Featured Author
Gail Winegar INTVW by Aira Calina
What makes one a serial killer? Inspired by real-life events close to home, Gail Winegar took it upon herself to seek light on the perpetrators and victims of murder and the judicial system. She interviewed countless people and attentively observed unending court trials involving these cases to try and cover every angle. In this issue of NRM, we bring you Gail Winegar as she shares the events that led her through writing Vincible: In the Wake of a Serial Killer, her reflections upon what she found in her extensive research, and more. NRM: Vincible: In The Wake of a Serial Killer is a chilling thriller that’s inspired by real events. Can you tell us more about the process of turning undoubtedly scarring real-life events into this haunting yet gripping tale? GAIL WINEGAR: When my friend’s daughter was brutally murdered, I took an obvious interest in the case of these two sadistic killers. Their barbaric acts of horror left indelible scars in their wake and senselessly forced innocent people to endure irreversible suffering. I began attending the inexhaustible hearings and trials of this horrific case, and was astonished that the “right to a speedy trial” did not apply to the victims. NRM: Did you have to edit something out of your book? If so, what was it and how did it change the story? If not, was this because you believed the story was in its best form with all elements present or is there any other reason? GW: I spent countless hours interviewing people from as many angles as possible, and found that as I unraveled circumstances from each side, my understanding and empathy grew. At one point, towards the end of the trial, I found myself feeling strangely compassionate toward Axel, who had unwittingly been groomed into becoming a killer. One evening my husband accidentally backed his truck over my 3-month-old puppy, Iris, crushing her back legs. She shrieked in pain incessantly, as we rushed her to the veterinary hospital. When we arrived, Iris continued to howl and I fell to the floor with Iris in my arms. I sobbed over her in a heaving puddle and could not be consoled. I cried her name over and over, but instead of calling her “Iris” I kept repeating “Jessie,” the name of a victim. I couldn’t understand for a moment how anyone could cause harm to any soul or creature under any circumstance—let alone inflicting torture purposely. Any perceived empathy I had for a killer instantly and permanently
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dissipated—any excuse for violence in any form ceased to exist. At the same time I had a panoramic understanding that I could not deny. NRM: In the book, you have both male and female characters. What’s the most difficult thing about writing characters from the opposite sex? GW: I had no difficulty writing from the perspective of either male or female. People are people and manage their feelings from different places no matter who they are. Women, and especially mothers, have a profound tenderness and vulnerability towards their children. Men sometimes have the burden of putting aside their own feelings for a time in order to hold up their loved ones. But grief will always take its toll in one way or another and unfortunately, no emotionally healthy person is exempt from its grasp. NRM: How do you select the names of your characters? GW: Choosing names for my characters comes easily. They practically select themselves and take on the identity of the individual. It’s very difficult to have to change a name midstream for some reason. NRM: As of this writing, you have two books published in total. Do you want each book to stand on its own, or are you trying to build a body of work with connections between each book? What’s in store for your readers? GW: As of this writing, I have three books published in total, all completely different genres. Of course, like most authors, I have many unpublished works that may or may not ever see the light of day. My publisher wanted me to write a sequel to Vincible, and I actually outlined it, calling it Convincible. I spent a good deal of time with the project, but eventually put it on hold because I prefer to write more light-hearted things. Unlike Vincible, Convincible predominantly had to come out of my own head and I found it disturbing to manufacture the scenes. So we’ll see if Vince wins over in the future. In the meantime, I am busy working on a children’s book series called Silver and Samm, which is a sheer pleasure to compose. I also write a blog, “Off the Wall, a Blithe n’ Brazen Blog” at gailwinegar.com.
