Thanks for stopping by to talk a little about your writing!
Let's jump right in. When did you begin
writing and why? I started in 2007
because I got an idea and decided to try to tell the story. To my surprise it actually worked.
Fire off five words to describe your book. Surprise, new life, unexpected, weird sense
of humor, bookstore
Give us an out of context quote from your book to warm our hearts or
tickle the funny bone. I tried to
tell her that picking a theme for a room did not involve the amalgamation of
chickens and foxes. But your mom loved both, so here we are. I keep coming in
here and expect bloody chicken carnage all over the walls.
Name one song or artist that gets you fired up. Queen.
I keep returning to their music.
How do you find readers in today's market? I do a number of things. Social media, conferences, newsletter,
signings. Basically, whatever I’m able
to do.
Do you come up with the hook first, or do you create
characters first and then dig through until you find a hook? I usually create the characters first. They tend to suggest and build the rest.
How do you create your characters? They tend to come to me. Some part of them raises their hand and I
begin to hear them. From there,
everything else builds.
What are you currently reading?
Duet by Eden Winters. I love that
story. It always makes me cry.
Any advice for newly sparking writers in three sentences or less. Follow your heart and your passion. Don’t write what you think will sell, but
what moves you. If you do that, you’ll
also move readers hearts.
If you had to write your memoir in five
words, what would you write? I thought
about this question, and I have to write the truth. Dang it.
So how about… Old man sitting on
couch.
How often does your muse distract you
from day to day minutiae? Quite a
bit. Mine tends to be demanding, so I
tend to forget other things sometimes.
Thank goodness I have an understanding husband.
Can you briefly describe your writing process for us? I write between 3 And 4 thousand words a
day. So I get started early and get to
work. I always keep a list of things I
need to do and I make sure that they get completed each day. I write in the morning, take a break for
lunch, and then write some in the afternoon. I also tend to edit and review in
the afternoons. Evenings I work some
more while Dominic is busy and then spend the re4st of the time with him.
What do readers have to look forward to
in the future from you? There are lots
of things in the hopper. Bad to be Noble
releases November 23. I have Nowhere to
Run on October 12. I’ve started the
Carlisle Troopers series which will release next year. Definitely be on the lookout.
Excerpt 3
Dex was a more than
a little overwhelmed. The house had been the scene of a steady parade of people
from his past, many of whom still saw him as a twelve-year-old and insisted on
telling him stories of what he was like as a kid. Dex smiled and waited until
each conversation switched to his mother. Their faces would sadden and then
they’d each share a special story.
A woman tugged on
his sleeve, and Dex turned. She was maybe a little over five feet, dressed
impeccably, and severely hunched over. “Your mother made the last few years
bearable for me.” Her eyes were filled with pain, and Dex just knew that for
her, living had become a struggle. “I’m so grateful to her in so many ways.”
She held on to her cane as though it were a lifeline in one hand, and patted
his shoulder with the other. “I always remember you as being such a good boy.”
Dex smiled. “Mrs.
Harper, I used to mow your lawn for you.” She had paid him well but didn’t
hesitate to give him hell if he missed something. She had been old then—he
figured she had to be in her nineties now. Still, he could still see the
remnants of the person she’d been. Dex never remembered her at any time not
looking her best—she always wore bright clothes with perfect makeup, just like
now.
“Yes, you did. And
you helped me in my garden.” She smiled. Those shrubs and flowers had been her
pride and joy. “You should come see it.”
“Have you been able
to keep it up?”
She gently patted
him on the shoulder. “I may be old, but I’m out there every day for maybe an
hour. The irises are blooming, and the peonies are about to start.” She smiled
brightly. “And I understand that you are keeping the shop going.”
Dex hadn’t decided
that at all, but he didn’t want to correct her. He had a lot of decisions to
make and wasn’t sure he wanted to return here permanently. Then again, his
acting career was going nowhere, and he had just inherited a business and a
building with a place to live.
“That’s so
wonderful of you. I have a few books that I need, so I’ll stop by in the next
few days.” He got another smile, and then Mrs. Harper slowly made her way to
one of the chairs, leaving Dex perplexed.
The younger woman
with Mrs. Harper smiled at him. At first Dex wondered if she might be
interested in him. “Your mom was a total godsend for her. Aunt Matty is in pain
most of the time, and what your mom did….” She swallowed and gave Dex a smile
before going to talk with her aunt.
Dex was confused.
He’d had at least three similar conversations with other people about how much
his mother had helped them, and they’d all ended with the person saying how
thrilled they were that he was taking over the store and that they would be in.
What puzzled Dex was whenever he asked them which books they wanted so he could
have them ready, they looked at him as though he was a little off. And maybe he
was, for even considering coming home. Dex was starting to wonder.
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