Heather Weidner's Blog, page 8

#WriterWednesday with Joel Turner

I’d like to welcome author Joel Turner to the blog for #WriterWednesday!

Hardest thing about being a writer: Blank page

Easiest thing about being a writer: Editing

Things you need for your writing sessions: Quiet (negotiable), coffee (non-negotiable)

Things that hamper your writing: Laziness

Words that describe you: Affable, easy-going, obsessive about some things

Words that describe you, but you wish they didn’t: Know-it-all

Something you’re really good at: Saying what basketball announcers say before they say it

Something you’re really bad at: Handwriting

Last best thing you ate: Tomato pie

Last thing you regret eating: A hamburger

Favorite music or song: R&B, “Mind over Matter” by Nolan Strong and the Diablos

Music that drives you crazy: “Sweet Caroline,” Neil Diamond in general

The last thing you ordered online: WILDWOOD EXIT bookmarks

The last thing you regret buying: Roomba

Things you’d walk a mile for: Ultimate Italian Hoagie from Carlino’s; a mint-condition 45 of “Village of Love” by Nathaniel Mayer and the Fabulous Twilights on the Fortune Label.

Things that make you want to run screaming from the room: “Watching Scotty Grow” by Bobby Goldsboro

Things to say to an author: I bought your book

Things to say to an author if you want to be fictionally killed off in their next book: I’ve always wanted to write a book but don’t have the time.

Favorite places you’ve been: Ravello, Islay, Barbados

Places you never want to go to again: Disneyworld

Favorite books (or genre): Gravity’s Rainbow by Thomas Pynchon, At Swim-Two-Birds by Flann O’Brien, How late it was, how late by James Kelman, High Rise by J. G. Ballard, God’s Pocket by Pete Dexter

Books you wouldn’t buy: Romance, Romantasy

Favorite things to do: Play golf, listen to R&B, dinner out with my wife

Things you’d run through a fire or eat bugs to get out of doing: Square dancing

Most daring thing you’ve ever done: Getting an MBA

Something you chickened out from doing: Getting an MFA

The funniest thing to happen to you: Being exorcised by a Catholic priest in preparation for becoming a god-parent.

The most embarrassing thing to happen to you: Calling my god-daughter by her sister’s name

The coolest person you’ve ever met: Dave Davies of The Kinks

The celebrity who didn’t look like he/she did in pictures/video: World B. Free – he’d put on a few pounds since his playing days.

Besides writing, what’s the most creative thing you’ve done: Explaining to a roomful of bankers in Milan how bad their credit metrics were.

A project that didn’t quite turn out the way you planned it: Spending the summer of my sophomore year in college in Berkeley, CA, with promise of a job that fell apart when I got there. I ended up working in the Del Monte cannery under an assumed name.

Some real-life story that made it to one of your books: A friend crashing a car and walking away from it, because the title had not been transferred to him.

Something in your story that readers think is about you, but it’s not: Having a girlfriend from Quebec

The first 8-track, record, cassette, or CD you ever bought: The Yardbirds Greatest Hits

A type of music that’s not your cup of tea: Modern Country

My favorite book as a child: A Pass and a Prayer by Claire Bee

A book I’ve read more than once: Exterminator! By William S. Burroughs

Your favorite movie as a child: The Beast from the 20000 Fathoms

A TV show or movie that kept you awake at night as a kid (or as an adult): Vertigo

About Joel:

Joel E. Turner has combined his writing work with a career as a consultant in business analytics to banks in the US and Europe. His fiction has appeared in many US and UK journals. He also writes about Soul Music, film, and books at joeleturnerauthor.com. His new novel, WILDWOOD EXIT, a Jersey Shore noir tale, draws on his extensive work experience at some of the finer dining establishments at the Jersey Shore. He knows how to operate a Frialator.

Mr. Turner splits his time between Philadelphia and White Cloud, Michigan.

Let’s Be Social:

Website: http://joeleturnerauthor.com

Twitter: @JoelETurner1

Bluesky: @joeleturner.bsky.social

Instagram: @bzturner

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joeleturner2

ROI - Sometimes It's More Than Book Sales

My writing career started with a series of short stories, and many of the anthology writers and I did hundreds of events. It was a great way to get out and meet readers and to talk about books. For the first couple of years, we had something scheduled almost every weekend. As I started writing novels (and had contracts for multiple series), I cut down on a lot of the travel and appearances. It’s good to be choosy about projects and events you take on, but I encourage you to look at the total ROI (Return on Investment) when you make your decisions. Sometimes, you gain a lot more than just book sales.

Use every opportunity you have to invite people to join your newsletter list and follow you on social media.

Many of the writing projects and events have offered me the opportunity to network with other writers, publishers, podcasters, bloggers, and agents. These encounters led to other opportunities and projects. One led to acquiring an agent.

I often teach workshops and classes. These are work, but they’re a chance for me to share information on a topic that I love and to meet new readers and writers. Schools and libraries have a special place in my heart, and I will always try to accept their invitations. These events may not be an opportunity to sell books, but you can gather names for your email list and give out bookmarks. Many times, I’ve seen my sales numbers jump after a class or workshop.

Many of the writing conferences have offered me a chance to network and meet other authors. And that has led to lots of blogging, podcast, and anthology projects. (We plotted the themes of several anthologies in the restaurant at the Malice Domestic conference.)

I have also been very fortunate to receive book club and other speaking invitations from referrals from folks who attended a class, seminar, or book signing.

Events and promotions can be time consuming (and often costly). Look at your marketing plan and how you want to promote your work. But don’t forget there many offer other kinds of rewards and benefits.

#ThisorThatThursday Author Interview with Michael Rigg

I’d like to welcome my friend, Michael Rigg, to the blog for #ThisorThatThursday!

Hardest thing about being a writer: Marketing, e.g., social media, website upkeep, talking to readers about my books and short stories, business aspects of book sales.

Easiest thing about being a writer: Attending writing conferences and classes.

Things you need for your writing sessions: Time and a relatively quiet space.

Things that hamper your writing: The “other duties as assigned” aspects of writing, e.g., marketing.

Something you’re really good at: Procrastination.

Something you’re really bad at: Organization.

Last best thing you ate: Broiled crabcakes at a restaurant in Smithfield, Virginia.

Last thing you regret eating: An Armour (brand) Potted Meat sandwich.

The last thing you ordered online: Postage Stamps.

The last thing you regret buying: Armour (brand) Potted Meat.

Things you always put in your books: For my stories set in New Orleans, I like to mention the resurrection fern. It’s a plant (but not a parasite) that grows on the live oak trees that are prevalent in New Orleans. Depending on the amount of rain, the resurrection fern will either appear brown and shriveled or lush, thick, and green. In dry weather, the plant shrivels up and appears to be dead. But with rain, the plant seems to come back to life—a resurrection.

Things you never put in your books: Hopelessness. There can be tension, fear, and even tragedy. But in the end, justice and fairness must prevail.

Things to say to an author: I like to comment on a particular aspect of a short story or novel to show that I read and appreciated the author’s work.

Things to say to an author if you want to be fictionally killed off in their next book: I couldn’t read your novel past the first three pages.

The funniest thing to happen to you: During the time I was Counsel for the Navy Exchange Service Command, I attended a legal conference in Naples, Italy. Over the weekend before the conference, I volunteered to work at our Navy Exchange retail store during a customer appreciation event. My assignment was to help ring up purchases of high-end sunglasses and jewelry. One of the customers asked me to try on a pair of designer sunglasses because my head was the same shape as his father’s head. Translation? I got to model the sunglasses because I was old and fat, like his dad. I made the sale, though.

The most embarrassing thing to happen to you: I don’t want to go into too much detail, but there was one incident involving a very hot shower in a London hotel where the steam (allegedly) set off a fire alarm, resulting in a rather large desk clerk with a thick Russian accent banging on the door. There may or may not have been threats of arrest, fine, and imprisonment involved.

The coolest person you’ve ever met: David Morrell, the author of First Blood (Rambo).

The celebrity who didn’t look like he/she did in pictures/video: Bette Midler. I saw her outside a Broadway theater, where she had just performed in Hello Dolly! She was tiny. She wasn’t just short and petite, she was “Tinker Bell tiny.”

Besides writing, what’s the most creative thing you’ve done: I built a wooden toolbox in Junior High School shop class.

A project that didn’t quite turn out the way you planned it: The wooden toolbox I built in Junior High School shop class.

Your favorite book as a child: Dr. Doolittle (the series). Dr. Doolittle had an assistant, Tommy Stubbins, who was about my age at the time.

A book I’ve read more than once: A Fly Went By – by Mike McClintock. Beyond that, most of my re-reads are history books or biographies because I want to check out a particular historical fact or event.

Your favorite movie as a child: It’s a tossup between The Wizard of Oz and Goldfinger. The Wizard of Oz had flying monkeys, Munchkins, and they melted a witch! In Goldfinger, the evil-doers killed a guy in his car then put it in a metal crusher, painted a woman gold, and employed a huge Japanese gangster who killed people by throwing his hat at them.

A TV show or movie that kept you awake at night as a kid (or as an adult): When I was a kid (maybe five or six years old), Invaders from Mars (the black-and-white version) scared me “to death.” I saw it as an adult and realized how cheesy it was.

About Michael:

Michael Rigg, an attorney for more than four decades, writes mysteries and thrillers set in two very different locations: Virginia Beach (where he lives) and New Orleans (which he visits as often as possible “for research,” including participation in three Mardi Gras Krewes). He is a retired Navy Judge Advocate and a retired civilian government attorney, formerly working for the Department of the Navy Office of the General Counsel. He is a member of International Thriller Writers, Mystery Writers of America, and both the Sisters in Crime national organization and its Southeastern Virginia Chapter—Mystery by the Sea.

Let’s Be Social:

Website: www.michaelrigg.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/michael.rigg.author

Twitter/X: Michael Rigg@MDR102030

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/michael-rigg-4567b591

#WriterWednesday with Alison McBain

I’d like to welcome writer Alison McBain to the blog for #WriterWednesday!

Favorite thing that you always make time for: I might be elbows-deep in a project, but I will always make time for my kids.

The thing you’ll always do just about anything to avoid: I’m a terrible procrastinator, so I will always avoid the most urgent thing I HAVE to do because the world will explode if I don’t. But I’m very productive at doing all the stuff that’s NOT urgent, LOL.

Things you need when you’re in your writing cave: The fuel that keeps my writing going is silence, hot chocolate, and tea. Not necessarily in that order.

Things that distract you from writing: Loud, constant noises are somewhat distracting when I’m writing. A neighbor mowing their lawn, a siren going off down the street, or even the buzzing of a fly stuck at the window—argh. It’s why I have a monster tub of earplugs for when I really need to shut the world out.

The thing you like most about being a writer: I love sitting down and being able to tell stories every day. It’s seriously my dream career come to life. And there’s no better high than when you open an email to find an acceptance waiting for you.

The thing you like least about being a writer: I’d love to just write constantly and do nothing else—no editing, marketing, networking, etc. But that’s the necessary evil of writing as a profession—it’s a business, so there’s a lot more to it than just putting words on a page.

Things you will run to the store for in the middle of the night: I have a terrible sweet tooth, so if I’m out of candy, cookies, ice cream, you name it—there might be a midnight trip to the store in my future.

Things you never put on your shopping list: Broccoli is the bane of the world—that stuff ain’t ever coming near me. *shudder*

Something you’re really good at: Aside from writing, my lifelong hobby has been folding origami. If you ever meet me in person, just ask me and I’ll make you something cool.

Something you never learned how to do: This might be a cliché, but I’ve never learned how to change the oil in my car. Perhaps I will someday, but I’m not really interested in doing it when it’s so much easier just to take it to my local mechanic.

Something you wanted to be when you were a kid: I’ve always wanted to be a writer, ever since I was four years old. What a great gig—telling stories all day.

Something you do that you never dreamed you’d do: I think I must have imposter syndrome because I never thought I’d ever get to the point that I could be a fulltime freelance writer and editor. It’s so cool!

Things to say to an author: “Your writing is so inspiring that I want to be an author when I grow up!”

Things to say to an author if you want to be fictionally killed off in their next book: “On a scale of one to ten, I give your last book a zero.”

Favorite things to do: I’ll quote Julia Child here: “People who love to eat are always the best people.” I don’t know if that’s true, but I do love to eat!

Things you’d run through a fire or eat bugs to get out of doing: Eating bugs is actually one of the things that I’d run through a fire to avoid. Just the thought of it… ugh.

The coolest person you’ve ever met: I only really fangirl over authors, so I’m going to have to say the coolest writer I ever met was Ray Bradbury. He’s long been one of my writing heroes, and so it was awesome to talk to him when I was just starting out as a writer. Very inspiring.

The celebrity who didn’t look like he/she did in pictures/video: I lived in New York City a couple of decades ago, and you see a lot of celebrities all the time there. The one celebrity I saw walking down the street who looked MUCH different without tons of makeup and fancy clothes was Cameron Diaz. I didn’t even recognize her at first (my boyfriend at the time did).

The best job you ever had: Being a writer is amazing! I get to wake up every day and do what I LOVE.

The worst job you ever had: Working as a server in a restaurant is a nonstop sh*tshow. Long hours, low pay, customers who hit on you constantly when they’re not complaining about something that you can’t do anything about (such as prices being too expensive, drinks arriving too slowly, etc.). While my previous experience as a server has been great fodder for my writing, I would probably gouge out my eye before going back to a job like that.

The one thing you cook/bake that is better than a restaurant dish: I’m a whiz when it comes to desserts, but I have to say I’m a pie whisperer at heart. The crust I make is *chef’s kiss.*

The one thing you cooked/baked that turned out to be an epic disaster: I have to say that I don’t think I’ve ever had a good experience cooking with canned sardines. They stink up the kitchen and are just not edible, no matter how much I try to disguise them in a dish.

About Alison:

Alison McBain’s human-created novels are the recipients of over 13 awards, including the Foreword INDIES. Her latest novella Dual took home 3rd place in the 3-Day Novel Contest. When not writing for herself, she’s a ghostwriter who has penned over two dozen books for clients, as well as an award-winning editor who has worked with both celebrity and NY Times-bestselling authors. In 2024, she pursued a project called “Author Versus AI,” where she wrote a book a week, using NO AI at all (34 books total). When not writing, Ms. McBain is the associate editor for the magazine ScribesMICRO and draws all over the walls of her house with the enthusiastic help of her kids. She lives in Alberta, Canada.

Let’s Be Social: 

Author Versus AI website: http://www.authorversusai.com/contact.html

Author website: https://www.alisonmcbain.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alison.mcbain.9

Twitter: https://x.com/AlisonMcBain

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alisonamcbain/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alison-mcbain-0a026a266/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCm9PMu4p4urp_un0oy1vroQ

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@1authorversusai

Medium: https://medium.com/@amcbain

              

What Are You Reading This Summer?

What have you added to your summer reading list? I’m always looking for recommendations, especially new to me mystery series. Here’s what I’ve been reading lately.

I recently discovered Laura Bradford’s series. She has sleuths with unusual jobs and lives. These are fun reads to add to your beach bag. Also check out Lisa Q. Matthews and Darci Hannah. They have a bunch of quirky characters who get themselves into all kinds of tricky situations.

Diane Kelly’s series are always a must read, and her latest, Dead Post Society, will not disappoint.

And you need to check out Michael Rigg’s debut mystery, Voices of the Elysian Fields. It’s a medical thriller set in New Orleans.

Who are your favorite new reads?

#ThisorThatThursday Author Interview with Marc Watson

I’d like to welcome Marc Watson to the blog for #ThisorThatThursday.

Hardest thing about being a writer: Convincing people I never want to do this full time, ever. Seriously, people need to stop asking.

Easiest thing about being a writer: Once I hit the groove, actually writing. When my fingers fly, it’s as easy as breathing.

Things you need for your writing sessions: In the office: pink noise of keyboards and casual conversation. At home, darkness and a cup of green tea. I love working in the dark.

Things that hamper your writing: Literally everything on the internet. There’s so much good stuff on there!

Favorite foods: Grilled steak fajitas are the greatest, most complete food on earth.

Things that make you want to gag: I don’t really have a gag reflex, but the smells of canned tuna, and French Onion Soup come close.

Something you’re really good at: Cooking. It’s tasty science you can eat!

Something you’re really bad at: Any kind of carpentry. Do not ask me to build you anything.

Favorite music or song: Alternative rock, and despite my middle-age white guy appearance, I’m about the biggest hip-hop and rap fan you’ll ever meet. Rap = 1 Pulitzer Prize winning writer. All other popular music genres = zero.

Music that drives you crazy: Country. Music. SUCKS. I will accept no rebuttals. My judgement is final.

Things you always put in your books: Characters who are complex shades of grey, who the reader can relate to, even when the choices they make are morally questionable.

Things you never put in your books: Characters who like country music. I refuse to do the research to create accuracy.

Favorite places you’ve been: Kihei, Hawaii and Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Places you never want to go to again: A strip club. I went once. I hated it. Maybe I was using it wrong?

Favorite books (or genre): ‘The Shipping News’ by E. Annie Proulx, for some weird (completely justified) reason.

Books you wouldn’t buy: Any harlequin romance, or anything with an AI generated cover. If that’s on the outside, I don’t even want to guess what’s inside.

Favorite things to do: Camp, hike, and be at a baseball diamond in any way possible.

Things you’d run through a fire or eat bugs to get out of doing: Running. I hate running, so running through a fire to avoid it will likely be complicated.

Most daring thing you’ve ever done: Cliff jumping 60 feet into rocky water.

Something you chickened out from doing: Without sounding boastful, I seriously can’t think of anything. There’s been lots of things I won’t do twice, but once? Nah, I’ll try anything once, and have!

The nicest thing a reader said to you: “This book gave my dark soul the only reason it’s ever had to want to live.”

The craziest thing a reader said to you: “No one would ever swear this much in an actual conversation.” (Someone doesn’t spend much time with me and my friends or teammates, apparently.)

Some real-life story that made it to one of your books: The first chapters of my Death books (Death Dresses Poorly, and Death at a Wedding) are both scenarios that happened to me personally with very few changes except where it serves the story.

Something in your story that readers think is about you, but it’s not: My mother is a great woman and is my hero, and she is NOT a strung-out abusive drug addict. I was told that I wrote that relationship very accurately, and I just want to clear that up. I love you, Mom

About Marc:

Hello, I’m Marc Watson, and I write stuff. I’m an author of genre fiction (primarily Fantasy and Science Fiction of all lengths). I began writing at the age of 15 with a pen and paper, and I’ve never really stopped, even though until recently it was more of a background to me than my defining trait. I have been published on flash fiction site www.101words.org, as well as comedy site www.thecorrectness.com. I’ve been a student of the excellent writing classes at Athabasca University for a number of years.

I live in Calgary, Alberta, and was spawned out of the depths of Southern Ontario. I’m a husband, proud father of two, and can be sometimes found at an actual job. I’m an avid outdoorsman, martial artist of some high repute, baseball player of very little repute, and lover of all Mexican foods. One day ‘World Famous Poutine Aficionado’ will be on my business cards.

For public appearances and interviews, I am proudly represented by Creative Edge Publicity.

#WriterWednesday Interview with S. A. Schneider

I’d like to welcome S. A. Schneider to the blog today for #Writer
Wednesday!

Hardest thing about being a writer: Writing.

Easiest thing about being a writer: Writing.

Things you need for your writing sessions: My computer and Scrivener. Want to get into dictation, but I keep dragging my feet.

Things that hamper your writing: Life. Too often I have to get to the real world work and my writing ends up taking a backseat.

Something you’re really good at: Ideas, especially involving tech.

Something you’re really bad at: I love games, but it’s a running joke at how much I lose.

Favorite music or song: I have many, many, but lately it’s been “Can’t stop the Feeling” from Timberlake, totally not what I normally listen to.

Music that drives you crazy: Actually not much other than Opera, which is mentioned later.

Things you always put in your books: Easter eggs for parents, like all the adult jokes in Looney Tunes cartoons.

Things you never put in your books: swearing and other teen/adult situations. Did have Samaul’s dad be a drunk, but never explicitly showed him drinking.

Favorite places you’ve been: Top of a mountain in New Mexico

Places you never want to go to again: The freeway around Washington, DC. No matter day of week or time of day, it’s slow, bumper to bumper traffic.

Favorite books (or genre): I love the Dragonlance series and Stephen King books, I have almost every Star Wars book printed, both old Canon and new.

Books you wouldn’t buy: I’m not big on thrillers. My mother gives me all her David Baldacci books after she’s read them. I say thanks and quietly give them away.

The coolest person you’ve ever met: I’ve met several cool celebrities, but the best interaction was with Dean Haglund who played Langely in the X-Files. It’s a story.

The celebrity who didn’t look like he/she did in pictures/video: Don’t have one that I’ve met.

The first 8-track, record, cassette, or CD you ever bought: I don’t remember the cassette, but my first 4 CDs were: Van Halen 1, Lost Boys soundtrack, Led Zeppelin 4, and Look What the Cat Dragged in by Poison

A type of music that’s not your cup of tea: Opera. I had to listen to it for music history and mostly fell asleep.

My favorite book as a child: Dragonlance series, particularly Dragons of Autum Twilight.

A book I’ve read more than once: the above Dragonlance series and Stephen King’s The Shining

Your favorite movie as a child: Star Wars and still some of my favorites, including all the new shows

A TV show or movie that kept you awake at night as a kid (or as an adult): Wasn’t a show or movie – but the book Amityville Horror. Realized I was home alone and reading it on the couch with the lamp shining on me. I was basically in a pool of light and everything else was pitch black.

About Stephen:

S.A. Schneider has a wolf, so of course he writes middle grade fantasy, wouldn’t you? Since his Lego and action figure days, he’s crafted worlds and stories within those worlds. This pursuit continues into his middle grade fantasies.

He doesn’t stop with inspiring kids to write linear stories. Oh no, no. S.A. shows kids how storytelling in video games work and how they can learn to write those. He wants others to join him and delve into creating fantastical worlds.

Enjoy the Adventure!

Let’s Be Social:

Website: https://sa-schneider.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SASchneiderAuth

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/S.A.-Schneider/author/B07CG6FKG4

Memorial Day Weekend - Ready! Go! Summer!

I grew up in Virginia Beach. Memorial Day was always the weekend to honor those in our military who fought and made the ultimate sacrifice for our country.

It is also the unofficial start of summer and the tourist season. Hibernating season is over! Break out the shorts and the flip flops. These days, I miss the beach and all the holiday celebrations. Norfolk and Virginia Beach had some epic air shows, flyovers, and fireworks over the years.

I love the later sunsets, longer days, and warmer temperatures. So even though I’m not a beach “local” anymore, Memorial Day weekend will always herald summer for me.

As a writer, I still keep up with my writing schedules during the warmer months. I just may write or edit outside, and I often get my writing done in the morning, so I can enjoy the rest of the day.

Whatever your favorite season is, I hope summer (which starts this weekend) is good to you.

The Long and Short of It...

I primarily write cozy mystery novels, but I started my writing career in the short story world. My first traditionally published work was “Washed up” in the first Virginia is for Mysteries anthology. I just finished a crime story that was a little darker for an upcoming musically themed anthology. I’m at the point in the writing process that includes a hundred revisions and edits before I send that one to the editor.

https://www.amazon.com/Virginia-Mysteries-Sisters-Crime/dp/1938467647

I like both formats. If you’ve never considered writing a short story, here are some things to think about…

Since I write cozy mysteries that have expectations about characters, violence, and language, I get to experiment more with the short stories. Mine tend to be a little darker than my novels.

You’re writing in a smaller space, so it takes less time to write than a book. You see a first draft much sooner.

You’re writing in a smaller space, and that means every word counts. Most short stories range in the 4k to 6k word count limits. There can’t be extra explanations, a ton of characters, or long sections of dialog.

You need to be able to tell your story with a shorter timetable. I think sometimes, it’s harder to write a complete story in a compacted space.

Short story anthologies have gained in popularity in the mystery community, and there are quite a few outlets for publishing opportunities. Check out the Short Mystery Fiction Society. It’s a great group of short story writers who put out lots of calls for short stories.

If you’re on the East Coast, check out ShortCon. The next one is in June. It’s a great opportunity to network with other writers and attend amazing panels and workshops.

If you’re looking for a new outlet or you’re interested in trying your hand at a mystery, consider a short story.

#ThisorThatThursday Author Interview with Elle Jauffret

I’d like to welcome the fabulous Elle Jauffret to the blog for #ThisorThatThursday.

Hardest thing about being a writer: The hardest thing about being a writer is finding the time to write every day, having to persevere when inspiration lacks, and facing the blank page.

Easiest thing about being a writer: The easiest thing about being a writer is creating characters out of thin air (sometimes based on your friends), dropping them into wild situations, and watch their stories unfold. It’s like playing pretend with words on a page.

Things you need for your writing sessions: When I start a new story, I just need a pen and a notebook to write all my ideas down (what I call a “baby first draft” — about 15 pages). When I draft following an outline, I need only a computer. I can write anywhere—in bed, on the couch, or in the car, but I prefer to be at a desk (it’s better for my back).

Things that hamper your writing: Phone calls, texts, or people talking to me mid-thought pull me out of the writing zone, from which re-entry is difficult.

Something you’re really good at: I’m really good at striking up conversations with strangers and turning them into something meaningful. I'm also great at being resourceful—if there’s no door, I’ll create one.

Something you’re really bad at: I’m bad at asking for help. As a military spouse, especially during deployments, I learned to be entirely self-sufficient—because I had to be. Over time, that turned into a habit of taking everything on myself, even when I don’t need to. It’s something I’m still working on.

Last best thing you ate: The freshly harvested berries, cherry tomatoes, and strawberry-guava my husband cultivates in our container garden. There's something truly special about enjoying produce that goes straight from plant to plate.

Last thing you regret eating: One pound of Halloween candy (but I enjoyed every second of it).

The last thing you ordered online: French berets to gift to Malice Domestic*’s attendees and custom bookmarks to distribute at writers conferences and readers conventions. (*Malice Domestic is an annual fan convention that celebrates the Traditional Mystery genre.)

The last thing you regret buying: A non-fiction book about behavior profiling that had more hype than substantive content.

Things you’d walk a mile for: I could walk miles (yes, “miles” with an “s”) for a complimentary five-course meal crafted by innovative and talented chefs.

Things that make you want to run screaming from the room: Heavily cluttered and filthy places stress me out.

Things you always put in your books: I always include one French element or international cuisine in my stories.

Things you never put in your books: Gratuitous violence or shock value for the sake of it. If I ever write about violence, it needs to advance the story.

Things to say to an author: Authors love to hear how much readers love their books or how their books inspired them and changed their lives for the better.

Things to say to an author if you want to be fictionally killed off in their next book: The best ways to be killed off in an author’s next book, are to (1) ask them, (2) tell them that their books are trash, or (3) tell them they are wasting their talent writing commercial fiction for the masses; that if life didn’t get in the way, you’d be working on something more meaningful— like a Pulitzer contender.

Favorite places you’ve been: Some of my favorite places are probably ones I haven’t visited yet. So far, I love the Washington DC-Maryland area, Boston, the Kenai Peninsula (Alaska), Yosemite National Park, Kyoto (Japan), Seoul (South Korea), Cornwall (UK), and France (Paris, Normandy, the French Riviera, the Alps). I love places filled with natural beauty and rich in history. And of course, Disney World/Disneyland when the crowds are minimal.

Places you never want to go to again: I would avoid the desert, especially during summertime (though the night sky there is spectacular.)

Favorite books (or genre): I love all genres of books, especially those that teach me something new. Offer me a speculative fiction novel or something with a ghost and I cannot refuse.

Books you wouldn’t buy: I wouldn’t buy a book including gratuitous violence and cruelty, (especially against women and children) and any books written by known racist, xenophobic, or misogynist authors.

Favorite things to do: I love to discover new ideas or new ways of doing things, so anything and everything that opens a new window into the world and/or challenges my understanding of things: chatting (with friends or strangers) about the meaning of life, discussing ideas on how to change the world, listening to people’s experiences; visiting museums; reading books (fiction or non-fiction); watching movies and documentaries; meeting new people different from me; traveling. I also enjoy building things like Lego or puzzles and completing escapes rooms with my family.

Things you’d run through a fire or eat bugs to get out of doing: Having a 50-hour work week, and having to deal with stubborn, mean-spirited, and narrow-minded people.

Most daring thing you’ve ever done: I rejected a Fulbright scholarship (to study law, all expenses paid) and left my native country (France) and everything that was familiar for love. I had never fallen in love before and wanted to investigate that feeling— and yes, we’re still married.

Something you chickened out from doing: I have never chickened out from doing anything. When I refuse to do something, it’s based on rationale rather than fear. Bring it. LOL

The nicest thing a reader said to you: The nicest thing a reader said to me was that they “absolutely loved” my book and “couldn’t wait for the next one.”

The craziest thing a reader said to you: The strangest thing a reader said to me was “it’s weird that you write so well considering you speak with an accent.” I found it ironic since my book literally explores accent perception through a character with Foreign Accent Syndrome. It was like they were living out the exact biases my book examines.

Some real-life story that made it to one of your books: Being an American criminal attorney with a French accent and having people believe I’m just a foreign tourist on vacation.

Something in your story that readers think is about you, but it’s not: That I have Foreign Accent Syndrome—my French accent is real (not the product of a neurological disorder).

The first 8-track, record, cassette, or CD you ever bought: The first recording I bought was either a Bruce Springsteen or Michael Jackson record.

A type of music that’s not your cup of tea: Screamo post-hardcore doesn’t relax or cheer me up.

My favorite book as a child: The Odyssey by Homer was my favorite book until sixth grade, when I discovered The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury. Both books fed my hunger for adventure as a child.

A book I’ve read more than once: On Writing by Stephen King. I regularly listen to the audiobook whenever I need an emotional boost as a writer.

Your favorite movie as a child: I was only allowed to watch “one thing” a week, so I always chose to watch one Twilight Zone rerun a week.

A TV show or movie that kept you awake at night as a kid (or as an adult): The Twilight Zone episode "Time Enough at Last" where a bookish bank teller survives a nuclear apocalypse by being locked in a bank vault during the explosion. At first, he's devastated by the destruction but then becomes ecstatic upon discovering the ruins of a public library with all the books he could ever want to read uninterrupted. Just as he's about to enjoy this solitary paradise, he accidentally breaks his thick glasses, leaving him functionally blind and unable to read anything—a cruel twist of fate that haunted me, especially since I had glasses.

About Elle:

Elle Jauffret is a French-born American lawyer, former criminal attorney for the California Attorney General’s Office, military spouse, Claymore Award finalist, and Agatha Award nominee. New York Times bestselling author Jonathan Maberry described her debut novel, Threads of Deception, as “a powerful, complex, and compelling mystery,” and USA Today bestselling author Hank Phillippi Ryan called Elle “a smart and fresh new voice.” She lives in Southern California with her family, along the coast of San Diego County, which serves as the backdrop for her Suddenly French Mystery series.

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