Questions, answers, blog hopping

working @Cofee Cartel There's nothing I like better than a challenge or an adventure. When author and podcaster extraordinaire Stephen Campbell invited me to a Blog Hop - answer four questions about why and what I write and pass them on to another author - I couldn't resist. He tagged me to tell you a little bit about my life as a writer and, in turn, I'll ask Robin Blakely to do the same. Robin is the creative businessperson's guru, the power behind writers, artists and nonprofits.

So, we're off to the races. Tag, I'm it!

What am I working on? I am working on Dark Witness. This is novel 29 for me and the seventh book in the best selling Witness Series. One of the challenges in this book is to bring back two characters that readers have been worried about. I suppose it's the sign of a good series when people actually write to remind me that 'Hannah and Billy are still gone'.  

How does my work differ from others of its genre? While I work from a legal of political premise, and the books are definitely classified as thrillers, my goal is to make the characters as real as they can be. The best plot in the world pales if the reader doesn't care about the characters. One reader wrote and said that she 'hadn't been so invested in a cast of characters since Lonesome Dove'. That is the highest praise and I strive to keep my characters unique and fresh.

Why do I write what I do? The law and politics have always intrigued me. There is a systemic life in these institutions that can't be controlled, it can only be manipulated. In these genres, every book is a puzzle to be put together and that's a wonderful challenge for a writer. Hopefully, the resulting book is a fun challenge for the reader, too.

How does my writing process work? After each book is published, I take a month off to do all the things I love - play tennis, sew, even clean the house -  and let the ideas roll around in my head. Then I start again. I write every day and edit, edit, edit. It will all take eight to nine months to finish a book. I suppose my writing process is always a work in progress.

Now, back to writing Dark Witness . Visit my colleagues' blogs and see how different we are and, yet, how similar. Who knows, you might be inspired to join us.
The president of Creative Center of America, Robin Blakely helps writers, artists, and industry experts build brands that are talent-driven and passion-fueled. Robin has an extensive background in publishing, strategic planning, and business development.  
Her business books are  PR Therapy:  Ignite Your Passion for Promoting Your Products, Services and Even Yourself! and  Six Hats : The Inside Out Strategy for the One-Person Business to Find Success. Her upcoming books are Crossing the Troll Bridge: A Marketing Guide for Artists and Writers; and Hello Mojo!: A 3-Day Guided Journey to Help Your Passion Find Your Purpose. Visit her at www.creativecenterofamerica.com.