Colleen Cross's Blog, page 3
December 14, 2016
Meet the Authors - 25 Mysteries to Die For - Alannah Rogers
Introducing Alannah Rogers, 25 Mysteries to Die For co-author...
ALANNAH ROGERS AUTHOR INTERVIEW
SC: Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
I'm a full-time mystery writer living in Toronto, Canada. I was hired to ghostwrite cozy cat mysteries and about a year and a half ago I decided I wanted to try to write my own! I always had cats growing up. I even subscribed to Cat Fancy magazine when I was a kid, I was so obsessed. I don't have pets now because I travel too much so I write cat mysteries instead.
SC: Was there a certain time in your life you knew you wanted to write?
I've always wanted to be a writer. I even worked in marketing at a major publisher for a while. But at the back of my mind, I always wanted to be the one writing the books. I moved to Mexico City four years ago, where I met my husband. It's a far cheaper city to live in and I was able to start writing full-time while teaching English on the side.
SC: What are you currently working on?
I just finished my ninth Beatrice Young cozy cat mystery called The Amaw-zing British Murder Mystery. Beatrice and her three crime-solving cats go to England on holiday and end up investigating the murder of a fellow guest at their B&B.
SC: Of the books you’ve written, which one is your favorite and why?
I love The Santa Claws Bandit. It is completely ridiculous. The cats participate in a theater version of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol and there's a gun-toting thief dressed as Santa. It's a lot of fun.
SC: What books have most influenced you as a writer?
I'm actually not a huge mystery reader, though I hope to change that. I read a lot of classic children's literature when I was a kid. Think Anne of Green Gables, Nancy Drew, The Secret Garden, The Phantom Toolbooth, the Narnia books. Those simple books with loveable characters and can't-put-'em-'down plots have probably influenced my writing the most.
SC: What do you find to be the most challenging part of writing? And the most rewarding?
Sitting down and actually writing the thing. I do a lot of complaining and avoiding writing by going to the kitchen for coffee and snacks. I'll go to a cafe if I'm really blocked. The background noise relaxes and focuses me, for some reason. The most rewarding part of writing is when you really get into the groove of the story and get excited about the story and characters. I love those moments when I'm writing and I make myself laugh. That's when I know the book is actually going to be funny and not terrible.
SC: What book is on your nightstand?
I just finished The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie. I decided I need to write more complex mysteries, so I'd better study the master!
SC: What can we look forward to seeing from you in the future?
I'm preparing to write The Meowy Christmas Kitten, a new Christmas-themed Beatrice Young cozy cat mystery. It'll release December 4, 2016. Christmas is my favorite holiday so I'm going to have a lot of fun with this book.
SC: Is there anything you’d like to share with your readers?
Even if you hate cats, you should still read my books because the cats in my novels are like normal cats but much, much better. They're like funny little people who have amazing crime-solving skills. Also, you should sign up for my mailing list because I send out cool sales, contests, and special content.
AUTHOR LINKS
Website link n/a
Amazon Author page http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B016N5W120
Facebook Link (author page): https://www.facebook.com/alannahrogersmysteries/
Twitter Link: https://twitter.com/arogersauthor
AUTHOR BIO
Alannah Rogers is the pen name for a Canadian writer. She grew up in Nova Scotia and her trips to nearby Maine and New Hampshire helped inspire the Beatrice Young books. She is currently based in Toronto.
ALANNAH ROGERS AUTHOR INTERVIEW
SC: Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?I'm a full-time mystery writer living in Toronto, Canada. I was hired to ghostwrite cozy cat mysteries and about a year and a half ago I decided I wanted to try to write my own! I always had cats growing up. I even subscribed to Cat Fancy magazine when I was a kid, I was so obsessed. I don't have pets now because I travel too much so I write cat mysteries instead.
SC: Was there a certain time in your life you knew you wanted to write?
I've always wanted to be a writer. I even worked in marketing at a major publisher for a while. But at the back of my mind, I always wanted to be the one writing the books. I moved to Mexico City four years ago, where I met my husband. It's a far cheaper city to live in and I was able to start writing full-time while teaching English on the side.
SC: What are you currently working on?
I just finished my ninth Beatrice Young cozy cat mystery called The Amaw-zing British Murder Mystery. Beatrice and her three crime-solving cats go to England on holiday and end up investigating the murder of a fellow guest at their B&B.
SC: Of the books you’ve written, which one is your favorite and why?
I love The Santa Claws Bandit. It is completely ridiculous. The cats participate in a theater version of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol and there's a gun-toting thief dressed as Santa. It's a lot of fun.
SC: What books have most influenced you as a writer?
I'm actually not a huge mystery reader, though I hope to change that. I read a lot of classic children's literature when I was a kid. Think Anne of Green Gables, Nancy Drew, The Secret Garden, The Phantom Toolbooth, the Narnia books. Those simple books with loveable characters and can't-put-'em-'down plots have probably influenced my writing the most.
SC: What do you find to be the most challenging part of writing? And the most rewarding?
Sitting down and actually writing the thing. I do a lot of complaining and avoiding writing by going to the kitchen for coffee and snacks. I'll go to a cafe if I'm really blocked. The background noise relaxes and focuses me, for some reason. The most rewarding part of writing is when you really get into the groove of the story and get excited about the story and characters. I love those moments when I'm writing and I make myself laugh. That's when I know the book is actually going to be funny and not terrible.
SC: What book is on your nightstand?
I just finished The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie. I decided I need to write more complex mysteries, so I'd better study the master!
SC: What can we look forward to seeing from you in the future?
I'm preparing to write The Meowy Christmas Kitten, a new Christmas-themed Beatrice Young cozy cat mystery. It'll release December 4, 2016. Christmas is my favorite holiday so I'm going to have a lot of fun with this book.
SC: Is there anything you’d like to share with your readers?
Even if you hate cats, you should still read my books because the cats in my novels are like normal cats but much, much better. They're like funny little people who have amazing crime-solving skills. Also, you should sign up for my mailing list because I send out cool sales, contests, and special content.
AUTHOR LINKS
Website link n/a
Amazon Author page http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B016N5W120
Facebook Link (author page): https://www.facebook.com/alannahrogersmysteries/
Twitter Link: https://twitter.com/arogersauthor
AUTHOR BIO
Alannah Rogers is the pen name for a Canadian writer. She grew up in Nova Scotia and her trips to nearby Maine and New Hampshire helped inspire the Beatrice Young books. She is currently based in Toronto.
December 13, 2016
Meet the Authors - 25 Mysteries to Die For - Maggie West
Introducing Maggie West, 25 Mysteries to Die For co-author...
MAGGIE WEST AUTHOR INTERVIEW
Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
I’m a copyeditor and writer and mostly a big fan of fiction! I think it’s the escape from the everyday that I love so much about fiction. I’ve read so much fiction that I think the next logical step was to write it. As hobbies, I love antiques and crafting and sewing. I also love playing with my energetic kitten and taking walks.
Was there a certain time in your life you knew you wanted to write?
I’ve always enjoyed writing. I would stay in at recess in second grade to write letters to my mom. Those letters weren’t terribly exciting, but I enjoyed it more than playing tag on the playground!
What are you currently working on?
I’m working on another installment in my Antique Pickers in Paradise Cozy Mystery series. These are short reads so are perfect for reading while commuting or waiting at appointments or just for a quick read you can read all in one sitting. I love putting Sherri and Carol in awkward situations (usually there’s a dead body involved) and seeing how they handle it.
Of the books you’ve written, which one is your favorite and why?
I really like my antique pickers cozy series and so far, my first book, Picked to Death, is my favorite. In Picked to Death, I got to develop the characters of Sherri, Carol, Ralph, and Leon and fix the people who in the small Midwestern town of Paradise.
What books have most influenced you as a writer?
I am basically nosey and love to read about real people’s lives. In elementary school the library had biographies of famous people and I read them all. Fiction, to me, is just an extension of real life. It may not have happened exactly as written, but it’s fun to take snippets from life and use them to create characters and scenarios that could happen.
What do you find to be the most challenging part of writing? And the most rewarding?
I have trouble plotting before I start writing. I have an idea of what the story will be but often it switches course and ends up somewhere else. And that’s okay! Finishing is good. Good and rewarding!
What book is on your nightstand?
I’m reading A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman. It’s wonderful!
What can we look forward to seeing from you in the future?
Right now I’m concentrating on my Antique Pickers series but would like to dust off some standalone novels I wrote several years ago and publish at least one of those.
Is there anything you’d like to share with your readers?
You rock! That’s what this whole writing business is all about after all. Readers make writers complete!
AUTHOR LINKS
Website link: http://www.maggiewestbooks.com
Facebook Link (author page) https://www.facebook.com/MaggieWestAuthor
Twitter Link https://twitter.com/MaggieWestBooks
AUTHOR BIO
Maggie West is the author of the Antique Pickers in Paradise cozy mystery series and the Lily Thistle cozy mystery series, the Doorways to the Past time travel series, and several romance books. When she's not reading or writing, she loves to craft and sew, keep her kitten out of trouble (oh boy, good luck with that!), and take walks where she dreams up new stories.
December 12, 2016
Meet the Authors - 25 Mysteries to Die For - N Gemini Sasson
Introducing N Gemini Sasson, 25 Mysteries to Die For co-author...
N GEMINI SASSON AUTHOR INTERVIEW
Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
Sure, but it’ll seem like I have fifteen different personalities. Bear in mind that I get bored easily, so I’m always doing something. I’m a lifelong runner (Boston Marathon qualifier), a Cross Country coach, a reformed home remodeler, and an avid gardener just trying to keep ahead of the weeds. I’m also a dog sport enthusiast and have raised, trained, shown, and judged Australian Shepherds for nearly three decades – which obviously means I started in the dog show world when I was three. *cough*
Was there a certain time in your life you knew you wanted to write?
Fifteen years old, as I was getting my fingers stuck between the keys of an old manual Royal typewriter in my closet. I never got more than two pages into a story then before I lost focus. It took another twenty years before I actually completed a book. My children were toddlers and I needed to escape without actually leaving the house.
What are you currently working on?
Another Sam McNamee Mystery, of course! The characters that keep showing up in those stories provide plenty of material.
Of the books you’ve written, which one is your favorite and why?
That’s like asking which of my children is my favorite. I love them all, in different ways. My historicals were my posterity projects. My Faderville books make me ponder life more deeply. And my mysteries are just plain fun to write. But of all of them, Say That Again is probably my favorite. It involves an autistic girl, a recycled dog, and a reclusive neighbor. The response from readers was heartwarming.
What books have most influenced you as a writer?
The Three Musketeers, The Five People You Meet in Heaven, and A Dog’s Purpose.
What do you find to be the most challenging part of writing? And the most rewarding?
The most challenging aspects are avoiding distraction and starting a new book. I love the momentum that builds when I get about a third of the way in, but just getting the boulder rolling… not so much. And while working at home is great, you have to learn to say ‘no’ more often than you’d like, sometimes to the point where you feel anti-social.The most rewarding thing is when readers just ‘get it’. When that message you threaded throughout the story moves them, makes them laugh or even cry – that connection is why I write.
What book is on your nightstand?
Nothing. At any time I have a dozen books on the TBR pile of my Kindle. I’d read faster, but then I’d have to write less. Currently I’m reading Nicole Galland’s Stepdog, a romantic comedy, and am thoroughly loving it. I have eclectic tastes: non-fiction, suspense, mysteries, dystopian SciFi, and anything with a dog in it.
What can we look forward to seeing from you in the future?
More standalone dog stories from the Faderville series and at least a few more Sam McNamee books. I’ll stop writing those two series when the ideas quit coming. Which hopefully will be never.
Is there anything you’d like to share with your readers?
Be more like your dog: nap when you need to, play for the sheer joy of it, and forgive easily, because life’s too short to be a grump.
AUTHOR LINKS
Website link – www.ngeminisasson.com
Facebook Link (author page) – www.facebook.com/NGeminiSasson
Twitter Link – www.twitter.com/NGeminiSasson
AUTHOR BIO
N. Gemini Sasson is a serial remodeler, intrepid gardener, runner, and dog lover. She lives in rural Ohio with her husband and an ever-changing number of animals.
Long after writing about Robert the Bruce and Queen Isabella, Sasson learned she is a descendant of both.
N GEMINI SASSON AUTHOR INTERVIEW
Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
Sure, but it’ll seem like I have fifteen different personalities. Bear in mind that I get bored easily, so I’m always doing something. I’m a lifelong runner (Boston Marathon qualifier), a Cross Country coach, a reformed home remodeler, and an avid gardener just trying to keep ahead of the weeds. I’m also a dog sport enthusiast and have raised, trained, shown, and judged Australian Shepherds for nearly three decades – which obviously means I started in the dog show world when I was three. *cough*
Was there a certain time in your life you knew you wanted to write?
Fifteen years old, as I was getting my fingers stuck between the keys of an old manual Royal typewriter in my closet. I never got more than two pages into a story then before I lost focus. It took another twenty years before I actually completed a book. My children were toddlers and I needed to escape without actually leaving the house.
What are you currently working on?
Another Sam McNamee Mystery, of course! The characters that keep showing up in those stories provide plenty of material.
Of the books you’ve written, which one is your favorite and why?
That’s like asking which of my children is my favorite. I love them all, in different ways. My historicals were my posterity projects. My Faderville books make me ponder life more deeply. And my mysteries are just plain fun to write. But of all of them, Say That Again is probably my favorite. It involves an autistic girl, a recycled dog, and a reclusive neighbor. The response from readers was heartwarming.
What books have most influenced you as a writer?
The Three Musketeers, The Five People You Meet in Heaven, and A Dog’s Purpose.
What do you find to be the most challenging part of writing? And the most rewarding?
The most challenging aspects are avoiding distraction and starting a new book. I love the momentum that builds when I get about a third of the way in, but just getting the boulder rolling… not so much. And while working at home is great, you have to learn to say ‘no’ more often than you’d like, sometimes to the point where you feel anti-social.The most rewarding thing is when readers just ‘get it’. When that message you threaded throughout the story moves them, makes them laugh or even cry – that connection is why I write.
What book is on your nightstand?
Nothing. At any time I have a dozen books on the TBR pile of my Kindle. I’d read faster, but then I’d have to write less. Currently I’m reading Nicole Galland’s Stepdog, a romantic comedy, and am thoroughly loving it. I have eclectic tastes: non-fiction, suspense, mysteries, dystopian SciFi, and anything with a dog in it.
What can we look forward to seeing from you in the future?
More standalone dog stories from the Faderville series and at least a few more Sam McNamee books. I’ll stop writing those two series when the ideas quit coming. Which hopefully will be never.
Is there anything you’d like to share with your readers?
Be more like your dog: nap when you need to, play for the sheer joy of it, and forgive easily, because life’s too short to be a grump.
AUTHOR LINKS
Website link – www.ngeminisasson.com
Facebook Link (author page) – www.facebook.com/NGeminiSasson
Twitter Link – www.twitter.com/NGeminiSasson
AUTHOR BIO
N. Gemini Sasson is a serial remodeler, intrepid gardener, runner, and dog lover. She lives in rural Ohio with her husband and an ever-changing number of animals.
Long after writing about Robert the Bruce and Queen Isabella, Sasson learned she is a descendant of both.
December 11, 2016
Meet the Authors - 25 Mysteries to Die For - J D Winters
Introducing J D Winters, 25 Mysteries to Die For co-author...
J D WINTERS AUTHOR INTERVIEW
Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
I was born in Pasadena, California, grew up on islands—first Balboa Island in CA, then Guam in the Pacific. Back to CA for college, married a Geology student and followed him to Washington DC while he did 5 years in the Army. I worked at the National Geographic while there, came back to CA while my husband finished his degree in Geochemistry, began a degree myself in Library Science, but got preggers and began to focus on babies. Much more fun!
Was there a certain time in your life you knew you wanted to write?
I’ve always been a writer, one way or another. I didn’t begin making it my full time endeavor until I had young children and wanted to find a way to make a decent living and yet be able to stay home with my four little ones. Romance was selling—isn’t it always? And after a lot of reading and a lot of writing, I began to sell my stories, first to Jove’s Second Chance at Love, then to Harlequin, Silhouette, Bantam, Dell—anyone who would have me! I got some rights back to old books about three years ago, left traditional publishing, rewrote those books and self published them.
What are you currently working on?
Now I’m writing cozy mysteries. I’ve got three different series going. It all began with Mele Keahi, my half Hawaiian amateur sleuth who sees ghosts and is searching to find out what happened to her mother long ago. My second series features Haley Greco, newly returned to life after a mysterious accident in order to help save her community and town of oddballs, vampires and gremlins of all sorts. Number 3 began as an experiment in shorter stories, hoping to get them out more quickly, but somehow I have the feeling the length is just going to grow on its own. Three sisters are left a magic tea shop along with a black cat familiar by their grandmother and must deal with the animosity of a pair of evil witches who run a competing coffee shop down the street. Fun stories—fun to write!
Of the books you’ve written, which one is your favorite and why?
I love them all—but whatever I’m writing now is always my favorite.
What books have most influenced you as a writer?
Anything by Jane Austen, Georgette Heyer, Dorothy Sayers, John Galsworthy.
What do you find to be the most challenging part of writing? And the most rewarding?
The hardest part is finding the time and solitude to immerse myself in the world I need to visit in order to write the story. The most rewarding is to see people enjoying that world almost as much as I do.
What book is on your nightstand?
Right now, I’m reading the Haunting Danielle series of mysteries by Bobbie Holmes. Once you read one, you have to read them all!
What can we look forward to seeing from you in the future?
I’m hoping to branch out to more mystery series—have a few ideas percolating.
Is there anything you’d like to share with your readers?
The joy of reading! I have a grandchild who’s just discovered it and it has changed her world.
This book is in a series which is being co-written by the illusive Dakota Kahn, who helps with outlines, gives me jokes and explains to me how magic works. Without Dakota, I’d be stumped.
AUTHOR LINKS
Website link https://www.amazon.com/Bewitched-Bedeviled-Bewildered-Sister-Witchcraft-ebook/dp/B01M8L5P8K
Facebook Link (author page) http://jdwinterscozy.com/
Twitter Link @HelenMCon
AUTHOR BIO
J.D. Winters is a pen name for Helen Conrad, an award-winning, USA Today Bestselling Author of more than 100 romances published under various pseudonyms with Harlequin, Silhouette, Loveswept and others--as well as the extensive series, Destiny Bay Romances. Cozy mysteries are a new venture, less romance, but more fun!
J D WINTERS AUTHOR INTERVIEW
Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
I was born in Pasadena, California, grew up on islands—first Balboa Island in CA, then Guam in the Pacific. Back to CA for college, married a Geology student and followed him to Washington DC while he did 5 years in the Army. I worked at the National Geographic while there, came back to CA while my husband finished his degree in Geochemistry, began a degree myself in Library Science, but got preggers and began to focus on babies. Much more fun!
Was there a certain time in your life you knew you wanted to write?
I’ve always been a writer, one way or another. I didn’t begin making it my full time endeavor until I had young children and wanted to find a way to make a decent living and yet be able to stay home with my four little ones. Romance was selling—isn’t it always? And after a lot of reading and a lot of writing, I began to sell my stories, first to Jove’s Second Chance at Love, then to Harlequin, Silhouette, Bantam, Dell—anyone who would have me! I got some rights back to old books about three years ago, left traditional publishing, rewrote those books and self published them.
What are you currently working on?
Now I’m writing cozy mysteries. I’ve got three different series going. It all began with Mele Keahi, my half Hawaiian amateur sleuth who sees ghosts and is searching to find out what happened to her mother long ago. My second series features Haley Greco, newly returned to life after a mysterious accident in order to help save her community and town of oddballs, vampires and gremlins of all sorts. Number 3 began as an experiment in shorter stories, hoping to get them out more quickly, but somehow I have the feeling the length is just going to grow on its own. Three sisters are left a magic tea shop along with a black cat familiar by their grandmother and must deal with the animosity of a pair of evil witches who run a competing coffee shop down the street. Fun stories—fun to write!
Of the books you’ve written, which one is your favorite and why?
I love them all—but whatever I’m writing now is always my favorite.
What books have most influenced you as a writer?
Anything by Jane Austen, Georgette Heyer, Dorothy Sayers, John Galsworthy.
What do you find to be the most challenging part of writing? And the most rewarding?
The hardest part is finding the time and solitude to immerse myself in the world I need to visit in order to write the story. The most rewarding is to see people enjoying that world almost as much as I do.
What book is on your nightstand?
Right now, I’m reading the Haunting Danielle series of mysteries by Bobbie Holmes. Once you read one, you have to read them all!
What can we look forward to seeing from you in the future?
I’m hoping to branch out to more mystery series—have a few ideas percolating.
Is there anything you’d like to share with your readers?
The joy of reading! I have a grandchild who’s just discovered it and it has changed her world.
This book is in a series which is being co-written by the illusive Dakota Kahn, who helps with outlines, gives me jokes and explains to me how magic works. Without Dakota, I’d be stumped.
AUTHOR LINKS
Website link https://www.amazon.com/Bewitched-Bedeviled-Bewildered-Sister-Witchcraft-ebook/dp/B01M8L5P8K
Facebook Link (author page) http://jdwinterscozy.com/
Twitter Link @HelenMCon
AUTHOR BIO
J.D. Winters is a pen name for Helen Conrad, an award-winning, USA Today Bestselling Author of more than 100 romances published under various pseudonyms with Harlequin, Silhouette, Loveswept and others--as well as the extensive series, Destiny Bay Romances. Cozy mysteries are a new venture, less romance, but more fun!
December 10, 2016
Meet the Authors - 25 Mysteries to Die For - Caroline Mickelson
Introducing Caroline Mickelson, 25 Mysteries to Die For co-author...
CAROLINE MICKELSON AUTHOR INTERVIEW
Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
I'm an avid reader, a mystery and romance author, and a mother / wrangler of four teenagers. I live in the American southwest, and after thirty years here, I'm still trying to appreciate the desert landscape and heat. I'm also a huge Agatha Christie fan, and Hercule Poirot is my literary hero.
Was there a certain time in your life you knew you wanted to write?
There was never a time when I wanted to be anything else. According to my mother, I was dictating stories to her before I learned to write.
What are you currently working on?
I'm at work on the next in the Sophia Mancini ~ Little Italy series. The title of the next book is 'Lights Out in Little Italy'.
Of the books you’ve written, which one is your favorite and why?
My favorite is 'From Mangia to Murder' because I love the characters as well as the post-World War II period it's set in. My grandfather was the first-born child of Italian immigrants and the story is a tribute to him.
What books have most influenced you as a writer?
Oh, so many! But if pressed to choose one author, it would have to be Agatha Christie. I've read and re-read all of her mysteries multiple times and I marvel at her story telling skill.
What do you find to be the most challenging part of writing? And the most rewarding?
The most challenging part of writing is actually sitting down to write every day. Because I so badly want to do justice to my ideas and characters, I often have to work through some resistance / perfectionist issues before I start typing. The most rewarding part of being a writer is hearing from readers who want to know when the next book is coming out - best compliment ever!
What book is on your nightstand?
My Kindle is the only thing on my nightstand. It's chock full of books waiting to be read - but isn't that true for everyone's e-reader? I love finding a new-to-me mystery series, it's like striking gold.
What can we look forward to seeing from you in the future?
More books in the Little Italy mystery series, and the start of a new series. I have ideas for three different series and I change my hourly about which path to take first. It's a fun stage to be in.
Is there anything you’d like to share with your readers?
I'd love to say thank you to any reader who spends time reading any of my books. Time is so precious for all of us, and I'm honored if readers choose to spend some time in my world. Thank you!
AUTHOR LINKS
Website: www.carolinemickelson.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100012200737095
Goodreads link: https://www.goodreads.com/CarolineM67
AUTHOR BIO
Caroline Mickelson loves her family and loves to write. She also loves a good adventure, among her favorites thus far were attending graduate school in a Scottish castle, riding a camel around the Pyramids in Giza, and taking a best-in-a-lifetime road trip to Graceland. Caroline lives in the American southwest with her husband and their four children, affectionately known as The Miracles.
December 9, 2016
Meet the Authors - 25 Mysteries to Die For - Nell Goddin
Introducing Nell Goddin, 25 Mysteries to Die For co-author...
NELL GODDIN AUTHOR INTERVIEW
Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
At the moment I'm deep into mysteries and really enjoying figuring out ways to cover the tracks of criminals, researching poisons, and thinking about sociopaths. So I spend my time thinking about totally degenerate behavior! In my non-writing life, I have a big garden, too many ill-behaved pets, and unruly teenagers--very messy but all good.
Was there a certain time in your life you knew you wanted to write?
I started my first novel at age 8 (didn't get very far...) and never considered doing anything else.
What are you currently working on?
I'm halfway into book #6 of the Molly Sutton Mystery Series. No title yet...
Of the books you’ve written, which one is your favorite and why?
I'd have to say the first book in the Molly Sutton Series is my favorite, even though the mysteries themselves get better as the series progresses. It's my favorite because I started it on a trip to France. I was staying at an AirBnB in a small village on the Mediterranean coast, in a bungalow attached to an artist's house. I was so blissfully happy to be there, loved meeting the artist and wandering around the village--it was like the book just fell into my lap, and all I had to do was open it and start writing it down.
What books have most influenced you as a writer?
Probably F. Scott Fitzgerald and Patricia Highsmith. An odd pair.
What do you find to be the most challenging part of writing? And the most rewarding?
At this point in my life (no spring chicken!), the most challenging part is remembering the details of what's going on in the book I'm writing. The most rewarding is always losing myself in a story when the characters come alive and start bossing me around.
What book is on your nightstand?
The Kind Worth Killing, by Peter Swanson.
What can we look forward to seeing from you in the future?
My next project is going to be standalone, a more literary crime/suspense novel rather than straight-up mystery. I'll keep writing the mystery series too.
Is there anything you’d like to share with your readers?
I daydream about moving to France, opening a gîte business, and having my readers come stay with me. (Just like my protagonist...)
AUTHOR LINKS
Website: www.nellgoddin.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/nellgoddinauthor
Twitter: twitter is www.twitter.com/nellgoddin
AUTHOR BIO
Nell Goddin has worked as a radio reporter, SAT tutor, short-order omelet chef, and baker. She tried waitressing but was fired twice.
Nell grew up in Richmond, Virginia and has lived in New England, New York City, and France. Currently she's back in Virginia with teenagers and far too many pets. She has degrees from Dartmouth College and Columbia University.
December 7, 2016
Meet the Authors - 25 Mysteries to Die For - Nikki Haverstock
Introducing Nikki Haverstock, 25 Mysteries to Die For co-author...
NIKKI HAVERSTOCK AUTHOR INTERVIEW
Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
I live on the family’s cattle ranch with my husband and far too many family members J I like to get involved in a variety of adventures. I love the sciences and technology. I’ve competed at the national level in archery for years. I travelled the world in college studying volcanoes. I taught computer science and archery at a college for 9 years. I am an executive producer for an indy horror movie. And I’m pregnant.
Was there a certain time in your life you knew you wanted to write?
I’ve always loved the idea of crafting stories but it wasn’t until several friends started writing that it occurred to me that maybe I could do it as well. It has been a lot of hard work but I love the process.
What are you currently working on?
My biggest project is that I am pregnant and due in early December. This will be our first child and we feel unbelievably blessed. Though I am working slower than normal, I am still writing. Reality TV Mysteries two is in edits and should be released before Baby Haverstock arrives. I am also drafting Target Practice Mysteries book six and plotting two co-writing projects for 2017.
Of the books you’ve written, which one is your favorite and why?
My favorite is Lights, Camera, Murder: Target Practice Mysteries 1 which is in this bundle. I hosted a competitive target archery reality show in 2013 and this book was my chance to revisit that crazy experience and really take it to a new level.
What books have most influenced you as a writer?
I loved Janet Evanovich, Jennifer Crusie and countless other fun adventures with lots of madcap characters and situations. Agatha Christie always crafted these nuanced books and let the clues organically appear. I’ve also been deeply affected by TV sitcoms. I loved the idea that everything would be okay in the end but you would laugh on the way there.
What do you find to be the most challenging part of writing? And the most rewarding?
Starting is always a struggle whether it is the start of a book, start of a new work week or even the start of the day.
Finishing a rough draft is so rewarding as is publishing. It’s still so amazing to me that I can write all those words!
What book is on your nightstand?
I just finished Martin Short’s memoir on my kindle. I’ve been on a memoir kick of comics who write their own material.
What can we look forward to seeing from you in the future?
A lot more cozy mysteries, for sure. I have some cross over books planned with other amazing authors and if everything goes according to plan, I will have a new series launched in 2017.
Is there anything you’d like to share with your readers?
If you have any baby advice or jokes, post it on my facebook fan page. I’m sure I’ll need it.
AUTHOR LINKS
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nikkihaverstockauthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/RancherNikki
Website: http://nikkihaverstock.com/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/RancherNikki
Instagram: https://www.youtube.com/user/RancherNikki
AUTHOR BIO
Nikki Haverstock is a writer who lives on a cattle ranch high in the Rocky Mountains. She has studied comedy writing at Second City and has published 6 cozy mysteries that are heavy on the humor.
Before fleeing the city, she hosted a competitive archery reality show, traveled the world to study volcanoes, taught archery and computer science at a university and now works on her family’s ranch herding cattle. Nikki has more college degrees than she has sense and hopefully one day she will put one to work.
Nikki likes to write comedy pieces that focus on the everyday humor of one-uppers, annoying family members and strange behavior of the ultra-rich. She tried stand up but the cattle weren’t impressed.
NIKKI HAVERSTOCK AUTHOR INTERVIEW
Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
I live on the family’s cattle ranch with my husband and far too many family members J I like to get involved in a variety of adventures. I love the sciences and technology. I’ve competed at the national level in archery for years. I travelled the world in college studying volcanoes. I taught computer science and archery at a college for 9 years. I am an executive producer for an indy horror movie. And I’m pregnant.
Was there a certain time in your life you knew you wanted to write?
I’ve always loved the idea of crafting stories but it wasn’t until several friends started writing that it occurred to me that maybe I could do it as well. It has been a lot of hard work but I love the process.
What are you currently working on?
My biggest project is that I am pregnant and due in early December. This will be our first child and we feel unbelievably blessed. Though I am working slower than normal, I am still writing. Reality TV Mysteries two is in edits and should be released before Baby Haverstock arrives. I am also drafting Target Practice Mysteries book six and plotting two co-writing projects for 2017.
Of the books you’ve written, which one is your favorite and why?
My favorite is Lights, Camera, Murder: Target Practice Mysteries 1 which is in this bundle. I hosted a competitive target archery reality show in 2013 and this book was my chance to revisit that crazy experience and really take it to a new level.
What books have most influenced you as a writer?
I loved Janet Evanovich, Jennifer Crusie and countless other fun adventures with lots of madcap characters and situations. Agatha Christie always crafted these nuanced books and let the clues organically appear. I’ve also been deeply affected by TV sitcoms. I loved the idea that everything would be okay in the end but you would laugh on the way there.
What do you find to be the most challenging part of writing? And the most rewarding?
Starting is always a struggle whether it is the start of a book, start of a new work week or even the start of the day.
Finishing a rough draft is so rewarding as is publishing. It’s still so amazing to me that I can write all those words!
What book is on your nightstand?
I just finished Martin Short’s memoir on my kindle. I’ve been on a memoir kick of comics who write their own material.
What can we look forward to seeing from you in the future?
A lot more cozy mysteries, for sure. I have some cross over books planned with other amazing authors and if everything goes according to plan, I will have a new series launched in 2017.
Is there anything you’d like to share with your readers?
If you have any baby advice or jokes, post it on my facebook fan page. I’m sure I’ll need it.
AUTHOR LINKS
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nikkihaverstockauthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/RancherNikki
Website: http://nikkihaverstock.com/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/RancherNikki
Instagram: https://www.youtube.com/user/RancherNikki
AUTHOR BIO
Nikki Haverstock is a writer who lives on a cattle ranch high in the Rocky Mountains. She has studied comedy writing at Second City and has published 6 cozy mysteries that are heavy on the humor.
Before fleeing the city, she hosted a competitive archery reality show, traveled the world to study volcanoes, taught archery and computer science at a university and now works on her family’s ranch herding cattle. Nikki has more college degrees than she has sense and hopefully one day she will put one to work.
Nikki likes to write comedy pieces that focus on the everyday humor of one-uppers, annoying family members and strange behavior of the ultra-rich. She tried stand up but the cattle weren’t impressed.
December 5, 2016
Meet the Authors - 25 Mysteries to Die For - Pepper Hayes
Introducing Pepper Hayes, 25 Mysteries to Die For co-author...
PEPPER HAYES AUTHOR INTERVIEW
Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
Hi! I'm Pepper Hayes. I like to think of myself as a mom who writes. Cozy Mysteries are a new venture for me. I'm a converted romance writer. I've written over thirty romance novels under another name, but found that I'd grown tired of the angst and was craving something light and fun.
I'm a mother of four. I live in beautiful Washington state, minutes from the Canadian border. When I'm not writing, I can be found multitasking. I'm what you might consider a champion in that regard. I can do laundry, clean a kitchen, tend to the children, and binge-watch Netflix while simultaneously burning dinner.
Was there a certain time in your life you knew you wanted to write?
When I was young, my family moved quite a bit. I think I went to at least a dozen different schools before middle school. Books were my friends. Somewhere around the third of fourth grade, I decided I'd one day write. Back then, my dream was to be a journalist like my mother, but that dream changed after I spent many years sitting behind a desk in the business office of a major city newspaper.
What are you currently working on?
I'm currently writing the next book in my The Young & Breathless mysteries about lifelong friends who unwittingly became amateur sleuths while training for their first 5k race.
Of the books you’ve written, which one is your favorite and why?
My favorite was the first book I ever wrote. It's kind of a funny story. My marriage had come to an end and I was out of sorts. Rather than wallow in my pain, I took pen to paper and wrote a book about a woman in my predicament. That book has never been published. I'm not sure that it ever will be, but it's my most personal project. I wrote it in 18 days. It was very cathartic for me. Perhaps one day I'll be brave enough to pull it out of a drawer and read it.
What books have most influenced you as a writer?
Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier. I just love that book. It took me to another world. I read it once a year.
What do you find to be the most challenging part of writing? And the most rewarding?
The most challenging thing is finding time to write. Because I have kids at home and a household to run, there's never enough time.
The most rewarding thing is typing The End. What an accomplishment that is!
What book is on your nightstand?
Currently, I'm reading writing craft books.
What can we look forward to seeing from you in the future?
More books! I hope to publish three new novels in my series in the coming year.
Is there anything you’d like to share with your readers?
Thank you for taking the time to get to know me. I can't wait to share my books with you!
AUTHOR LINKS
Facebook (author page): https://www.facebook.com/Pepper-Hayes-353535498327031
AUTHOR BIO
Pepper Hayes is a native of Western Nebraska but now makes her home just south of the Canadian border in Washington state, where she spends her days honing her skills as a super mom and a someday marathon runner and spends her nights writing cozy mysteries. On the rare occasions when she's not tending to her all male flock, she can be found sitting in her favorite chair, binge-watching Netflix.
PEPPER HAYES AUTHOR INTERVIEW
Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
Hi! I'm Pepper Hayes. I like to think of myself as a mom who writes. Cozy Mysteries are a new venture for me. I'm a converted romance writer. I've written over thirty romance novels under another name, but found that I'd grown tired of the angst and was craving something light and fun.
I'm a mother of four. I live in beautiful Washington state, minutes from the Canadian border. When I'm not writing, I can be found multitasking. I'm what you might consider a champion in that regard. I can do laundry, clean a kitchen, tend to the children, and binge-watch Netflix while simultaneously burning dinner.
Was there a certain time in your life you knew you wanted to write?
When I was young, my family moved quite a bit. I think I went to at least a dozen different schools before middle school. Books were my friends. Somewhere around the third of fourth grade, I decided I'd one day write. Back then, my dream was to be a journalist like my mother, but that dream changed after I spent many years sitting behind a desk in the business office of a major city newspaper.
What are you currently working on?
I'm currently writing the next book in my The Young & Breathless mysteries about lifelong friends who unwittingly became amateur sleuths while training for their first 5k race.
Of the books you’ve written, which one is your favorite and why?
My favorite was the first book I ever wrote. It's kind of a funny story. My marriage had come to an end and I was out of sorts. Rather than wallow in my pain, I took pen to paper and wrote a book about a woman in my predicament. That book has never been published. I'm not sure that it ever will be, but it's my most personal project. I wrote it in 18 days. It was very cathartic for me. Perhaps one day I'll be brave enough to pull it out of a drawer and read it.
What books have most influenced you as a writer?
Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier. I just love that book. It took me to another world. I read it once a year.
What do you find to be the most challenging part of writing? And the most rewarding?
The most challenging thing is finding time to write. Because I have kids at home and a household to run, there's never enough time.
The most rewarding thing is typing The End. What an accomplishment that is!
What book is on your nightstand?
Currently, I'm reading writing craft books.
What can we look forward to seeing from you in the future?
More books! I hope to publish three new novels in my series in the coming year.
Is there anything you’d like to share with your readers?
Thank you for taking the time to get to know me. I can't wait to share my books with you!
AUTHOR LINKS
Facebook (author page): https://www.facebook.com/Pepper-Hayes-353535498327031
AUTHOR BIO
Pepper Hayes is a native of Western Nebraska but now makes her home just south of the Canadian border in Washington state, where she spends her days honing her skills as a super mom and a someday marathon runner and spends her nights writing cozy mysteries. On the rare occasions when she's not tending to her all male flock, she can be found sitting in her favorite chair, binge-watching Netflix.
December 3, 2016
Meet the Authors - 25 Mysteries to Die For - Anna Celeste Burke
Introducing Anna Celeste Burke, 25 Mysteries to Die For co-author...
ANNA CELESTE BURKE AUTHOR INTERVIEW
Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
I’m a retired professor living out in the California desert not too far from Palm Springs. I took up writing fiction when I retired several years ago. Before that I had a lot of different life experiences—good and bad—that have influenced my writing. I was a University Professor and Associate Dean for Research when I retired. At other times, I worked as an organizational consultant, a therapist, a chef, a caterer, an Avon sales person, an assistant in a genetics lab, as well as a variety of odd[er] jobs. I enjoy hiking, music, and old movies—especially film noir. My life got off to a bumpy start, so I’m forever grateful for second chances.
Was there a certain time in your life you knew you wanted to write?
I read like a fiend when I was a child. Like many children, I made up stories—I especially enjoyed creating alternative endings for my favorite books. It wasn’t until much later that I discovered that I had to write. My second or third year of graduate school, on my way to becoming a professor, I began to feel the pressure to publish. When they say publish or perish in the academic world, they mean it. It’s hard to get and keep a job if you don’t write. The “stories” I wrote then were all about using science to understand mysteries behind poverty, mental illness, or crime.
What are you currently working on?
The 4th novella in the Georgie Shaw Cozy Mystery Series: A Merry Marvelous Marley World Wedding for release in December. A Christmas wedding is in the works! When a bride goes missing, a cast of unusual suspects make it difficult to figure out whodunit and why. I’m also hoping to finish the 4th book in the Jessica Huntington Desert Cities Mystery Series, A Dead Mother.
Of the books you’ve written, which one is your favorite and why?
I don’t know if I have a favorite, but I’m always delighted when I finish a new book. Right now, that’s the latest book in my Georgie Shaw Cozy Mystery Series: A Merry Marvelous Marley World Wedding. It’s my “new baby” so it’s special. There will also always be a special place in my heart for the first fiction book I wrote—book one in the Jessica Huntington Desert Cities Mystery series, A Dead Husband.
What books have most influenced you as a writer?
A ton of mysteries, most of them what we now regard as cozy. When I first read Agatha Christie’s books, for example, I just called them mysteries. I love reading mystery series. I enjoy encountering the same sleuth confronted by very different mysteries to solve. I’m partial to women sleuths who are accidental or amateur sleuths. There are so many in addition to Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple that I could never list them all. I enjoy books with female sleuths ranging from cozy to hard-boiled.
What do you find to be the most challenging part of writing? And the most rewarding?
The creative part of writing is the most enjoyable aspect of what I do as an author. Making stuff up is fun. The research required to write a book is sometimes challenging but also rewarding. I always learn something new with every book I write.
Character development and plotting are two components of storytelling that matter a great deal to me. Writing a series is particularly appealing because it provides a much longer “character arc”—a longer time frame in which to explore a sleuth’s character and in which it can grow and change.
Getting the sleuth into trouble and writing her out of it is another challenging and rewarding element of storytelling. There are delightful surprises that come about while writing, especially when characters interact. Editing is far less satisfying than creating that first draft, but essential, of course. It’s amazing how much you get wrong while writing. Marketing is probably my least favorite part of the writing process. Without it, though, no one knows your book exists. So, it’s every bit as important as the creative process and editing.
What book is on your nightstand?
I have a ton of books on my Kindle. Several mysteries & thrillers are waiting in the queue to be read. Books by David Baldacci, James Rollins, and the latest book by Sue Grafton, “X.”
What can we look forward to seeing from you in the future?
Once I finish the 4th mystery in the Jessica Huntington Desert Cities Mystery series, A Dead Mother, I have the 5th book in the queue to write: A Dead Cousin. After that, there will be two Corsario Cove Cozy mystery novellas and another Georgie Shaw mystery that will take place on a cruise ship. The tentative title is MMW Fantasy at Sea.
Is there anything you’d like to share with your readers?
I’d just like to say thank you again for the support from sites like this one that help those of us who enjoy cozy mysteries find out about new authors and new series. I’d also like to convey how much I enjoy engaging readers. It’s so interesting to hear others’ take on the topics that show up in my books or hover in the background as I write. The energy from that give and take keeps me going when I’m trying to juggle the demands of writing and publishing.
AUTHOR LINKS
Website link http://www.desertcitiesmystery.comFacebook Link (author page) https://www.facebook.com/annacelesteburkeTwitter Link https://twitter.com/aburke59
AUTHOR BIO
Anna Celeste Burke is an award-winning and bestselling author who enjoys snooping into life's mysteries with fun, fiction, & food—California style! Her books include the Jessica Huntington Desert Cities Mystery series set in the Coachella Valley near Palm Springs, the Corsario Cove Cozy Mystery series set on California’s Central Coast, and The Georgie Shaw Cozy Mystery series set in Orange County, California--the OC. Coming soon: The Misadventures of Betsy Stark that take place in the Coachella Valley. Find out more at http://www.desertcitiesmystery.com.
ANNA CELESTE BURKE AUTHOR INTERVIEW
Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
I’m a retired professor living out in the California desert not too far from Palm Springs. I took up writing fiction when I retired several years ago. Before that I had a lot of different life experiences—good and bad—that have influenced my writing. I was a University Professor and Associate Dean for Research when I retired. At other times, I worked as an organizational consultant, a therapist, a chef, a caterer, an Avon sales person, an assistant in a genetics lab, as well as a variety of odd[er] jobs. I enjoy hiking, music, and old movies—especially film noir. My life got off to a bumpy start, so I’m forever grateful for second chances.
Was there a certain time in your life you knew you wanted to write?
I read like a fiend when I was a child. Like many children, I made up stories—I especially enjoyed creating alternative endings for my favorite books. It wasn’t until much later that I discovered that I had to write. My second or third year of graduate school, on my way to becoming a professor, I began to feel the pressure to publish. When they say publish or perish in the academic world, they mean it. It’s hard to get and keep a job if you don’t write. The “stories” I wrote then were all about using science to understand mysteries behind poverty, mental illness, or crime.
What are you currently working on?
The 4th novella in the Georgie Shaw Cozy Mystery Series: A Merry Marvelous Marley World Wedding for release in December. A Christmas wedding is in the works! When a bride goes missing, a cast of unusual suspects make it difficult to figure out whodunit and why. I’m also hoping to finish the 4th book in the Jessica Huntington Desert Cities Mystery Series, A Dead Mother.
Of the books you’ve written, which one is your favorite and why?
I don’t know if I have a favorite, but I’m always delighted when I finish a new book. Right now, that’s the latest book in my Georgie Shaw Cozy Mystery Series: A Merry Marvelous Marley World Wedding. It’s my “new baby” so it’s special. There will also always be a special place in my heart for the first fiction book I wrote—book one in the Jessica Huntington Desert Cities Mystery series, A Dead Husband.
What books have most influenced you as a writer?
A ton of mysteries, most of them what we now regard as cozy. When I first read Agatha Christie’s books, for example, I just called them mysteries. I love reading mystery series. I enjoy encountering the same sleuth confronted by very different mysteries to solve. I’m partial to women sleuths who are accidental or amateur sleuths. There are so many in addition to Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple that I could never list them all. I enjoy books with female sleuths ranging from cozy to hard-boiled.
What do you find to be the most challenging part of writing? And the most rewarding?
The creative part of writing is the most enjoyable aspect of what I do as an author. Making stuff up is fun. The research required to write a book is sometimes challenging but also rewarding. I always learn something new with every book I write.
Character development and plotting are two components of storytelling that matter a great deal to me. Writing a series is particularly appealing because it provides a much longer “character arc”—a longer time frame in which to explore a sleuth’s character and in which it can grow and change.
Getting the sleuth into trouble and writing her out of it is another challenging and rewarding element of storytelling. There are delightful surprises that come about while writing, especially when characters interact. Editing is far less satisfying than creating that first draft, but essential, of course. It’s amazing how much you get wrong while writing. Marketing is probably my least favorite part of the writing process. Without it, though, no one knows your book exists. So, it’s every bit as important as the creative process and editing.
What book is on your nightstand?
I have a ton of books on my Kindle. Several mysteries & thrillers are waiting in the queue to be read. Books by David Baldacci, James Rollins, and the latest book by Sue Grafton, “X.”
What can we look forward to seeing from you in the future?
Once I finish the 4th mystery in the Jessica Huntington Desert Cities Mystery series, A Dead Mother, I have the 5th book in the queue to write: A Dead Cousin. After that, there will be two Corsario Cove Cozy mystery novellas and another Georgie Shaw mystery that will take place on a cruise ship. The tentative title is MMW Fantasy at Sea.
Is there anything you’d like to share with your readers?
I’d just like to say thank you again for the support from sites like this one that help those of us who enjoy cozy mysteries find out about new authors and new series. I’d also like to convey how much I enjoy engaging readers. It’s so interesting to hear others’ take on the topics that show up in my books or hover in the background as I write. The energy from that give and take keeps me going when I’m trying to juggle the demands of writing and publishing.
AUTHOR LINKS
Website link http://www.desertcitiesmystery.comFacebook Link (author page) https://www.facebook.com/annacelesteburkeTwitter Link https://twitter.com/aburke59
AUTHOR BIO
Anna Celeste Burke is an award-winning and bestselling author who enjoys snooping into life's mysteries with fun, fiction, & food—California style! Her books include the Jessica Huntington Desert Cities Mystery series set in the Coachella Valley near Palm Springs, the Corsario Cove Cozy Mystery series set on California’s Central Coast, and The Georgie Shaw Cozy Mystery series set in Orange County, California--the OC. Coming soon: The Misadventures of Betsy Stark that take place in the Coachella Valley. Find out more at http://www.desertcitiesmystery.com.
December 2, 2016
Meet the Authors - 25 Mysteries to Die For - Savannah Mae
Introducing Savannah Mae, 25 Mysteries to Die For co-author...
SAVANNAH MAE AUTHOR INTERVIEW
Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
I'm Savannah Mae. I'm new to self-publishing, but not new to writing professionally. For the last decade, I've been writing articles for multiple publications and for websites. I've always toyed with the idea of writing a book but pushed the thought out of my head. Earlier this year, I turned forty and declared that this year of my life would be a year of saying no to fear. I did what I thought was impossible and started writing cozy mysteries.
Was there a certain time in your life you knew you wanted to write?
I don't recall any specific moment when I realized I'd wanted to write. I do, however, remember each and every time I convinced myself otherwise. Intuitively, I think I always believed it would happen someday.
What are you currently working on?
I'm working on the second book in my Jinx Cove witches series. The first book is included in this 25-novel bundle.
Of the books you’ve written, which one is your favorite and why?
My favorite is the only one I've completed thus far, Mayhem in Jinx Cove. I've probably read it a dozen times or more. I'm proud of what I've created and hope readers enjoy it.
What books have most influenced you as a writer?
I love mysteries. When I was growing up, the Nancy Drew series and the Hardy Boys series were staples on my bookshelves. I read them over and over again.
What do you find to be the most challenging part of writing? And the most rewarding?
The most challenging part for me was working up the courage to let others read it. Handing it off to beta readers and editors was one of the scariest things I've ever done.
The most rewarding part is the process. I loved getting out of my daily routine and letting my imagination run wild.
What book is on your nightstand?
I'm currently rereading Sue Grafton's Kinsey Millhone's Alphabet Series.
What can we look forward to seeing from you in the future?
In 2017, I plan on releasing the next two novels in my series.
Is there anything you’d like to share with your readers?
I want to thank them for taking the time to get to know me and I hope they'll love Mayhem in Jinx Cove as much as I do.
AUTHOR LINKS
Website/blog – http://savannahmaemysteries.blogspot.co.uk/
(Savannah is a new author, so she doesn't have an official website yet, and no FB or Twitter as yet.)
AUTHOR BIO
Savannah Mae is the author of the Jinx Cove cozy mystery series. Purveyor of quirky, kooky, charming cozy mysteries and the mayhem that surrounds them.
SAVANNAH MAE AUTHOR INTERVIEW
Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
I'm Savannah Mae. I'm new to self-publishing, but not new to writing professionally. For the last decade, I've been writing articles for multiple publications and for websites. I've always toyed with the idea of writing a book but pushed the thought out of my head. Earlier this year, I turned forty and declared that this year of my life would be a year of saying no to fear. I did what I thought was impossible and started writing cozy mysteries.
Was there a certain time in your life you knew you wanted to write?
I don't recall any specific moment when I realized I'd wanted to write. I do, however, remember each and every time I convinced myself otherwise. Intuitively, I think I always believed it would happen someday.
What are you currently working on?
I'm working on the second book in my Jinx Cove witches series. The first book is included in this 25-novel bundle.
Of the books you’ve written, which one is your favorite and why?
My favorite is the only one I've completed thus far, Mayhem in Jinx Cove. I've probably read it a dozen times or more. I'm proud of what I've created and hope readers enjoy it.
What books have most influenced you as a writer?
I love mysteries. When I was growing up, the Nancy Drew series and the Hardy Boys series were staples on my bookshelves. I read them over and over again.
What do you find to be the most challenging part of writing? And the most rewarding?
The most challenging part for me was working up the courage to let others read it. Handing it off to beta readers and editors was one of the scariest things I've ever done.
The most rewarding part is the process. I loved getting out of my daily routine and letting my imagination run wild.
What book is on your nightstand?
I'm currently rereading Sue Grafton's Kinsey Millhone's Alphabet Series.
What can we look forward to seeing from you in the future?
In 2017, I plan on releasing the next two novels in my series.
Is there anything you’d like to share with your readers?
I want to thank them for taking the time to get to know me and I hope they'll love Mayhem in Jinx Cove as much as I do.
AUTHOR LINKS
Website/blog – http://savannahmaemysteries.blogspot.co.uk/
(Savannah is a new author, so she doesn't have an official website yet, and no FB or Twitter as yet.)
AUTHOR BIO
Savannah Mae is the author of the Jinx Cove cozy mystery series. Purveyor of quirky, kooky, charming cozy mysteries and the mayhem that surrounds them.
