ROCCO interviews Rebecca Adler/Gina Lee Nelson!!!

Rocco welcomes author Rebecca Adler/Gina Nelson!

Rebecca grew up on the sugar beaches of the Florida Gulf Coast. Drawn to the Big Apple by the sweet smell of wishful thinking, she studied acting on Broadway until a dark-eyed cowboy flung her over his saddle and hightailed it to the Southwest.

Prior to writing, she always found a way to add a touch of the dramatic to her life from dinner theatre in Mississippi to playing a giant Furskin in the New York Toy Fair, plus plays and musicals.

She's currently content to pour her melodramatic tendencies into writing the Taste of Texas cozy culinary mystery series set in far West Texas filled with sweet, Southern-fried flavor, delicious suspense, and scrumptious Tex-Mex recipes. Rebecca's alter ego, Gina Lee Nelson writes sweet contemporary romance.

• Welcome Rebecca! Tell us a little about your background

Thanks ROCCO! Prior to writing, I always found a way to add a touch of the dramatic to my life:  dinner theatre in Mississippi, can-can club in Florida, flower shop in Germany, acting school on Broadway, video series in Jersey, and playing a giant Furskin at the New York Toy Fair, plus the occasional play and musical. I grew up on the sugar beaches of the Florida Gulf Coast, studied acting in New York, and raised three boys in Texas. I started writing as a creative outlet before I found theatre education.

• As Rebecca Adler, you write the “Taste of Texas” series. Can you tell us the inspiration for that?    

I absolutely love the high desert of Texas' Big Bend Country located in far West Texas. The mountains, the vast desert, the big sky. Add to that the fact I eat Tex Mex at least twice a week; and this series was a perfect fit for me.

• Tell us about your latest release:  
  
      

Tex-Mex waitress and part-time reporter Josie Callahan is about to serve up some Lone Star justice in this spicy Taste of Texas Mystery.

Tourists are pouring into the town of Broken Boot for the annual Homestead Days Music Festival. Opening the celebration at Two Boots dance hall is smooth-talking country singer Jeff Clark, the ex-boyfriend of Josie’s best friend, Patti Perez. When the charming Clark woos Patti onstage in an attempt to rekindle some sparks with his old flame, Josie fears her friend will end up as just one more notch on the singer’s guitar strap.

 To impress her editor at the Broken Boot Bugle, Josie and her Chihuahua, Lenny, pursue the singer to Patti’s house, hoping for an interview. Instead, they discover Clark face down in a bowl of guacamole with a bloodied guitar at his side. With Patti suddenly a murder suspect, Josie must use her reporter skills to find out who had a chip on their shoulder—before the killer double dips....

• How do you “get to know” your characters before and while you’re writing the books?

Getting to know my characters is a process. I have a general idea of the main character, her inner struggles, and outer conflicts before the story begins. I surround her with a few supporting characters and then begin to write. It's not until I write those first few chapters that I begin to discover more about those characters. As I'm not a seat of the pants writer, I'll usually stop at that point and figure out the personality traits of the characters and their strengths and weaknesses.

• How do you construct your plots? Do you outline or do you write “by the seat of your pants”?

I do both! I'll come up with three turning points, a black moment, and a resolution and then start to write. If I get stuck, I'll outline. In my second draft, I'll add and cut scenes as needed to hone subplots and relationships.

• Which do you consider more important, plot or character?

That's a tricky question because both are so important! If I had to pick one, I'd say character. Readers, myself included, fall in love with characters.

• What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced as a writer and what inspires you and keeps you motivated?

I work long hours at my day job as a theatre teacher, which makes time management my biggest challenge. I'm inspired to keep writing because I enjoy the challenge of bringing characters to life in my own style and voice.

• Do you have an “How I got my agent” story you want to share?

My agent is the fabulous Kim Lionetti with Bookends. My agent story is dear to my heart. I had just decided to take a break from writing romance and was even considering taking an extended break from writing and submitting, when an author friend represented by Bookends told me Kim was looking for a certain kind of mystery. I sent her a proposal and the rest, as they say, is history.

• What are you working on now and what are your future writing plans?

I'm currently working on the final draft of my third book in the Taste of Texas series, Cinco de Murder. My future writing plans are creating more books set in Broken Boot, Texas--a place that's starting to feel a lot like home.

• What is a typical workday for you and how many hours a day (or week) do you devote to writing?

I write long hours over school vacations, holidays and weekends. When I'm on deadline I write a couple of hours a night on two or three weeknights, plus the weekend.

• If you could take only three books with you for a year-long writing retreat in a gorgeous setting with no library, which three would you take?

Uh, that's tough! That means I'd have to be willing to read them over and over. Let's see. I recently reread the Arthurian Trilogy by Mary Stewart, so lovely and heart-wrenching; The Bible, spirituality, history, romance, and prophecy rolled into one; and To the Hilt by Dick Francis, painter and bagpipe player Alexander Kinloch is my all-time favorite Francis sleuth.

• What advice do you have to offer to an aspiring author?

Don't write in a vacuum. Join writers groups like Sisters in Crime, Romance Writers of America, or your local writers group. Find someone to hold you accountable for writing, finishing, and submitting. It truly has made all the difference in my writing career.

• What’s the craziest thing you’ve ever done?

Hmm. In my early twenties I attended acting school in NYC and worked late hours at a dive restaurant/bar. Looking back, riding the subway home at 2:30 in the morning from the Lower Eastside to Queens was probably taking my life in my hands.

• What’s one thing your readers would be surprised to find out about you?

I write my books while listening to Zydeco and Bluegrass. The driving rhythms and the twang of the guitars keeps me focused on Broken Boot, Texas.

• What question do you wish interviewers would ask? (And what’s the answer?)

Who's your favorite mystery writer? Dick Francis was the king. I long to write with his wit and efficiency. During his lifetime, he had two very different but successful careers. I figure if he can do it, why not me?

•  Where can we learn more about you and your books?

Facebook: @Author Rebecca Adler

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3162024.Rebecca_Adler

Twitter: @CozyTxMysteries

www.berkleysignetmysteries.com

• Just for Fun:
• Night or Day?  Day
• Dog or Cat? (answer carefully)  In spite of my cover…both!
• Beach or Pool?   Beach -- born and raised in Florida
• Steak or salad?  Both--just saying.
• Favorite Drink?  Sangria
• Favorite Book?  The Crystal Cave
• Favorite TV Series?  Sherlock
• Favorite Movie?  Last of the Mohicans
• Favorite Actor: Matt Damon
• Favorite Actress: Ann Hathaway
• Dirty Martini or Pina Colada? Sangria
• Hawaii or Alaska? Alaska
• Finish this sentence:  If I could meet anyone in the world, past or present, it would be:

 ___Jane Austin________________

• If I had just one wish, it would be:

To have one more conversation with my father who died this year.

• If I could trade places with anyone in the world, it would be:

__Emma Thompson_____

• List all the places readers can find you

Facebook: @AuthorGinaLeeNelson/RebeccaAdler

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3162024.Rebecca_Adler

www.AuthorRebeccaAdler.com

Rebecca will give one lucky commenter a copy of The Good, The Bad and the Guacamole!

 To enter, leave a comment on this blog post with your name and email address (entries without email will be disqualified). For extra entries, you can do any or all of the below:

* Follow my blog (+ 1 point)
* Follow me on Twitter (+ 1 point) (Link: https://twitter.com/RoccoBlogger)
* Tweet about the contest (+ 1 point)
* Friend me on Facebook (+ 1 point) (Link: https://www.facebook.com/ToniLotempio)#!/

* Mention the contest on Facebook (+ 1 point)
* Mention the contest on your blog (+ 1 point)

Winner will be chosen at random using random.org.  Don’t forget to mention all you’ve done in your comment. Good luck! Contest ends midnight Nov. 4.  US/Canada residents only please

ROCCO celebrates National Cat Day!

Everyone who knows me knows all about my cat, ROCCO, who is really the driving force behind this blog! Not only is ROCCO a premier interviewer of authors, but he's also the inspiration for the character of NICK in my Nick and Nora mystery series!

Many people have asked how I came to adopt ROCCO. Well, actually he wasn't my first choice LOL. I had rescued an orange and white tabby that I named Maxx from South Jersey, and at the time I also had my two "Old Ladies"  Trixie and Gata (since deceased).  Maxx used to chase them around the house, and I figured I'd better get him a playmate, so I looked on Pet Finder and I saw ROCCO's photo.

He looked to be such a feisty kitten, that I immediately bundled Maxx into his carrier and went down to the Clifton Animal Shelter to check him out!  (I wanted to be sure the two males got along). Well Maxx spent most of the time hiding underneath the table in the playroom, but ROCCO seemed so cute I figured what the heck, and  made plans to pick him up the following Saturday. Needless to say, when I brought him home on August 2, 2008 he was just two months old (and a lot tinier than he is now)  He waltzed out of the box, raised his paw to the other three cats - and immediately became the BOSS of our house (Or at least he thinks he is, LOL)

Now a hefty twenty plus pounds (mainly muscle - did I tell you he pulled my DVR out of the wall once?)  ROCCO is definitely a force in our family to be reckoned with!

CAT-ch ROCCO's author interviews here on his blog each  month! We have lots of prizes and giveaways!
and if you have a cat - please celebrate National Cat Day with them today. (ROCCO thinks I should have a brass band playing LOL)

MEOW!

PS: in honor of National Cat Day, please tell us about your rescue cat (or dog!)  we'll select two winners to win an autographed copy OF CLAWS FOR ALARM!

Cotopaxi is an adventure-wear company whose mission is to give back and do social good. For every sale made, a portion is donated to world poverty initiatives, and their travel backpacks help provide the most relief. This National Cat Day, they carried out their mission by raising awareness for local humane societies.

ROCCO interviews author RJ Koreto

R.J. Koreto has been fascinated by the Edwardian era ever since viewing the original “Upstairs, Downstairs” series.

In his day job, he works as a business and financial journalist. Over the years, he’s been a magazine writer and editor, website manager, PR consultant, book author, and seaman in the U.S. Merchant Marine. Like his protagonist, Lady Frances Ffolkes, he’s a graduate of Vassar College.

“Death on the Sapphire” and "Death Among Rubies" were his first novels. His short story, “The Missing Motive,” was published in the December 2015 issue of Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine.

With his wife and daughters, he divides his time between Rockland County, N.Y., and Martha’s Vineyard, Mass. 

• Tell us a little about your background

I was born and raised in New York City and was educated at Vassar College—just like my protagonist, Lady Frances Ffolkes. I've worked as a journalist specializing in business and finance. My wife, a middle school teacher, and I live in Rockland County, N.Y., and Martha's Vineyard, Mass. We have two grown daughters, three cats, and a Yellow Labrador Retriever.

• Tell us a bit about your Lady Frances mysteries. How did that idea come about?

I had written several mysteries that weren't picked up, but one editor said, "Your female characters are so well done. Did you ever consider writing a mystery with a female protagonist?" And then my wife suggested that Downton Abbey (like the earlier Upstairs/Downstairs) made the Edwardian Era "hot." I had always been interested in that time period anyway—a fascinating bridge between the Victorian age and the modern one. And so Lady Frances was born, both reflecting and challenging the social and political issues of this fascinating period.

• How do you “get to know” your characters before and while you’re writing the books?

I'm constantly running scenes through my mind, how would Lady Frances behave here? How would she respond to this? Would she be accepting, amused, or angry? One scenario after another, in my mind, help me flesh out these characters. Later, I think how these characters came to be the way they are: I construct their childhoods, scenes and events that never make it into the book, but help me understand my own creations. In my mind, I have a dozen scenes of what happened to Lady Frances in college that shaped who she is. Maybe someday they'll appear in a future Lady Frances adventure, but right now, they help me understand Lady Frances better.

• How do you construct your plots? Do you outline or do you write “by the seat of your pants”?

Nothing is harder than plotting! My first books were seat-of-my-pants, and I wasted a lot of time taking my characters into subplots that went nowhere and into scenes where nothing happened. With my first book, my editors pointed out where I had made mistakes, where I had let tension dissipate, where I had introduced characters who did nothing to move the story along. So now I'm outlining rigorously before I start writing. I force myself to ask about each scene I set up: what does it do to move the plot along? Does something happen to keep the reader interested? Yes, that character is fun, but is he essential?

• Which do you consider more important, plot or character?

Victoria Thompson, a mystery writer I much admire, once said that "readers come for the plot but they stay for the characters." You have to have a good plot, especially in the first book of a series, to bring readers in. But the real key is having characters whom readers believe and enjoy and, most of all, care about. I love Rex Stout's mysteries: I don’t recall the plots, but I remember every crackling line of dialog as Nero Wolfe and Archie Goodwin work together. The plot has to be coherent, of course, but people remember the characters long after they’ve forgotten plot detail.

• What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced as a writer and what inspires you and keeps you motivated?

I write historical mysteries, and the greatest challenge is trying to imagine how these people reacted to issues we still have today. In "Death Among Rubies," I introduce a lesbian couple in an Edwardian England setting. Research on a topic like this can take you only so far. I had to think how a couple like that would behave, how others would treat them, when people knew at some level these two were a "partners" but couldn't discuss it. Crafting a series of scenes with those characters, and being happy with the result, is what keeps me going. Seeing others pleased with the book is even better. One blogger said she found Lady Frances was a "role model." Comments like that are the best reason to keep writing.

• Do you have an “How I got my agent” story you want to share?

Yes! As I noted, I'm a business journalist and wrote a book on managing a financial advisory practice. It was greenlit by the head of Dearborn Publishing, Cynthia Zigmund. The book came out to good reviews, and then I moved on to other things and so did Cynthia. A decade went by and I was looking for an agent for my first novel, and Cynthia's name up—she now was working as an agent, handling mysteries among other topics. She took me on, gave me wise advice, and eventually placed my Lady Frances book. It's a great working relationship, but after all these years, we only met face to face for the first time a few months ago.

• What are you working on now and what are your future writing plans?

Lots of things going on. I have two Lady Frances books out, and I took a break to start a new series about Alice Roosevelt, Teddy Roosevelt's oldest daughter. She was a lively, colorful woman her whole life, and I imagine her as a teenaged detective running around turn of the century New York. The book is narrated by her long-suffering Secret Service bodyguard, a veteran of the Rough Riders. "Alice and the Assassin" comes out in April. And now I'm back to Lady Frances for her third adventure, "Death at the Emerald," set in London's theater world.

I have a short story coming out in Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine featuring Captain Edmund Winter, a Regency-era detective. I have a Captain Winter novel as well, and I'd love to see that published someday. Captain Winter might best be described as an adrenaline junkie with anger management issues.

• What is a typical workday for you and how many hours a day (or week) do you devote to writing?

I write evenings. I try to get 500-1000 words an evening, with more on the weekends. I like to do at least a couple hundred words every day. My "day job" lets me work out of a home office, so there's no commuting. I'm at my desk working by 7:30 so I can quit early to write fiction.

• If you could take only three books with your for a year-long writing retreat in a gorgeous setting with no library, which three would you take?

Dan Weiss of Crooked Lane told me to buy Albert Zuckerman's book on how to write a blockbuster. It was a revelation. And I also love Steven King's book on writing—it's half memoir, half about writing. And finally, my one-volume illustrated Lord of the Rings.

• What advice do you have to offer to an aspiring author?

Write. I know so many people who say they have ideas, or they wrote a chapter and never got further. I can give all the advice in the world about helpful books to buy or guidelines to read, but if you don't make a plan to write regularly, nothing else matters. Sit down and write. Think you don’t have time? John Creasey found the time to write some 600 novels and he didn't even live to be 70. You can find the time to write one.

• What’s the craziest thing you’ve ever done?

When I was in high school I took the subway to the offices of Saturday Night Live to see if I could sell them some comedy sketches. I didn't sell anything. I didn't even get past the reception area.

• What’s one thing your readers would be surprised to find out about you?

That although I've been reading mysteries since I was young enough for Hardy Boys, in college I was a Latin major and studied ancient Roman poetry. I wrote my senior essay on the pastoral poems of Vergil and their influence on English poets through the years.

• What question do you wish interviewers would ask? (And what’s the answer?)

Which mystery writers do I admire?

Agatha Christie for plotting; Rex Stout for character and dialog; Georges Simenon for setting a scene.

•  Where can we learn more about you and your books?

www.ladyfrancesffolkes.com , https://www.facebook.com/ladyfrancesffolkes/

Just for Fun:

Night or Day?

Night--definitely

Dog or Cat? (answer carefully)

We have three black-and-white rescue cats, all named after characters in "A Midsummer Night's Dream": Oberon, Titania, Peaseblossom.

Beach or Pool?  

Pool. I don’t like sand.

Steak or salad? 

Steak. Medium rare porterhouse.

Favorite Drink? 

Apple cider

Favorite Book? 

Smiley's People, by John LeCarre

Favorite TV Series? 

Original Star Trek

Favorite Movie? 

Adventures of Robin Hood

Favorite Actor:

William Powell – in the Thin Man, a perfect balance between being tough and being dapper

Favorite Actress:

Greer Garson. She'd have been perfect for a character in my regency novel.

Dirty Martini or Pina Colada?

Pina colada. Never got into any kind of martinis.

Hawaii or Alaska?

Hawaii. It's more than beaches.

Finish this sentence:  If I could meet anyone in the world, past or present, it would be: Augustus Caesar.

If I had just one wish, it would be: assuming this wish is to be used for selfish purposes, I'd like to be able to write fiction fulltime.

If I could trade places with anyone in the world, it would be someone who writes fiction fulltime.

www.ladyfrancesffolkes.com

https://www.facebook.com/ladyfrancesffolkes/

https://twitter.com/RJKoreto

Rocco welcomes Judy Penz Sheluk (and Calamity Barnstable)

An Interview with Calamity Barnstable

Amazon International bestselling author Judy Penz Sheluk first appeared on Rocco’s blog last year after the release of her debut mystery, The Hanged Man’s Noose: A Glass Dolphin Mystery. Judy’ latest release is Skeletons in the Attic, the first book in the Marketville Mystery Series. The protagonist in Skeletons is Calamity (Callie) Barnstable, a thirty-six-year-old woman from Toronto. Rocco recently sat down with Callie in her new home to find out why she moved to the commuter town of Marketville, which is located about an hour north of Toronto.

Rocco: You’re thirty-six and single. By your own admission, Marketville is the sort of town where folks with two kids, a cat, and a collie come to live. Why the move?

Callie: Trust me, it wasn’t my idea. My father died recently in an at-work accident and he left me this house. I didn’t even know the house existed, if you can believe that. On top of it all, in order to inherit, I have to live here for a year.

Rocco: The house needs some work, but how bad could it be? Plus I caught a glimpse of your next-door neighbor. He’s handsome in that hunky reality TV handyman sort of way, and I didn’t spot a wedding band.

Callie: That would be Royce Ashford, and yes, he’s hot and single. [blushes] But you didn’t let me finish. In order to inherit, I have to try and find out who murdered my mother thirty years ago.

Rocco: Wow. Your mom was murdered when you were six? That must have been hard on you and your father.

Callie: I’m sure it was hard on my dad, especially since her body was never found and he was considered a suspect. But until the reading of the will, I always thought my mother had left us for the milkman or some other male equivalent. So the big shocker was finding out that my dad had kept the true story away from me all these years. I suppose that’s why we moved to Toronto when I was seven. I don’t have any real memories of living here, though I’m starting to get the odd flashback.

Rocco: Why would your father put that clause in the will? Do you have a background in investigation?

Callie: Hardly. Before I moved here, I worked in a bank call center. But I’ve already found a few things in the house that have provided clues to my mother’s past. [shivers] Not everything was a welcome find. One of the things I found was a skeleton in the attic.

Rocco: A skeleton? In the attic?

Callie: Uh huh. Among other things. I’d rather not say any more about it. Can we switch subjects?

Rocco: Of course. Do you have anyone helping you?

Callie: [laughs] There’s this self-proclaimed psychic, Misty Rivers. She managed to convince my dad that she could help find out what happened to my mother—for a fee, of course. As if I was going to fall for that.

Rocco: This sounds like it would make a great book.

Callie: Thank you so much, Rocco. That’s what Judy Penz Sheluk thought, so she decided to write Skeletons in the Attic. It’s getting some great reviews from readers and reviewers. It’s all been very exciting.

Rocco: Where can people find the book?

Callie: It’s available in print at Barnes & Noble, Amazon, AbeBooks.com, Chapters.indigo.ca and some independent booksellers. http://www.imajinbooks.com/skeletons-in-the-attic. It’s also available on Kindle on Amazon. http://getbook.at/SkeletonsintheAttic

Rocco: Where can people find out more about Judy?

Callie: Her website, www.judypenzsheluk.com, where she blogs about her writing journey, interviews other authors, and has this great series called New Release Mondays, where she lets people know about other great new books. She loves new blog followers!

Rocco: Thank you, Callie. Would you mind sharing an excerpt from Skeletons in the Attic?

Callie: Happy to. Here you go!

Leith Hampton placed the will in front of him, smoothing an invisible crease with a well-manicured hand, the nails showing evidence of a vigorous buffing. I wondered what kind of man went in for a mani-pedi—I was surmising on the pedi—and decided it was the kind of man who billed his services out for five hundred dollars an hour.

He cleared his throat and stared at me with those intense blue eyes. “Are you sure you’re ready, Calamity? I know how close you were to your father.”

I flinched at the Calamity. Folks called me Callie or they didn’t call me at all. Only my dad had been allowed to call me Calamity, and even then only when he was seriously annoyed with me, and never in public. It was a deal we’d made back in elementary school. Kids can be cruel enough without the added incentive of a name like Calamity.

As for being ready, I’d been ready for the past ninety-plus minutes. I’d been ready since I first got the call telling me my father had been involved in an unfortunate occupational accident. That’s how the detached voice on the other end of the phone had put it. An unfortunate occupational accident.

I knew at some point I’d have to face the fact that my dad wasn’t coming back, that we’d never again argue over politics or share a laugh while watching an episode of The Big Bang Theory. Knew that one day I’d sit down and have a good long cry, but right now wasn’t the time, and this certainly wasn’t the place. I’d long ago learned to store my feelings into carefully constructed compartments. I leveled Leith with a dry-eyed stare and nodded.

“I’m ready.”

Rocco welcomes author Kathy Aarons!

My guest today is author Kathy Aarons!

Kathy Aarons is the author of the nationally bestselling CHOCOLATE COVERED MYSTERY series by Berkley Prime Crime. Research for the series was such a hardship: sampling chocolate, making chocolate, sampling more chocolate, and hanging out in bookstores.

Kathy grew up in rural Pennsylvania, attended Carnegie Mellon University, and moved to New York City where she built her career in public relations and met her husband. They relocated to California where she became one of “those” moms:  running the PTA, fundraising for school foundations, helping with a high school writers conference, creating costumes for youth theater, building puppets, and cheering on her daughters in hundreds of swim meets and soccer and basketball games.

She began writing when her youngest daughter attended school five days a week and pursued publishing more seriously when her oldest daughter went off to college. She’s dedicated to supporting arts education for youth, volunteering for the CCA Writers Conference, the only free writing conference for high school students in the country. She also serves on the board of Playwrights Project, whose mission is to advance literacy, creativity, and communication by empowering individuals to voice their stories through playwriting programs and theatre productions.

She now lives in San Diego with her husband and two daughters where she wakes up far too early, and is currently obsessed with the Broadway Idiot documentary, finding the perfect cup of coffee, and Dallmann’s Sea Salt Caramels.

You can follow Kathy on Facebook or Twitter or visit her at: www.kathyaarons.com.

• Tell us a little about your background

I started writing fiction when my youngest daughter started going to preschool five mornings a week – anything to avoid housework!

I’d been a marketing director in New York before moving with my husband to California and becoming a stay-at-home mom. I was Queen of Volunteering (which you can see in my bio) which interfered a lot with my writing.

Because I knew how to write ad copy, I assumed I could write a novel. I joined RWA where I first got the hint about all the parts of writing and publishing that I didn’t know. It took many workshops, conferences and fiction writing craft books, and a lot of actual writing, for me to learn how to write a book.

• Tell us a bit about your latest release. How did that idea come about?

Behind Chocolate is the third book in the Chocolate Covered Mystery series. It centers on the concept of “catfish” – people who pretend to be someone else online for the purpose of getting something out of others. Often the goal is some kind of emotional connection, but sometimes a catfish will try to get money or gifts from others.

Chocolatier Michelle Serrano and bookstore manager Erica Russell are finalizing plans for West Riverdale’s Halloween Festival and become embroiled in a murder investigation when their high school intern is accused.

• How do you “get to know” your characters before and while you’re writing the books?

I create a file of physical characteristics and also write long essays from the point of view of all of my major characters – particularly the villain – before I get started. While plotting I keep in mind the character arc I’d like each to follow in the story.

But I’m always open to changes in characters’ motivations and growth. Often new ideas come up while I’m writing that are better for the story.

• How do you construct your plots? Do you outline or do you write “by the seat of your pants”?

I do outline, but my outlines change. I must know who the villain is and why they committed murder before I can get started. Then I develop the steps that my main characters must take that lead to the villain.

I also like to have details on several red herrings along with clues that lead to them being suspected, plus at least one clue that clears them. I can never figure out what the final plot twist will be ahead of time. It doesn’t come to me until I’m deep into the book, and it’s always such a relief when I figure it out. 

• Which do you consider more important, plot or character?

Character is more important, but plot is right up there for a mystery.

• What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced as a writer and what inspires you and keeps you motivated?

My biggest challenge is juggling everything that must be done while writing and marketing a series. In one week, I could be writing the new book, while editing another book and marketing a third.

I’m inspired by other authors who are juggling more than one series and/or other writing endeavors – Jenn McKinlay, Terrie Moran, Nancy Coco, Kate Carlisle, Daryl Wood Gerber, and more. Also by my critique group – Barrie Summy and Kelly Hayes – who keep me on track. And by my husband, Lee, who supports my writing career and by my daughters, Shaina and Devyn, who manage to find time to write on top of their busy schedules.

I continue to volunteer quite a bit, and finding that balance is quite challenging, especially when the needs of the organizations all hit at once. I’m president of the board of directors for Playwrights Project (www.playwrightsproject.org), an organization that teaches playwriting, literacy and so much more to students, seniors and underserved populations including foster youth and the incarcerated; I volunteer for the CCA Writers’ Conference (http://ccawritersconference2016.weebly.com/ ), the only free writing conference for high school students in the US; I advise and teach for the San Diego Middle School Writing Workshop Series; and I’m president of the board of directors for Partners In Crime – the San Diego chapter of Sisters in Crime (http://www.sistersincrimesd.org/ )

• Do you have an “How I got my agent” story you want to share?

I love my agent story! I saw on Twitter that my dream agent, Jessica Faust, was open for new clients for one weekend only. I checked out her website and sent a query letter. She asked for a partial, and then the full manuscript. A couple of weeks later, she called to say that she loved my writing style and wanted to sign me!

• What are you working on now and what are your future writing plans?

I’m currently writing the Trouble with Murder, first in the new Gourmet Cat Mystery series by Kensington/Lyrical. It will be out in late 2017. I’m also writing another mystery proposal and a zombie movie script.

• What is a typical workday for you and how many hours a day (or week) do you devote to writing?

I like to wake up very early (4am), make French press coffee and get to work. At 6, I walk a few miles with my husband and then get back to writing. I typically write in the mornings and unless something is pressing, handle my volunteer work and errands in the afternoon.

All of this goes out the window in the couple of months running up to deadlines. I could be writing 12 hours a day!

• If you could take only three books with you for a year-long writing retreat in a gorgeous setting with no library, which three would you take?

Wow! That is a tough question. If I planned to focus on learning more about the craft of writing, I’d take Story by Robert McKee, The Anatomy of Story by John Truby, and Story Engineering by Larry Brooks. I’ve heard great things about all three --  they’re sitting on my shelf, but I’ve never read them!

If I wanted to bring my three favorite novels, I’d cheat and bring Belong to Me by Marisa de los Santos and ALL of the Harry Potter novels.

• What advice do you have to offer to an aspiring author?

Keep writing, keep learning and never give up!

• What’s the craziest thing you’ve ever done?

I’m not a very crazy person, but in my twenties I rode my bike all over New York City for years without wearing a helmet. I’d challenge taxi drivers and buses for my lane – kind of nuts.

• What question do you wish interviewers would ask? (And what’s the answer?)

What do you do outside of writing, and I’ve already answered this – volunteer!

•  Where can we learn more about you and your books?

www.kathyaarons.com or on my Facebook or Twitter pages.

Just for Fun:

Night or Day?  .Day – very early morning

Dog or Cat? (answer carefully)  While I love the cats in my book, my husband is allergic to both

Beach or Pool?   Beach

Steak or salad?  Salad

Favorite Drink?  Philz Coffee

Favorite Book?  Harry Potter series

Favorite TV Series?  Too many good ones these days!

Favorite Movie?  Star Wars – The Force Awakens – I love Rey!

Dirty Martini or Pina Colada? Pina Colada

Hawaii or Alaska? Hawaii although Alaska is gorgeous!

Finish this sentence:  If I could meet anyone in the world, past or present, it would be J K Rowling or Lin Manual Miranda

If I had just one wish, it would be to end prejudice

***

BEHIND CHOCOLATE BARS

DOUBLE, DOUBLE-BOIL, AND TROUBLE…
 
Best friends and business partners Michelle and Erica have a monstrous to-do list as they prepare for the annual West Riverdale Halloween Festival. Their shop, Chocolates and Chapters, will have a booth at the event, where Michelle will serve spooky delights while Erica displays an assortment of spine-chilling books. Thank goodness the teenagers from Erica’s comic-book club are chipping in to help. But one of their volunteers winds up in trouble after a woman’s body is found in an abandoned house—with the teen’s superhero key ring close by.
 
The teen swears he didn’t do it, but he’s obviously hiding something—leaving Michelle and Erica with a witch’s cauldron of questions. Soon they discover that the dead woman was tricking a whole bunch of people out of more than just treats. Now these two friends must go door-to-door if they hope to unmask a killer…

Kathy will send one lucky commenter their choice of Chocolate Covered Mystery books - either paper or ebook in the continental US; ebook outside the US.

To enter, leave a comment on this blog post with your name and email address (entries without email will be disqualified). For extra entries, you can do any or all of the below:

* Follow my blog (+ 1 point)
* Follow me on Twitter (+ 1 point) (Link: https://twitter.com/RoccoBlogger)
* Tweet about the contest (+ 1 point)
* Friend me on Facebook (+ 1 point) (Link: https://www.facebook.com/ToniLotempio)#!/

* Mention the contest on Facebook (+ 1 point)
* Mention the contest on your blog (+ 1 point)

Winner will be chosen at random using random.org.  Don’t forget to mention all you’ve done in your comment. Good luck! Contest ends midnight Oct. 23!

ROCCO welcomes author Barbara Schlichting!

Meow!

My guest this week is author Barbara Schlichting!

• Tell us a little about your background

Barbara Schlichting was born and raised in Minneapolis and graduated from Theodore Roosevelt high school in 1970. She and her husband moved their family to Bemidji, Minnesota, in 1979. She attended Bemidji State University where she earned her undergraduate and graduate degrees in elementary education and special education. Ms Schlichting has been married for forty-four years and has two grown sons who have blessed her with five grandchildren and two great grandsons.

• Tell us a bit about your First Lady mystery series. What was the inspiration?

I’ve always loved American history.  It was my favorite subject in school and the First Ladies were top of the list.  I was able to get signed photos of each of the living First Ladies which spurred me onward to writing the series.  What’s not to like about Dolley Madison?  She may have been the first First Lady to introduce ice cream to the White House.  How American can you get?

• How do you “get to know” your characters before and while you’re writing the books?

As the middle child and only girl in my family, I played constantly with dolls.  My character, Liv, had to love dolls as much as I do and also love history.  While writing, I continued to learn about my characters, their likes and dislikes. 

·       How do you construct your plots? Do you outline or do you write “by the seat of your pants”?

I gave up on outlining a very long time ago.  I have a horrible time staying on track.  The characters like to take me all over and I have to rein them in. I usually have an idea that I build upon.

• Which do you consider more important, plot or character?

I’m more character driven than plot.  The characters have to fit the plot.

• What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced as a writer and what inspires you and keeps you motivated?

The biggest challenge is to keep history fresh and relevant.  A sprinkling at a time is how the readers will learn bits and pieces of little known historical facts.

• Do you have an “How I got my agent” story you want to share?

I gave up on agents. Since my series has historical facts it’s hard to know where it should be marketed.

• What are you working on now and what are your future writing plans?

Currently, I’m putting the finishing touches on the third in the series which features Edith Roosevelt.  The title hasn’t been decided upon.  Edith was Theodore’s second wife.  Since I graduated from T Roosevelt high school, it’s a must that I write a First Lady featuring his First Lady.

• What is a typical workday for you and how many hours a day (or week) do you devote to writing?

I walk for thirty-forty minutes every morning before I strap myself to the computer where I’ll sit for three-four hours.  Sometimes it’s a good day for writing and other days, I play too long on social media.

• If you could take only three books with your for a year-long writing retreat in a gorgeous setting with no library, which three would you take?

Little Women, Ordinary Grace, and All the Light We Cannot See.

• What advice do you have to offer to an aspiring author?

It took me over twenty years to get published.  Don’t under any circumstance, give up.  Keep writing and writing, then write some more.

• What’s the craziest thing you’ve ever done?

In two weeks’ time, I visited my penpal of over fifty years in England for three days, flew on to Norway where I stayed on a sheep farm and was able to see where my great-grandparents immigrated from and see their respective houses.  I then flew to Liverpool, England and experienced the Magical Mystery Tour. I saw where the Beatles came from. After, I flew to Dublin, Ireland.  On a tour to northern, Ireland, I was able to walk on a rope bridge.  I had a magnificent time.

• What’s one thing your readers would be surprised to find out about you?

I studied the Norwegian language in high school.

• What question do you wish interviewers would ask? (And what’s the answer?)

Have you ever received correspondence from the White House?  Yes, of course!  First Lady Obama sent me a photo plus a letter on White House stationary and both signed by her.

•  Where can we learn more about you and your books?

My website is: http://www.barbaraschlichting.com

My blog is: https://barbaraschlichting.blogspot.com

Ebook link: http://a.co/4lOd53q

Amazon: https://amzn.com/1945467037

Just for Fun:

Night or Day?  .  Night

Dog or Cat? (answer carefully) 

Beach or Pool?   Beach

Steak or salad?  Salad

Favorite Drink?  Perfect Margarita

Favorite Book?  ORDINARY GRACE

Favorite TV Series?  Murder She Wrote

Favorite Movie?  Sound of Music

Favorite Actor: Robert Redford

Favorite Actress:  Julie Andrews

Dirty Martini or Pina Colada? Dirty Martini

Hawaii or Alaska? Hawaii

Finish this sentence:  If I could meet anyone in the world, past or present, it would be Louisa Mae Alcott___________________

If I had just one wish, it would be to laugh more._____________________________________

If I could trade places with anyone in the world, it would be _someone who has danced around the world.______

Find Barbara at 

WEBSITE http://www.barbaraschlichting.com

Please like my

FACEBOOK PAGE: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorBarbaraSchlichting/

Please follow:

AMAZON: amazon.com/author/barbaraschlichting

TWITTER https://twitter.com/BSchlichting 

GOODREADS:https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15196167.Barbara_Schlichting

FIRST LADY BLOG: https://barbaraschlichting.blogspot.com/

Barb will give away a copy of her latest book to one lucky commenter!  To enter, leave your email address with a comment in our comments section!  Winner will be chosen by random.org. Content ends midnight, October 21! US residents only.