Author Interview with Markee Anderson

Hello Markee, please tell us about you, as a writer.
I live in Wisconsin, in the USA, about five miles fromLambeau Field (those of you who know about the Packers Football Team willrecognize the name).  Some people thinkI'm male, but I'm a female, married, and my husband and I have threeteenagers.  No, we don't own them, andare waiting for all of them to leave for college.  I write under a few pen names, but this one,Markee Anderson, is for my romances.  Itlets me be me, as an indie writer.  I'vejust added books to my pen name 'Andie Alexander' for my mysteries/adventures.
Your latest book Justiceman isa light hearted adult mystery;perhaps you'd you give us some insight into it in a few sentences.
The last book I indie published was a mystery,entitled 'Justiceman.'  It's a funny bookabout weird criminals, including a vigilante killer who calls himself'Justiceman.'  He's after the maincharacter, Aspen Dove, who is a woman of many talents.  She teams up with an FBI agent who likes toplay head games.  It was a lot of fun towrite, because I wanted to be as creative as possible for the criminals, givingthem the weirdest characteristics I could think of.  As with all my books, there is romance, butit's just fun, with no sex (we have three teenagers who don't need anysuggestions put in their brains from my books) and no swearing.
How did you come to write this particular book?
I read Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum books, tryingto figure out how she creates her characters. For 'Justiceman,' I let my brain go nuts, thinking of outlandish peoplewith few brain cells (they're the most fun to write) as well as giving the booka plot of Aspen trying to figure out who the vigilante killer really is.
Do you have a favourite character from the book? If so, who and why thisparticular one?
I have to think that Elmo Flow is my favouritecharacter (although, there are a ton of close seconds).  This guy is missing more than a few braincells.  He calls himself the 'Lone Wolf'thinking it's an anagram to his name...but there's no 'n' in his realname.  So he tells the FBI agent to takehim in for impersonating himself.  Atleast the Lone Wolf, who eats people, will be taken off the streets for impersonatinghimself.  LOL!  That character cracks me up!
Where can people buy your books?
My books are on Amazon.co.uk, Smashwords, and variousother outlets under the names Andie Alexander and Markee Anderson.  I have all buy links on my website at www.markeeanderson.com and www.andiealexander.com.
What qualities does a writer need to be successful?
Perseverance. That's the number one quality.  Somany people say they're going to write a book, but never get past pageone.  I've been writing seriously sinceabout 2000, and finally got an agent—and just terminated that contract in July,finally going completely indie.  It tookme a while to see what publishers really wanted.  But if you can write the best book you can,then learn more and edit (a lot), you're bound to make it someday.
What's your working method?
I write with an idea of where I'm headed, then usuallygo off in a different direction.  :)  I get the first draft done, and go back andedit a lot, to see what plot holes I have. I don't like writing description, so after the first draft is when I addin those things that slow down the pacing.
What's the single biggest mistake made by beginner writers?
Giving up and not learning how to write.  Wait. That's two.  My bachelor's degreeis in math, and I should know how to count, but both of those things areequally important.
To what extent are grammar and spelling important in writing?
Grammar is very important, however, if the plot orcharacters are weak, who cares about grammar and spelling?  I think readers pick up books to escape intoa story, which had better be good or the book is history.
How much do you revise your MS before sending it off?
I revise literally hundreds of times (or so itseems...I've never counted).  Each time,I find better ways to say things.  Nomatter how many times I've been through a manuscript, I, like every otherwriter I know, finds grammar and/or spelling errors.  It happens to everyone.  I also use an editor friend of mine to help,and even she misses errors.  She's verythorough, too, not only going through the manuscript once, but also goingthrough it backward (yes, in reverse...people in America drop the final 's' tothose pesky '-ward' words), as well as reading it aloud to her husband andcats.  And we STILL miss things.
As a writer of romance and mystery, to what extent do you think genre isuseful in the publishing world?
I forget what exact percentage of books sold areromances, but it's high, like over 40%. Women love to be whisked away by a wonderful man who can handleanything.  I keep telling my husband hecould learn a LOT by reading some of those romances, because once men realizewhat women are really looking for, they could be golden.  He refuses. He reads one line, and breaks out laughing.  Men don't behave like that, he tells me.  So I'm teaching him that romances AREimportant.  Now I just have to open hisears and eyes to believe it.
Many authors see marketing as a bind. What's your opinion on this, andhow do you deal with it?
Marketing is really tough.  I haven't figured it all out yet, but I'm ontwitter, Facebook, blogging, and even started an e-zine with contests to try toget my name out there.  I've even put my bookson great blogs, which did help.  I wishthere was one place where every reader checked to find books and my books wereat the top all the time.  But Idream.  LOL!
What sort of displacement activities keep you from writing?
Kids. Family.  Kids home all summer andbored.  Kids learning to drive (yeah, I'mthere with the last one right now).  Doyou see a pattern?  LOL!!!
What support, if any, do you receive from family and friends, or awriting group?
I have a few close friends and my editing friend whoare a wonderful support group.  My familymembers don't want to read my books, but just have their hands out for myroyalties.  I just laugh at them...we'llsee who gets the money.  But my friendsare my biggest support group.  I used tobe in writing groups, but many times, they'd get hung up on stupid things withtheir egos and jealousy, so I dropped out. My time is valuable, and they worried about the colour of drapes intheir descriptions.  Go figure.
Is presentation of the MS as important as agents and publishers suggest?
The manuscript for agents and publishers is differentfrom indie manuscripts.  With agents andpublishers, every detail has to be perfect, or they throw it off theirdesk.  But for indie publishing, just thecompanies who publish your book care (like Amazon and Barnes & Noble).  It's more important that you have a goodcover and a title, plot, and characters. The cover and title are the 'curb appeal' just like in selling ahome.  The blurb is also important,because readers want to know how scary or fun the book's going to be.  And the plot and characters bring readersback.  So it depends on whom you'retrying to impress.
How long does it take you to write a novel?
I've written a full-length novel in as little as aweek, then taken another week or two to edit and fix it up.  It depends on the story.  If I know what I want to cover before I write,it's quick.  I can write between10,000-12,000 words a day if inspired.  Ican also take a few days to think about it, and play computer games instead.
Who or what inspires your writing?
My writing comes from my head, which can be a reallyscary place to visit (tours start in two hours, if anyone's interested).  I write so I can make money to put my kids incollege, so they can be independent and live on their own.  I also write because I can't NOT write.  These characters just take over my thoughts alot of the time, which can be really scary. When they start a meeting in my head without me knowing, along with awhiteboard and a conference room, then I know it's time to pay them someattention.
If there's a single aspect of writing you find frustrating, what is it?
Marketing.  I'mjust not good at it.  I like to write,but telling others to buy my book is out of my realm.  I also don't like speaking in front ofpeople, even though I used to teach high school math.  I consider that part of marketing.  I just like to write and wish someone elsewould do all the marketing/tough work.
Is there a particular feature of writing that you really enjoy?
Being creative on the pages.  I love it when something works even if it'sway out there to most people.  I alsolike doing research for different places, and most of the time, I create a townin the area so no one can get angry with me for never being there before.
Do you believe creative writing is a natural gift or an acquired skill?
Definitely an acquired skill.  When I was in fourth grade, the teacher saidI had no creativity and would never do anything with my life.  I wish I could find that guy and let him haveit.  If someone has the determination todo something, they can do it, regardless of what some fourth grade teachersays, stifling that student for years.
What are you writing now?
I just published two books... 'Ruled a Suicide' and'Justiceman.'  My agent contract endsmid-September, then I have ideas on publishing the 40+ unpublished manuscriptson my computer.  I also have ideas onwriting more YA books, under yet a different pen name.  So right now, I'm editing, writing in my head,and dealing with kids and their angst.  Ithink I need a vacation...hmmm...the U.K. is sounding like a lot of fun rightnow.  LOL!
Do you have a website or blog where readers can visit?
Yes.  Everythingis listed at http://www.markeeanderson.com and http://www.andiealexander.com.  For Markee, I have a blog, an e-zine (onlinemagazine), and I'm on twitter and Facebook. For Andie, I'm on twitter and Facebook. Eventually, I'll have four pen names but that's in the future.
Given unlimited resources, where would you do your writing?
I'd be in an office with floor-to-ceiling glasswindowed walls, overlooking the beach. Can you imagine?  There would behot men in bathing suits walking the beach and winking at me all day long!  Oh wait...don't tell my husband.  He'd want to watch the bikini-clad women Idon't like.   Oh...I know...I'd make it amale-only beach just for my entertainment. :)
Where do you actually write?
You won't believe this one.  I write on my bed.  It's the ONLY place in my house that's allmine and no one will touch.  I sit with abackrest and have the TV on all day long so I don't hear the house settling orthe dog barking or our rabbit eating in his cage (a lion head rabbit with MAJORattitude).  Noises when I'm alone scareme, as does the news on TV, but I take the lesser of two evils—the TV.  See why I want an office overlooking thebeach?
Thank you SO much for this interview!  I had a lot of fun!  I wish you all the best in the U.K.!