#ThisorThatThursday with Author Mack Little

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I’d like to welcome author Mack Little to the blog for #ThisorThatThursday!


Things you need for your writing sessions:

Notebook with very good stock paper

Fountain Pen

Cigar

Glass of wine

Background noise (Music or TV)

Things you love about writing: I am a daydreamer. When I write, I give my daydreams form and they become something I can revisit whenever I like whether it be a specific part or relive the entire story.

Favorite music or song: I love Nick Cave. To me he is like the profit to the human soul. Right now the song that drives me crazy (in a good way) is Breathless by Nick Cave. I love Stromae also. His music can be poignant while at the same time be very danceable.

Something you wish you could do: I speak several languages I wish I could speak one or all of them fluently.

Something you like to do: I LOVE to travel. I go to Paris most regularly and I often use it as a spring board to visit other European countries. A few years ago I went to Scotland and I can’t wait to get back there especially since I am setting a portion of my novel there

Things you’d walk a mile for: Actually, I walk three miles every day a lot of the time just to hear my book on tape. Right now I’m listening to Bernard Cornwell’s Warrior of the Storm

Things you always put in your books: I always put historical narratives in my books that include little known facts

Favorite places you’ve been: Paris, France; Les Trois Moutiers, France; Scottish Highlands; Manzano Romano, Italy

Favorite books (or genre): My favorite genre appears to be historical which I tend to read the most of. Bernard Cornwall Last Kingdom series is especially well done. I also love Cormac McCarthy

People you’d like to invite to dinner (living):

Nicholas Cage

Ginacarlo Esposito

Nick Cave

About Mack:

Mack Little grew up in the Deep South and has accumulated a vibrant experience which she often emulates in her storytelling. Her studies in International Politics and service in the Army have given her impressive perspectives to bring to her novels new layers of intrigues and twists, which are all quite prevalent in her latest novel, Daughter of Hades.

#WriterWednesday Interview with Meg Hafdahl

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I’d like to welcome Meg Hafdahl to the blog for #WriterWednesday!

A few of your favorite things: I love horror movies, pugs, and mimosas.

Things you need to throw out: I probably should get rid of some books I’ll never read, and some clothes I’ll never wear!

Things you need for your writing sessions: As a mom I really value peace and quiet when I write. Not that it happens very often! I also need some sort of coffee, tea, something to sip on.

Things that hamper your writing: Anxiety about other life stuff can get in the way of my creativity, so I try to get myself in a good headspace first. Also, as I mentioned, kids can ruin it too!

Things you love about writing: I mean I get to create worlds and characters while expressing myself. It’s the best job in the world.

Things you hate about writing: Editing. Let’s be honest, after a few times going over the same novel with a fine toothed comb I want to gouge my eyes out!!

Hardest thing about being a writer: No matter how much success I’ve had, I meet with rejection. It’s just the nature of the beast. Still sucks though!

Easiest thing about being a writer: When the flow is there and you are fully invested. Time stands still. Words that describe you: Funny, assertive, thoughtful.

Words that describe you, but you wish they didn’t: Ha! I am definitely anxious, hot-headed, and can be a little selfish…yikes that all sounds bad!

Favorite foods: I want anything bread: garlic bread, popovers, croissants, dinner rolls. Oh, and the ultimate is a warm biscuit with butter.

Things that make you want to gag: I’ve never liked mushrooms. And the older I get I’m less interested in fast food. Also, I like pizza but not as much as everyone else seems to.

Favorite books (or genre): I can’t so no to horror, thriller, mystery books. I also have a soft spot for some historical fiction.

Books you wouldn’t buy: You won’t see me reading a political thriller, anything about espionage or the drug cartel. Snooze.

Favorite things to do: I love spending time with my friends and family of course, whether eating drinking, playing board games. Travel is a big part of my life and I read as much as I can.

Things you’d run through a fire or eat bugs to get out of doing: You’re not going to convince me to ride in a helicopter, sit in one of those closed areas where birds or butterflies crawl on your head, or skydive.

Things that make you happy: Well there are so many things; laughing with my best friend Kelly, date night with my husband Luke, writing a sentence that is just *chef’s kiss* perfection.

Things that drive you crazy: Complainers and negativity. We all have bad days, we all have tough situations, and its okay to wallow in that sadness or grief for a time. But some people operate on a constant negative vibe and I can sense them a mile away!

Best thing you’ve ever done: Being a mom of course. I have two unique, clever, and loving boys.

Biggest mistake: Probably not believing in myself early on in my career. I squandered several amazing opportunities in college because I didn’t believe in my writing abilities. There were people telling me I had the talent and I wouldn’t listen.

The nicest thing a reader said to you: Any time I get praise or just earnest excitement from readers it warms my heart. I’ve had honest connections made where a character resonated and I think that’s the best sort of compliment you can get.

The craziest thing a reader said to you: Probably the craziest is being compared to authors. I’ve had the wonderful luck of being compared to Stephen King, Blake Crouch, Bentley Little, and that’s just nuts. It usually leaves me speechless!!

About Meg:

Bram Stoker nominated author Meg Hafdahl is the creator of numerous stories and books. Her fiction has appeared in anthologies such as Eve’s Requiem: Tales of Women, Mystery and Horror and Eclectically Criminal. Her work has been produced for audio by The Wicked Library and The Lift, and she is the author of three popular short story collections including Twisted Reveries: Thirteen Tales of the Macabre. Meg is also the author of the three novels; The Darkest Hunger, Daughters of Darkness and Her Dark Inheritance called “an intricate tale of betrayal, murder, and small town intrigue” by Horror Addicts and “every bit as page turning as any King novel” by RW Magazine. Meg, also the co-host of the podcast Horror Rewind and co-author of The Science of Monsters, The Science of Women in Horror, The Science of Stephen King, and The Science of Serial Killers, lives in the snowy bluffs of Minnesota. 

Let’s Be Social:

Website: http://Meghafdahl.com  

Website: http://Horrorrewind.com  

@MegHafdahl on Instagram and Twitter 

Meg Hafdahl; Horror Author on Facebook 

In Honor of World Book Day - 50 Authors to Add to Your Book Shopping List

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World Book Day is the week! Here is my list of 50 Mystery and Thriller Authors to add to your book shopping list. They are in no particular order.

  • Libby Klein

  • Mary Lee Woods

  • Raquel Reyes

  • Sherry Harris

  • Diane Kelly

  • Kellye Garrett

  • Gabriel Valjan

  • Hank Phillippi Ryan

  • Ellen Bryon/Maria DiRico

  • Edith Maxwell/Maddie Day

  • Marilyn Levinson/Allison Brook

  • Annette Dashofy

  • K. L. Murphy

  • J. D. Griffo

  • Debra Sennefelder

  • Tina Kashian

  • Misty Simon

  • Debra H. Goldstein

  • Sparkle Abbey

  • J. C. Kenney

  • Lane Stone

  • Bree Baker

  • Bethany Blake

  • Kate Young

  • Maya Corrigan

  • Liz Milliron

  • Kelly Oliver

  • Lena Gregory

  • Ruth Hartman

  • Jackie Layton

  • Dane McCaslin

  • Sarah Burr

  • Grace Topping

  • Susan Van Kirk

  • Lida Sideris

  • Lori Duffy Foster

  • Nancy Cole Silverman

  • Mary Burton/Mary Ellen Taylor

  • Mary Miley

  • James L’Etoile

  • Jeanne Adams

  • Frankie Bailey

  • Lynn Cahoon

  • Judy Penz Sheluk

  • Katherine Bruns

  • Rosalie Spielman

  • Deborah Coonts

  • Jennifer Chow

  • Grace Topping

  • Vicki Batman

#WriterWednesday Interview with Ramon Del Villar

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I’d like to welcome Ramon Del Villar to the blog for #WriterWednesday.

A few of your favorite things: Fast cars, no, I will be specific, Porsches. Cigars, not the expensive ones, but the tasty long Cusano M1. My four grand-puppies, Coco, Misty, Arya and Merlin.

Things you need to throw out: Fax machines, wait, no, I need them in my law office. All non-Keurig coffee makers.

Things you need for your writing sessions: My computer, my computer, my computer and my computer.

Things that hamper your writing: Having to work as an attorney.

Things you love about writing: The freedom to create as much as I want or as am able to.

Things you hate about writing: Because I insist on being positive that anything that my character does as an attorney is possible and legitimate, having to research to find out if it is really possible and legitimate.

Hardest thing about being a writer: Getting people to read my novels.

Easiest thing about being a writer: Writing my novels when I’m inspired.

Things you never want to run out of: My Cusano cigars. Money. Food for my grand-puppies. Paper for my printer.

Things you wish you’d never bought: I cannot think of anything, but I regret leasing my BMW M-Roadster, because I had to return it when BMW refused to finance the purchase after the three-year lease.

Words that describe you: Persevering. Obstinate. Insecure. Hard-Working.

Words that describe you, but you wish they didn’t: Obstinate. Insecure.

Something you’re really good at: Driving a car. Interpreting from and to English/Spanish. Translating from and to English/Spanish. Litigating a case I am really interested in.

Something you’re really bad at: Almost everything else.

Things you’d walk a mile for: My daily exercise routine. For anything else, I rather drive.

Things that make you want to run screaming from the room: When my family has the air-conditioning full blast.

Things to say to an author: Write whatever you enjoy doing even if you suspect you might not be able to do as well as you wish.

Things to say to an author if you want to be fictionally killed off in their next book: Nobody is going to read your crap.

Favorite places you’ve been: Paris. London. Rome. Nurburgring. Brussels.

Places you never want to go to again: I cannot think of any.

Most embarrassing moment: Forgetting how to say “kidney” in English at my very first deposition as an interpreter.

Proudest moment: Being asked by my favorite Federal Judge to be his interpreter in all his cases.

Best thing you’ve ever done: Marry my wife.

Biggest mistake: Not marrying her sooner.

Putting Together Your Team - Tips for Writers

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Whether your traditionally published, an indie, or somewhere in between, you’ll need to put together a team to help you produce and market your books. Here are some tips that can help you as you find the right resources.

  • Writing is a business, and you need to treat it that way. Make sure you have a contract or statement of work before someone starts the job.

  • Make sure you have clearly explained your requirements up front for the task.

  • Understand the fee structure and payment before the work starts. Is it a one-time cost? If it’s ongoing, how much and how often are you charged?

  • Know exactly what you’re getting for your money.

  • Get the person’s contact information at the beginning. You may have a need to reach them other than through a website contact.

  • Ask other writers for references.

  • Check out samples of the person’s work.

  • Understand the timeline (theirs and yours).

  • Keep a list of your contacts. You may need to reach out to them in the future.

  • A lot of the tasks (e.g. website maintenance, graphics, book trailers) you can do yourself with a little training. Google and YouTube are your friend. There are a lot of tutorials out there that will teach you how to use the software.

  • Make a budget and determine what you have the time/interest to do yourself and what you need to hire others for.

You’ll receive lots of offers from people and companies to help market you and your books. Make sure you know what you’re buying. Do your homework and find the right resources for your brand.

#ThisorThatThursday Author Interview with Laurel Peterson

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I’d like to welcome author and poet, Laurel Peterson, to the blog for #ThisorThatThursday!

A few of your favorite things: my Canon DSLR camera, which I finally learned to use during the pandemic; my fuzzy yellow Labrador Retriever who interrupts me all day to go outside and play Frisbee; a pair of knee-high, Victorian style, lace-up black boots; the hammered silver collar my parents bought me in Santa Fe

 Things you need to throw out: all that anxiety I’m carrying around; all the clothes I don’t really love but keep around “just in case”; the old files I’m too lazy to go through; those old plant pots in the gardening shed that belonged to the previous owner.

Things you need for your writing sessions: quiet; a window to look out of;

Things that hamper your writing: My husband’s “hey honey?”; inertia; my day job.

Hardest thing about being a writer: Having to promote your own work after it’s written.
Easiest thing about being a writer: There is no easy thing about being a writer!

Things you never want to run out of: Money. (Just sayin’.) Bird song. Books. Peace in my country. (I’ve got Ukraine on my mind.)

Things you wish you’d never bought: That set of fragile pink wineglasses. The can of chestnut puree. The pointy-toed brown cowboy boots.

Favorite foods: roasted chicken with gravy and mashed potatoes; chocolate cake with white icing; the transcendent plate of cheese served at the Grand Hotel de Solesmes in Solesmes, France (across from the Abbey that resurrected the Gregorian Chant); chicken Marsala at Pasquale’s Restaurant in Norwalk, CT, where my characters (and I) go for dinner!

Things that make you want to gag:  Sheep’s eyeballs (and the stories about people eating them); stories about eating ortolans (anything you have to cover your eyes to eat seems like a bad idea, morally and gustatorily); that skit my friend did in high school where she drank a glass full of toothpaste and spit. (Ugh, I can feel it now!)

Favorite beverage: Bombay gin martini, extra dry with an olive; English breakfast tea: it’s a tie!
Something that gives you a sour face: Rum

Things to say to an author: I really enjoyed _________________(Put specific detail from their book/blog/column here); I’m so interested in the _______ issue you’ve raised in your book. Can you talk more about that?

Things to say to an author if you want to be fictionally killed off in their next book: “You should have__________________.”; “Interesting outfit!”; “Your books are so cute”; “You are so sweet”—snicker.

Favorite places you’ve been: Delphi, Greece; Louie’s Backyard, Key West, Florida; Solesmes, France; Chinon, France; Paso Robles, California; Oxford, England; Antigua; the ferry from Athens to Santorini; the bar at Johnny Seesaw’s, 2002, Peru, VT

Places you never want to go to again: Middle school; that graduate writing class with the two women who couldn’t say anything nice about anyone; the office of the college president who was later accused of sexual harassment.

Favorite books (or genre): Ingrid Hill: Ursula, Under; Robert Penn Warren: All the King’s Men; Mark Doty: Atlantis; Pam Houston: Cowboys are My Weakness; Ben Lerner: Leaving the Atocha Station. I am a poet, so I love poetry, but mystery novels are my favorite genre.

Books you wouldn’t buy: Horror. Sorry all you Stephen King lovers out there, but one page and I wouldn’t ever sleep again.

People you’d like to invite to dinner (living): First, I do badly with famous people. They make me tongue tied. They would have to do all the talking. With that in mind: Meryl Streep; Lyle Lovett; Mark Knopfler; Sara Paretsky; Hilary Clinton; Colin Thubron; Pam Houston; Mark Doty; Kevin Young; Alice Waters; David Letterman
People you’d cancel dinner on: that jerk at my first job who snidely remarked that my lipstick matched my sweater; the Kardashians; my ex-department chair; the grad school professor who mistyped the address on my recommendation letter; that woman on the airplane who proclaimed loudly to her seatmate that no one was going to take away her bonus during the financial crisis of 2009.

Most daring thing you’ve ever done: Write a book, get it published, try to market it!
Something you chickened out from doing: hot air balloon—although it’s still on the table!

I’d love to hear your answers to these questions! You can reach me on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram—or check out my website.

About Laurel:

Laurel S. Peterson’s poetry has been published in many literary journals. She has published two poetry chapbooks, two full-length poetry collections, Do You Expect Your Art to Answer? and Daughter of Sky (Futurecycle Press) and two mystery novels, Shadow Notes and The Fallen (Woodhall Press). She is a writing professor, serves on the editorial board of Inkwell magazine, and was Norwalk, Connecticut’s, Poet Laureate from April 2016 – April 2019.

#WriterWednesday Interview with Sarah E. Burr

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I’d like to welcome the fabulous Sarah E. Burr to the blog today for #WriterWednesday, spring edition. Make sure to check out her wonderful series.

Favorite spring treat: You can't keep me away from a Cadbury Milk Chocolate Egg with a Caramel Center. It's got to be one of the best chocolate/caramel combos out there.

A spring treat that makes you gag: Peeps. I know they are an Easter candy staple, but I was not a fan even as a kid. I think I pretended to like them for the longest time before turning my sweet tooth elsewhere.

Something you only do in the spring: Spring cleaning. After a long winter, I throw open the windows and deep clean my home within an inch of its life. I must do it during the spring when it's still cool outside because I always work up a sweat by the end.

Something you'd never do in the spring season: Go swimming in the ocean. When I lived in Florida, I used to, but as much as I love swimming, the New York Atlantic usually doesn't get to a swimmable temperature (for me) until July.

Favorite spring beverage: I am obsessed with the Peach Passionfruit Refresher from Dunkin'. It's my go-to "It's warm out" drink. Honestly, if I could hold the cold cup in the winter, I'd drink it all year round, but it's definitely a sign of spring when I order my first one.

A drink that gives you a sour face: Energy drinks. Red Bull, Monster…I tried a sip of Red Bull once, and that was enough.

Favorite spring smell: Honeysuckle. I love the simple, light sweetness. It's one of my favorite scents.

Something that makes you hold your nose: Fresh mulch. It's everywhere this time of year where I live, and the smell always leaves me coughing with watery eyes.

Best spring memory: When I was a kid, my family traveled to Bermuda a few times during spring. When April/May comes around, Bermuda's weather is at the perfect spot where it's warm but not too warm. I loved the adventures we had while visiting. It's such a beautiful island.

Something you'd rather forget: I grew up in Maine, where spring meant mud season. One time, I slipped on the playground during recess and landed in a massive pile of mud. My jeans were completely soaked through with slimy dirt. I looked disgusting. Luckily, my mom was able to drop off a set of clean leggings at school so I could continue the day without looking like I'd just walked out of a sewer.

Best spring break story: I guess this might not be considered "spring break" since it technically was a class, but I left to spend a trimester abroad in Egypt and Greece during a college spring break. It was the first time I'd traveled internationally beyond tropical vacation spots, and the history of both countries was astounding. I recently watched the new Death on the Nile movie and was amazed to see the places I visited featured on screen. It brought back a lot of fond memories.

A spring break story you want to forget: In seventh grade, for our spring break, a friend and I went down to one of the only malls in Maine with our moms for a "girls' weekend." What started as a super fun time ended with me being so, so sick. We were shopping, and all of the sudden, I just collapsed. It turns out I had an insanely high fever. My mom got me back home, only to fall ill herself. So, we spent the rest of our spring break recovering.

About Sarah:

Sarah lives near New York City, where she writes the Trending Topic Mysteries, Glenmyre Whim Mysteries, and the Court of Mystery series. Sarah is a New York Tri-State Sisters in Crime board member, serving as the chapter's social media guru. She also enjoys creating digital content for authors with her graphic design service, BookstaBundles. When she's not writing or reading, Sarah is singing Broadway show tunes, video gaming, or taking walks with her dog, Eevee.

 Let’s Be Social:

Newsletter: https://bit.ly/saraheburrsignup

Website: www.saraheburr.com

Facebook: https://bit.ly/saraheburrfacebook

Instagram: https://bit.ly/saraheburrinstagram

Twitter: https://bit.ly/saraheburrtwitter

Sarah’s Social Media Hub: https://bit.ly/sarahsocialmediahub

Book Links:

 #FollowMe for Murder: https://bit.ly/followmeformurder

You Can’t Candle the Truth: https://bit.ly/glenmyrewhimmysteriesbook1

Court of Mystery: https://bit.ly/courtofmystery

April 10 - Encourage a Young Writer Day - What's Your Advice?

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April 10 is Encourage a Young Writer Day. I have so many teachers, librarians, a visiting poet, and a plethora of other writers to thank for all of their encouragement and advice through the years. Here’s my list for young writers. What would you add?

  • Read everything that you can get your hands on. Read works in a variety of genres. Read books from all types of authors.

  • Find time to write every day.

  • Don’t give up. Writing, editing, and all the tasks that go along with it are work. It takes time, dedication, and perseverance.

  • Writing is a business. Agents and publishers are looking for projects that they can sell.

  • Criticism and critiques are part of the process. Learn what you can from feedback and strive to improve your craft.

  • Rejection is also part of the process. It’s not fun. Cry, scream, eat chocolate, and then get back to your writing.

  • Write what you love to read.

  • Be professional.