Local author Justin Kiska is a natural storyteller whom brings his writing to life…literally! With over a decade of writing stage productions, interactive mysteries, and books, Justin creates theatre magic at The Way Off Broadway Dinner Theatre. His family purchased Frederick’s only year-round producing theatre where he has presented over one hundred productions as owner and Managing Director.
Following great success of his interactive murder mysteries, Justin released his latest novel and first full-length “case”, Now & Then, in February 2021. Mystery-genre lovers and beyond are enjoying this first book in the new Parker City Mysteries Series and anxiously awaiting for his next story to unfold.
Justin’s audiences are treated to becoming part of an adventure, be it a thrilling “who-dunnit”, fun-filled comedy, and even a number of holiday stage plays. After penning the script for The Great Elf Adventure, a children's theatre musical that premiered in 2015, he’s currently working on adapting The Great Elf Adventure into a children's book.
With more talent in the works, Justin recently answered our questions below for FURL’s local author spotlight series. You can also read more about Justin on his website, www.JustinKiska.com.
How did you get started writing?
Decades later, after distinguished careers in law enforcement, Ben and Tommy find themselves on the eve of retirement. But in their final days on the job, their very first case comes back to haunt them in a heart-wrenching twist, leaving everyone to wonder-did they get it wrong all those years ago? Has the killer been on the loose all this time?
I actually began writing mysteries for my “day job.” I’ve been a producer at The Way Off Broadway Dinner Theatre since 2002 and have directed a number of the theatre’s productions over the years. For the theatre’s 2005 Season, I wrote my very first interactive murder mystery, A Rock-n-Roll Golden Oldies Mystery, followed by The Case of the Oldest Living Showgirl two years later. These interactive mysteries became so popular that I began producing them for events outside of the theatre, creating the Marquee Mysteries Series which now presents interactive murder mystery events at Way Off Broadway, Nora Roberts's Inn Boonsboro, on the Walkersville Southern Railroad throughout the year, and other venues around the area.
Over a decade later, with nearly fifty interactive mysteries under my belt, I sat down and tried my hand at a full-length mystery. I guess it was a challenge to myself, more than anything else. I’ve always loved reading mysteries but I had never thought about writing them. That first full-length mystery turned out to be Now & Then, the first book in my new Parker City Mysteries Series with Level Best Books.
Where did you get the idea for your first book?
The truth of the matter is, I had the idea of the setting for Now & Then before I had the whole story in my head. I’m very upfront about it when I say Parker City is a fictionalized version of Frederick, which has such an amazing history and some great stories. And as I say, every city has its secrets. Once I knew where the story was going to take place, all of the other pieces just started falling into place.
As all of this was happening, I was also thinking about how interesting it would be to see both Parker City and the main characters in the past and the present. And how a crime from the past could come back to haunt everyone today.
I wish I could say I had planned the whole thing out before I started writing, but there were days I felt like I was just along for the ride and watching everything unfold like Ben and Tommy, the detectives in the book.
How long did it take you to write it?
Now & Then was written over the span of a few years. I started it, then got caught up with projects at work. I’d go back to it every once in a while. Then something else would come up. I had never set a deadline for when I wanted to finish it. But once I was over halfway to catching the killer, I was able to finish it pretty quickly.
As for the second novel in the series, Vice & Virtue, which is slated to come out in January 2022, I wrote that in six months. While Way Off Broadway was closed due to the pandemic, I found myself with quite a bit of extra time on my hands.
Was there any part of the publishing/promotion process that surprised you?
It was all new to me. I was amazed to find out how many books are released – not just every year – but every week! And releasing a book during a pandemic, well, there wasn’t really a playbook for that. There was no big book launch party or any in-person events kicking things off. Everything is pretty much being done online and virtually. I’ve been very lucky, though. Level Best Books, my publisher, and Shawn, my editor, have been amazing to work with and guide me through this new adventure.
Who are your favorite authors?
You’d think that would be an easy question to answer, but it seems like I’m always finding a new book by an author I’ve never read before, then they go on the list of favorites. And the list just keeps growing.
Obviously, Agatha Christie and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle came up with great stories and paved the way for so much of what the mystery genre is today. So, whenever I’m looking for a classic mystery, I usually turn to them. As far as contemporary authors go, I love Michael Connelly’s Bosch series. I’ve always been a fan of James Patterson’s Alex Cross and Private books. William Martin also has a fantastic time-shift series about a high-end antiquities dealer named Peter Fallon that brings together history and suspense.
What's the best book you've read in the past year?
I have so many I could recommend, but the one that I keep thinking about is Hallie Rubenhold’s The Five.
As a mystery lover, it's impossible for me to deny that I am, and always have been, intrigued by the most notorious unsolved case of all times. The case of Jack the Ripper is truly what legends are made of. HOWEVER . . . what if some of the facts we have all come to accept are not true? Specifically, the nature of Jack's victims. Since the time of the murders, we have always been led to believe the five women (who are accepted as the canonical five) were prostitutes. The idea of a mysterious figure killing prostitutes in London's East End certainly made for a sensational story.
The Five examines the lives of the five women who were murdered by Jack during that terrible autumn. It’s a fascinating read because not only did I walk away having learned so much more about London during that particular time, but that these victims WERE NOT what they have been painted to be for over a century. Which then begs the question, if the true nature of a killer's victims is never understood, is it actually possible to solve the case? If the police and the press had not assumed these women were all prostitutes, but looked at then as unfortunates down on their luck, would it -- could it -- have changed the way the case was investigated? Rubenhold does not try to solve the case. Her goal is to give us a better (well researched) look at the lives of Mary Ann Nichols, Annie Chapman, Elizabeth Stride, Catherine Eddowes, and Mary Jane Kelly.
I just found the book fascinating.
Is there any advice you would give to "budding author?”
I would have two simple things to tell them. First, do your research. It’s the little details that can really make a difference in a story. Especially a mystery. And second, read as much as you can just to familiarize yourself with other authors’ styles and how they build their stories. No matter how many books someone writes, they can still learn from other authors.