Author Julie Smith has published 17 novels. She's a master series writer, often bringing the same characters back in her work.

Book reviewer Cassie Fenoseff recently talked with Smith about her books and FictionAddiction.NET's site visitors also asked questions about the writing life, agents and getting published.

Your main character, Talba, calls herself a Baroness. What made you choose such an unusual title for her?

Actually, the Baroness de Pontalba is a historical character, and quite a formidable one. She was an early New Orleanian for whom Talba named herself.

Talba, as you may recall, has three names--her birth name; the one the family calls her, and the one she named herself. For reasons of her own (explained in her poem, "I Am Like a Cat"), she wanted to steal someone's name. Also, she wanted to be a Baroness. Who doesn't?

Including poetry in a mystery novel isn't typical. How did you come up with this idea?

It was all of a piece with the character. Here's how it happened - in 82 Desire (in which Talba is introduced), I needed a detective who could do undercover work in an office environment. In New Orleans, such people are often young, female, and African-Amercan; so that was that part of it.

Then I started working on who she was as a person - I got the idea of having her live with her mother, and was instantly reminded of Mada Plummer, a very riveting poet whom I'd heard read a poem about her mother. Why not, I thought, have Talba be a poet too? Loved the idea.

Thus was the poet born and with her the poetry. Once I was committed to one, I was stuck with the other - but I must say, I've really enjoyed writing it. I let the poems tell a story, like prose, thus, hopefully, don't get myself in too much trouble.

Talba makes several comments about the differences between white people and black people, something not often found in books where the main character is white, unlike Talba. Why did you decide to do this?

Now there's a fascinating question. Here's one for you - does she really? I'm blushing - can't remember it at all, except for one or two remarks she makes that are actually about color.

For instance, one character says Talba looks pale, and Talba does characterize that as a white person's remark. (That was inspired by a similar thing I once said to a black person; he answered me back by laughing his head off.)

I honestly can't think of any other instances, but your question is great on a theoretical level. If I allowed Talba to do this, it must have been because I thought I could.

If she were white, she certainly couldn't generalize about black people. That would be racist. However, we all know white people have no rhythm and our men can't jump. Thus the prevailing culture seems to find the complementary generalizations at least somewhat acceptable. Interesting, huh?

Will there be additional Talba Wallis books?

Oh, yes. Congratulate me - I just finished plotting Louisiana Gunshot. (Well, it'll probably end up with a different title, but that'll do for now.) Next year, though, there'll be a Skip Langdon book. Gunshot is for 2004.