#ThisorThatThursday Author Interview with Frances Aylor

I would like to welcome author, Frances Aylor to the blog this week for #ThisorThatThursday!

A few of your favorite things: Pictures of my family & friends, my travels, fun things I’ve done. These connect me with past and present and inspire me to plan interesting experiences for the future.

Things you need to throw out: Old textbooks. I keep thinking I’ll reread them some day to keep my mind sharp, but the odds of revisiting Latin or intermediate accounting or my Spanish-language version of Don Quixote are pretty slim.

Things you love about writing: Talking to book clubs, having them discuss my characters as real people and not just something I molded together from imagination and memories.

Things you hate about writing: Struggling to get my ideas on paper, working much too long to get a sentence, a paragraph or an image just right.

Favorite music or song: Anything by Jason Mraz. He’s from my hometown and sings upbeat songs about happiness and love. I especially like “Have It All.”

Music that drives you crazy: When rock song I’ve loved get turned into the background for TV commercials. They’re messing up good memories!

Something you’re really good at:  Music. I play the piano and organ and was even a church organist many years ago.

Something you’re really bad at: Singing. I can’t hit high notes anymore. I’m always singing an octave below everyone else.

Last best thing you ate: Salted caramel ice cream. Terrific mix of sweet and salty.

Last thing you regret eating: Escargot in a restaurant in a Mexican airport. I was trying to be adventurous. My stomach rebelled.

The last thing you ordered online: Dryer sheets. I now have enough to last ten years.

The last thing you regret buying: An online rug. It looked bright and crisp on the website, but was a muddy burgundy when I rolled it out in my den. Really heavy and awkward to roll back up and return.

Things you always put in your books: I like happy endings: for the good guys to win and the bad guys to receive justice.

Things you never put in your books: Excessive violence.

Favorite books (or genre): I love mysteries, suspense and thrillers. In the Woods by Tana French is a favorite. Books you wouldn’t buy:  Books that are too scary, violent or gory.

Things that make you happy: Being with my family, traveling to new places, meeting fun people.

Things that drive you crazy: People who are so focused on their own opinions that they won’t listen to other points of view.

Best thing you’ve ever done:  Marry my high-school sweetheart. He’s kind, supportive of all the crazy things I do, and even after all these years still tells me how much he loves me.

Biggest mistake: Investing in rental property. It seemed so easy when we read the book. We bought 3 houses and sold them within a year when collecting from tenants became too much of a hassle.

Most daring thing you’ve ever done:  Jumping off a 4,000 foot mountain in Switzerland to go paragliding.

Something you chickened out from doing: Scuba diving. The thought of being hundreds of feet underwater and getting nudged by a shark terrifies me.

 Let’s Be Social:

Website and blog: https://francesaylor.com/

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

Amazon Author Page:  https://www.amazon.com/Frances-Aylor

About Frances:

Frances Aylor, CFA combines her investing experience and love of travel (she has visited over 30 countries) in her financial thrillers. Money Grab is her first novel. She has also written several short stories, including "The Girl in the Airport" in the Deadly Southern Charm anthology. She is a member of International Thriller Writers and is currently the president of Sisters in Crime - Central Virginia.

What Have You Done for Your Writing Life Lately?

My work style is more productive with tasks, deadlines, and lists. I’m an IT manager (an ESTJ with Myers Briggs and Red/Dominance with the DISC). I have the same style and preferences in my writing life.

1. I am a list maker. There is a certain level of satisfaction with crossing off items when they’re done. I also like to see what was accomplished. I make lists to make sure I hit deadlines and keep promises.

2. Continuing education and training are important. There are always new things to learn. There are a lot of low cost/free courses on book marketing and the writing craft. Check out YouTube. Also a lot of writing groups offer courses and conferences. James River Writers offers a great conference in Richmond each year that covers all aspects of the writing life. My Sisters in Crime and Guppy chapters offer courses and stipends to promote learning.

3. Years ago when I decided that I wanted to write a novel, I bought or checked out every writing book I could get my hands on. Finally, I had to stop reading and start writing. You learn by writing, revising, and editing. The pile of how-to books went to the Friends of the Library book sale. (I did keep two. Stephen King’s ON WRITING and Janet Evanovich’s HOW I WRITE.) Just do it! Sit down and start writing (or outlining).

4. Find a critique partner, group, or beta readers in your genre to help you improve your writing. My critique group and beta readers are great for pointing out plot holes and inconsistencies. You agree to read their work, and they read yours. My Sisters in Crime - Central Virginia group just returned from summer hiatus, so I’m excited to get back in the swing of reviewing manuscripts.

5. If you’re getting ready to query a manuscript to an agent or editor, make sure you have everything ready to go. You may not need all of this to send out the query letter, but if you get a request for follow up information, you’ll need to have it. I build out a file for each book. Include:

• A Professional Headshot

• Summary of Your Story

• An Elevator Pitch for Your Story

• Your Author Biography

• A List of Links for All Your Social Media Sites

• A Synopsis (with the Ending)

• A Character List

My News from Last Week…

Last week was full of news. I found out that the Library of Virginia added my Delanie Fitzgerald books to their permanent, Virginia Writers’ collection. That is exciting. I love the LoV. If you’re in #RVA, you have to stop and see it. It’s part library, museum, and historical archives.

I was also very fortunate last week to sign with a literary agent for my cozy series set in Charlottesville. I am very excited to work with her team, and her stable of authors have been so welcoming and encouraging!

I also passed my Professional Scrum Master exam last week. Look out IT world!

What things have you done this week for your writing life?

#ThisorThatThursday Author Interview with K. L. Murphy

I’d like to welcome author, K. L. Murphy to the blog for #ThisorThatThursday!

A few of your favorite things: Summer, the beach, reading (I know that’s every author), tea, and wine!

Things you need to throw out: Clutter! Clutter! Clutter!

Things you need for your writing sessions: All I really need is my computer and time.

Hardest thing about being a writer: Making it the priority I would like to.
Easiest thing about being a writer: Doing something I love.

Things you never want to run out of: peanut butter, English muffins, tea, wine, BOOKS!

Things you wish you’d never bought: Fashion faux pas I will never wear.

Favorite smell: I love the smell of fresh herbs.
Something that makes you hold your nose: Too much perfume (any kind)

The last thing you ordered online: A book, of course!

The last thing you regret buying: A staple gun that wasn’t electric.

Things that make you happy: Being with family and friends. And an all-time favorite is reading a book on the beach with a cold glass of wine.
Most embarrassing moment: My first attempt at an Instastory had my children rolling on the floor laughing. Worse, they saved it so that it can be replayed for laughs on a regular basis. (It was really bad!)
Proudest moment: After my children, writing and publishing my Detective Cancini Mystery series. I’m also really proud of the my current work which is historical suspense.

The nicest thing a reader said to you: I love Cancini! Also, I can’t wait to read your next book (always a winner!).

The craziest thing a reader said to you: For your next book, you should write the story of my life…um, I write fiction????

 About K. L:

K.L. Murphy is a freelance writer and the author of the Detective Cancini Mystery Series: A GUILTY MIND, STAY OF EXECUTION, and THE LAST SIN. Her short story, BURN, is featured in the anthology DEADLY SOUTHERN CHARM. A member of International Thriller Writers, Sisters in Crime, James River Writers, and Historical Writers of America, she lives in Richmond, VA, with her husband, children, and two amazing dogs.

Winner! Winner! Choosing Prizes and Gifts - Tips for Authors

Everyone loves free stuff. And everyone loves to win the prize. You can use your author swag to create interesting prizes for giveaways. Here are some ideas (and what I’ve learned).

Gift Baskets: People love baskets filled to the brim with goodies and lots of ribbons and bows. I build several each year for charity auctions that I support. Come up with a theme and look for fun items to add (e.g. Tea and Books, Mysteries and Chocolate, etc.). Don’t forget to add your swag (e.g. pens, pencils, bookmarks). Make sure to autograph the books you include.

Buy a cute or useful basket or container to use as a base. Make sure it’s the right size for your give-away. A small, overflowing basket looks more appealing that a giant one with three things in it. Arts and craft stores (or Amazon) sell rolls of clear plastic cellophane wrap for gift baskets. Top it with ribbons or a big bow. Flashy baskets draw lots of attention at silent auctions. One year, our Sisters in Crime - Central Virginia chapter made one for the Friends of the Library’s fundraiser. We had over twenty-five books in the basket. And one of the gals made a big bow from yellow crime scene tape. A mystery reader’s dream!

Keep receipts and records for your taxes for charity donations. Talk to your tax advisor for details and specifics.

Social Media Giveaways: Facebook Hops, Facebook Parties, and Twitter Parties are great ways for you to meet readers and build up your audience. A lot of authors give away ebooks, and that often doesn’t bring the excitement or responses that a physical prize does. If you can, think of ways to incorporate small things in your prizes (e.g. small gift cards, fancy bookmarks, themed wine charms, etc.). I like Etsy, and I often find pins, wine charms, and notecards. Search Agatha Christie, Sherlock Holmes, or Nancy Drew gifts, and you’ll be surprised at all the creative ideas that pop up.

You want your item to be able to be mailed easily. Tina Glasneck gave me the best advice. Make sure your prize fits in a standard business envelope. When you do online contests, follow the terms and conditions of the site and specify where you will mail the gift to. One author friend bought really cute mugs, but they were expensive to wrap and ship. Also, postage jumps considerably when it is out of your mailing area/country.

I keep a shelf of swag and prizes in my office closet. Instead of throwing unused gift cards in a drawer, add them to your collection and use as a prize.

Swag Bags: I ordered a box of small purple bags with ribbon ties. (I found them on Amazon under birthday or shower gift bags. They come in all colors.) I make small swag bags (e.g. pens, bookmarks, pins, notecards) for people I meet with. These are like hostess gifts for the coordinator when I do events for libraries, schools, or senior community events.

Notes: I always add a “I hope you enjoy this/It was great to meet you” note with the prize. I had postcards made with my book covers at Vistaprint. The back is blank and perfect for a personalized note.

Contests and prizes are fun ways to excite readers and draw them into your social media sites. You don’t have to spend a lot of money, and a thoughtful gift is always memorable.

What I Learned about Book Marketing from Some Really Cool Librarians

Recently, my Sisters in Crime - Central Virginia chapter hosted an event with Richmond Public Libraries, the Library of Virginia, and the Indie Author Project to help authors learn about working with libraries for events and programs. Many thanks to Nancy Buck (Richmond Public Libraries), Nan Carmack (Library of Virginia), and Emily Gooding (Indie Author Project).

Here’s what I learned…

1. The Indie Author Project is a program that helps independent authors reach readers.

2. Pressbook is a software to help authors format their books for print or ebook publication. Some libraries offer a subscription to their members. Check with your library to see if the service is offered. Pressbook also has commercial packages for those who want to format books.

3. Libraries seed readership for authors. Librarians always are asked to recommend books.

4. Libraries are often looking for programs (more than just author readings or book signings). Create a proposal of your idea and then approach the programming person at your library.

5. Half-page or quarter-page flyers are great for your event. They are small enough for display tables and to put in books.

6. Authors should look into using Meetup to publicize their events.

7. If you make book cover or other posters, do them double-sided. That way they can be seen from both sides on a display counter.

8. Facebook Live is a great way to do teasers to promote your event.

9. Always write thank you notes or emails to your host after an event.

10. On social media, check out #VALibraries.

#ThisorThatThursday Author Interview with Colleen Mooney

I’d like to welcome Colleen Mooney to the blog for #ThisorThatThursday.

A few of your favorite things:

I love the beach, diving and Schnauzers, in particular, the four rescues I have. 

Things you need to throw out:

Paper, paper and more paper and clothes I no longer wear, like or fit me.  I’d like to throw out some bad habits or the plethora of holiday decorations that seem to multiply exponentially each year.

Favorite music:

I’ve got a rock ‘n roll heart but love music from the 80’s.  My favorite song is anyone you can dance to.

Least favorite or music I can’t stand:

Music that drives you crazy: Electronic sounds.

 Favorite foods:

Cheese, cheese and more cheese.  I love cheese. In restaurants and every place I travel, I will order the cheese tray if there is one on the menu.  Of course, I’m from New Orleans so I am surrounded by great food and choices all the time and seafood is also a big favorite. We have shrimp and crawfish boils where we get together with our friends and family to share! 

Things that make you want to gag: 

Mayonnaise and someone else vomiting.  I am a sympathetic hurler. 

 Something you wish you could do:                                                                                  

There are many things I would love to be able to do and playing the piano is one.  Also, I wish I could speak fluent French and German.  

Something you wish you’d never learned to do:  There are things I don’t like to do, like balancing my checkbook, but there is nothing I wish I had never learned to do.  There are so many things I still would love to learn

Favorite smell:

I love the smell of my dogs right after they are groomed.  The groomer uses a spray and they have a wonderful, happy and pretty smell!

Something that makes you hold your nose:

The foulest smell I ever encountered was the smell in New Orleans after Katrina.  We wore masks and still had to put wintergreen petroleum jelly under our noses, under the masks. 

Things you need for your writing sessions:

I need peace and quiet, something in short supply at my home with four schnauzers (barkers) and my retired husband. For concentration I will go to the library or a coffee shop and sometimes stay there the entire day!

Things that hamper your writing:

The biggest thing that hampers my writing are time constraints.  With life still rolling along, there are many other things I am responsible for that need to get done so the interruptions to take care of business, home, and social requirements is the biggest thing that slows me down, but I wouldn’t change it for the world. 

Favorite beverage: Coffee with Chicory
Something that gives you a sour face: Decaf.

Things you love about writing:

I love seeing where my story goes and what the characters do.  They often surprise me. I have an outline when I begin of where the story starts, and where it ends and a general idea of what has to happen along the way.   How it gets there is the part I enjoy most. 

Things you hate about writing: I hate that I can’t type faster. 

Favorite places you’ve been:

I am an avid Scuba Diver so the places I like the most all involved diving. Cozumel was a big favorite because it was so easy to get to from New Orleans, so I’ve been there many times.  I love islands, including Manhattan (I lived there for a year!).  A favorite place in I attended a Creativity Workshop and fell in love with, enough to retire there, was Arles France.  It was a small town and you could walk everywhere. Another big favorite I try to make annually are Christmas Markets in Germany. My favorite is Maintz.  My husband and I try to go there every year since it puts me in a wonderful holiday mood, hence the surplus of decorations.  New Orleans is usually hot year-round except for a few days in January and February so going to the markets during December is magical! (See No. 1)

Places you never want to go to again:

Morocco. This was a bucket list trip and the worst vacation I’ve ever had. Everything was an abysmal disappointment. Since I was travelling with all women friends (something I would not recommend) we were often ignored in restaurants or taken advantage of when purchasing items. 

Something you like to do: I love anything on the water, sailing, diving, or just floating on a raft!
Something you wish you’d never done: Gone on that trip to Morocco.

Things that make you happy:

What makes me happy is seeing one of my rescues matched with the perfect home.  I’ve been directing Schnauzer Rescue of Louisiana for over fifteen years and placed over 350 Schnauzers. I am exuberant every time I find a Schnauzer the perfect person to love and who will love them back.  
Things that drive you crazy:

The biggest thing that drives me crazy are people who get pets and don’t learn how to care for them or take the time to teach the pet how to be a good companion.  There are no bad dogs, only irresponsible pet owners. 

Best thing you’ve ever done:

My biggest accomplishment was volunteering for Schnauzer Rescue of Louisiana and taking it over when that person could no longer manage it. 

Biggest mistake: Going on that Morocco trip!

Let’s Be Social:

Colleen Mooney, Mystery Author

Twitter:  Twitter.com@Mooney_colleen

Facebook:  colleen.mooney.716@facebook.com

Website:  www.colleenmooney.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/colleen.mooney

Email:  colleen@colleenmooney.com

About Colleen:

Colleen Mooney was born and lived much of her life in New Orleans before a job moved her to other cities.  She writes a cozy mystery series set in New Orleans. It’s called The New Orleans Go Cup Chronicles and the 7th book, Fireworks, Forensics and Felonies. It was released in the box set, Summer Snoops Unleashed and all proceeds go to help three animal rescues or shelters who aid senior pets. Colleen has earned Best Seller status in the Wall Street Journal, USA Today and Amazon.

 In January 2017 Colleen organized a Sisters In Crime chapter in New Orleans, was elected President and has a planned a Mystery Writers’ Conference for November 2019.  She is currently working on her 8th book in the New Orleans Go Cup Chronicles  series.

 Colleen was born and raised in New Orleans and lived in the Irish Channel along with just about everybody else in her family.  She says, “New Orleanians are a lot like boomerangs or homing pigeons.  If we move away, we always move back.”

 Colleen worked in corporate America for twenty-one years before retiring and has lived in Birmingham, Atlanta, New Jersey and New York. She moved back to New Orleans every time before another corporate reorganization would transfer her to another city.

 “My vacation and work related travels opened my eyes as to how different we are in New Orleans.  We are very different from the rest of the state, let alone the rest of the country. We have different laws, different food and the way we cook it, different weather, different things we celebrate and how we celebrate them. We even have a different language in some cases.  Everyone thinks New Orleans is all about a good time in the French Quarter or on Bourbon Street, but those of us from here know that’s only the tip of the iceberg, well, if we had icebergs.” 

 Colleen loves to travel and do new things.  She is an avid Scuba diver and Underwater photographer, owned and raced sailboats in the Gulf of Mexico, Key West and the BVI. She has owned and drove a motorcycle, and has skied Colorado, Idaho, California, New York State as well as the German and Austrian Alps.

 In New Orleans, she’s been active in many Mardi Gras Krewes, Super Krewes, and organizations and has belonged to the Krewe of Cork, Orpheus, Iris, Tucks, Joan of Arc and the Halloween Krewe of Boo. Colleen says she has never met a parade she didn’t like. 

 She’s an ardent animal lover and the Director for a breed rescue, Schnauzer Rescue of Louisiana for the last fifteen years.  She has rescued and placed over 350 abandoned or surrendered Schnauzers.  She loves to write, and writes about what she loves. Colleen says, “New Orleans is where it all happens for me.

There’s no place like New Orleans to have a good crime!”

Check out Colleen’s Sisters in Crime New Orleans Chapter’s “A Journey into the Mystery of the Criminal Mind.”

It's Okay to Say No...

It’s okay to say no. I’m southern and a person who likes harmony, so it took me a long time to realize that there are times when you can say no to requests.

You cannot do everything. As an author, you will get a lot of requests for your time (often from complete strangers). Your job is to write your next book, and you have to balance that with all the other obligations you have. I like to support other writers, but unfortunately, I can’t do every event or read every manuscript.

Guard your writing time. It is too easy to get involved in other activities. Even internet-surfing and tv-watching are big time sucks.

I love helping other authors and sharing their celebrations on social media. I just don’t have the time to read or edit every request I get. I’ve committed to my author early readers and my critique group to read and comment on their submissions. If you’re looking for feedback, find a writers’ group, a critique group, or a writing partner. You read their work, and they read yours.

I volunteer for a variety of causes. I have had to scale some of this back over the years to give myself time to write and edit. But you can support causes in a variety of ways. Your social media platform is powerful, and you can reach a lot of people.

As soon as you put yourself out there, you will be bombarded with all kinds of companies and service requests. Many are worthwhile and are opportunities to network. If you want to hire them, do your homework and get references.

Be careful on social media. You do not have to accept every friend or message request. There are a lot of book marketing, lonely hearts scammers, and bots out there. There are also people who friend you and then drop you when you reciprocate. They are just trying to build up a following.

You need to make sure that you are working on your next project.

#ThisorThatThursday Author Interview with Kimberly Hunt

I’d like to welcome Kimberly Hunt to the blog for #ThisorThatThursday!

Things you need for your editing sessions: hours, your manuscript, my computer, and sometimes a red pen

Things that hamper your editing: the requirements of being human (sleep, social obligations, etc.)

Things you love about editing: Reading, providing positive feedback so the author knows specifically what is working well, and suggesting solutions where needed to enhance the successful delivery of their vision.

Things you hate about editing: The frantic worry that I've missed something and the self-restraint needed to NOT point out every flaw. There's a fine balance between helping to improve and overwhelming an author with too many revision suggestions.

Hardest thing about being an editor: As a freelancer, the varied pace is hard. Sometimes my schedule is packed and I work too many hours; when it's slow I focus on training and marketing.

Easiest thing about being an editor: I get to read for a living!!!

Things you never want to run out of: Appreciation for the craft and the patience of my family and friends who indulge my obsession.

Things you wish you’d never bought: Almost everything after I buy it. I like LESS. Clutter is my Achilles heel.

Favorite music or song: REO Speedwagon's Time for Me to Fly because of my dad

Music that drives you crazy: My kid's recorder. That is a new level of parenting hell.

Favorite beverage: Spa water (water infused with cucumber or fruit)

Something that gives you a sour face: I don't like mean people and I don't like Jägermeister.

Something you wish you could do: Take more volunteer vacations like I did last summer. Travel + Volunteering = Bliss.

Something you wish you’d never learned to do: Cook. I do not enjoy it. I'd rather starve.

Things to say to an editor: Thank you. I value your skills and appreciate that you used them to make my book better. Here's your prompt payment for all of the hours you poured into making my book the best it can be.

Things to say to an editor if you want a lecture: Editing costs too much, I'll just ask my neighbor to edit it for free. Quality costs. It's like asking a teenager to build a house versus hiring professionals who have the training, experience, and tools to deliver a quality product.

Favorite books (or genre): Romance! And mystery, suspense and psychological thrillers. OK, I also like memoirs and pretty much anything else if it's well-written.

Books you wouldn’t buy: Zero limitations. As a kid from a large family, my parents had to put me on a budget for the monthly scholastic book club flyers. Picture a scrawny girl with an armful of library books - that was me.

Most daring thing you’ve ever done: Skydiving, sleeping in the Outback, snorkeling with sharks, walked past black bears raiding garbage cans, starting my freelance editing business

Something you chickened out from doing: I've chickened out of ever chickening out. Seriously, I can't think of anything and it's not that I think I'm brave. I'm probably just easily persuaded into doing adventurous things. I don't like to disappoint people.

About Kimberly:

Kimberly Hunt is a freelance editor with Revision Division. She has twenty years of experience managing projects and developmental editing fiction with a certification in copyediting as well. She's happy to answer questions about writing and editing but beware as she can go on at length about her passions: reading, running, and volunteering.

 Links to website and social media sites

https://revisiondivision.com

https://facebook.com/RevisionDivision/

https://Twitter.com/RevisionDiv

https://instagram.com/revisiondivkimberly