Let's Hear It For J.S. Winn!!

And now from the Head Wingnut in Charge...A new author interview. YAY!!! Without further adieu, J.S. Winn, author of Out of the Shadow! That would be your cue to applaud and read on, ladies and gents.



RJ Palmer:

Tell me a little bit about "Out of the Shadow".



J.S. Winn:

Out of the Shadow tells the story of two women drawn together in the present to uncover a crime from the past. J.S. Winn, a novelist and retired therapist, draws on her knowledge of psychology to deftly weave the twists and turns of her latest mystery/thriller and create an engaging eBook that should be on everyone’s fall reading list.



For readers tired of the typical mystery / thriller genre, J.S. Winn offers an original story that intertwines the lives and voices of two women affected by trauma and violence. Having survived a rape and her husband's murder, all Becca Rosen wants to do is settle into a “normal” life, but how normal can life be when she's being stalked by a psychopath with an attitude---and an agenda. The police are no help because they're convinced, with her history of mental illness, Becca has faked the rape to get away with her husband's murder. On top of that, Becca has begun to have flashbacks and nightmares of childhood abuse, possibly at the hands of the rapist. Not knowing where to turn, and feeling like she might go crazy again, Becca hires a psychologist, Dr. Sarah Abrams, to help her unearth who's behind the crimes of the past … and the present.



Three men come into Becca's life around the same time. While each of these men has his charms, Becca can't be certain whether any one of them is the real killer. Or could it be someone else? Together Becca and Sarah start on a course of hypnotherapy to discover the abuser's identity. Will their work reveal the real killer before it's too late, or will Becca once again fall prey to this demented criminal?



RJ Palmer:

Now tell me a little bit about yourself.



J.S. Winn:

J S Winn earned a graduate degree from the University of Pennsylvania and a PhD from the University of Metaphysical Sciences. For over 25 years she practiced psychotherapy. Her previous mystery novel set in the American Southwest, Kiva Fire, garnered much critical praise. She has had a play produced by the Actor’s Alliance Festival in San Diego, and her poetry has been anthologized by the San Diego Writer’s Workshop in For the Love of Writing. Her play “Gotcha!” was selected for a reading at the Village Arts Theater in Carlsbad, California in May 2012.



She presently lives by the beach in San Diego County, California.



For more information about Out of the Shadow, please visit http://www.jswinn.com or contact the author at author@jswinn.com.



RJ Palmer:

Is there a work of your own of which you are particularly fond? Why?



J.S. Winn:

Frankly, I like Out of the Shadow because it's a really good story. I garnered it from bits and pieces of my practice over the years, piecing together a tale that's both realistic and suspenseful. I hope others enjoy reading it as much as I've enjoyed writing it.



RJ Palmer:

What is your favorite part of the writing process? Your least favorite?



J.S. Winn:

I love the experience of losing myself in my writing. That surge of creative energy, when I am absolutely, totally absorbed in the writing process and my fingers fly across the keyboard.



My least favorite part of the process is when I can't find the time to write. I have other obligations which sometimes come first, and I have to put my writing aside for awhile. But it's only a matter of time until the itch to write overcomes any other priority and I'm back at work.



RJ Palmer:

Describe in your own words (for there can be no other way) what direction it is to which you aspire when it comes to your work. Where do you want your work to take you?



J.S. Winn:

I have so many projects in mind, I'm torn about which one to pursue first. I have a sequel for Out of the Shadow in which the psychologist, Dr. Sarah Abrams, is confronted with another murder case she has to help solve, all the while dealing with the a persistent problem from Out of the Shadow. A play about my husband's cancer I am in the process of completing and a suspenseful screenplay I wish to develop. And, at the same time, I'm revising a book I published back in 2000, originally titled Kiva Fire, but now called The Spirit Keepers.



RJ Palmer:

Most writers have a favorite genre when it comes to reading that is not necessarily the genre in which they write, do you write in your favorite genre? If so, why? If not, why not?



J.S. Winn:

What I read most often is what could termed literary fiction, but I love suspense and look for fiction that has a great deal of conflict and tension. I want a good story, no matter the genre, and am discriminating when it comes to reading. I don't have tons of time to read, so I want a book that captures my imagination and moves me along, no matter the genre.



RJ Palmer:

Do you have a favorite quote from a writer that you use for inspiration? What is it and why?



J.S. Winn:

“I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

― Maya Angelou



That quote is not only moving, but it is so true. You might remember bits and pieces of a book you loved, but what you remember most, is the experience of reading that book. I try to take that quote with me whenever I write. I want the story to make an impact on the reader that they will never forget.



RJ Palmer:

Some writers tend to have a unique step in their writing process that has nothing whatsoever to do with the actual writing but has everything to do with inspiration or balance. Most people would call it a little bit OCD. Do you have such a step? Would you care to share what it is?



J.S. Winn:

The one thing I do is set aside time everyday to meditate. Meditation helps me with my focus and creativity. It allows me to sit at the computer longer and to be able to access more readily my inner truth and the story I need to tell.





There you have it, my wonderful Wingnuts. To find out more about J.S. Winn visit her here. You can also find "Out of the Shadow" here on Amazon. Go pick yourself up a copy of "Out of the Shadow" and enjoy!