#ThisorThatThursday Author Interview with Kristin Kisska

I’d like to welcome author, Kristin Kisska, to the blog for #ThisorThatThursday!

A few of your favorite things: I am a beach girl at heart. I love cats, bookstores, coffee, spring flowers, and Chanel No. 19 perfume.

Things you need to throw out: My college textbooks. Someday I’ll get around to organizing my attic.  Maybe in a decade or two.

Things you need for your writing sessions: Complete quiet. No music. Oh, and I need coffee, too.

Things that hamper your writing: Humans breathing near my writer’s cave. I also have a pesky habit of checking Twitter when my creative wave runs dry.

Things you love about writing: Riding a wave of creativity. Every once in a while, one of my characters will do or say something I hadn’t plotted, and it’ll change the course of my story.  I love being surprised, even if it means I have more work to do!

Things you hate about writing: Every time I type the words “The End.” It’s a tease. I can celebrate for completing the first draft, but the next step in the process is to revise the story again. And again. And again.

 Hardest thing about being a writer: Staring at a blank page wondering how to start a story. That first sentence pulls a lot of weight and can be crazy-intimidating. Also, I harbor an inner fear that someday I’ll run out of story ideas, so I keep a running list of random concepts as they pop into my head.

Easiest thing about being a writer: Spending time in a fictional world that I’ve created, with characters I love. The feeling doesn’t get old!

 Things you never want to run out of: Highlighters in all colors. I’m a huge fan of the “rainbow editing” technique, so I use them to help me revise my stories. Unfortunately, they tend to run dry faster than I like, so I stock up whenever I see them on sale. Back to school shopping season is a good thing!

Things you wish you’d never bought: Pens. I placed a large order of purple-ink pens to hand out at my book signing events. The first batch I received had black ink. I contacted the manufacturer and offered to return them in exchange for the correct color, but they told me to keep the bad order and sent me the new ones. Now I have hundreds and hundreds of pens.

Favorite music or song: I’m a big 90s music fan, so I’m waiting for the 80s craze to fade out. One of my favorite songs from the era is “Hey Jealousy” by the Gin Blossoms.

Music that drives you crazy: Rap music.

 Favorite beverage: Coffee (I take mine with cream, no sugar)
Something that gives you a sour face: Sweet tea.  I enjoy iced tea, but if it’s sweet, I go running the other direction. By admitting this publicly, I risk getting evicted from Virginia. 

 Things to say to an author: “I loved your story, especially the twist at the end.”
Things to say to an author if you want to be fictionally killed off in their next book: “When is the action going to start?”

 Favorite places you’ve been: Savannah, Georgia. Destin, Florida. Prague, Czech Republic. Venice, Italy. Exuma, Bahamas. Sydney, Australia. Bali, Indonesia. (in no particular order)
Places you never want to go to again: Charleston, West Virginia.

 Favorite books (or genre): I love domestic suspense, especially if it’s Southern fiction. Right now, I’m reading WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING. I also love anything written by Mary Kubica.
Books you wouldn’t buy: Science fiction. While I enjoy watching it in the movies, reading it doesn’t interest me.

 Most daring thing you’ve ever done: In my 20s, I bought a one-way ticket to Prague. I didn’t speak the language, and my parents tried to talk me out of going, but I found a job and an apartment and lived there for three years.

Something you chickened out from doing: Sky diving. Never will I ever.

About Kristin:

Kristin Kisska used to be a finance geek, complete with MBA and Wall Street pedigree, but now she is a self-proclaimed fictionista. Kristin contributed short stories of mystery and suspense to seven anthologies, including DEADLY SOUTHERN CHARM (2019). She is a member of International Thriller Writers, Vice President of Sisters in Crime-Central Virginia, and James River Writers. When not writing, she can be found on her website~ KristinKisska.com, on Facebook at KristinKisskaAuthor, and Tweeting @KKMHOO. Kristin lives in Virginia with her husband and three children.

Let’s Be Social:

Website - www.KristinKisska.com

Twitter -  @KKMHOO    

Facebook -  KristinKisskaAuthor

Critiquing Others' Work

I’ve been a manager, a college instructor, and an editor at my day gigs for a lot of years, and feedback seems to be an hourly thing in those worlds. There’s an art and a science to reviewing and critiquing another writer’s work.

Here’s what I’ve learned.

1. Their manuscript is their baby. They have spent hours, days, weeks, and years on this, and no one wants to hear you call their baby ugly. Feedback often triggers emotional responses. I try to do the “sandwich” method. Mention something positive or something you like. Then discuss the problem areas, and then sandwich it in with another something positive.

2. I try to add comments throughout the work when I think word choice is good, when something is funny, or when there’s good tension. This way not all the red marks are of the “you did this wrong” variety.

3. If it’s a spelling or grammatical error, I mark it. If it’s a subjective thing, I try to state how it made me feel or what I interpreted. That way, it’s one reader’s opinion, and not a pronouncement on the person’s abilities or character. It’s the reader’s opinion of the work.

4. At work, I use different colored pens if I’m editing on paper. Nobody likes getting a document back that looks like a bloodbath of red ink. Sometimes, that can’t be helped with electronic editing. One of my critique group members uses the highlighter feature in Word instead of track changes. She picks colors for different things like yellow is a problem, pink is something funny, and blue is something she really likes. That way, my page looks like a rainbow instead of thousands of little comments in the right margin.

5. As an author, if you want all warm and fuzzy comments, let a family member read your work. That is always good for the ego, but you need to build a network of other writers and super readers who know your genre and who will be brutally honest. They can find plotholes, story issues, and redundancies. They will tell you when it’s boring or when you’ve gone down a rabbit hole. I appreciate it when my critique partners and beta readers point out things.

6. I try not to give feedback when I’m tired or stressed out. I don’t want my mood to jade my comments.

7. If someone has a reoccurring problem, I’ll make a note the first time. Then I will highlight it if I see it again (and again and again). Examples of this are misspellings and overused words.

8. When I finish a critique of someone’s work, I always send a note along with my notes and suggested changes. (At critique group, we do this face to face.) I do a little summary of what I like, what works for the story, and the highlights.

9. Your time is valuable, and you should be writing your next book. I always like to help authors where and when I can. But time is limited. Occasionally, I have to say no or not right now because of other commitments. Sometimes, there’s a compromise like critiquing a few chapters or the first fifty pages.

10. And what do you do if you read something that you think is just terrible? I have stopped reading before. And I tell them why. Usually, it’s because they’re not sure what their story is … it’s a romantic science fiction piece set in the American West with aliens and a touch of dystopia, vampires, and time travel with cats, suspense, and a main character with amnesia. I prefer to read mysteries and thrillers. I tell people up front that I don’t know other genres as well, and I probably wouldn’t be able to give them the critique they need on the conventions of their genre. And other times it’s because the work really isn’t ready. My friend, Mary Burton, calls your first draft the sloppy copy. That’s the one you need to work on and polish before you get to the editing and critiquing stages.

Social Media and Book Promo No Nos

We all want to promote our work and events, and social media offers us lots of opportunities. Here are some things you should avoid.

1. Don’t be a leech. If another writer is promoting her work, having an event, or doing a cover reveal, don’t hijack the comments to promote your stuff. I am a part of several anthologies, and we’ve had people tag on to our promotions with comments like, “Hey, if you like this, you’ll love my book at this link.” That’s a quick way to offend others and get your comment deleted.

2. Automatic messages are annoying when you get so many of them. I’m not sure that unsolicited ones are effective. These are canned and impersonal. Be social. Chat and share posts. Don’t depend on an automated email to build your audience or sell books.

3. Be creative with your social media posts. Show interesting things and your sense of humor. All of your posts shouldn’t be “buy my book” or “like my page.” If you have hobbies, pets, or visit cool places, incorporate those into your posts.

4. Don’t spend all of your time on your sites marketing your stuff. These platforms are for social interaction. You need to like, comment, and share others’ posts.

5. We all need beta readers, forewords, reviews, and blurbs. Make sure you have a relationship with other authors before you make requests. You need a peer group that you can seek help from. I’ve had complete strangers from other genres ask for a review or a blurb and then put demands on it. Be polite. You’re asking a favor. Ask for help and make it easy if you want something from somebody. (When they agree, I always send a synopsis and short bio to help them with titles and character names.) Also, give them as much lead time as possible. Everybody has his/her own deadlines.

6. Authors and bloggers are busy. Don’t ask people out of the blue to read your 200,000 word manuscript unless they extend the offer to you. I love to help other authors, but I have to guard my writing/editing time, too. I joined a critique group and have beta reader partners. We all agree to read and provide feedback on each others’ work. They also understand my genre, so they know the conventions. Find a critique group or partner to exchange manuscripts. Many times, you can participate in writing workshops that include feedback sessions.

7. if you’re looking for reviews and you’re targeting book bloggers, read their reviews and look at their site. Make sure your book fits the site. Many post genres that they are interested in and their requirements. Some put out calls and other don’t accept unsolicited requests. Follow instructions. You’ll have more success.

8. Use book events, workshops, and conferences as opportunities to network. If you take pictures or do a post, make sure to tag that person. Also, later if you do want to contact them for some reason, you have a relationship.

What would you add to my list? What are some of your social media pet peeves?

#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