Interview and Excerpt: Diners, Dives & Dead Ends by Terri L. Austin
Thanks to Terri for stopping by with a Q&A and excerpt from Diners, Dives & Dead Ends. Please visit her page at CLP Blog Tours for more information and a giveaway!
**Interview**
Hello, Samantha! Thanks so much for having me on your blog today. It’s a pleasure to be here.
When did you know writing was for you?I’ve always made up stories to entertain myself. And when I kept thinking up ways to change the plots of books and movies, I thought I should try my hand at writing. Turns out, making up my own imaginary people is kind of addictive.
How would you describe your books?I write character-driven books with a lot of humor. Always humor.
Why was Diners, Dives and Dead Ends a book you wanted to write?I wanted to write a mystery in first person. I find the reader can jump right into the story in a first person situation. Rose Strickland, my heroine, is an underdog. She hasn’t figured out her life or her future, but she keeps trying. She’d be a great best friend. I wanted to write a likable heroine who’s pulling herself along, day by day. Oh yeah, and she has to solve a mystery. Because that’s just good fun.
What is the hardest part of the writing process for you?Some days, writing is like trying to swim through a river of honey. Sometimes you have to force the muse. And the muse resists this process.
What are your favorite genres to read?I’m a genre whore. I love mystery, rom sus, historical romance, contemporary, category, urban fantasy, paranormal, and even a little horror. See? Fickle.
What do you want readers to take away from your story?If I can make a reader laugh or put aside their daily life for a few hours, I’m pretty happy with that.
How important do you think social media is for authors these days?I honestly have no idea. But I’d be a fool not to utilize it. There’s an immediate connection between the author and reader now. I kind of like that.
What would be your advice to aspiring writers?Write. I know it sounds stupid, but writers write. They don’t talk about it, or sit around thinking about it, or dream about it—well, they do actually, but they also put their butts in the chair and do it. Even if it’s a page a day. So, go my pretties, and write!
**Excerpt**
Mondays were known for two things at Ma’s Diner: we poured lots of extra coffee and the tips sucked. After my last customer left, I counted out my money. Twenty-three dollars and sixteen cents. Hmm, food or gas? I walked behind the counter and had just started to refill ketchup bottles when my friend, Ax, walked in. The bright afternoon sunshine flashed on his wallet chain as it slapped against his thigh.Axton Graystone—his real name, I swear to God—was usually cheerful, goofy, and extremely mellow due to his natural disposition and the boatloads of pot he ingested. But when he stopped by the empty diner that afternoon, he was twitchy and nervous. He plopped onto a stool in front of me and swung his overstuffed backpack onto another. His knee bounced up and down like a toddler on a sugar binge and he tapped his fingernails on the counter. “Rose, I need you to do something for me.”“I’m not giving you my pee.” Axton had a couple of possession misdemeanors. Now the administration at the college where he worked made him take a urine test once a month. The keys in his pocket jangled with every bob of his knee. “No, not that. I need a favor.” Worry lines creased his forehead and his pale blue eyes were more bloodshot than usual. I glanced up from my ketchup transfusion, leaned over and stared into said bloodshot eyes. I sniffed the air around him. “You’re not stoned. Are you drunk?”Roxy Block, my fellow waitress-slash-bestie frowned. “I thought he was always stoned.” Roxy was in a pissy mood. She’d quit smoking the day before and it was not going well. For any of us.“Where were you last night?” I asked him. “I thought we were going to watch War of the Worlds. I made those pizza rolls you like.”“Jeez Rose, I told you a million times, it’s When Worlds Collide. It won an Academy Award. It was like, a visual masterpiece.” Tap, tap, tap. He rapidly beat out a rhythm on the counter. “Whatever.” I reached over and laid my hand on his, forcing him to stop tapping his nails. Axton hopped down from the stool and went to the picture window at the front of the diner. With his hands on the glass, he glanced up and down the street—left, right, then left again. His breath made a big foggy circle next to the closed sign.After I twisted a lid on the last bottle of ketchup, I walked to the tables around the small dining room, putting a bottle on each. “So where were you?” His shoulders jerked at the sound of my voice. “I went to a club. Look, Rose—”“Like a dance club?” I interrupted, a bottle dangling between my fingers. I’d known Axton forever. We’d gone to school together from first grade through high school at Huntingford Prep and the only club Axton ever attended involved Starfleet uniforms and speaking Klingon. “I’m trying to picture you dancing.” Roxy smacked a piece of nicotine gum as she pushed a broom across the black and white checkerboard floor. “And in my mind it looks more like a seizure.” Roxy wore a very short, red pleated skirt, a frilly white blouse, and white platform shoes. A lacy headband held back her electric blue hair. Her outfit was not a side effect of cigarette deprivation. She always dressed like that. *********************************************************************************
**Everyone who leaves a comment on Terri's tour page will be entered to win a $10 Amazon gift card! Anyone who purchases their copy of Diners, Dives & Dead Ends before December 3 and sends their receipt to Samantha (at) ChickLitPlus (dot) com, will get five bonus entries.**
Author Bio:
Terri L. Austin lives in Missouri with her funny, handsome husband and a high maintenance peekapoo. She loves to hear from readers. Find her on Twitter, FB, TerriLAustin.com, Goodreadsand Henery Press. She and her writer friends have a book chat every Wednesday on Little Read Hens. Check it out and join in the conversation! Buy the Book!
Amazon Kobo B&N [image error]
**Interview**
Hello, Samantha! Thanks so much for having me on your blog today. It’s a pleasure to be here.
When did you know writing was for you?I’ve always made up stories to entertain myself. And when I kept thinking up ways to change the plots of books and movies, I thought I should try my hand at writing. Turns out, making up my own imaginary people is kind of addictive.
How would you describe your books?I write character-driven books with a lot of humor. Always humor.
Why was Diners, Dives and Dead Ends a book you wanted to write?I wanted to write a mystery in first person. I find the reader can jump right into the story in a first person situation. Rose Strickland, my heroine, is an underdog. She hasn’t figured out her life or her future, but she keeps trying. She’d be a great best friend. I wanted to write a likable heroine who’s pulling herself along, day by day. Oh yeah, and she has to solve a mystery. Because that’s just good fun.
What is the hardest part of the writing process for you?Some days, writing is like trying to swim through a river of honey. Sometimes you have to force the muse. And the muse resists this process.
What are your favorite genres to read?I’m a genre whore. I love mystery, rom sus, historical romance, contemporary, category, urban fantasy, paranormal, and even a little horror. See? Fickle.
What do you want readers to take away from your story?If I can make a reader laugh or put aside their daily life for a few hours, I’m pretty happy with that.
How important do you think social media is for authors these days?I honestly have no idea. But I’d be a fool not to utilize it. There’s an immediate connection between the author and reader now. I kind of like that.
What would be your advice to aspiring writers?Write. I know it sounds stupid, but writers write. They don’t talk about it, or sit around thinking about it, or dream about it—well, they do actually, but they also put their butts in the chair and do it. Even if it’s a page a day. So, go my pretties, and write!
**Excerpt**
Mondays were known for two things at Ma’s Diner: we poured lots of extra coffee and the tips sucked. After my last customer left, I counted out my money. Twenty-three dollars and sixteen cents. Hmm, food or gas? I walked behind the counter and had just started to refill ketchup bottles when my friend, Ax, walked in. The bright afternoon sunshine flashed on his wallet chain as it slapped against his thigh.Axton Graystone—his real name, I swear to God—was usually cheerful, goofy, and extremely mellow due to his natural disposition and the boatloads of pot he ingested. But when he stopped by the empty diner that afternoon, he was twitchy and nervous. He plopped onto a stool in front of me and swung his overstuffed backpack onto another. His knee bounced up and down like a toddler on a sugar binge and he tapped his fingernails on the counter. “Rose, I need you to do something for me.”“I’m not giving you my pee.” Axton had a couple of possession misdemeanors. Now the administration at the college where he worked made him take a urine test once a month. The keys in his pocket jangled with every bob of his knee. “No, not that. I need a favor.” Worry lines creased his forehead and his pale blue eyes were more bloodshot than usual. I glanced up from my ketchup transfusion, leaned over and stared into said bloodshot eyes. I sniffed the air around him. “You’re not stoned. Are you drunk?”Roxy Block, my fellow waitress-slash-bestie frowned. “I thought he was always stoned.” Roxy was in a pissy mood. She’d quit smoking the day before and it was not going well. For any of us.“Where were you last night?” I asked him. “I thought we were going to watch War of the Worlds. I made those pizza rolls you like.”“Jeez Rose, I told you a million times, it’s When Worlds Collide. It won an Academy Award. It was like, a visual masterpiece.” Tap, tap, tap. He rapidly beat out a rhythm on the counter. “Whatever.” I reached over and laid my hand on his, forcing him to stop tapping his nails. Axton hopped down from the stool and went to the picture window at the front of the diner. With his hands on the glass, he glanced up and down the street—left, right, then left again. His breath made a big foggy circle next to the closed sign.After I twisted a lid on the last bottle of ketchup, I walked to the tables around the small dining room, putting a bottle on each. “So where were you?” His shoulders jerked at the sound of my voice. “I went to a club. Look, Rose—”“Like a dance club?” I interrupted, a bottle dangling between my fingers. I’d known Axton forever. We’d gone to school together from first grade through high school at Huntingford Prep and the only club Axton ever attended involved Starfleet uniforms and speaking Klingon. “I’m trying to picture you dancing.” Roxy smacked a piece of nicotine gum as she pushed a broom across the black and white checkerboard floor. “And in my mind it looks more like a seizure.” Roxy wore a very short, red pleated skirt, a frilly white blouse, and white platform shoes. A lacy headband held back her electric blue hair. Her outfit was not a side effect of cigarette deprivation. She always dressed like that. *********************************************************************************
**Everyone who leaves a comment on Terri's tour page will be entered to win a $10 Amazon gift card! Anyone who purchases their copy of Diners, Dives & Dead Ends before December 3 and sends their receipt to Samantha (at) ChickLitPlus (dot) com, will get five bonus entries.**
Author Bio:
Terri L. Austin lives in Missouri with her funny, handsome husband and a high maintenance peekapoo. She loves to hear from readers. Find her on Twitter, FB, TerriLAustin.com, Goodreadsand Henery Press. She and her writer friends have a book chat every Wednesday on Little Read Hens. Check it out and join in the conversation! Buy the Book!
Amazon Kobo B&N [image error]
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