#ThisorThatThursday Interview with Debbie De Louise

I’d like to welcome author and librarian, Debbie De Louise, to the blog this week for #ThisorThatThursday.

A few of your favorite things: Cats, Black Forest Cake, Scent of Lilacs

Things you need to throw out: All my daughter’s old art and school projects except for some of the special ones.
Things you need for your writing sessions: Quiet, Computer

Things that hamper your writing: Cats, Lack of Time, Full-time Job

Things you love about writing: Creating characters and plots

Things you hate about writing: Selling my work to editors, agents, and readers

Favorite foods: Dark chocolate, Black Forest Cake, Rigatoni in Pink sauce

Things that make you want to gag: Sushi, Olives, raw meat

Something you’re really good at: Writing
Something you’re really bad at: Math

Things you’d walk a mile for: dark chocolate covered cherries

Things that make you want to run screaming from the room: A Bee

Things you always put in your books: Cats or pets
Things you never put in your books: Explicit sex or violence

Things to say to an author: I bought your book, loved it and wrote a 5-star review. Can you sign it for me?Things to say to an author if you want to be fictionally killed off in their next book: Can I have a free, autographed copy of your book?

 Favorite books (or genre): Mysteries
Books you wouldn’t buy: Chick-lit Romances

Things that make you happy: Cats, Chocolate, Books
Things that drive you crazy: People who are always late, People who don’t like cats, Keeping track of email and social media

About Debbie:

Debbie De Louise is a reference librarian at a public library. She’s a member of Sisters-in-Crime, International Thriller Writers, Long Island Authors Group, and the Cat Writer’s Association. Her novels include the four books of the Cobble Cove mystery series: A Stone’s Throw, Between a Rock and a Hard Place, Written in Stone, and Love on the Rocks. Debbie has also written a romantic comedy novella, When Jack Trumps Ace, a paranormal romance, Cloudy Rainbow, and two standalone mysteries, Reason to Die, and her latest release, Sea Scope. She lives on Long Island with her husband, daughter, and three cats.

Let’s Be Social:

 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/debbie.delouise.author/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Deblibrarian

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2750133.Debbie_De_Louise

Amazon Author Page: http://amzn.to/2bIHdaQ

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/debbie-de-louise

Website/Blog/Newsletter Sign-Up: https://debbiedelouise.com

11 Things That Drive Readers and Editors Crazy (And Not in a Good Way)

I’ve been doing a lot of self-editing lately. It’s funny how you can see problems in other peoples’ stories, but they’re not always apparent in your own. I appreciate feedback from editors, beta readers, and critique group members that help me catch some of the boo boos as I polish my WIPs. These pet peeves can be a turn off for readers.

1. Editors always warn writers about “showing” not “telling.” They’re right. Readers prefer to see and interpret narrative and dialogue and not to get a play-by-play report like a newscast.

2. Backstory is good and helpful in small doses. Please sprinkle it in throughout the work. Don’t do paragraph after paragraph of data dumps about a character’s past. Too much information!

3. Sometimes, it’s necessary to have different points of view, and skilled authors do this very well. (Thriller/suspense writers are really good at this.) Typically in mysteries, the story is told from one point of view. When you hop around from different characters, it confuses the reader and breaks the flow of the story. And beginning writers who write in first person (I/me), often switch to another character or show something that happens that the protagonist isn’t privy too. That doesn’t work with first person.

4. Introduce your characters and mix in what they look like. I’ve found that new writers tend to do a dump of several paragraphs of description every time there is a new character. Your writing reads like a police report or a list of facts when you do this.

5. Not every piece of dialogue needs a tag or attribute (e.g. “he said,” “she said). One of my editors calls this “talking head syndrome.” If you’ve made it clear in the paragraph who is speaking, you don’t need the tag.

6. While not every piece of dialogue needs a tag/attribute, make sure that you don’t go for pages and not identify any of the speakers. If there are only two people, the reader assumes that it’s a back and forth, but if you have multiples, you need to give the reader clues. The reader wants to know who is speaking.

7. Read your dialogue out loud. Delete all the chitchat that doesn’t move your story forward. I know; it’s hard. I’m southern, and I like to say please and thank you a lot. The mundane needs to go.

8. People do not talk in complete or formal sentences. It’s okay to have phrases and slang in dialogue. That’s the way people communicate. (I had a person in my critique group once who wanted all the sentences to be complete and proper. This doesn’t always work for the speaking parts.)

9. Writers often want to make sure that the reader understands what’s mentioned in dialogue by adding details about the characters, but sometimes this leads to you stating the obvious. Example: If two sisters were talking, and you bring up another character in dialogue that they both know from childhood, you don’t have to put in all the details to explain who the person is. You can sprinkle in facts in the conversation. The characters should know that Bob is their uncle.

10. When you are at the editing/revising stage of your project, go back and look at the closing sentence of each chapter. Make sure they are compelling enough to keep the reader reading. Beginning writers like to wrap up things neatly at the end of the chapter. You want your reader to read past her bedtime. Don’t give the reader a convenient place to put a bookmark.

11. Know what your crutch words are. These are the words and phrases that you use over and over, and often you don’t realize it. I make a list, and then when I’m editing, I go through in search and destroy mode to get rid of them.

What else would you add to my list? What drives you crazy as a reader?

#ThisorThatThursday Interview with Author Amy Reade

I’d like to welcome author Amy Reade to the blog this week, and I’m so excited that I get to see her in person at the Suffolk Mystery Authors Festival this weekend!

Here’s Amy’s interview…

A few of your favorite things: Cheese, wine, and maple syrup.

Things you need to throw out: So. Much. Stuff…in my attic, from the antique child’s potty chair I planned to use as a planter to the eleven hundred charging cords that don’t match any electronics we have.

Things you need for your writing sessions: Either silence or instrumental music/ambient sounds, depending on what I’m writing.

Things that hamper your writing: Noise and being exhausted.

Hardest thing about being a writer: The soggy middle.
Easiest thing about being a writer: The beginning and the end.

Things you never want to run out of: Enthusiasm and books.

Things you wish you’d never bought: A Hawaiian blouse reminiscent of Carmen Miranda.

Favorite music or song: At the moment, Vintage Italia by Putumayo and the soundtrack to “Outlander.”

Music that drives you crazy: Rap and hip-hop.

Last best thing you ate: A cheese stick.
Last thing you regret eating: The carrot cake at a restaurant last night. They didn’t even use cream cheese frosting. Who does that??

Things you’d walk a mile for: My dog.

Things that make you want to run screaming from the room: Rap and hip-hop.

Things you always put in your books: Mystery.
Things you never put in your books: Sex.

 Things to say to an author: “We’d like to put your book on the big screen.”

Things to say to an author if you want to be fictionally killed off in their next book: “I don’t read genre fiction.”

Favorite places you’ve been: Scotland, Hawaii, and the Thousand Islands.
Places you never want to go to again: A rib joint in New York City where the waiter was drunk and ate our onion appetizer on the way to the table.

Favorite books (or genre): Mysteries
Books you wouldn’t buy: There are no books I would categorically not buy, but I will say this—I haven’t bought Marie Kondo’s book about sparking joy.

The nicest thing a reader said to you: “You write just like Victoria Holt.”

The craziest thing a reader said to you: “I killed someone and I think you and I should write a book about it.” This person showed up at my front door after finding my address in a local business’s client database (his wife worked for the business; we don’t use them anymore). This is why I have a big dog

About Amy:

Amy M. Reade is a recovering attorney who discovered, quite by accident, a passion for fiction writing. She has penned nine mysteries and is working on two more, plus a Cape May County historical mystery series. She writes in the Gothic, traditional, contemporary, and cozy mystery subgenres and looks forward to continuing the two series she has begun since December, 2018. She also loves to read, cook, and travel. 

She is the USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of Secrets of Hallstead House, The Ghosts of Peppernell Manor, House of the Hanging Jade, the Malice series, the Juniper Junction Holiday Mystery series, and the Libraries of the World Mystery series.

Her most recent work is Dead, White, and Blue, Book Two in the Juniper Junction Holiday Mystery series.

Let’s Be Social:

Website: www.amymreade.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/amreadeauthor

Facebook: www.facebook.com/groups/AmyMReadesGothicFictionFans

Twitter: www.twitter.com/readeandwrite

Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/amreade

Instagram: www.instagram.com/amymreade

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Amy-M.-Reade/e/B00LX6ASF2/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0

Goodreads Page: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8189243.Amy_M_Reade

BookBub Page: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/amy-m-reade

When Fiction Becomes Reality...

I’m often asked by readers if I base my stories or characters on real events or people. I do. I write where I know. All of my stories are set in Virginia. I’ve lived in the Commonwealth all my life, and I want to share it’s beauty and history.

My characters that are based on real people tend to be mash ups of several different people. My friends and coworkers often find things they’ve said in a book or story. I’m always taking notes. I never base villains or killers on real people. I don’t use real places if a horrible crime takes place there.

But, I’ve also had the opposite happen, and it’s very interesting and often surprising. I’ve written about characters and situations that have come true or that turned out to be real. And I didn’t know they were real. We just finished watching the three seasons of “Stranger Things,” and when I found out about these surprises, I felt like I was in the UpsideDown.

In my Delanie Fitzgerald mysteries, Chaz Smith’s lawyer is named Rick Dixon. One morning, I was driving down the road, and a local business owner came on the radio with an advertisement for his services. I did a doubletake when I heard the name.

I also had a reader contact me about one of my characters in “Washed up” in Virginia is for Mysteries. The character was named Roy Brown. She said she had to tell me that that was her husband’s name.

Also in “Washed up,” I loosely based the restaurant/bar on one that was at Chicks Beach at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay in Virginia Beach. When I used to hang out there in the 70s and 80s, it was a snack bar with a deck. Later it became a restaurant. In the story, the characters create a mystery to help save the financially strapped business from going under. The story was published in 2014, and I found out shortly after that that the real restaurant had closed because of bankruptcy.

In “Diggin’ up Dirt” in To Fetch a Thief, I wrote about a couple who moved into their new house and found all kinds of things that had been left in strange places. We recently moved, and we found some interesting things that had been left (most were DIY projects gone bad). Thankfully, we didn’t find what the characters in “Diggin’ up Dirt” found in their backyard. The little dog Darby is based in my Jack Russell Terrier, Disney.

I got an odd, woo-woo feeling when I found out about the real situations, but it’s fun to find out fiction isn’t that far from reality.

#ThisorThatThursday Author Interview with Maggie King

I’d like to welcome mystery author, Maggie King, to the blog for this week’s #ThisorThatThursday interview.

A few of your favorite things: my cats, Olive and Morris; writing and reading mysteries; movies; concerts; travel; walking on the beach;

Things you need to throw out: I’m looking for a good home for the greeting cards I’ve received over the years. They’re too lovely to throw out and I’m sure that someone, somewhere, can use them in a craft project.

Things you need for your writing sessions: laptop, pen, paper … and QUIET!

Things that hamper your writing: noise, social media, email, and my own need to find excuses for not writing

Things you love about writing: coming up with an idea and seeing it come alive on paper/screen; meeting readers and other writers

Things you hate about writing: coming up with an idea that doesn’t quite work!

Things you never want to run out of: coffee and TIME

Things you wish you’d never bought: those recliners with the nubby fabric that draws cats and their claws like a magnet. What were we thinking?

Favorite foods: anything Italian, pistachio gelato, Greek yogurt, lobster, cheese, fruit. And, it goes without saying, chocolate!

Things that make you want to gag: pickled herring, tough meat that’s hard to chew.

Favorite music or song: 60s-80s pop/rock; classical; Big Band - And I love the songs my talented husband writes.

Music that drives you crazy: Rap. I’ve heard some that’s somewhat melodic, but most sounds strident and unintelligible. To quote Frankie Valli: “How can you make love to rap?”

 Favorite beverage: coffee, sparkling water, and hot cider with cinnamon (this I drink year round, regardless of the temperature)
Something that gives you a sour face: buttermilk

 Something you’re really good at: Computers. I worked as a software developer for many years. Later I designed websites and taught people how to use the Internet and Microsoft products.

Something you’re really bad at: swimming---just never quite got it.

Things you always put in your books: puzzles, surprises, references to other books.
Things you never put in your books: Pedophiles, random killings, animal killings. I probably wouldn’t have a psychopath, but the right one could be interesting.

Things to say to an author: I just loved your books! They keep me up all night!Things to say to an author if you want to be fictionally killed off in their next book: 

New acquaintance: It’s nice to meet you, Maggie. What do you do?

Me: I’m a mystery writer.

NA: Really? I just love Elizabeth George.

Me: Yes, she’s brilliant.

NA: Gotta go. Nice meeting you.

Maggie and Glen in Croatia

Favorite places you’ve been: Costa Rica, Croatia, Spain, Greece, New Orleans, Santa Fe, and Yosemite are just a few.

Places you never want to go to again: In Istanbul (a very interesting city), Glen and I got lost and ended up in a not-so-wonderful section with a menacing atmosphere. Shades of Hitchcock. But prices were much lower than in the tourist areas.

People you’d like to invite to dinner (living): Jimmy Carter, Mary Higgins Clark, John Kasich, Sharon Lawrence, and Oprah. It would have to be an interesting conversation.
People you’d cancel dinner on: Hmm. I’ll pass on this one

 About Maggie:

Maggie King is the author of the Hazel Rose Book Group mysteries, including Murder at the Book Group and Murder at the Moonshine Inn. Her short stories appear in Deadly Southern Charm, Virginia is for Mysteries (Vols. 1&2), and 50 Shades of Cabernet.

 Maggie is a member of Sisters in Crime, James River Writers, and the American Association of University Women. She has worked as a software developer, retail sales manager, and customer service supervisor. Maggie graduated from Elizabeth Seton College and earned a B.S. degree in Business Administration from Rochester Institute of Technology. She has called New Jersey, Massachusetts, and California home. These days she lives in Richmond, Virginia with her husband, Glen, and cats, Morris and Olive.

Website: http://www.maggieking.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MaggieKingAuthor

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MaggieKingAuthr

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authormaggieking

Amazon author page: http://amzn.to/2Bj4uIL

Stuff I Learned Recently to Make me a Better Writer/Marketer

At my day gig, we finished annual reviews, and now we’re working on our developmental goals for the next review cycle. (I’m doing an Agile certification.) All this made me think about what I had learned lately about writing and book promo that I can share.

1. From a writers’ group (Guppies) from Sisters in Crime, I learned from Mary Feliz how to make 3D graphics of your book covers with DIY Book Design.

2. I took an online class a few weeks back with Tiffany Yates Martin ( “The Biggest Mistakes Writers Make”) . My biggest take-away was NOT to rush the tension in your scenes. Maximize it, and build suspense for your reader. I went back and rewrote some scenes in my WIP.

3. I learned about the “Air Drop” feature in my iPhone’s camera app. When you select to send a picture option, you can select this (the icon is above the text/email icons) and people (with iPhones) who are nearby you at the moment can be selected. Their names pop up and you can send a picture. I tried it in a restaurant last night at dinner, and it gave me an idea for a future story.

4. I downloaded a free version of Hootsuite. It is great for scheduling Facebook and Instagram posts. One nice feature is the template sizes for pictures. It helps you keep your images scaled for maximum visibility on the different social media sites.

5. Podcasts - Who knew they were so much fun? I have ventured into the world of audio. My favorite is NPR’s “Wait, Wait, Don’t Tell Me.” I listen to that every week. I love the improv and the humor. I also like Holly and Tracy’s “Stuff You Missed in History Class.” They have some wonderful snippets from the past. They are great story tellers, and the topics often inspire some ideas. I also like “Grammar Girl’s” quick and dirty tips.

What did you learn this week that you can share?

#ThisorThatThursday - Welcome, Jodi Rath!

I’d like to welcome mystery writer, Jodi Rath, to the blog today for #ThisorThatThursday. She is the author of the Cast Iron Skillet Mysteries.

A few of your favorite things:  My husband, cats, books, my murder board, all my screens (phone, tablet, monitor, and surface pro), kickboxing bag, yoga mat, cast iron skillets, my business.

Things you need to throw out: hmmm….some would say books BUT NO WAY! LOL  Probably shoes and clothes—I have too much!

Things you need for your writing sessions: murder board (which is really a whiteboard), yarn to map out the plot on murder board, pictures—visuals of places in my fictional village Leavensport, OH, my style sheet or chart of characters, plot points, and settings to keep everything in order, computer, paper, pen, pencil, books for research, my cats, cup of hot or cold tea and dumdum suckers while I work.

Things that hamper your writing: social media—HA!

Things you love about writing: Everything!

Things you hate about writing: Nothing!

Hardest thing about being a writer: Probably the second and third drafts before finalizing for publishing
Easiest thing about being a writer: Planning, plotting, first draft.

Words that describe you: feisty, sassy, determined, motivated, grit

Words that describe you, but you wish they didn’t: a bit obsessive-compulsive, perfectionist, control-freak

Favorite foods: most anything in cast iron skillet

Things that make you want to gag:  oysters

Favorite music or song: 60’s and 80’s music mainly—but I love most music

Music that drives you crazy: country

Favorite smell: pumpkin/cinnamon spice
Something that makes you hold your nose: skunk smell

Things you’d walk a mile for: chocolate or really good New York style pizza

Things that make you want to run screaming from the room: Snakes or alligators

Things you always put in your books: cats and characters that are similar to my family and friends and my frenemies over the ages
Things you never put in your books: abuse of animals

Things to say to an author: “I’m a fan.”
Things to say to an author if you want to be fictionally killed off in their next book: “Write faster or Can I get it for free?”

Favorite places you’ve been: Home
Places you never want to go to again: Most anywhere other than home!

Favorite books (or genre): Mystery
Books you wouldn’t buy: I’m not into fantasy.

Things that make you happy: My husband, my cats, my business which is a lot of research, writing, and art.
Things that drive you crazy: Hypocrite, liars, manipulators

Best thing you’ve ever done: marrying my husband and our cat family
Biggest mistake: don’t believe in them. I’ve done a lot wrong, but I learn from it—so therefore, how much of a mistake can it be. That’s the educator in me talking.

Most daring thing you’ve ever done: race car driving in CA at Laguna Seca
Something you chickened out from doing: I got my brown belt in kickboxing—one away from black and never got the black belt.

About Jodi:

Moving into her second decade working in education, Jodi Rath has decided to begin a life of crime in her The Cast Iron Skillet Mystery Series. Her passion for both mysteries and education led her to combine the two to create her business MYS ED, where she splits her time between working as an adjunct for Ohio teachers and creating mischief in her fictional writing. She currently resides in a small, cozy village in Ohio with her husband and her eight cats.

Let’s Be Social:

The Cast Iron Skillet Mystery Series - Jalapeño Cheddar Cornbread Murder

Welcome to Leavensport, Ohio where DEATH takes a delicious turn!

Financial fraud of elderly villagers in Leavensport, an urban sprawl threat to the community, disastrous dates, cross-sell marketing gone wrong, and another murder? Jolie Tucker is ready to try dating again. Well, she has no choice—since her family auctioned her off to the highest bidder. Her best friend, Ava, has agreed to a double date, but both friends find out hidden secrets about their partners as well as deception by one of the village’s own, who will soon be found dead. This plot is sure to be spicy!

Amazon: http://authl.it/B07Q1K4DN3

All other e-platforms: https://books2read.com/u/bOAYyK

Newsletter link to A Mystery A Month—sign up for my monthly newsletter to receive a free Mystery a Month and a chance to win prizes for those who guess the right answers! http://eepurl.com/dIfXdb

Website: www.jodirath.com 

FB Author page: @authorjodirath

Twitter: @jodirath

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/jodi-rath

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/dashboard

Tips for Authors Who Collaborate

I am eternally grateful for all of my talented writer friends who have provided ideas and support to me through the years. Writing is often a lonely endeavor, and I believe that writers need a peer group. I’m a part of three writing groups and a slew of collaborative efforts.

Here are some examples of partnering and some tips that could help as you decide on future projects.

Book Signings - There is nothing lonelier than sitting at a table at a book signing by yourself. (You get a lot of questions about the location of the bathroom and whether or not something is on sale.) We can introduce our readers to new authors when we share opportunities. Plus, it’s a party when authors get together and hang out. I often carpool with other authors to events outside of Central Virginia. Road trip!

Anthology Collections - I like to participate in anthologies. I usually write mystery novels, and these projects give me a chance to experiment with short stories. Read the rules/requirements before you submit. We’ve had requirements like all participants will help promote the book.

Make sure you know about your rights. Are they returned after a certain amount of time? Can you republish the story later? If you’re under contract, make sure that any new projects don’t conflict.

Is a contract required? Is there a contract? Do you have to pay for anything? Are you expected to buy and sell books? Make sure that you’re clear on all the legalities and the money before you sign up.

Many times, I submit a story to be part of the collection. It is another writing credit for the author, and you meet and network with lots of authors. I don’t go into these projects with the thought of making lots of money. But, I’ve been fortunate to be a part of several successful anthologies where I did make money either on split royalties or selling copies of the book.

Pay it Forward - I try to support other authors where I can. One easy way is to like, comment, and share their stuff on social media. If you like someone’s book, tell others and leave a review. Reviews do matter to authors. I also attend author events and buy books. One of my author friends always buys a book and gives it away on her blog. There are lots of little things you can do to help others.

Blogs - I do a lot of guest blog posts, interviews, and podcasts. I also have a blog, Pens, Paws, and Claws, where I blog with some fun writers. (I also offer author interview spots on this blog #ThisorThatThursday or #WriterWednesdays on PP&C. Message me if you’re interested.)

When you do Social Media Parties, Facebook Hops, Blog Collaborations, or other joint projects, make sure you understand what money is required up front. Ask about the time commitment. Your time is valuable.

I love collaborative opportunities. Just make sure you have all the pertinent information before you start. And remember, friendship is friendship, but business is business.