Blog Archive

Tuesday, May 31, 2016

Dissecting Mysteries: Author Interview with Deidre Verne

What drew you to the idea of writing your first mystery/suspense novel? Was there a specific book or author that made you think – I could write like that? 
My favorite author is Nelson DeMille. I love his dialogue and the intricacy of his plots.

How long did it take for you to write the first book?
It took me 9 months to write Drawing Conclusions and about the same amount of time to write Drawing Blood. 

Was it harder or easier to write your second book?
The second book came much easier because I had already established the characters. When you use the same characters is feels like friends getting back together - except someone gets murdered!

What makes for a good mystery? 
I like mysteries that have more than one story line (a subplot) as it gives the story an additional dimension. It helps build the characters and prevents the story from having a linear conclusions. It's hard to do but this was my goal in the second book in the series.

What type of research do you do for your books? Tell me about the process.
Since my main character is a "freegan," I had to do lots of research which was fun. I read green magazines, watched videos of people Dumpster diving and kept up on green trends. Periodically, I go back into the manuscript and add some green flavor - maybe a tip I read about that the main character can execute.

Your chapter of Sisters in Crime did a short story anthology that you were featured in. How did that come about? 
Sisters in Crime is a great organization. My local chapter runs short story contests which is how the first anthology came about. Many wonderful authors were selected based on blind readings. I was thrilled to be included. 

How do each of the writers share in the promotion of the book?
As far as promotion, it's hard. We all use Facebook and as a group we've done the Brooklyn Book Fair together.

Did you go through the normal process of pitching your book to agents and traditional publishers? 
Yes I went through the normal agent/publisher process. I sent out many, many queries and ultimately found Victoria Skurnick at Levine Greenberg. Victoria then made contact with Midnight Ink Publishing.

How do you write? 
It's a bit of an on-going process. I spend a lot of time in my head simply thinking about t he characters and their potential actions as a function of the personalities I give them. I don't write an outline. In fact, I find it slows me down. I like to write and see where it goes. I'll throw in a bunch of red herrings and then I'll take out the ones that don't work at the end.

What has worked best for you in generating sales?
I wish I could tell what type of promotion works. I've attended conferences, networked with local bookstore and librarians, participated in blog tours and I've even done a short commercial on Youtube. It's a very competitive industry.

What do you know now about writing/publishing now that you wished you had known sooner?I was very shy about promoting my first book. A series depends on the success of the first book and I think I should have been more vocal early on. 

What is the best advice you've been given about writing or that you've learned that you would like to pass along?
The best advice I can give is that you must take criticism and you must be willing to write a book that will sell even if that means making changes.

What other works do you have in the process?
I'm currently working on a thriller that takes place in The Bronx.

That's it for today's interview. If you'd like to learn more about Deirdre's books, here's the Amazon link to them... http://amzn.to/1TvRguS

Tuesday, May 24, 2016

Getting Cozy with Mysteries: Author Interview with Annette Dashofy

My interview today is with USA Today bestselling author Annette Dashofy, who has been nominated for an Agatha Award for Best First Novel.She spent five years as an EMT on the local ambulance service, dealing with everything from drunks passing out on the sidewalk to mangled bodies in car accidents, which gave her great background details for her murder mysteries.

Your first published works were in anthologies by the Mary Roberts Rinehart Pittsburgh Chapter of Sisters in Crime. How long have you been active with that group? 
I joined in 2004 as soon as I grew serious about trying to get published. I had joined Pennwriters, a multi-genre group, a few months earlier. One of the friends I made in that organization told me I needed to join Sisters in Crime, too. She was right!

Why did you choose to write in the mystery genre? 
I’d toyed with other genres in the past, but mystery and crime fiction always appealed to me as a reader. So I started writing what I wanted to read.

What was the process of going from short stories to novels? 
I didn’t really go from short fiction to long fiction. I’ve always written novel-length stories, but wasn’t having any luck getting them published. I started writing short stories as a way to experiment with different styles and voices. And once I got a few published, it added some “street cred” to my bio as well as help me build a readership.

How did you find your publisher? What was the process? 
Wow. There is a very long story here, but I’ll cut to the chase. My fellow author and very good friend, Donnell Ann Bell, introduced me to Kendel Flaum, of Henery Press, who requested my manuscript. After ten years of beating my head against walls, I had a three-book deal offered to me ten days after the request.

Do you have an agent? 
Not currently. I’ve had two over the years. We parted company amicably in both cases.


When you first started writing your first book, did you intend to make it into a series? Or did you find you had more you wanted to write about the same characters? 
I intended this to be a series before I even started the first book. I had a good idea of what the second book would be, and I knew I’d set up a world where there were lots of possibilities for stories.

How many more books do you think there will be in the series? 
Good question! I know there will be at least six because I’m contracted through that many. Whether the series continues beyond that will largely be determined by sales and by my readers. If they want more Zoe and Pete, I’m happy to oblige.

How did Zoe Chambers come about? 
Zoe and Pete first appeared in one of those short stories we talked about earlier. I wrote A Signature in Blood almost ten years ago, and Chief of Police Pete Adams was the main character. It was one of those experiments in style and voice I mentioned—writing from a male cop’s point of view. In the short story, Zoe was Pete’s sidekick and sort-of romantic interest. It ended up being a 2007 Derringer Award finalist. I have plans to pull it out, update it, and re-release it as a treat for my readers.

What makes for a successful mystery? 
That’s a tough one. I think it’s a combination of elements. Characters that the reader cares about. Tension on every page. Enough action and conflict to keep the reader turning the page. And a satisfying ending. Of course, those things apply to most genres, not just mystery.

How much time daily do you have for writing? 
Not nearly enough!

What is your writing routine?
I don’t have nearly enough time for writing, and since I have a contractual deadline to produce a completed manuscript every nine months, I have to write EVERY day. I get up at 5:00 in the morning, see my hubby off to work, have some breakfast and some coffee. I check email and Facebook while I’m eating. Then I sit down at my computer at 7:00 and write (most days) until 9:00 or 9:30. After that my day goes in a lot of different directions. Some days I go to visit my mom. Some days I edit. Some days I work on the business end of things. But I must get in those morning pages. Every. Day.

What type of publicity do you do to promote your book? 
I do a lot of different things. I’m on Facebook a lot and on Twitter. I have a big blog tour set for the release of With a Vengeance. But I’m also getting out and doing bookstore events as well as a few conferences and meet-and-greets at other venues. This fall I have a local library tour in the works. And my publisher does their share of online promotion as well. It’s a team effort.

What has worked best? 
I wish I knew! I can tell you my best sales weeks have happened when my publisher marked down an earlier book in the series when a new one was being released. Those sales hit BookBub and launched me onto the USA Today bestseller list. But I’m still trying to figure out what works best the rest of the time.

What is the best advice you’ve been given or learned on writing? 
Marry someone with good health insurance! Just kidding. Sort of. Seriously though, I think the best advice I’ve been given and continue to share is to write the best book you can and then revise until it’s even better. And don’t submit it until it’s the absolute best you can make it.

What works do you have in the process? 
I’m currently finishing the first draft of the fifth Zoe Chambers mystery, working title: No Way Home. It’s due to my editor on June 1, so I’m slightly crazed right now.

Anything else you’d like to share about writing? 
I think it’s vitally important to join a writing group or two. Writing is a solitary endeavor, and we need guidance and support along the way. Being in the company of like-minded souls who “get it” is invaluable. Be forewarned—you get beat down a lot all along the way, from harsh critiques to rejections to negative reviews. That just means you’re a working, submitting writer putting yourself out there. Don’t let it get to you. Keep writing, keep submitting. And never ever give up.

That's it for today's interview. If you'd like to learn more about Annette's books and those in the works, here's the way to start.

My website: www.annettedashofy.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/annette.dashofy/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Annette_Dashofy

Tuesday, May 17, 2016

The Art of Writing Graphic Novels & Comics: Author interview with Paul Tobin

As kids, we’ve all played with our favorite dolls or fantasy figures and created stories for them, but you took it to the next step. You’ve actually written several stories for Spider-Man and Iron Man and the iconic Angry Birds among many other comic and graphic novels. How did you get involved with writing for these genres? 
Early in a writer’s career, there’s a lot of “who you know” going on. I tried for years to truly break into the comic industry, and had some small successes here and there, but couldn’t really get traction. That changed when I had a friend mention that all I was doing was going to conventions and talking to people, but what I REALLY needed to do was going to the bars AFTER the conventions. I started doing that, started meeting people, started making friends, started learning the industry instead of just learning the writing. That was a big step.

You’ve also moved on and written your own tales. When did that begin? 
In one way or another, I’ve been doing my own stories right from the beginning. I’m no good at being one of those writers who only do one type of comic: I need lots of irons in lots of fires, in lots of different genres.

How many submissions did it take before you either found an agent or was accepted by the publisher? 
The process of getting these projects going has been a mix of seemingly endless submissions, and publishers coming to me saying “how about something in the field of ‘X’” and publishers coming to me and saying “I’ll take whatever you want to do!”

Did you attend comic book writer’s conferences? 
I do go to comic conventions fairly frequently, sometimes to meet friends, or fans, or to publicize certain projects, or to have meetings to get those projects going. Just because I’m working on projects doesn’t mean I can stop setting up what’s NEXT. 

Do you have an agent?
I’d never venture into the world of prose without one, but I handle all my comics contracts by myself.

Do you collaborate in finding the illustrator? Or does the publisher handle that exclusively?
For comics, it’s always a tossup. Sometimes I go into a project with an illustrator, but often not. And sometimes a publisher and I will collaborate on finding the right artist, and sometimes… especially in the case of Marvel and DC… the artist will just be assigned, and I won’t even know who I’m working with until the scripts are done, which of course makes it impossible to tailor a script to an artist’s strengths. At Marvel, I worked with a lot of artists where I needed a translator on the scripts, because the artist didn’t speak English, and that’s all I got! 

On my current novel series, Genius Factor, Bloomsbury and I worked together to nab Thierry Lafontaine, but it was long after the book had been written. 

What inspired you to write your current story, How to Capture an Invisible Cat
I think my inspiration was just my pure love of science, and how I’ve always felt that the “shy kid who nobody talks to” is sometimes the most interesting person. 

How do you write? Do you do a storyboard outline? Or are you a pantser? 
As far as how I write, it varies greatly on any given project. For novels, though, I work from a very faint outline at best. If I plan things too thoroughly, it stifles my fluidity… drains the project of any whimsy. And, on novels, I start by reading / proofing the previous two days’ worth of writing, and then I add a minimum of 1000 words a day. And I cut myself off at a maximum of 1500 words a day, because if I don’t do that, it starts to be too easy to rationalize not working. I can say, “Oh, I’m supposed to do 1000 words a day, but since I did 3000 yesterday, I’m good if I don’t work today.” 

Writing is about discipline and momentum, and if you kill that, you kill the novel. Plus, if I don’t cut myself off at 1500 words, I tend to write until I’ve reached the end of a “cool” part, which would mean that I’d start every day cold… needing to build brand new momentum, rather than building on something that already exists.

You've been nominated for an Eisner award, which is equivalent to an Emmy or Oscar. What's the process for submission? 
Yeah. I think I’ve been nominated for four years running, now? Just got this year’s nominations yesterday, where Bandette, my book with my wife, Colleen Coover, garnered three more nominations to go with the ones from previous years. So… I’m hoping to bring one or two of those awards home! 

We’ve already won one before, for Best Digital Series. I’m not actually sure of the nominating process, but it has to do with judges that are picked fresh each year, bringing forth their favorite books, and then internal judging from their before the nominations go out. And, yes… winning or even being nominated can open doors.

What has frustrated you the most in putting together your stories?
I think the times when I’ve had to bend to marketing forces, comprising what I wanted to say. It doesn’t happen often, but sometimes it’s unavoidable. You can’t win ‘em all in publishing. But all the ones you lose can hurt. That said, my moments of total freedom have vastly outnumbered the times I’ve had to bend, and make it all worthwhile.

What has pleasantly surprised you in the process?
Working with so many people who truly love bringing stories to life, whether they’re collaborators or editors or heads of publishing or so on!

What do you know now about writing and publishing you wish you had learned sooner?
How to focus on all the various parts of being a writer, the social, the marketing, the revising, the actual writing, and so on!

What’s the best writing tip you’ve learned or been given that you’d like to share about writing comics and graphic novels?
It’s probably that everyone makes their own way, and that’s not only okay, it’s fantastic.

What other works do you have in the process?
Besides the Genius Factor novel series, I’m working on two different series that will start to be shopped, soon. One is for older / adult readers, and the other is for even younger readers than Genius Factor. For comics, I’m working on Bandette, and then Angry Birds and Plants vs. Zombies, and then four (yikes!) series that I can talk about yet. I’m also starting to do some work on video game development, and my toes are getting wet on screenplays. I keep busy.

Any last words or tips?
Anyone can be a writer! Anyone who puts in a ton of effort and endless dedication, that is!

That's it for today's interview. If you'd like to learn more about Paul's writing, here's a good way to start... Website: http://www.paultobin.net/        Twitter: https://twitter.com/PaulTobin

Tuesday, May 10, 2016

Writing what you Love: Author Interview with Sylvia Bambola

My interview today is with Sylvia Bambola, who is an award winning author of eight novels. Her novel, Rebekah’s Treasure, won the 2014 Readers Favorite Bronze Award for Christian Historical Fiction and the 2015 Book of the Year Award, Christian Small Press Association, for Historical Fiction. The Salt Covenants was the 2015 Readers Favorite Bronze Award winner for Christian Historical Fiction.

What drew you to the idea of writing your first mystery/suspense novel?
I like suspense. That’s why I gravitate to it and have employed suspense to some extent in all my novels. My personal belief is that all books should contain at least some suspense elements. In a romance novel it is: Will the boy get girl? In contemporary novels: Does the leading character grow and develop as a person? Overcome the obstacles? In a mystery: Do the police solve the case? In a true suspense novel: Does the good guy win? Suspense is a crucial element in good story telling.

How long did it take for you to write the first book? Was it harder or easier to write your second book?
It took years to write my first novel. I’d change it, tweak it, add characters, subtract them. What I didn’t understand was all the while I was learning my craft. Each rewrite taught me something new. I can’t overemphasize this for any new writer: Don’t rush your first novel. Use it to learn and grow as a writer. Many writers never sell their first book because their training is more like “homework.” If a writer takes his/her time with their first novel, then the second, third, forth, etc. will come much faster and be far more likely to find a publisher.

Are you active in any writing critique groups?
No. And even when I was first started I wasn’t involved with one because there just weren’t any around. But I would strongly advise getting connected. It makes the process so much easier. And that means not only joining a critique group, but also going to writer’s conferences. That’s where you’ll learn from pros, meet other writers as well as agents and editors. I would not skip this step.

What type of research do you do for your books? Tell me about the process.
Research is critical for any good novel. It creates verisimilitude, makes your story believable and gives you, the writer, credibility. My historical novels required much more research that my contemporaries, but all were well researched before taking pen to paper or rather applying fingers to keyboard. I used the same process for all my books. First, I asked myself a series of “what if" questions. That gave me the general idea of what I would need to research. Then I purchased all the necessary reference books.

When researching I like to do it with actual books that I can underline and notate. After reading all my reference books, I then go through them one by one making notes on 3 x 5 index cards. When researching for The Salt Covenants, which takes place in 1492 Spain, some of the card headers were “food” (what did people eat and cook during that period) “clothes, government, music, manners, morals,” etc. Because The Salt Covenants involved the Spanish Inquisition, as well as a voyage with Christopher Columbus, I had to research these things as well. After doing all that, then and only then will I begin writing because now I know exactly where my characters can go, what they can do, how they can behave, in order to create a realistic story.

Did you go through the normal process of pitching your book to agents and traditional publishers?
When my second novel, Refiner’s Fire, became a Christy Finalist an agent actually contacted me and asked if I wanted representation. You can guess my answer. She was able to place two of my subsequent novels before she left the agency to work for a publishing house. By then I had four traditionally published novels under my belt and it was easier to get noticed by another agent, which I happily was. 

Before Refiner’s Fire was published by Multnomah (now under the Random House umbrella), I self-published another book knowing how difficult it was for an unknown to get an agent or a publishing house to look at his/her work, I used this novel to develop a portfolio. In it, I collected all my reviews, the letters from two movie agents who wanted to pitch it as a movie (nothing came of it) and any awards (Small Press Editor’s Choice Award) and sent it off to Multnomah. And it worked. They published my second novel. Self-publishing can be an option or way of developing a name and following, and for helping you get an edge with an agent and publisher, but it’s not for everyone.

What type of publicity do you do to promote your book? What has worked best for you in
generating sales?
By far, the best publicity is word of mouth, and book reviewers will help you with this. That’s why it’s a good idea to send your book to as many legitimate reviewers as possible. But do your homework. Send only to those who review your genre. It’s pointless to send it to someone who reviews sci-fi if you write sweet romances.

What do you know now about writing/publishing that you wished you had known sooner?I wished I had known that writing and marketing are different sides of the same publishing coin, and you can’t do one without the other. This runs against the grain for most writers who love the creative process but hate the marketing and self-promotion aspects. But I had to get over that. Because a writer who doesn’t market won’t get very far.

What is the best advice you’ve been given about writing or that you’ve learned that you’d like to pass along?
First, never give up. I personally know of no “overnight wonders,” those who banged out a novel in six months them became a bestseller. There may be some, but believe me they are few and far between. Most of the time it takes years for a writer to learn his/her craft then garner an agent and publisher. So, if writing is really what you want to do, understand it may take years, but keep working at it. 

Secondly, write what you love. I know the prevailing wisdom is to write what you know, but things can be learned, and knowledge gained by research and study. But if you write what you love, what you are truly interested in, chances are you’ll get your readers interested, too. And don’t follow trends. By the time you chase a trend it’s usually over.

Any other points you’d like to cover?
I’d just like to say, “thank you” for hosting me on your blog.

That's it for today's interview. Here's a glimpse of her newest release: The Babel Conspiracy

Two women engineers struggle to develop the world’s first nuclear-powered aircraft amid ever intensifying global terrorism and muddled personal lives. Trisha Callahan has an abiding faith in God, and “those roots of middy blouses and pleated skirts, prayer books and incense-filled churches went deep.” This faith is tested when she finds herself in love with a married man. Audra Shields sees herself as a modern Lady Chatterley, “liberated but not forsaking breeding, intellect, or femininity.” When she becomes involved with a dangerous stranger, she begins to question her lifestyle.

Both women try sorting out their personal problems while racing the clock to finish a project fraught with sabotage and murder. And who’s behind it all? When the Department of Homeland Security and the Mossad finally figure it out, the answer surprises everyone.


Here's the way to find out more about this book and her other novels.
Website: http://www.sylviabambola.com
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Babel-Conspiracy-Sylvia-Bambola/dp/0989970728/
Booktrailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6lAqWKGGMXQ

Tuesday, May 3, 2016

Making Your Fantasy Real: Author Interview with Amy C. Blake

Amy C. Blake has written short stories and articles for various publications, including Focus on the Family, Mature Years, Significant Living, Encounter, and Vista. I’ve contributed to Barbour’s Book Lovers’ Devotional, Every Good and Perfect Gift, and Heavenly XOXO for Women. 

Her juvenile fantasy series, Levi Prince, follows thirteen-year-old Levi through his adventures in Terracaelum, a haven for mythical creatures.

Her new adult suspense series, On the Brink, follows the journeys of three homeschooled friends as they step out on the brink of adulthood…and danger.



What made you decide to write fiction with a YA theme and a fantasy twist?
I believe writers should write what they enjoy reading. I love reading YA fantasy, which made creating my Levi Prince YA Christian fantasy series so much fun. The Trojan Horse Traitor, the first book in that series, was released in 2015. 

My other favorite genre to read is mystery/suspense, which led me to write my On the Brink Christian suspense series. Since I homeschool my four kids, I’ve created homeschooled main characters for all of my novels (so far).

How long did it take you to write the first book? How many rewrites did you do on it?
Well, my earliest manuscripts likely will never see the light of day. Those are the ones I learned on, and I wouldn’t subject anyone to them. As for my published books, I started The Trojan Horse Traitor eight years ago. I did countless rewrites and revisions on it before publication. Through that book, I honed my writing skills and learned how the publishing world works.

I began Whitewashed about four years ago and did many rewrites on it as well; it is my debut publication. Colorblind took around two years to write and also went through many revisions.

Who helped you with the editing?
 My husband and children always help with my edits. I also get help from critique partners and beta readers.

Did you attend conferences or seminars prior to publishing your book?
Yes, I attended probably a dozen conferences, read many books on the writing craft, and joined critique circles beforehand. I also submitted my writing to several contests.

How many publishers did you pitch before getting accepted? Did you pitch any agents? How did you learn about your current publisher?
 I pitched to at least six agents and editors at conferences and via email before meeting my agent at a small conference in Pennsylvania. After I signed with my agent, he began pitching my proposals to publishers. It took about a year to find my publisher for the On the Brink series, and a couple months longer to find my Levi Prince publisher.

How do you write? Did you do an outline first? Did you do individual character development before doing the full plot?
I spend much of my pre-writing time just thinking about my main character. I decide on his/her backstory, motivations, personality, appearance, etc. Then I begin daydreaming the plot and setting. Once I have a good idea of the main character and basic plot line, I start writing. I might sketch a rough outline, but not always. I do jot down information about my characters first so I don’t lose track of their attributes during the writing process. I also research my setting carefully beforehand.

What type of publicity do you do to promote your book? What has worked best for you in generating sales?
I promote via social media, and I maintain a website. I also do book signings and events through my local library. I’ve done giveaways through Goodreads and Homeschool.com. Recently, I teamed up with two other homeschool moms who are also published authors to form The Writing Family. Together, we speak at homeschool conventions and have a booth to sell our books. Our speaking has worked well in that people who attended our workshop often bought books. Teaming up with other like-minded authors has been encouraging to me personally and professionally, and it has helped us all by allowing us to divide the expense of purchasing booths, etc.

What did you learn from writing your first book that helped you in the second one?
I learned that my writing can always get better and that I should graciously accept critiques from others, not dismiss them because they sting my pride. That means I’ve had to grow a little rhino hide, but it’s worth it when my writing improves as a result.

What do you know about writing/publishing now that you wished you had known sooner?
I wish I’d realized that having books release within a couple of months of each other is actually not as wonderful as it sounds. The Trojan Horse Traitor released in late November, 2015, with Colorblind due out in early February, 2016. I found myself doing final edits with my publisher for Colorblind while doing all the promo work for The Trojan Horse Traitor, and that just didn’t work well, especially during the holiday season. Though I postponed the release of Colorblind a few weeks, I still put myself and my family through a lot of stress I could’ve avoided if I’d scheduled the releases at least six months apart. Ah, well…lesson learned.

What surprised you the most in becoming published?
I was surprised to find out how much of the marketing portion of writing/publishing falls to the author. No longer can we simply write good books and leave it to our publishers to promote them. As authors, we have to take the primary role in advertising or our books won’t sell.

What other books or works do you have in the process?
My second Levi Prince YA fantasy book, The Fall of Thor’s Hammer, is due out next year. I’ve completed a pretty good draft of book three in that series, The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, but it’ll need a number of revisions before publication. 

I’m also in the middle of writing a women’s fiction entitled Gabriel’s Gift, and I really need to get started on the third and final book in the On the Brink series. At this point, I’m still daydreaming about Nat, my main character, and what she’ll face in my story.

What is the best advice you’ve been given about writing or that you’ve learned that you would like to pass along?
Read voraciously in the genre you want to write. Then just write, write, and write some more. 

Any last words you’d like to add?
Pursuing publication isn’t an easy path. After a decade of hard work on novel-writing, I’d pretty much given up on my dream when I met my agent and, a year later, signed my first book contract. It takes a huge amount of effort, a willingness to learn, and a great deal of perseverance to become a published novelist. If you really want it, don’t give up.

That's it for today's interview. You can connect with Amy through: Facebook Goodreads Twitter
Go to amycblake.com for tips on homeschooling, advice for the rookie pastor's wife, and helps for the Christian life.

Her website also includes more details about her novels: Whitewashed, Colorblind, and The Trojan Horse Traitor