#WriterWednesday Interview with Rebecca Saltzer

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I’d like to welcome Rebecca Saltzer to the blog today for #WriterWednesday!

Things you always put in your books: Independent, smart women. They’re fun to read about and are the type of people I choose as friends.

Things you never put in your books: Sex and gratuitous violence. For me, the interesting part of a murder mystery is understanding the motivation behind the crime and solving the puzzle of who did it.

Some real-life story that made it to one of your books: Murder Over Broken Bonds is loosely based on a real fraud I investigated when I worked as a bond analyst at a NY City investment bank. And, a drunk trader really did throw up after a company party, all over my coat and shoes.

Something in your story that readers think is about you, but it’s not: I’m occasionally asked if someone actually got murdered because of the fraud. (Not that I know of.)

Hardest thing about being a writer: It’s solitary. You work for long periods of time, alone. To make sure I’m not writing in a vacuum, I link up with fellow authors through various writing organizations and belong to a critique group. It’s a great place to get candid feedback about which parts of the narrative work and, more importantly, which parts don’t.

Easiest thing about being a writer: Rewriting the story. You can’t do that in real life.

Things to say to an author: Did the stuff you write about really happen when you worked on Wall Street?

Things to say to an author if you want to be fictionally killed off in their next book: Have you read (fill-in-the-blank-with-a-completely-different genre)…? Maybe you could write something more like that.

Favorite books (or genre): I love clever mysteries and ghost stories, both long and short, but I don’t limit myself to just those types of books. I like to read widely to expand my view of the world. It’s one of the reasons I belong to several book clubs—often, I find myself enjoying something I never would have picked up on my own.

Books you wouldn’t buy: Noir is fine, but I absolutely hate slice & dice horror stories or novels about serial murderers. Too grisly and disturbing.

Things you need for your writing sessions: A laptop & thesaurus. I’m always trying to find a better word to describe what’s happening in the story and the computer allows me to quickly make revisions (something I spend a lot of time doing).

Things that hamper your writing: Noise & distractions. First thing in the morning I try to clear my desk (bills, email, etc) so that I can have a large chunk of uninterrupted time to focus on just my writing. Occasionally, I even turn off notifications (email, texts, etc) because I find the occasional bing is surprisingly disruptive. It can take a long time (and significant mental effort!) to get back on track again.

Favorite places you’ve been: Iceland, Australia, and New Zealand. The dramatic landscapes are breathtaking and the people few and far between. It’s the opposite of where I’ve tended to live (large cities with people crowded into small spaces). But those same city-folk provide lots of ideas for fun and intriguing characters (plus motives!) that can be woven together to create interesting murder mysteries.

Places you never want to go to again: Crawling into a tight lava tube. When I was a teenager, a couple of us went spelunking and almost got stuck. I still shudder when I think about how it felt to be surrounded by solid rock in all directions, akin (I’m guessing), to someone being buried alive. Horrifying!!!

The nicest thing a reader said to you: “It kept me guessing the entire time and I loved that final twist.” It’s incredibly satisfying to be told that you kept your reader wondering up until the final pages.

The craziest thing a reader said to you: “I never thought it would be so interesting to read about working on Wall Street. I couldn’t put your book down.” But, of course it’s fascinating! It’s the place where big money meets greets and temptation… and all sorts of things can go wrong.

About Rebecca:

Rebecca Saltzer worked as a bond analyst on the trading floor at Lehman Brothers in New York City in the financial heyday of the eighties. Like the protagonist in her novel, she sometimes encountered fraud and other questionable business practices, except in real life, none of it led to murder. In 2021, Rebecca received the William F. Deeck-Malice Domestic Grant for unpublished writers. When she’s not writing, she enjoys hiking with her two rescue dogs and exploring the great outdoors.

Let’s Be Social:

Author Website: http://www.saltzerbooks.com

Facebook: http://facebook.com/rebecca.saltzer.14/

Twitter/X: http://twitter.com/RebeccaSaltzer



The Most Wonderful Time of the Year...

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I am a beach girl, so September is always a little bittersweet when the season ends, and the tourists go home. When I was little, the stores would board up, so it was sad when the strip looked like a ghost town until next year.

But, as a writer, I love back-to-school time. I am all about the school supplies. It’s time to get more notebooks, pens, and sticky notes. One of the office supply stores had a commercial with the parent singing “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year,” and the kids looked so forlorn. It heralds the school shopping season, and I do love when the stores bring out all the crayons and colored pencils.

I have a stack of notebooks for plotting and writing down cool stuff that I encounter. Sticky notes are a must for my desk. They are my go-to scratch pad. And pens. Like books, you can never have enough good pens. I like the brightly colored Paper Mate felt pens for editing. And I use fun mugs that I’ve collected through the years to hold all my pens. Right now, there are two full ones on my desk and three on my worktable. Did I mention highlighters? Writers need those too for color-coding outlines and a myriad of other things.

It’s also the season to help fill teachers’ wish lists for their classrooms and donate to back-to-school drives. All, wonderful causes that let me share my love of writing supplies.

What are your favorites that you have to every year when school’s back in session and it’s time to write?

#ThisorThatThursday Author Interview with Mary Karnes

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Things you never want to run out of: Coffee, chocolate and toilet paper.

Things you wish you’d never bought: bell bottom jeans and my Ford Mustang.

Things you need for your writing sessions: a teapot of water on a warmer, gourmet tea and my reading glasses.

Things that hamper your writing: My children, iPhone, and my husband.

Favorite foods: French fries, and chocolate bars

Things that make you want to gag: Fried food.

Favorite beverage: coffee

Something that gives you a sour face: tart oranges

Something you’re really good at: being a mom

Something you’re really bad at: gardening

The last thing you ordered online: shoes

The last thing you regret buying: shoes

Things you’d walk a mile for: exercise

Things that make you want to run screaming from the room: a flying squirrel, true story

Things to say to an author: “I’ll write you a five-star review!”

Things to say to an author if you want to be fictionally killed off in their next book: “I found a typo in your published work.”

Favorite places you’ve been: Maternity Ward

Places you never want to go to again: Emergency Room

The coolest person you’ve ever met: My four daughters

The celebrity who didn’t look like he/she did in pictures/video: Mohamad Ali

Besides writing, what’s the most creative thing you’ve done: Crocheted a baby blanket for my granddaughter.

A project that didn’t quite turn out the way you planned it: My flower garden

Some real-life story that made it to one of your books: When a DJ passed out at a wedding

Something in your story that readers think is about you, but it’s not: The love interest in my first wedding planner mystery series.

Let’s Be Social:

Instagram: @marykarnesauthor - author instagram

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

Twitter (X): @marypkarnes

Website: https://www.marykarnesauthor.com - author website

 Book Website: https://www.motherofthebrideweddingplanner.com

#WriterWednesday Interview with Meg Halfdahl and Kelly Florence

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I’d like to welcome Meg Halfdahl and Kelly Florence to the blog for #WriterWednesday!

Things you never want to run out of:

Kelly: Hopefully my house will never run out of coffee and I certainly don’t want to run out of ideas! I believe staying curious and wanting to always learn will keep me motivated, creative, and getting inspired to write.

Meg: Books to read! If that happens then I must be stranded on a desert island. I also need my pugs, if I run out of cuddles from my pugs, Muffin and Sunny I get very cranky.

Things you wish you’d never bought:

Kelly: There have been way too many impulsive clothing purchases because of a good sale. Just because something is discounted doesn’t mean it’s worth purchasing.

Meg: Oh, wow. Probably anything related to fad dieting. It never works, and I just end up feeling like a failure! Don’t buy diet plans, apps, shakes, or books, friends!

A few of your favorite things:

Kelly: My house is filled with movie memorabilia (mainly horror, of course) and my favorite piece is a vintage Stephen King poster from when he spoke in 1983 in New Mexico.

Meg: I have a soft spot for stuffed animals. I can’t seem to get rid of them, and they make me happy! I have kept my favorite childhood teddy, Mama Bear, who is fragile and needs to sit high on a shelf now. She was well-loved.

Things you need to throw out:

Kelly: As a fan of the show Hoarders, I’ve been inspired to throw a lot out recently. It’s just stuff!

Meg: Haha, probably a lot of books I didn’t like or am never going to read. Like stuffed animals, it’s tough for me to get rid of books. Even bad ones!

Things you need for your writing sessions:

Kelly: A comfy spot to sit, some caffeine, and a set aside period of time are all I need to write.

Meg: The aforementioned pugs by my side, silence, and some green tea with honey!

Things that hamper your writing:

Kelly: My ten-year-old daughter recently adopted a cat who likes to walk across my keyboard or sit in my lap while I’m writing. That definitely slows my progress!

Meg: Getting distracted by my phone, the piles of laundry, wanting to keep reading a great novel instead of writing one!

Hardest thing about being a writer:

Kelly: The hardest part of being a writer is having deadlines when life gets in the way. When it rains, it pours and several things tend to be due at once.

Meg: I’d say that editing can be a challenge for me, especially the developmental side of things. When you fix one thing then it causes a domino effect that makes things more complicated, especially in novels.

Easiest thing about being a writer:

Kelly: Writing with my best friend is the easiest part of being a writer because we can share the journey with each other, encourage one another, and get inspired by the other.

Meg: Ahh! Thanks Kelly! I’d say that when I get into the groove and I’m so excited about the words I’m putting down that time flies.

Words that describe you:

Kelly: I would describe myself as kind, sensitive, and thoughtful.

Meg: I agree that Kelly is all those things! And I’d say I’m funny, patient, and smart.

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

Kelly: The same three words can also be my downfall: kind to a fault, too sensitive, and sometimes overthinking.

Meg: Ooooh, probably anxious and easily overwhelmed.

Favorite foods:

Kelly: Give me pizza or pasta any day and I’m happy but I will never turn down tacos, soba, or the Minnesota staple tater tot hot dish.

Meg: What don’t I like? I’m a huge carb fan, give me bread in any form, and my treat is salmon once or twice a month. I also love fried eggs, rice, and tofu. All the food.

Things that make you want to gag:

Kelly: I used to like mushrooms but one bad experience later I can’t eat them anymore.

Meg: I also hate mushrooms. And Bloody Marys. Those are nasty!

Favorite smell:

Kelly: Fresh cut grass in the summer reminds me of childhood and happiness.

Meg: Coffee is such a bright scent that wakes me up. I’m also a sucker for lavender and eucalyptus, those are my go-to candles.

Something that makes you hold your nose:

Kelly: Any cologne or perfume that is worn heavily because the person applying it is nose blind to it is tough to take.

Meg: I’m not a big fan of super sweet scents in candles like frosted cupcake or caramel brownie, it’s too much!

Something you’re really good at:

Kelly: I feel like I’m very good at organizing and planning my time especially when it comes cooking, teaching, and writing.

Meg: I hope writing! Also word games, yoga, and guessing what time it is!

Something you’re really bad at:

Kelly: Sports or anything athletic are my weakest area in life so I tend to avoid them!

Meg: I can’t draw anything. And I’m not the most devoted cook. I’d much prefer letting Kelly cook!

Things you’d walk a mile for:

Kelly: I’d walk a mile for a lot of things including a movie premiere, a great restaurant, or anything involving my family.

Meg: I try to walk a couple miles every week, so just being out in nature and time to think or listen to an audio book is worth it for me!

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

Kelly: I’m not one who enjoys rodents or spiders, especially in my house, so I definitely don’t stick around long when I encounter one.

Meg: Awkward social interactions?

Favorite things to do:

Kelly: My favorite pastimes include watching TV and movies, reading, traveling, and attending live theatre.

Meg: Reading, yoga, traveling, puzzles, TV and movies, eating.

Things you’d run through a fire or eat bugs to get out of doing:

Kelly: I don’t know about eating bugs to avoid these but I don’t enjoy waking up excessively early, fixing technological issues with devices, and filling out mundane paperwork.

Meg: Tent camping or running a marathon. I love walking but hate running.

The nicest thing a reader said to you:

Kelly: We have met so many amazing readers over the years and are always thrilled when we connect with someone. A woman told us recently we inspired her to watch more horror movies because our books were a gateway into the genre for her.

Meg: When a character of mine resonates with a reader that really makes me feel fulfilled. I want my characters to feel real and to make sense to readers, maybe on a close, personal level for some, so that really has warmed my heart to hear!

The craziest thing a reader said to you:

Kelly: You never know who you’re going to meet and a reader told us last month she personally knows one of the Grady girls from The Shining film!

Meg: Haha, oh probably when they ask did you REALLY write this book?

Some real-life story that made it to one of your books:

Kelly: We include many personal stories in our books and readers often connect to that and appreciate our candor. For example, I’ve shared personal stories about past relationships as well as childhood memories that contributed to who I am today.

Meg: Oh yes, we share a lot of ourselves, like how I came to be enamored of the true-crime genre because of an Ed Gein biography I bought as a middle-schooler.

Something in your story that readers think is about you, but it’s not:

Kelly: Oftentimes, people will assume because we’re horror fans and write about horror that we ourselves are dark, macabre, and scary. We’re approachable and kind, I promise!

Meg: Yes, to echo Kelly, I was just told the other day that I was “too nice” to be a horror writer. We can like horror and still smile!

What Should You Put in Your Next Newsletter?

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I think your website and your newsletter are the two most important parts of your platform because you own them. Sometimes though, it’s hard to come up with interesting content. Here are some ideas…

  • Add a “What’s New” section to talk about what’s coming out next.

  • Run a contest. Ask a question and then post the winners in your next newsletter.

  • Add a recipe.

  • Show pictures of recent events. Include ones with readers.

  • Include pictures of your pets.

  • I feature author interviews on my blog. I pick a few to feature in each newsletter. It introduces my readers to new authors, and I get to reuse some blog posts.

  • Include fun facts about the month or season. Brownilocks has a neat calendar of all kinds of “holidays” and celebrations.

  • Include links to podcasts, special interviews, anthologies, or group blogs that you participate in.

  • Add a list of upcoming events (in-person and virtual).

  • Talk about what’s going on with you. Readers are interested in what you do when you’re not writing.

  • Partner with another author. Let her guest star in your newsletter, and you visit hers.

What would you add to my list?

#ThisorThatThursday Author Interview with Susan Schwartz

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I’d like to welcome the fabulous Susan Schwartz to the blog today for #ThisorThatThursday!

Things you need for your writing sessions: Pen, paper, highlighter, computer, a great idea, good writing music, big glass of unsweet iced tea

Things that hamper your writing: Playing on my phone, slow internet, household distractions – pets, laundry, dishes

Hardest thing about being a writer: Coming up with good ideas for new stories while the characters from previous stories keep asking when they are coming back for a sequel

Easiest thing about being a writer: Being an introvert, I love the solitary time I get to write.

Favorite foods: Chorizo, Salchichon, Manchego, Birch Beer, Pizza, Anything Italian or Spanish, some Vietnamese

Things that make you want to gag: Cilantro, Cottage Cheese, Mushrooms

Last best thing you ate: Grilled chicken breast with shrimps and crab meat

Last thing you regret eating: Sausage patties

Things you’d walk a mile for: Help out an injured animal or charity that I believe is doing great work

Things that make you want to run screaming from the room: Being accosted in a store, People who chew with their mouths open and those who think because they are chewing gum everybody wants to see and hear it,,,,,,,,,,We don’t!

Things you always put in your books: A little bit of me and my life experiences, a twist at the end

Things you never put in your books: Political or religious overtones

Things to say to an author: I love your book, how did you go about getting published, what is your favorite type of tea?

Things to say to an author if you want to be fictionally killed off in their next book: This book sucked and I would burn it, you are an awful writer who I will never read again………

Favorite places you’ve been: Rome, Pompeii, Madrid, Melbourne, Sydney, Australia Zoo, Paris, Seoul, and any Hard Rock we could find in any of those places

Places you never want to go to again: Orlando – just a really bad experience, Las Vegas – been 7 times, had enough, LOL!

Favorite books (or genre): Horror, Paranormal, Medical and Psychological Thrillers, some historical type fiction - for example, I loved The Girl with the Pearl Earring based on a painting by Vermeer. Da Vinci Code and subsequent sequels were also quite interesting.

Books you wouldn’t buy: Fantasy, Westerns, Historical Romance

People you’d like to invite to dinner: Stephen King, Bentley Little, Michael Palmer, Daniel Palmer, Penn & Teller, Tom Ellis, David Baldacci, Geoff Castellucci, Keanu Reeves, Thomas Jefferson, Stjepan Hauser, Luka Sulic, Lindsey Sterling

People you’d cancel dinner on: Any reality TV show person, Leland Gaunt (Needful Things), Hannibal Lecter (Silence of the Lambs), Dolores Umbridge (Harry Potter), Bill Sikes (Oliver)

Favorite things to do: Write, read, travel, traipse old cemeteries and graveyards, answer really weird questions, LOL!

Things you’d run through a fire or eat bugs to get out of doing: Writing, eating cilantro, organizing big projects, public speaking in front of non-peers, facing shots or blood draws

The coolest person you’ve ever met: John Barrowman, Star Trek Cruise 2017 – William Shatner, Marina Sirtis, Terry Ferrell, Ethan Phillips, John de Lancie, and a whole bunch more, really exciting to have them altogether. I also met John Grisham at the Virginia Book Festival one year, and he tried to tell me he was Stephen King.

The celebrity who didn’t look like he/she did in pictures/video: Teller because he actually talks – LOL!, Seeing some of the Star Trek people in street clothes was really a game changer, they didn’t look like themselves, especially those characters who played a Ferengi or other space creature.

Some real-life story that made it to one of your books: The short story called “I Thought You Did!” I incorporated some of what was happening in my son’s college adventures into the story. I just embellished it quite a bit.

Something in your story that readers think is about you, but it’s not: My story – The Sparkling Floor – Whenever OR people read it, they always tell me they know not to make me mad anytime soon. I just laugh maniacally…it couldn’t possibly be true to life or could it?

About Susan:

I have been an avid writer for around 25+ years doing everything from writing freelance articles to editing manuscripts for other authors. I also love to write horror stories that have a twist at the end. My alter ego is an Operating Room Nurse/Nurse Educator who loves creating tales from the interesting and weird things I have seen. I am a member of the Horror Writers Association and the Virginia Writers Club where I have served as President of the Richmond Chapter and 1st Vice-President of the state organization. I have two novels in the works, a paranormal romance and a medical thriller. My non-fiction book, Haunted Charlottesville, was released in May 2019. Another paranormal book, Haunted Inns and Hotels in Virginia, will be released August 2023.

Let’s Be Social:

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

 Twitter: https://twitter.com/Ncc17lu

 Website: www.susanschwartzauthor.com

 Instagram: @susan.schwartz3

#WriterWednesday Interview with Ashley Earley

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I’d like to welcome Ashley Earley to the blog for #WriterWednesday!

Things to say to an author: honestly, anything nice. We like criticism, but we also eat up compliments.

Things to say to an author if you want to be fictionally killed off in their next book: “being an author isn’t that hard” or “get a real job.”

Favorite books (or genre): A Court of Mist & Fury by Sarah J. Maas, Frankenstein by Mary Shelly, Dracula by Bram Stoker, and Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë.

Books you wouldn’t buy: I’m not a huge historical fiction or sci-fi girlie.

Things you need for your writing sessions: I need coffee/tea, true crime podcasts, and some kind of chocolatey snack.

Things that hamper your writing: loud noises or anyone who chit-chats on the phone nearby while I’m trying to get into my writing groove (aka my boyfriend).

The last thing you ordered online: custom box tape for my author PR boxes.

Words that describe you: goofy, creative, loyal, hard-working, and dedicated.

Words that describe you, but you wish they didn’t: workaholic and hyper-stressed.

Favorite smell: It’s a tie between freshly popped popcorn and rain.

Something that makes you hold your nose: cinnamon. While autumn is my favorite season, I do everything I can to avoid cinnamon-scented anything.

Hardest thing about being a writer: avoiding negative book reviews that could hurt your feelings.

Easiest thing about being a writer: being creative when it comes to putting together your book launch.

Most daring thing you’ve ever done: I started my own business right out of college.

Something you chickened out from doing: I tend to chicken out of riding crazy rollercoasters because of my fear of heights.

Favorite things to do: I enjoy snowboarding, cozy gaming, cooking, and hiking with my dog.

Things you’d run through a fire or eat bugs to get out of doing: I’d do anything to avoid going out in any scenario. I’m a stay at home and watch a movie with my dog kind of girl.

Something you’re really good at: talking myself into buying more books when I have plenty of books to read at home.

Something you’re really bad at: dancing. Can’t do it.

Some real-life story that made it to one of your books: I can’t reveal my secrets, but some personality traits of mine and from others in my life have ended up in Heart of Skulls.

Something in your story that readers think is about you, but it’s not: most readers might be convinced that I’m a serial killer after reading Heart of Skulls. I pinky promise I’m not. I just watch a lot of true crime.

About Ashley:

Ashley grew up in Georgia, but, today, she lives in Colorado with her dog and spends her time devouring any book she can get her hands on, writing, and editing for her clients at Earley Editing, LLC.

Her love of reading and writing began at a young age, which led her to graduate with distinction from the University of Colorado Boulder, receiving a Bachelor of Arts in English with an emphasis in Creative Writing. She also enjoys snowboarding, exploring, annoying her dog, constantly eating chocolate, and sharing her writing adventures on Instagram. 

Let’s Be Social:

Connect with her on TikTok, Instagram, and other platforms as @ashley_earley and on her website www.ashleyearley.com or reach out at www.earleyediting.com if you’re interested in her editing services! 


What Have You Been Reading This Summer?

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What were your favorite summer reads? I love all kinds of books, but I always gravitate to mysteries and thrillers. Lee Goldberg is one of my new favorites.

This summer, I went back and read all of the Michael Connelly books I had missed. I am such a fan of Bosch and the Lincoln Lawyer. And I like how his Renee Ballard character is evolving. Now, I am all caught up and can’t wait for the next one.

I am such a fan girl of S. A. Cosby. I love his stories, and I get so excited every time a new one comes out. He is a must read if you like southern suspense.

Some of my favorite cozy mysteries this summer were by Maddie Day, Vicki Delany, Barbara Ross, Mindy Quigley, and Maria DiRico.

What’s your next read?