Cheri Vause's Blog, page 9

September 8, 2015

Henry Miller On Writing

Henry Miller was considered a racy author, and all his books were banned up until 1961. He has been credited with creating a new form of literary writing: semi-autobiographical novels merging his stories with a bit of mysticism, philosophy and social commentary, including explicit sexual scenes. His most famous books are the Tropic of Cancer, Tropic of Capricorn, Black Spring, and The Rosy Crucifixion. He did write a book on writing called, Henry Miller On Writing. Whether you think his scenes with explicit sex is over the top or not, you can’t say the guy can’t write.

Here are his Ten Rules:

Work on one thing at a time until finished.
Start no more new books, add no more new material to Black Spring. (Apparently he’s giving himself this advice.)
Dont be nervous. Work calmly, joyously, recklessly on whatever is in hand.
Work according to the program and not according to mood. Stop at the appointed time!
When you cant create you can work.
Cement a little every day, rather than add new fertilizers.
Keep human! See people, go places, drink if you feel like it.
Dont be a draught-horse! Work with pleasure only.
Discard the Program when you feel like it but go back to it the next day. Concentrate. Narrow down. Exclude.
Forget the books you want to write. Think only of the book you are writing.
Write first and always. Painting, music, friends, cinema, all these come afterwards.

All of Cheri’s Books are on Amazon or Barnes and Noble, including your favourite book store for ordering. Check out her BOOK SITE

Filed under: An Authors Thoughts Tagged: #2015, #Amazon, #AmazonCart, #Amazonwishlist, #American authors, #ARC, #artofwriting, #Author of Literary Mysteries, #authorcherivause, #authors, #Best Books, #bestmysterybooks, #BookBlog, #BookBlogger, #BookBoost, #booklist, #Books, #bookshelves, #bookshops, #cherivause, #crime, #crime novel, #culture, #deals, #detective, #Ebooks, #famous author, #famous writer, #Fridayreads, #genre fiction, #ghost stories, #Gothic, #Gothic books, #Gothic mysteries, #Gothic suspense, #Gothic thrillers, #Henry Miller, #indiebooksbeseen, #IndieWriterSupp, #KindleSelect, #KindleU, #KindleUnlimited, #literary awards, #Literature, #murder, #MUSTREAD, #Mystery, #mysterywritersofamerica, #Mysticism, #Noir Mystery, #noirmystery, #noirthriller, #psychologicalmystery, #psychologicalthriller, #read 2015, #Readers, #Reading habits, #reading is good for us, #readinglist, #Romantic suspense, #Romantic Thriller, #romanticmystery, #seriouswriter, #sisterincrime, #Suspense, #suspense mystery, #suspense thriller, #the future of reading, #the joy of reading, #the novel, #the physcial book, #TheNightShadow, #TheTouchofaShadow, #TheTruthandNothingbutLies, #Thriller, #to-read, #WeNeedDiverseBooks, #Women, #womenmysterywriters, #womenwriters2014, #womenwriters2015, #writing, #writing tips, All About Books

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Published on September 08, 2015 05:56

September 2, 2015

Wednesdays With Writers ~ James Baldwin

Mr. James Baldwin.

“Unless a writer is extremely old when he dies, in which case he has probably become a neglected institution, his death must always be seen as untimely. This is because a real writer is always shifting and changing and searching. The world has many labels for him, of which the most treacherous is the label of Success.”

Filed under: Wednesdays With Writers Tagged: #2015, #All About Books, #Amazon, #AmazonCart, #Amazonwishlist, #American authors, #ARC, #artofwriting, #Author of Literary Mysteries, #authorcherivause, #authors, #Best Books, #bestmysterybooks, #BookBlog, #BookBlogger, #BookBoost, #booklist, #Books, #bookshelves, #bookshops, #cherivause, #crime, #crime novel, #culture, #deals, #detective, #Ebooks, #famous author, #famous writer, #Fridayreads, #genre fiction, #ghost stories, #Gothic, #Gothic books, #Gothic mysteries, #Gothic thrillers, #indiebooksbeseen, #IndieWriterSupp, #James Baldwin, #KindleSelect, #KindleU, #KindleUnlimited, #literary awards, #Literature, #murder, #MUSTREAD, #Mystery, #Mystery/Thriller, #mysterywritersofamerica, #Mysticism, #Noir Mystery, #noirmystery, #noirthriller, #psychologicalmystery, #psychologicalthriller, #read 2015, #Readers, #Reading habits, #reading is good for us, #readinglist, #Romantic suspense, #Romantic Thriller, #romanticmystery, #seriouswriter, #sisterincrime, #Suspense, #suspense mystery, #suspense thriller, #the future of reading, #the joy of reading, #the novel, #the physical book, #TheNightShadow, #TheTouchofaShadow, #TheTruthandNothingbutLies, #Thriller, #to-read, #WednesdaysWithWriters, #WeNeedDiverseBooks, #Women, #womenmysterywriters, #womenwriters2014, #womenwriters2015, #writing, #writing tips

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Published on September 02, 2015 04:35

August 31, 2015

Book Review ~ The Cold Dish, by Craig Johnson

I went looking for Craig Johnson’s books about three years ago, and couldn’t find them in my local Hastings or Half Price Books. I became interested in his stories from the A&E series: Longmire. It’s always been my heart’s desire to write a western, since I fell in love with the genre at the age of two, my first memory of a John Wayne movie. So, I thought, why not a modern day one, like Longmire. I wanted to read a sample, to see what’s out there, to hear the rhythm, the language used in the west. But I also wanted to read for entertainment. I’ve attempted to read a lot of books lately, both western and other genres, but nothing has reeled me in, until now.

Although I love the mini-series Lonesome Dove (I’m a huge Robert Duvall fan), I didn’t like the style of the writing in the books. Don’t shoot me, please! Neither am I crazy about spare writing from the likes of Robert Parker, now deceased, who wrote my second favourite series of movies, the Jesse Stone films, or James Ellroy, who both have written in my particular genre of mystery. That said, I’m still a nut for a good western. Give me the films High Noon, or Tombstone, or The Searchers, and I’m in spur heaven. I’m your huckleberry. But I haven’t found an author of a book I truly like. (With the notable exception of Charles Portis, author of True Grit). Not long ago, my local Hastings began to carry the Longmire series, and I bought The Cold Dish, by Craig Johnson. Seriously, because I liked the series, I thought I might like the books. I remember I stood in the store and read the first chapter and knew I had to take it home, that I would not only like the style of writing, but be able to fall in love with these characters in print.

I can’t say that Longmire is a typical western, but it is. It has tribal lore, horses, pick-up trucks, a sheriff, mysticism, wide open spaces, and the all important cowboy hat. Oh, and guns, yes, lot of guns. And yet, the heart of the western is there, that soft spot that makes you fall in love with a man who believes in western style justice, the cowboy code, John Wayne and Roy Rogers all rolled up into one. Westerns classically possess what the song says, “And the only law is right,” with the kind of lawman who doesn’t give up until they get their man, that justice runs in their blood and steels their bones. They persevere against terrible odds, and you find yourself cheering for him, desperately longing for that moment when he triumphs over evil. Walt Longmire, the hero of Mr. Johnson’s series, is that. He is a good man, just a reluctant one. Longmire cannot be anything but a Sheriff, and live in Wyoming. It’s what he’s meant to do, to be, and he’s too introverted to remake himself into something else.

His side-kick is his conscience, Henry Standing Bear, a Cheyenne man who straddles both worlds in an easy balance, filled with mystic wisdom, and abilities akin to the angels. He continually draws Longmire back to that center, and pushes the reclusive sheriff to re-enter the world of life after the death of his wife. The Bear is a man who has a stare that burns his prey, and a speech pattern that is more like a judge banging his gavel and pronouncing sentence than casual conversation. The next step is to get a piece of granite and get it engraved the way he said it so it could be hung on the outside of the Sheriff’s station. It is for that reason, that the Bear is a critical element in the story, the anchor, the one who takes his friend over the line of darkness to face the evil and vanquish it. He represents Longmire’s spiritual element, a mystic, who can see what the average person cannot, for he is both cerebral and yet has his eye on heaven, and still remains rooted in the earth. He’s the nexus for the past meeting the future, and easily sees the important connections. Both these characters are the kind of men I want to know, to live next door to, and make them my friend. I like that. I like that a lot. No anti-heroes here.

The Cold Dish is the opening gambit in the series, thoroughly immersing you in Walt Longmire’s world of Wyoming ranches and mountains, the differences within the representative tribes of the area, the warts, the good, and the crazies. Longmire is the Sheriff of Absaroka County, a huge sprawling amount of countryside to police, and begins to investigate a murder where the killer used a particular kind of limited edition rifle. A Sharpes. A gun that is legendary, historical, and a beautiful firearm. Guns, ammo, and tribal lore. Ahhh… Shades of Quigley Down Under (another of my favourite films of all time). I knew I was hooked when I laughed out loud while reading in the doctor’s office waiting room. The imagery is so delightful, that I was unashamed for feeling pure joy, and spontaneous affection for Mr. Johnson’s humour and his turn of phrase. I love it… I love it… I love it. You have a reader for life, Mr. Johnson. And I’m eagerly anticipating the next instalment of the adventures of Sheriff Longmire, and my love, Henry Standing Bear. Sigh. Although, I do find that big guy Walt quite appealing. Was that singing from The Bear or the Ghosts of the Cheyenne? You gotta read it to find out.

To buy The Cold Dish at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Cold-Dish-Longmire-Mystery/dp/0143123173/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1441085065&sr=8-1&keywords=the+cold+dish

Miss Vaus é’s books are available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or your local book store: http://www.amazon.com/author/cherivause

Filed under: #All About Books, #An Authors Thoughts, Book Review Tagged: #2015, #All About Books, #Amazon, #AmazonCart, #Amazonwishlist, #American authors, #ARC, #artofwriting, #Author of Literary Mysteries, #authorcherivause, #authors, #Best Books, #bestmysterybooks, #BookBlog, #BookBlogger, #BookBoost, #booklist, #Books, #bookshelves, #bookshops, #cherivause, #Craig Johnson, #crime, #crime novel, #culture, #deals, #detective, #Ebooks, #Fridayreads, #genre fiction, #ghost stories, #Gothic, #Gothic books, #Gothic mysteries, #Gothicthrillers, #indiebooksbeseen, #IndieWriterSupp, #KindleSelect, #KindleU, #KindleUnlimited, #literary awards, #Literature, #ModernWestern, #murder, #MUSTREAD, #Mystery, #Mystery/Thriller, #Mysticism, #Noir Mystery, #noirmystery, #noirthriller, #psychologicalmystery, #psychologicalthriller, #read 2015, #Readers, #Reading habits, #reading is good for us, #readinglist, #Romantic suspense, #Romantic Thriller, #romanticmystery, #seriouswriter, #Sheriff, #sisterincrime, #Suspense, #suspense mystery, #suspense thriller, #the future of reading, #the joy of reading, #the novel, #the physical book, #TheNightShadow, #TheTouchofaShadow, #TheTruthandNothingbutLies, #Thriller, #to-read, #WeNeedDiverseBooks, #Western, #Women, #womenmysterywriters, #womenwriters2014, #womenwriters2015, #writing, #writing tips, #Wyoming

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Published on August 31, 2015 22:26

August 26, 2015

Wednesdays With Writers ~ Victor Hugo

Mr. Victor Hugo.

“To learn to read is to light a fire; every syllable that is spelled out is a spark.”

Filed under: Wednesdays With Writers Tagged: #2015, #All About Books, #Amazon, #AmazonCart, #Amazonwishlist, #American authors, #ARC, #artofwriting, #Author of Literary Mysteries, #authorcherivause, #authors, #Best Books, #bestmysterybooks, #BookBlog, #BookBlogger, #BookBoost, #booklist, #Books, #bookshelves, #bookshops, #cherivause, #crime, #crime novel, #culture, #deals, #detective, #Ebooks, #famous author, #famous writer, #Fridayreads, #genre fiction, #ghost stories, #Gothic, #Gothicbooks, #Gothicmysteries, #Gothicthrillers, #indiebooksbeseen, #IndieWriterSupp, #KindleSelect, #KindleU, #KindleUnlimited, #literary awards, #Literature, #murder, #MUSTREAD, #Mystery, #Mystery/Thriller, #mysterywritersofamerica, #Mysticism, #Noir Mystery, #noirmystery, #noirthriller, #psychologicalmystery, #psychologicalthriller, #read 2015, #Readers, #Reading habits, #reading is good for us, #readinglist, #Romantic suspense, #Romantic Thriller, #romanticmystery, #seriouswriter, #sisterincrime, #Suspense, #suspense mystery, #suspense thriller, #the future of reading, #the joy of reading, #the novel, #the physical book, #TheNightShadow, #TheTouchofaShadow, #TheTruthandNothingbutLies, #Thriller, #to-read, #Victor Hugo, #WednesdaysWithWriters, #WeNeedDiverseBooks, #Women, #womenmysterywriters, #womenwriters2014, #womenwriters2015, #writing, #writing tips

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Published on August 26, 2015 05:12

August 25, 2015

What Editors See That a Writer Can’t

Many self-published authors fail to see the importance of a professional editor’s eye beyond grammar and punctuation. This is the most important relationship between an author and the publishing house in traditional publishing. An editor can tell an author whether something works or not in their book, whether it’s fiction or nonfiction.

A really good example of this is Harper Lee’s first book. As I’ve just begun to read Go Set a Watchman, I’ve only heard about the dark side of Atticus Finch, so I can’t speak to it, but I can say that is what her editor saw all those years ago when she submitted Go Set a Watchman. Out of that relationship, with the use of that eye, was born a classic, To Kill a Mockingbird.

You can almost see an Editor as a Reader proxie, someone who knows not only the publishing industry, but what readers are buying. So if you are thinking of self-publishing and you’ve had someone check your periods, commas, and semi-colons, and verb tenses alone. Think again. An editor can help you write the book you truly want.

Cheri’s books can be found at your favourite book store: http://www.authorcherivause.wix.com/noirthrillers

Filed under: #All About Books, #An Authors Thoughts Tagged: #2015, #All About Books, #Amazon, #AmazonCart, #Amazonwishlist, #American authors, #ARC, #artofwriting, #Author of Literary Mysteries, #authorcherivause, #authors, #Best Books, #bestmysterybooks, #BookBlog, #BookBlogger, #BookBoost, #booklist, #bookshelves, #bookshops, #cherivause, #crime, #crime novel, #culture, #deals, #detective, #Ebooks, #Fridayreads, #genre fiction, #ghost stories, #Gothic, #Gothicbooks, #Gothicmysteries, #Gothicthrillers, #indiebooksbeseen, #KindleSelect, #KindleU, #KindleUnlimited, #literary awards, #Literature, #MUSTREAD, #Mystery, #Mystery/Thriller, #mysterywritersofamerica, #Mysticism, #Noir Mystery, #noirmystery, #noirthriller, #psychologicalmystery, #psychologicalthriller, #read 2015, #Readers, #Reading habits, #reading is good for us, #readinglist, #Romantic suspense, #Romantic Thriller, #romanticmystery, #seriouswriter, #sisterincrime, #suspense mystery, #suspense thriller, #the future of reading, #the joy of reading, #the novel, #the physical book, #TheNightShadow, #TheTouchofaShadow, #TheTruthandNothingbutLies, #Thriller, #to-read, #WeNeedDiverseBooks, #Women, #womenmysterywriters, #womenwriters2014, #womenwriters2015, #writing, #writing tips

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Published on August 25, 2015 07:10

August 18, 2015

Wednesdays With Writers ~ Mark Twain

Mark Twain

It’s no wonder that truth is stranger than fiction. Fiction has to make sense.

Filed under: Wednesdays With Writers Tagged: #All About Books, #Amazon, #AmazonCart, #Amazonwishlist, #American authors, #ARC, #artofwriting, #Author of Literary Mysteries, #authorcherivause, #authors, #Best Books, #bestmysterybooks, #BookBlog, #BookBlogger, #BookBoost, #booklist, #Books, #bookshelves, #bookshops, #cherivause, #crime novel, #culture, #deals, #detective, #Ebooks, #Fridayreads, #genre fiction, #indiebooksbeseen, #IndieWriterSupp, #KindleSelect, #KindleU, #KindleUnlimited, #literary awards, #Literature, #Mark Twain, #murder, #MUSTREAD, #Mystery, #Mystery/Thriller, #mysterywritersofamerica, #Mysticism, #Noir Mystery, #noirmystery, #noirthriller, #psychologicalmystery, #psychologicalthriller, #read 2015, #Readers, #Reading habits, #reading is good for us, #reading lists, #readinglist, #Romantic suspense, #Romantic Thriller, #romanticmystery, #seriouswriter, #sisterincrime, #Suspense, #suspense mystery, #suspense thriller, #the future of reading, #the joy of reading, #the novel, #the physcial book, #the physical book, #TheNightShadow, #TheTouchofaShadow, #TheTruthandNothingbutLies, #Thriller, #to-read, #WednesdaysWithWriters, #WeNeedDiverseBooks, #Women, #womenmysterywriters, #womenwriters2014, #womenwriters2015, #writing, #writing tips, Fiction

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Published on August 18, 2015 22:26

Publishing News Ain’t That Great for Authors

Guess Who Gets Screwed Again?

As a member of Sisters In Crime, I receive newsletters and it happened just after my publisher shared with me the insane policy Amazon is trying on for size in the Kindle Unlimited program: Pay by page read. No matter how you look at it, the person who gets screwed is always the author. Here are the highlights:

The Authors Guild explains why they think half of net proceeds should be authors’ share of e-book earnings.

Historical note: Random House announced they would do this back in 2000 – but apparently changed its mind.

The Guild is also arguing for time limits on publishing contracts.

At Publisher’s Weekly, Elizabeth Bluemie mulls over the endless contract in an era when print-on-demand and e-books challenge the definition of “out of stock.”

Avid readers read a lot. Wired describes how e-book subscription services are adjusting their practices to reduce the amount they pay publishers and authors.

Subscription services for music are popular, but are musicians getting their fair share? Writers are likely to identify with the need for greater transparency about where the money goes.

Susan Kaye Quinn analyzes what this means for authors participating in Amazon’s Kindle Unlimited.

Speaking of Amazon . . .

A reviewer finds herself creeped out and angry when Amazon refuses to post reviews of books by people who they tell her are friends. How do they know? Amazon’s not telling.

There’s a petition which argues that “knowing” authors in a connected world is inevitable.

Authors United has formally asked the Department of Justice to open an anti-trust investigation of Amazon.

The group’s organizer, Douglas Preston, tells the American Bookseller’s Association that the move is getting positive feedback.

Author Kristine Kathryn Rusch thinks the group is “fighting the wrong war” and that the traditional publishing industry lacks transparency, which hurts authors.

Phew! There was much more, but I just wanted you to catch what is being discussed, what might be prosecuted, and what authors are angry about, or should be angry about. The apologists for Amazon should have to eat their Kindle, and those of you who believe someone is going to make a film out their tome and they will ride the dollars to fame and fortune, Tess Gerritson says watch-out, that may not happen when they play musical chairs with the company you signed with.

So here’s another pitch. Don’t give your book away. I don’t care who tells you it will help future sales. It doesn’t, and it hurts all of us authors. You cheapen all our work, and now everyone has their hand in our pocket for the proceeds. Look at the headlines, for crying out loud!

Readers, stop scarfing up free books. We spend years sometimes writing what you casually believe should be given to you free. Shame on both author and reader for saying our labour doesn’t have enough meaning to pay for it. Reading is essential for our society, and writers should be paid accordingly. Food for thought…

All Cheri’s books are available at your favourite bookstore: http://www.authorcherivause.wix.com/noirthrillers

Filed under: #All About Books, #An Authors Thoughts Tagged: #2015, #All About Books, #Amazon, #AmazonCart, #Amazonwishlist, #American authors, #ARC, #Author of Literary Mysteries, #authorcherivause, #authors, #Best Books, #bestmysterybooks, #BookBlog, #BookBlogger, #BookBoost, #booklist, #Books, #bookshelves, #bookshops, #cherivause, #crime, #crime novel, #culture, #deals, #detective, #Ebooks, #Fridayreads, #genre fiction, #indiebooksbeseen, #IndieWriterSupp, #KindleSelect, #KindleU, #KindleUnlimited, #literary awards, #Literature, #murder, #MUSTREAD, #Mystery, #Mystery/Thriller, #mysterywritersofamerica, #Mysticism, #Noir Mystery, #noirmystery, #noirthriller, #psychologicalmystery, #psychologicalthriller, #read 2015, #Readers, #Reading habits, #reading is good for us, #readinglist, #Romantic suspense, #Romantic Thriller, #romanticmystery, #seriouswriter, #sisterincrime, #Suspense, #suspense mystery, #suspense thriller, #the future of reading, #the joy of reading, #the novel, #the physical book, #TheNightShadow, #TheTouchofaShadow, #TheTruthandNothingbutLies, #Thriller, #to-read, #WeNeedDiverseBooks, #Women, #womenmysterywriters, #womenwriters2014, #womenwriters2015

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Published on August 18, 2015 04:49

August 11, 2015

Wednesdays With Writers ~ Charles Dickens

Mr. Charles Dickens

A wonderful fact to reflect upon, that every human creature is constituted to be that profound secret to every other.

Filed under: Wednesdays With Writers Tagged: #2015, #All About Books, #Amazonwishlist, #American authors, #ARC, #artofwriting, #authorcherivause, #authors, #BookBlog, #BookBlogger, #BookBoost, #booklist, #Books, #bookshelves, #bookshops, #CharlesDickens, #cherivause, #crime, #crime novel, #culture, #deals, #detective, #Ebooks, #famousauthor, #Famouswriters, #Fridayreads, #genre fiction, #indiebooksbeseen, #IndieWriterSupp, #KindleSelect, #KindleU, #KindleUnlimited, #literary awards, #Literature, #murder, #MUSTREAD, #Mystery, #Mystery/Thriller, #mysterywritersofamerica, #Mysticism, #Noir Mystery, #noirmystery, #noirthriller, #psychologicalmystery, #psychologicalthriller, #read 2015, #Readers, #Reading habits, #reading is good for us, #reading lists, #readinglist, #Romantic suspense, #Romantic Thriller, #romanticmystery, #seriouswriter, #sisterincrime, #Suspense, #suspense mystery, #suspense thriller, #the future of reading, #the joy of reading, #the novel, #the physical book, #TheNightShadow, #TheTouchofaShadow, #TheTruthandNothingbutLies, #Thriller, #to-read, #WednesdaysWithWriters, #WeNeedDiverseBooks, #Women, #womenmysterywriters, #womenwriters2014, #womenwriters2015, #writing, #writing tips

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Published on August 11, 2015 23:00

August 10, 2015

Liebster Awards: My Ten Friends

The Liebster Awards… Yes, it happened to me. ( See: http://livingabooklife.com/2015/08/04/liebster-award/) I’m not sure what it means to be nominated, but here is my take. Lieb is German for Love. Ich liebst du… (for those who don’t read German: I love you!) I like that. I like acts of kindness shown others, and spreading the love around. It means the world hasn’t quite devolved into a Fascist One-World state yet. Thank you, Lauren.

The whole purpose of my writing a blog is to help others, to teach a little, share a little, inform, extol, and call out the bastards! But mainly, it’s to sell my books. Yes, I’m that self-motivated. I need the money. I’ve developed this strange habit of eating and must continue it. Can’t live on air. Sorry. Well, what are the Liebster Awards?

The Literary Counsellor (See: http://theliterarycounsellor.com/), located in the UK, began this process. I believe it was her way of helping those of us with fledgling influence on the blogosphere. The lovely gal who nominated me added me to this list of ten, and I’m meant to help ten others. Better than a chain letter because it actually does promote and help. It isn’t left up to some strange spiritual karmic nonsense, a Rosicrucian and Masonic mind floating out there in space, that if I concentrate hard enough, send out ten chain letters, it might lay its blessings on me, and if I don’t some horrible excruciatingly terrible thing will happen to me. How whimsical of that Masonic god, how very like the gods of old. Of course, if I’m deemed one of the great Avatars of the age, I’ll be the one in control. Yeah… Right… Uh huh… As if… God doesn’t work that way. But He does bless those who perform acts of kindness toward others without desiring to be blessed with the whammy themselves. It’s a lovely thing. I used ten from my list of followers, and hope that they will pass on the kindness to those who deserve love. And my followers deserve it. So here goes:

The Rules for The Liebster Awards:

Each nominee must have under 200 followers
Thank and link to the nominated blog
Answer their 10 questions and propose 10 new ones for your nominees
Nominate 10 blogs and tell them that they have been nominated
Write a post containing the questions
Include these rules in the post

Questions from Lauren, and My Answers

If you could hang out with any author for an afternoon, who would it be, why, and what would you do?

Daphne du Maurier is my idol. I’ve read every book she’s written that I could lay my hands on. We would start with a wonderful lunch at the Gruene Door in Gruene, Texas, located near New Braunfels. Then stroll around the village talking books. Then we’d plant ourselves at one of the tables outside The Gruene Coffee House, and I would ask her about her process, what tips she might have for a fellow mystery writer.

Which fictional character would you want as your best friend and why? Mrs. de Winter from Rebecca , by Daphne du Maurier. The poor woman was not named in the entire book. You only know her as the present Mrs. de Winter. I can identify with that kind of anonymity, with the disdain people have for her because they all loved Rebecca. She and I would be good friends.
If you could live inside the fictional world of any book for a day, which would it be?Frank Herbert’s Dune has always fascinated me. I would love to see one of those giant worms.
What is your favorite book and why should I read it? Rebecca , is undoubtedly my favorite book with a close runner up The Brother’s Karamazov , by Fyodor Dostoevsky. Why read any book? To be transported, to learn something. Both have important ideas behind them, and, in a way, they are similar. You can become eclipsed by those around you, those who try to diminish you, but truth will always set you free.
What is your favorite genre to read?I’m partial to my own genre, Mysteries, but I do love to read Science Fiction. I know. They are very different, but are they. Science Fiction to Mysteries is like Star Wars is to Westerns. The only difference is the setting. Food for thought.
What book do you hate?Lately, several. But the top contender is Dark Places by Gillian Flynn. I love dark stories, but when every character in the story is one you absolutely hate, what’s the point?
What are your ideal reading conditions? (i.e., a roaring fire and snow falling gently outside your window, & etc).It’s raining and very dark, the room is quiet, and I’m alone with a glass of Pinto Noir and my book.
Katniss or Hermione?I’m assuming these characters are from Harry Potter. Sorry, never read any of them, and I’m not likely to. My list is so full right now, I’ll die before I ever get around to reading any. I’ve never seen any of the films either.
Is there a book that changed your life, or had a profound effect on you? The Brother’s Karamazov really made me consider writing for a career. That and The Picture of Dorian Gray . I can’t imagine you didn’t like that book. Perhaps you need to read it now that you’re separated from High School by a few years.

What is the best book-to-movie adaptation you’ve seen?

The Big Sleep, by Raymond Chandler. I prefer the one with Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall, but it was so true, it’s almost a screenplay. I must have seen the movie and read the book a dozen times.

My Questions:

1. If you could live as a fictional character, who would you be?

2. What is your first memory of a book?

3. You’re the Reading Rugrat at your local library, what would be your first choice of book to read to the children?

4. You’ve just started a Book Club, what top three books are on your must-read list?

5. If you could live in another world of your choosing, what world from what book would transport you?

6. Out of all the books you’ve read, which one do you feel changed your perspective on life?

7. If you could rewrite a book to make it better, which one would that be?

8. You’re having dinner with your favourite writer, what is the first question you’d ask?

9. After you’re finished gushing over your favourite writer, what is the second question you’d ask?

10. What book haunts you?