The Many Facets of Writing: Author Interview with Bonita Y. McCoy

Was your first novel published actually the first one you wrote?
Truth Be Told which was published in 2018 wasn’t my first book to write. The first book was Twisted Plots. I wrote it in 2014 but didn’t have it published until 2019.

What inspired you to write cozy mysteries?
My love of cozy mysteries led me to writing Twisted Plots. And because I taught high school literature for years, my protagonist, Amy Kate Anderson, owns a book shop.

You’re both indie and traditionally published. What was the most difficult part of producing your own books? 

I self-publish my Sawyer Family Romance Series and Winged Publications publishes the rest. I do my own book formatting, but I hire someone to do the covers for my self-published titles. You would not want me to make a cover. I also hire an editor and run the manuscript through several Beta readers before pushing publish. My Beta readers have saved the day several times.

What type of promotions do your run? 
I run promotions on both the self-published and traditionally published books. Facebook is my choice for paid ads, though I do have some Amazon ads running and will do a KU promotion every few months.

What does your editor remind you to do most often?
I tend to use “as” when it should be “while”. Over the years, I’ve made a list of the words or phrases that weasel their way into my writing. It’s two-sided just so you know and part of my editing process.

What’s the best encouragement you’ve had in your writing? 

In 2020 and 2021, I was a finalist in the Killer Nashville Silver Falchion Awards for Best Cozy. And in 2019, Twisted Plots won a publishing contract. Like many authors, I suffer from imposter syndrome. Having someone else tell me they liked my work, helps me on the days I wonder why I write.

We have all experienced rejection. How have you learned to write past it?
My very first critique with an agent ended with her telling me the only reason she finished the ten pages was because I had paid her for her opinion. She promptly told me the entire first chapter was back story and that the action started in chapter two. She was right. I made the changes and it’s one of the cozy’s that was a finalist at Killer Nashville. What I learned was to listen to those in the industry who knew a lot more than I did.

What has surprised or frustrated you the most in writing/publishing? 
Writing isn’t simply sitting in a chair writing the story which surprised me. To be a writer means you are a marketer and a partner with your publisher. You’ve got to do your portion toward the publishing like the self-editing, input on cover designs, whether you’re traditionally published or self-published. I wish someone had told me that a writing career involved all these facets. I probably would’ve done more research in the other areas while I wrote that first novel.

I see you’ve done a few books jointly with other authors. How did those come about? 

My publisher asked the authors if they’d like to participate in a box set, and I said yes. I also did an independent Christmas box set with a writer’s group back in 2019. I love working with other authors. We cheer each other on.

What is the best writing advice you’ve received or could give? 

Start now building a platform. You don’t have to be everywhere but be somewhere consistently. And write a reader magnet for your newsletter. I’m still trying to fit that into my writing schedule, and it’s putting me behind not being able to offer potential readers a gift to join.

Are there any other points about writing you would like to add? 

If you feel called to write, if you love it, if your characters keep you up at night, then write. It’s the most wonderful job. You’ll be glad you did.

What is the next book coming out? Can you give me a short blurb? 

My next book will be the third in the Amy Kate Mystery Series called Twisted Vows. Let’s just say the minister is found dead at the wedding, and the groom is standing over him, holding the bloody cake knife. Should be fun!!

That does sound intriguing. If you'd like to learn more about Bonita's books, here are some links to get you started. 

www.bonitaymccoy.com
www.facebook.com/bonitaymccoyauthor
www.instagram.com/bonitaymccoy

Giving Thanks for a Solved Murder: An Interview with Christa Nardi

How did you come up with the idea of your book?

There is a community theater in the area and we enjoy going to the productions of popular plays/shows in the community atmosphere, sometimes even with people we know in the cast. What better venue for a murder? 

Could you give me a short synopsis on the story for my readers?

It’d be the season to be jolly if only someone hadn’t set the stage for murder. The drama program has never been so dramatic. When a student is arrested for the crime, Professor Sheridan Hendley is cast in the role of amateur sleuth.

Tensions run high, friendships are strained, and the college administration is beginning to panic. As the plot thickens Sheridan is yet again drawn deeper into danger. Will she find the truth before the final curtain call?  

What made you decide to do a Thanksgiving themed book?

Murder in the Theater is the fourth in a five-book cozy mystery series. The mysteries are stand-alone stories, however, the relationship between Sheridan Hendley and Brett McMann progresses gradually with each book.

They've reached the point where it's time for Brett to meet Sheridan's family. Only all her family lives a distance away and finding a time to meet both their work schedules, her siblings' schedule, and her parents is a challenge. Thanksgiving made it work.

What are some of your favorite Thanksgiving traditions?

Getting together with family and too much food?  

What’s next? 

The Cold Creek Series finished up with Murder and a Wedding. Sheridan and Brett moved closer to his job and so the future includes acclimating her to her new home, her role as a step-mom and wife, and of course, more mysteries.  It will be interesting and challenging to see how the Sheridan Hendley series progresses.  

What’s the best writing tip you’ve learned or been given that you’d like to share?

Write, write, rewrite and edit. Write down the ideas as they come and let it come together over time. 

What do you know now about writing and publishing you wish you had learned sooner?

You just have to keep with it and there are a lot of groups and other authors to lend support. The marketing is probably the one thing I never gave enough thought to in the beginning.

Any last words or tips?

Find support groups and the tools that work best for you.

That’s all for today’s interview. If you’d like to get started reading Christa’s series, here are a couple of links to get you started. If you’d like to share some of your favorite Thanksgiving traditions, I’d love to hear them.

Purchase link: http://smarturl.it/Theater

Newsletter link: http://smarturl.it/NardiNewsletter

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

Writing Like a Sprinter: Author Interview with Jenn McKinlay

Today's interview is with NY Times best selling author, Jenn McKinlay who is one prolific writer. For those of us who have trouble trying  to write one novel while editing another, she puts us to shame with the way she can multi-task! Amazon lists her as having 23 titles in print - but that doesn't include the other series she's written under other pen names. Yes, this woman knows how to write. Let's get started so you can hear about how she does it.

Many writers, think about writing and dabble in it for a while until the overwhelming urge hits that they have to write. How long did it take you to write your first draft?
Years. And years and years and years. Part of it was a lack of commitment on my part, and part of it was that I was writing what I thought other people wanted me to write, which was dreadfully dull.

When I was writing romances (I had 3 published), it took me a year to write one. Once I wrote what I wanted to read (mysteries), I managed to write a 350 page manuscript in six months. This was my first mystery and while it never sold, I did get an agent with it and learn how to write a mystery, so it was time well spent.

Who encouraged you along the way? Were you involved in any writing groups at that time?
I'm an extrovert by personality, but an introvert when it comes to my work. I never showed anyone my writing, only nameless and faceless agents and editors whose form letters rejected me for years. Those were dark days. Looking back, I should have joined a writing group of some sort or at the very least taken a class.

Your first book published was with Harlequin – which line was it? How many publishers do you think you sent your manuscript to before Harlequin accepted your story?
I wrote for the romantic comedy lines, Duets and Flipside, which were a great training ground. I only sent the manuscript to Harlequin so I got very lucky that they did accept it.

After a couple books with them you decided you’d rather write mysteries. What made you

think you could write a mystery?
I was petrified. Still am, honestly. I didn't think I was smart enough to do the intricate plotting required of mysteries, but when Harlequin and I broke up (yes, they dumped me), I was at loose ends and my husband told me to just try and write the mystery just to see. He suggested writing it backwards, an idea that blew my mind and made it seem doable, so I did.

Many new writers have the idea that if they write a book, the high paying contracts will come, but that is not reality. How many published books did it take before you could call yourself a full-time writer?
I was in a unique situation in that I loved my day job (part-time librarian) so I was very reluctant to quit a place that was so dear to my heart. My first mystery published in 2009 and I jumped in with both feet and took on several more series. I don't think any author can survive on one mass market paperback series, and probably not even two even if they hit the NYT bestsellers list.

At one point, I was writing five different series. Probably, I could have left my job three years and three series into my new occupation, but I waited until I was five series and five years in before I really believed it all wouldn't pop like a soap bubble on me.

Why have you written under three different names in your mystery writing?
Two of my five series were what we call writer for hire, which means the publisher approaches the author with an idea for a series and has the author write it. I wrote a decoupage mystery series (no, not kidding) under the name Lucy Lawrence. In fact, that's the series that opened the door for me. I then sold two series under Jenn McKinlay, which were mine, then picked up another writer for hire about bargain hunters under the name Josie Belle, and then sold one more of my own. Whew, I'm tired just thinking about it.

 How much autobiographical details go into your stories? The only autobiographical series is the library series, but I do love to eat cupcakes if that counts! I think of my life stories and the stories I hear from others as ingredients that get dumped into a blender and juiced. When I extract the drink the raw ingredients are there, but they come out in a completely new way.

How do you keep the writing fresh and contemporary after so many books?
I watch people, listen to people, and pay attention to the world around me. There truly is material everywhere. I fond humanity endlessly fascinating.

What do you wish you knew sooner about writing or publishing?
I wish I had trusted my instincts earlier. I wish i hadn't tried to write what I thought others wanted but had stuck to what I wanted from the beginning.

What are some of the best promotions you’ve done to sell your books?
Promotion is dicey as no one seems to know what really gets people to buy books. I like to give stuff away because I love free stuff, but I think the best promotion is to keep trying to write the best book possible and gain a reputation for being a reliable story teller.

What is some of the best writing advice that you’ve received or could give?
Never give up. Write every single day. No excuses.

That's great advice. No excuses. Mark off time on your daily calendar to write.. I would also suggest making yourself accountable to other writers about that commitment. Then you can encourage and motivate each other. And you can also consider Camp NaNo.

If you'd like to follow Jenn's writing and see a list of all her works, here's the link to her website  www.jennmckinlay.com