Paula Tutman, news reporter for WDIV-TV Local 4 News in Detroit, is also a local published author of a suspense thriller series, "Deadline." The first book is completed and is about a reporter who gets to the murder scene and does not realize the killer is still there. The murderer, in love with the reporter, continues to kill hoping the reporter will appear at each murder scene so he can see her again.

I had an opportunity to work with Paula Tutman on a WDIV news piece covering the Republican Gubernatorial Debate (click here). I admired how she worked the segment and asked questions that made a difference in the outcome of the coverage. Now, I had the opportunity to do the asking as I interviewed Paula about her published work as an author.  I soon realized Paula is just as good at answering the questions as she is at asking them.

OCM: I know how busy you are. How in the heck did you have time to write a novel? How long did it take you to complete it?

Paula: Well, I never wanted to be a reporter.  I grew up in a household in which we weren't even allowed to watch TV.  I always wanted to write.  My mom says I wrote my first poem at age 3 - I think it was closer to age 6. When I was a child I used to write poetry and short stories on my bed sheets and my mother wouldn't change them until I was done with a particular chapter.  I stumbled into the news business almost 30 years ago-obviously starting when I was 6:).  I had no idea that it would give me such rich material to work with.  As far as time, it's an issue.  The current book I'm writing, Local Noose has taken less than a year, but because I'm a newlywed and a mother for the first time, it's been a real challenge to find time to write.  Believe it or not, I've gotten the latest book done in a total of about 30 days of stealing weekends and evenings when able.  I'm actually a pretty fast writer.
     
OCM: Was it difficult to parlay a reporter's style of writing into the colorful storytelling of "Deadline!!"? You're very adept at both.

Paula: No, not at all.  And thank you.  I write from something I call 'The Voice'.  It really does speak to me.  The way I hear the words in my head is exactly the way they go on paper.  Dialogue is particularly clear to me.  People tell me they can taste my writing.  I like that characterization, because I think I'm an honest writer who isn't TRYING to create...the creation seems to find me where I am and chime into my consciousness.  My husband thinks it's weird.  He says when I write, I laugh to myself, whimper, pace, sigh - the whole gamut of emotions that I'm unaware that I'm displaying because I lose myself in the 'The Voice' of what's being said to me.

OCM: As a WDIV reporter, do you find yourself wanting to "paint a picture" more on the stories you report on? This novel seems like a great way for you to expand more on what you see than what a TV newscast would limit you to.

Paula: Interesting observation.  One of my author buddies called my writing FACTION.  Someone else observed that I write with a social conscience.  I think both are true.  I keep a little notebook with me at all times, and jot down crazy, interesting, outrageous, poignant, fascinating things that I can use in my writing later.  And yes, I do get to expand on things as I write for fiction.  I also get to change the ending, which is the most fun.  It's like creating my own little world, and I'm the boss.  What I say goes.  I like the creative control of this little world I've built.  But because I write from that little voice, sometimes I don't know what's going to happen next.  Sometimes I'm as surprised as the reader.

OCM: Your novel paints an excellent picture of the "behind the scenes" work of a TV reporter. Is the "behind the scenes" work your favorite part of your work in television reporting or just the most interesting?

Paula Tutman:  Wow, I can tell you read the book, thank you!  Yeah.  If you like watching the news, or even if you don't - you'll get a real and accurate picture of why we do things the way we do things.  You might ask yourself why do we cover some stories and not others?  Those questions are answered in the book.

OCM: What do you read in your free time? Are you a true-crime buff?

Paula Tutman: I am a veracious reader.  I love to read.  I love learning.  I have a huge curiosity base as well as knowledge base.  I have a bad habit of reading several books at a time because I'm so time starved so I pack in as much reading as I can, when able.  I am not, however, a true crime buff.  I like true crime.  I'm a former police reporter and in fact, the first two books in the Deadline series - Deadline!, Book One and Deadline!!, Second Block - are loosely based on a serial killer who actually developed an obsession with me when I covered his murder trial in Baltimore.  His love letters to me and pre-trial reports are actually in the second book. I'm fascinated by the deeds of others...good, bad, or indifferent.   I guess I'm just a nosey person who gets paid to be nosey.  I love TV shows about true crimes, because they're visual.  But for reading, I'd rather read non-fiction history or sciences and mainstream fiction.  Looooooove Stephen King, George Orwell and Pearl Buck.  How's that for diverse taste?

OCM: Have you ever felt like you were in danger on any of your WDIV reporting assignments?

Paula Tutman: Absolutely.  I've gotten into some very dangerous scrapes, especially as a police reporter.  I've been shot at, kicked at and threatened.  I've had three stalkers that I know of.

OCM: Tell us about your Children's ToothFairy Foundation. What made you decide to start up a non-profit?

Paula Tutman: It had to be done.  It's so critical.  And it's one of the hardest things I've ever loved.  Raising money is so tough these days.  But I honestly believe that the children we help today won't grow up and hit you over your head for your wallet in twenty years.  People think dental care is a cosmetic issue, but it's not.  It's a medical issue, and an economic issue, a social issue and a self-esteem issue.  When I was a police reporter, I noticed a lot of the criminals that walked by me had rotting or missing teeth.  I realized the correlation between good dental hygiene and success in life.  A child who can't chew properly can't eat and learn. A child who has a toothache can't sleep.  A child who's ashamed of their smile, grows up to hate himself and then others.  Medicaid pays 80 bucks to pull teeth.  That's it.  That's why so many disadvantaged people grow up missing teeth.  At Children's ToothFairy Foundation, if we have to raise a thousand dollars to save one tooth, we'll do it.  Pulling teeth is our last resort.  And because of that we believe the children we service today in Wayne, Washtenaw, Macomb and Oakland Counties will grow up less likely to become victims or victimizers.

OCM: We have a special section on our site dedicated to Autism Awareness. What motivated you to pitch your Autism Awareness special to WDIV?

Paula Tutman: Wow, you do pay attention.  When I got out of college I actually taught Autistic Adolescents.  I studied Therapeutic Theatre in college and had planned to work with children with disabilities as a life career...but alas, I stumbled into television news and became a writer.  But I still wanted to shine a light on the topic; show how tough it is for some of these parents, and how little support many get.  I wanted people to not turn away from something they didn't understand, but look at it for what it is and try not to judge harshly.

Here's a link to Paula Tutman's site where you find out more about her book and order it online.

Click here for more interviews and book reviews from Michigan Authors from our Local Authors Directory