman.

And my second objective was to write a witty, “effervescent” crime novel. I, personally get bored with dark, dark, dark crime novels. Does that sound like middle age crisis? Not yet. Life is, and should be, joy for me.

 If you had the choice of lunch with anyone, who would it be? 

MMS - Depends on whatever is going to happen after the lunch. And naturally which mood I am in... Intellectual, just effervescent, flirtatious or simply horny. Since this is a hypothetical question, what about Jack & Karen from Will & Grace? Or are they out already? People magazine's "Most beautiful people list" will do! Start from the top...

Why the Audrey Hepburn connection?

MMS - As the ultimate icon of elegance, her slim look, fragile and boyish beauty.

Do you remember what you were doing when you found out your first book was going to be published? 

MMS - I was consulting another management or personal development course. Since I was rejected several times before, did not t ake it seriously.

What books are on your nightstand?  

MMS - An atlas! Love to check the places I haven't been yet and make plans just before falling asleep.

What review of your books has meant the most to you?  

MMS - All of them! I believe that every review is reflecting a perception and significance. Among so many published books, if someone picks mine to review, that means they found my book at least significant. And I value this. And I have a perfect agent who forwards me only the flattering ones!

If 24/8 could magically make your week go from 24/7 to 24/8 what would you do with the extra time? 

MMS - This is great! 24/8, if applied to the past, will definitely make me a lot younger. And the extra time? More of whatever I fancy at that moment, hence more joy. Did I mention I am a hedonistic person? Looking for joy out of everything I do.