Gerry Schmitt talks about "Selling Your Novel:" on ROCCO's blog!

ROCCO’s guest blogger!

Gerry Schmitt (aka Laura Childs!)

Selling Your Novel: What Exactly

are Agents and Editors Looking For?

by Gerry Schmitt, author of Shadow Girl

I’ve been amazingly lucky as an author. My first mystery was accepted by Penguin Random House based on three chapters and a slap-dash twelve-page outline. And since then I’ve had another forty books published.

But that kind of beginner’s luck seems to be in short supply these days. Because what worked for me fifteen years ago just doesn’t work today. The world of publishing has changed big time. Publishers are being undercut by e-books, self-published authors, and hundreds of newly minted small presses. Understandably, that’s meant a considerable amount of belt-tightening. And the really radical shift that’s taken place in publishing is that today’s editors no longer edit. Editors are now in charge of acquisitions. They're tasked with finding new authors with new material.

This new breed of editor is always on the hunt for the next big thing. That usually means a great story with memorable, dynamic characters. Editors are also looking for breakout books that are different and don't rehash the same old story. Think current books such as Into the Water, A Dog’s Purpose, or Hillbilly Elegy.

So what can would-be authors do to increase their chance of success? First, take a look at the various categories. The mystery, thriller, and romance categories are holding strong. And a new sub-category – what publishers call “the domestic thriller,” is doing very well. If you’ve written a vampire or zombie book it’s going to be a tough sell, but editors are still looking for good Young Adult books and Children’s picture books.

Second, you’ve got to find yourself an agent that’s willing to take you on. The best thing to do is home in on three or four reputable agents that represent work in your category. Then you’ve got to submit a whiz-bang query letter that immediately nips at their interest.

Remember, too, that today’s tougher, leaner market also means that would-be authors have to write and submit a finished manuscript. Gone are the days when you can win a publishing contract based on a few scribbled chapters.

Authors also need to look at how their concept relates to what’s already out there in the marketplace. If there are already thirty culinary mystery series and you're pitching the thirty-first, it could be a tough sell. You also need to make sure your novel’s internal architecture is spot on. We’re talking plot, pacing, turning points, character development, dialogue, and suspense.

And, finally, in today’s on-demand publishing climate, no matter what kind of book you’re writing, it’s critical to establish an opening story hook immediately. Agents and editors don’t want pages and pages of build-up, they want you to toss your reader directly into the action.

As my agent once said to me, you’re writing mysteries so you’d better deliver a dead body in chapter one!

Best of luck to you!

Gerry Schmitt

Gerry Schmitt Bio

Gerry Schmitt is the author of Shadow Girl, an Afton Tangler Thriller, and Little Girl Gone, the first book in the series. Writing under her pen name Laura Childs, she is the New York Times bestselling author of more than forty mysteries that include the Tea Shop Mysteries, Scrapbooking Mysteries, and Cackleberry Club Mysteries. Her books have also been on the USA Today and Publisher’s Weekly bestseller lists. Gerry is the former CEO of her own marketing firm, has won dozens of TV and radio awards, and written and produced two reality TV shows.

Thanks so much for those helpful hints, Gerry!

Gerry’s latest thriller, SHADOW GIRL hits stores TUESDAY, AUGUST 1! Make sure you get your copy for some good summer reading!

GIVEAWAY TIME!!!!!

Gerry will give away a signed copy of SHADOW GIRL to one lucky commenter!

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. US entries only please. J  Contest ends midnight, August 4. Good luck!

Revisiting LAURA BRADFORD

Laura Bradford writes the Amish Mysteries and now, the Dessert Squad Mysteries for Penguin!
We're reprinting her interview from 2015 in honor of the second release in the Dessert Squad series, SILENCE OF THE FLANS!

Laura Bradford (aka Elizabeth Lynn Casey) has wanted to be a writer since she was ten years old. Today, she is the author of several mystery series, and a handful of romance novels. She is a former Agatha Award nominee and the recipient of an RT Reviewer’s Choice Award.  SUSPENDERED SENTENCE is her twentieth traditionally-published release. In her free time, Laura enjoys making memories with her family, baking, playing games, and catching up with friends.  Her latest series is the Dessert Squad cozy series. Book 2, Silence of the Flans, was released in March.

Website: www.laurabradford.com

FB: https://www.facebook.com/laurabradfordauthor

Twitter:  @bradfordauthor

     Welcome to the blog Laura! Tell us a little about your background – what got you interested in writing as a career? 

~I was ten years old when I knew I wanted to be a writer, and I never strayed from that path. In the beginning, I thought I’d go toward children’s writing, but in the end, when I really looked at what I enjoyed reading, I went the route of mystery.

To pay the bills out of college, I worked as journalist, but once I left that world to be a mom, I started getting serious about that fiction-writing dream.

   

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

~I always start out with some idea about each character, but their true essence is revealed to me in the writing process.  Sometimes I find the need to give them a particular nuance that I don’t understand at the time, but invariably the reason behind that nuance always reveals itself. Kind of weird, I know, but oh so cool when it happens!

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

~My plot always comes from a small nugget. In Suspendered Sentence, that initial nugget was the notion of a group of teenagers leading a family to believe their child had simply run away when they knew that wasn’t the case. The nugget always kicks off a series of questions in my head—questions I’m propelled to answer (why did they keep quiet? What really happened?). 

I always know the who and why behind the crime when I start. Everything else happens as I write. That said, I do utilize a bullet point system as I go. I’ll bullet-point out “have to happen” moments in each chapter, five chapters at a time. It’s not as constraining as an outline for me, yet still keeps me on task.

     Which do you consider more important, plot or character?

~I think they’re both important, however, in a series, if your readers don’t care about your characters, they won’t pick up the next book. 

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

~Tough question. Staying on task is always tough, but that’s internal so I can fix that when it becomes an issue.  I think the biggest challenge is finding ways to let readers know my books are out there. Social media is good, but the majority of people coming to an author’s page are coming because they already know about you and your books. The challenge is how to find more.

As for how I stay motivated, I’m a fairly motivated person to start with, so that helps. But at those times when I’m not, I think of the college tuition payments I have to make. Being accountable for daily word counts to my friend, Lynn, is a huge help, too.  

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

~I was already a published author (small press) with an Agatha nomination and a book club deal when I got my agent. J

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

~I’m currently writing the second book in a brand new cozy series I have debuting in 2016. I’m not really sharing specifics about the series yet as it’s still too far away. But when we get a little closer, I’ll be talking about it on my website (www.laurabradford.com) and my Facebook Author Page.  (ROCCO'S NOTE: THIS IS THE DESSERT SQUAD MYSTERIES)

~In terms of future plans, I’m hoping the Amish Mysteries get picked up for more books after # 5’s release in March 2016. I also have a thriller and a women’s fiction novel I’d like to spruce up and send out.

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

~A typical workday for me has me at the computer by 7 a.m. I spend about an hour on my blog, Facebook updates/viewing, Twitter, and email. Then I switch to writing. My goal, under normal circumstances, is 2,000 words a day. If I need more because I goofed off the day before, than I write more. But I don’t move until I accomplish what needs to be accomplished that day.  If the words are flowing and I’m done before noon—great.  If I find myself sucked back onto the internet during a time I should be writing, then I have less time later in the day for non-writing.

  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?

~Oooh, fun question!   Since this is a writing retreat, I’m guessing I need to bring writing-related books?

I’m really not in to how-to books, so I’d pick ones I could consult for encouragement and inspiration;   Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott, On Writing by Stephen King, and Mary Higgins Clark’s A CRY IN THE NIGHT because it’s the book that made me want to write mysteries.

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

~Read. Read. Read.

Write. Write. Write.

I see so many aspiring authors spending far more time reading how-to books on the craft of writing, than actually writing.  If you want to be an author, write.

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

~Early in my writing career, I took a woman (who’d emailed me about my first series) up on her offer to stay with her and her husband while touring. And I did it.  Looking back, I can’t believe how trusting (and probably stupid) I was to do that. But honestly, they couldn’t have been any nicer.

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

~If I could no longer write for some reason, I would bake. Something about baking just makes me incredibly happy.

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

~What’s a favorite memory from your journey as an author thus far?  My answer:  getting to speak to Mary Higgins Clark on the telephone—Harlan Coben’s telephone, to be exact.

  Where can we learn more about you and your books?

~You can learn more about me and my books by visiting my website: www.laurabradford.com.  There you can find all of the books I’ve written with links for more information on each title, a printable book list to make shopping easier, a fairly amusing bio (alongside the more official one), an event schedule, an opportunity to sign up for my several-times-a-year E-newsletter, and a super fun page devoted entirely to my Amish series (including a clickable map of Heavenly, PA, the town in which my series takes place).

In addition to my website, I have an active Facebook page that I frequent daily: https://www.facebook.com/laurabradfordauthor?ref=hl

And, finally, I’m on Twitter, although I’m not the best Tweeter:  @bradfordauthor   

Just for Fun:

Night or Day?     Day.

Dog or Cat? (answer carefully)    Surely a dog snuck this question in when Rocco wasn’t looking, right?   CAT!!!    

Beach or Pool?    Beach

Steak or salad?    Steak

Favorite Drink?     A Vanilla milkshake

Favorite Book?     A Cry in the Night by Mary Higgins Clark (an oldie, but a goodie)

Favorite TV Series?    Survivor (been watching since the first show)

Favorite Movie?    27 Dresses

Favorite Actor:    Tom Hanks

Favorite Actress:    Meryl Streep  

Dirty Martini or Pina Colada?    I’m more of a Mudslide girl (sans Vodka), myself.

Hawaii or Alaska?     Hawaii.

Finish this sentence:  If I could meet anyone in the world, past or present, it would be Walt Disney. I’d like to thank him for creating the backdrop for some of my very favorite memories.

If I could trade places with anyone in the world, I wouldn’t. Being mom to my two daughters is the most beautiful gift in the world.

Penguin has donated a copy of SILENCE OF THE FLANS FOR A GIVEAWAY!

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)

Contest ends midnight, July 30!!   Good luck!

Say hello to Meg Macy!

Merow!  My guest this week is author Meg Macy!

Award-winning mystery author Meg Macy lives in Southeast Michigan, close ​enough ​to Ann Arbor, Chelsea, and Dexter -- the area she chose for the setting of her new "Shamelessly Adorable Teddy Bear" cozy mystery series for Kensington. She is also one-half of the writing team of D.E. Ireland for the Eliza Doolittle & Henry Higgins Mystery series; two​, Wouldn't It Be Deadly and Get Me to the Grave On Time​ ​were​ Agatha Award finalists​ for Best Historical​. Meg's first published book, Double Crossing, won the 2012 Best First Novel Spur Award from Western Writers of America. She's a graduate of Seton Hill University's Writing Popular Fiction program. Meg loves reading mysteries, historicals, and other genre fiction, and also enjoys gardening, crafts, and watercolor painting.

R:  Welcome Meg! Tell us a bit about yourself and how you became interested in writing.

Thanks ROCCO!  I’m an avid reader, and started writing when my daughter was a toddler – children’s puzzles, etc. (magazine credits between 1997-2001) - and wrote a few romances. Those manuscripts, unfortunately, had dead bodies cropping up – so the editors would pass after complimenting my “voice” and style. After a break until my daughter entered college, I started over in the mystery genre via Seton Hill University’s Writing Popular Fiction program. Within a year of graduating, I was published. Double Crossing, a western historical mystery, won the Western Writers of America 2012 Spur Award for Best First Novel. Quite a surprise to me!

R: Tell us about your  “Shamelessly Adorable Teddy Bear” mystery series!  Where did that idea come from?

I started collecting teddy bears after buying a Paddington Bear at Harrods in London. When I needed a cozy theme, I researched if any other series had teddy bears (only one, John J. Lamb’s Teddy Bear Collector series) and also discovered that the Chelsea Teddy Bear Factory had moved from Michigan to Missouri. Rats! But I found photos online of the shop, which had offered tours, and developed my own unique small town shop and factory.

R:  Do you have an “how I got my agent” story you’d like to share?  How did you feel when you got the call your first novel had sold?

I didn’t have an agent when my first novel sold, but I do co-write the Eliza Doolittle & Henry Higgins mystery series (My Fair Lady fans, take note!) with a friend and fellow author, Sharon Farrow. We wrote the first book, Wouldn’t It Be Deadly, sent a query at 9 am one day, and received a phone call from the agent by 11 am – not just interested in seeing the completed manuscript, but offering representation! We were shocked. That’s virtually unheard of, really, and he sold it within three weeks. So exciting. I was also thrilled when my current editor thought the idea was “adorable” and made an offer for my teddy bear cozy series within a few months.

R: What’s a must have for you when you are writing? What aids the creative process?

Pinterest. Seriously! I have multiple secret boards for photos of my setting, characters, fashions, etc. I also use Michael Hauge’s 5-point plot arc, and I spend at least a month developing character sketches before working up a detailed synopsis/outline. Saves a lot of time in the long run. I also have my “Sheldon” spot on the sofa, near the window, where I do most of my writing. I love to watch the squirrels and birds, and see my flowers while working.

R: If you had access to a time machine, which historical moment would you travel to and why?

Wow, great question. I’d say when Gutenberg invented his printing press – I would have loved to be involved in that! It changed history.

R:  If a movie were to be made of one of your books, which one would you want it to be and who would you pick for the lead roles?

That’s a toss-up between Bearly Departed (a perfect idea for the Hallmark channel, and I’d love to see NCIS’s Emily Wickersham as my amateur sleuth Sasha Silverman!) and also Wouldn’t It Be Deadly – but I don’t have an actress in mind for Eliza. Who can beat Audrey Hepburn? Or Rex Harrison as Higgins. Sigh. Wouldn’t that be loverly…

R: What is one thing your readers would be most surprised to know about you?

I’m a Christmas cookie fiend. Seriously, a fiend.

R: What is the craziest thing you've ever done?

Tried to go up a down escalator. And failed. I still laugh about that. Long story, shared with my writing partner back in college.

R: What do you hope readers will most take away from your writing?

A sense of family connections, which are important to me, and that justice is served in the end of all cozy mysteries – unlike other books, or real life.

R: What are you working on at the moment / next?

I just sent in Bear Witness to Murder, book 2 of the Teddy Bear cozy series. Next I will start With A Little Bit of Blood for the Eliza Doolittle & Henry Higgins series with Sharon Farrow. Two books in that series have been finalists in the Best Historical category of the Agatha Award from Malice Domestic. We’re really proud of that.

R: Are you a plotter or a pantser?

Plotter, definitely, for novels. I have “pantsed” a short story or novella at times, but even that needs a basic outline.

R: Do you have any advice for beginning writers?

Persistence is key, hard work pays off, and listen to only the best advice.

R: If you weren’t a writer, what would you be doing?

Teaching school, or retired and writing picture books! I love picture books, the artwork blended with words. I’m also an artist, so I’d probably be doing a lot more watercolors. No time now, unfortunately.

R: What book is on your TBR shelf you can’t wait to get to?

Soooo many, it’s hard to choose! Design for Dying, Renee Patrick; What You See, Hank Phillippi Ryan; The Song of the Lion, Anne Hillerman.

Just for Fun:

Night or Day?  Day – I am a happy morning person, to some friends’ dismay.

Dog or Cat? (answer carefully)  BOTH! Love the furries, so much.

Beach or Pool?   Pool – no surprises, but I don’t mind walking a Florida beach looking for shells or a Petoskey stone in Michigan.

Favorite Book?  Tolkien’s The Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings trilogy.

Favorite TV Series?  Remington Steele

Favorite Movie?  Cary Grant’s – North by Northwest, Charade, Father Goose, etc.

Favorite Actor:  David Suchet as Hercule Poirot, or Jeremy Brett as Sherlock Holmes

Favorite Actress:  Dame Maggie Smith or Audrey Hepburn

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

If I had just one wish, it would be to live on Mackinac Island.

If I could trade places with anyone in the world, it would be  myself at a younger age, so I could start writing much earlier!

Thanks Meg! Folks, you can find Meg at:

http://www.megmacy.com

Facebook

Twitter

Pinterest

GIVEAWAY TIME!!!!!!!!

Meg will give away a print copy of Bearly Departed to one lucky commenter!

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! US entries only! Contest ends midnight, July 23!

Revisiting Nadine Nettman!

The lovely Nadine Nettman was my guest last year when her first novel, Decanting a Murder, debuted from Midnight Ink.  This May #2 in the series, Uncorking a Lie, debuted.  We thought in honor of Nadine's second book we would reprint her original interview! 

• Welcome Nadine! Tell us a little about your background

Hi Rocco, I’ve wanted to be a writer my entire life and while I’ve had a few different careers, I’m so glad I’m finally able to combine my two loves – writing and wine. I also have a love for travel and I’ve been fortunate to visit wine regions around the world including Chile, South Africa, Spain, Germany, and every region in France.

• Tell us a bit about your new series and the first volume, Decanting a Murder.

Decanting a Murder is about Katie Stillwell, a female sommelier who solves mysteries using her deductive wine skills. A large part of the sommelier certification process is blind tasting – looking, smelling, and tasting a wine to tell where it’s from, which grape, the vintage, etc. I thought it would be fun to apply this to a series in the wine world and Decanting a Murder was born. Every chapter is paired with a wine.

• You are a certified Sommelier in real life.  How exciting is that and what prompted you to become one?

I’ve always had an interest in wine, but my actual wine journey started in 2010 when I was covering a wine and food festival as a travel writer. I was switching seats when Master Sommelier Fred Dame took my hand and led me on stage. He seated me on the wine panel next to Master Sommeliers and winemakers and I was terrified. I knew nothing about wine except that I enjoyed it. I managed to get through the panel but it sparked a desire to learn more, in fact, as much as I could. I began studying and passed Level 1, then passed Level 2 and became a Certified Sommelier through the Court of Master Sommeliers in 2011. I recently saw Fred at an event and was able to tell him how much he changed my life. It was a very cool moment.

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

I use a character worksheet but I think it’s safe to say there’s a fair share of myself in Katie Stillwell. I’ve heard a lot of advice to write what you know and since the most common comment on my first four books (all shelved for the time being) was that they didn’t know the main character, I decided to put a lot of myself in Katie, though she’s still very fictionalized.

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

I love writing by the seat of my pants, but I’ve found I spend a lot of time rearranging scenes so now I’ve switched to outlining.

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

I’m a huge fan of plot.

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

Perseverance. There were so many times when I could have given up but didn’t. It took me ten years to get here, but I never wanted to let go of my dream of walking into a bookstore and seeing my name on a book. Which will happen in May. I’m so excited!

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

Yes! It took me a very long time to find an agent – ten years and five books – but I found my agent through the slushpile. I was so used to rejection that when Danielle Burby at Hannigan Salky Getzler emailed that she wanted to talk, I reread it three times before I allowed myself to celebrate. A few minutes into our first phone conversation, I immediately knew she was the agent for me, so much so, that I forgot to ask her any of the questions I had planned. She’s been amazing and 100% worth waiting for.

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

I’m currently working on book #2 in the wine series, tentatively titled Uncorking a Lie, and I’m also working on a domestic suspense. My future writing plans are to keep writing. I truly love it.

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

Every workday is different but I try to devote several hours a week to writing. My current goal is do to a 1,000 words every weekday.

• 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?

That’s a tough one but I would go with On Writing by Stephen King, Rebecca by Daphne DuMaurier, and J is for Judgment by Sue Grafton. I’ve read each of them several times and I love them.

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

Never give up. Just keep trying.

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

Right after we got married, my husband and I stored 90% of our belongings, quit our jobs, and flew to Hawaii with two suitcases each. We planned to stay for about a year but we ended up staying for five years. Looking back, I still can’t believe we did that but it was such an amazing part of our journey together.

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

I’ve played guitar for 20 years.

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

This is my first interview so I’m not sure yet. Can I get back to you? J

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

www.NadineNettmann.com

https://www.facebook.com/NadineNettmann

http://twitter.com/nadinesnotes

Just for Fun:

Night or Day?  Day – I’m definitely a morning person.

Dog or Cat? (answer carefully) –  I’ve had cats all of my life.

Beach or Pool?   Beach. I love the waves and the feel of the sand beneath my feet.

Steak or salad?  Salad. I don’t eat red meat and I also happen to be a huge fan of salad.

Favorite Drink?  Can I just say wine? ;)  Okay, I’ll be more specific. For white wine, I’m a big fan of German riesling and for red wine, I’m a big fan of cab franc.

Favorite Book?  Rebecca by Daphne DuMaurier. I fell in love with the book from the very first line.

Favorite TV Series?  The BBC One Sherlock series. The writing is brilliant as is the acting by Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman.

Favorite Movie?  Psycho. When I watched it, I had no idea that Norman Bates was his mother so I got the full effect that Hitchcock wanted viewers to get and it completely stunned me. It’s been at the top of my list ever since.

Favorite Actor: Anthony Hopkins

Favorite Actress: It’s a tie between Rachel McAdams and Meryl Streep

Dirty Martini or Pina Colada? Pina Colada

Hawaii or Alaska? Since I lived there for five years, I’d have to vote for Hawaii J

Finish this sentence:  If I could meet anyone in the world, past or present, it would be… Nora Ephron. I love her movies and her views on life.

If I had just one wish, it would be… for health and happiness for everyone in my life.

If I could trade places with anyone in the world, it would be… no one.  

Repost from 2013- Character Interview, Abby Cooper and Victoria Laurie!

Meow!

I've been a big fan of Victoria Laurie for quite awhile - her "Psychic Eye" and also her "Ghost Hunter" series!  Abby (and Victoria!) have a new adventure out in July, so as a tribute we thought we'd repost this character interview with Abby from 2013!



And now...in my hotseat...ABBY COOPER HERSELF!

R)  Good Morning, Abby. Tell us a bit about yourself.

A: Good morning, ROCCO!  (waves)  Thanks for being so patient with me...it's been a busy year!  Anyhoo, I'm a professional psychic currently living in Austin, TX.  Originally I'm from a small city in Michigan called Royal Oak, and I only moved to Texas when my fiancé Dutch, was promoted to Special Agent within the FBI and took a job in Austin for the bureau's cold case division.  I also work for the bureau as a civilian profiler...fancy talk for psychic consultant.  In addition to my private clients, I also work the occasional private investigative case with my BFF, Candice Fusco -  who's just the best P.I. in the biz.  (i.e. she bends a lot of rules and helps to keep me out of sticky situations...which I'm forever getting myself into...ahem...)  Dutch and I are currently planning our wedding....okay, so we're not actually planning it as much as we're letting my sister play the role of wedding planner on steroids...and at this point, I'm not sure it's actually an easier or less stressful process but it's too late to turn back now.

R) When did you first realize you had psychic abilities?

A: I think I was pretty young - eleven or twelve maybe when little things I'd say would start to happen.  It just built up from there, but I don't think I actually considered myself a psychic until another dear friend of mine - who was a professional medium - told me that's what I was.  For many years I was simply too afraid of my own abilities to do anything with them, but with her gentle help, I sort of came into my own and started to read for clients, and now I've got a dozen years under my belt as a professional intuitive and a client list that's ever growing.  It's pretty awesome.  :)

R) Have you made the acquaintence of another psychic ghostbuster, MJ Holliday?  If so, how did you meet? How do you get along? (Guess that's three questions in one, eh????)

A: M.J. and I met a few years ago when I needed her help to get rid of a couple ghostly squatters taking up residence in an investment property I got suckered into.  The good news is that M. J. did help me, and we hit it off right away.  I love that girl - she's very down-to-earth and she can handle herself really well in sticky situations.  Her best friend Gilley is also a hoot!  Gotta loves me some Gilley.

R)  Out of all your adventures, do you have a favorite?

A:  :)  My next adventure is usually my favorite.  I think this summer when Dutch and I finally get the chance to tie the knot will be my favorite.  M. J.'s coming to the wedding, actually, so it should be a blast.  (Hee, hee...Literally!)

R)  Which profession do you prefer: psychic or FBI Civilian Profiler?

A:  I don't know that I have a preference of one over the other.  I like them both.  Psychic sessions are very interesting things from the point of view of the psychic, because each new client is a mystery, and the things I pull out of the ether can really surprise me.  Being a profiler for the FBI is really cool in a different way - there's just no better high than solving a crime and bringing the bad guys to justice.  I love them both.

R) You recently got engaged.  Can you share any wedding/honeymoon plans? Where would you like to go on your honeymoon?

A: I can't share much in the way of plans, because my sister Cat is doing all the planning, and I'm out of the loop...okay, so I'm mostly out of the loop because I dodge Cat's calls a lot and sometimes she sends people to kidnap me just to get a decision on the caterer, but I have a feeling Cat is going for big.  I mean BIG!  And that means that right up until the day of the ceremony I may try to talk Dutch into eloping.

As for where to go on our honeymoon...wow.  Well, I guess anywhere that Dutch and I won't be reachable by phone.  I'd love a beach and lots of coconut oil, and of course some good books to read.

R) Describe your relationship with your sister Cat. (Love her name, Meow!)

A:  Cat is this amazing dynamo of energy and brains wrapped in a tiny blond package.  You don't so much as go along with Cat, as you just step out of the way before she runs over you with the bulldozer she's just stollen.  True story.  I love my sister with all my heart, but sometimes, she's better in small doses.  Now...if I could only figure out where she hides her bullhorn so I could snatch it before the rehearsal dinner, I'll be all set!

R) If Hollywood came knocking at your door and wanted to make a movie out of one of your advenures, which one would you hope it would be and who would you like to play you?

A:  Ha!  Well, I think that Better Read Than Dead would probably make the best movie, and as for who should play me?  Emma Stone, hands down.  I think she's amazing!

R)  Any advice for aspiring writers (or psychics?)

A: If you want to be a writer then write.  Write your fanny off.  The only way to get better is to keep doing it.  So write every day if you can, at the very least you should write every few days consistently. 

R)  How do you feel about Victoria Laurie recounting your adventures?

A:  Terrific!  She writes it just how I live it, so it's a good match.

 

R:  And now, just for fun: Tell us your favorite:

A: Movie: Hmmm...The Princess Bride.  I could watch that movie over and over.

Book: I have two: A Is For Alibi and The Hobbit

Author: Sue Grafton.  That woman walks on water in my book.

Psychic: Kevyn Allen  He was my mentor and now he's a very dear friend.  Also, the best psychic I've ever known - by a LOT

Actor: Daniel Craig.  I love the scenes where he's mostly naked.  ;)

TV Show: I have two again: The Good Wife and Downton Abbey.  Any show with writing that brilliant gets a thumbs up from me

FBI or CIA?  CIA, hands down.  I love a good spook.  ;)

Martini or Manhattan?  Neither - I don't drink!  But give me an Arnold Palmer, (1/2 lemonade + 1/2 Iced Tea) and I'm in heaven.

Psychic or Detective?  Psychic

Demon or Devil? Neither.  I'm an angel kind of gal

Island or Mountains?  Mountains - I'll take a breathtaking view any day over sand and water

and, last but not least CAT or Dog?  Dog.  I have two of the best pups ever, so I might be biased (TEAR SLIDES ROCCO'S CHEEK)


Meow, thank you Abby (and Victoria, too) for a great interview!

Folks, to keep up with all of Victoria's series and current releases, visit her website and sign up for her newsletter ( I did!)  !HERE

Cat-ch Abby's newest adventure, A PANICKED PREMONITION, out July 4!

Penguin has donated a copy of Psychic Eye Book 14, A GRAVE PREDICTION, to give away to one lucky commenter!

When Abby is sent to Los Angeles to help train FBI officers to use their intuition, she encounters a case that only she can solve: a series of bank robberies in which the thieves made off with loads of cash but left no clues. Abby’s sixth sense leads her team to a tract of land recently cleared for development, where she gets a vision of four buried bodies. However, a site search turns up only ancient bones and pottery from an American Indian tribe, which is enough to delay construction for years. 

With a furious developer and dubious FBI agents on her back, Abby is losing credibility fast. But Abby’s talent rarely leads her astray, and if the bodies aren’t there yet, that means four deaths can still be stopped. She’ll just have to dig a little deeper...

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.  Contest ends  midnight  July 9! Good luck!