Inquiring Minds Want to Know!

by Gayle Leeson

Starting next week on the Cozy Chicks blog, we're having giveaways each weekday of July. Since I'm new to the Cozy Chicks blog, I wanted to answer some questions readers might have for me as an introduction to those of you who might not know me yet.

Kelly H.: Do you write your books from the first chapter to the last? Or start at the end or middle?

Gayle: I'm a linear writer, Kelly. I have to start at page one and go through to the end. It's almost as if I'm watching a movie in my mind. I've heard other writers talk about writing scenes and then putting them all together, but that simply doesn't make sense to me. It would be like watching the middle or end of a movie and then going back and watching the beginning. Often, I learn things about my characters when my readers do. In fact, a friend read a copy of my first novel and told me, "I didn't suspect HE was the bad guy!" I told her, "Neither did I!" LOL We also spoke about a character that I killed off in that same book but was depressed about it for two days and couldn't work on the book again until I had him survive the shooting. He went to the hospital rather than the morgue, and the entire trajectory of the book changed. I simply couldn't kill the guy.

Sandy G.: How did you get started writing mysteries?

Gayle: I think all authors write what they're drawn to. My love of mysteries began with Encyclopedia Brown, The Secret Seven, and Nancy Drew. I just felt so smart when I could solve those mysteries before the big reveal. And I grew up watching strong women--The Bionic Woman, Wonder Woman, Batgirl on Batman--on TV, so I wanted to create smart, strong, capable women who could run their own businesses while outsmarting bad guys. 

Betty T.: How are you doing with the virus? How is your dog? What are you writing right now?

Gayle: I'm doing all right with the virus. I find it scary sometimes. I've got about half a dozen cloth masks now, so I feel ready to go out into the world again. My family and I ate out at a restaurant for the first time since the quarantine to celebrate my husband's birthday in late May. It was wonderful. We'd had some takeout, but we'd kind of forgotten how nice it is to have people bring the food to your table so you can eat it while it's still hot! My husband works in healthcare. That was worrisome at first, but the hospitals are taking strong safety precautions. 

Ah, Betty, you had to ask... Kidding. You're too thoughtful not to ask.