Saturday, December 26, 2015

Making Merry with author Vicki Delany!



Our guest this week is author Vicki Delany!

 

Vicki Delany is one of Canada’s most prolific and varied crime writers, author of the Constable Molly Smith police procedural series, standalone Gothic thrillers, and the Klondike Gold Rush books, as well as Rapid Read novellas including Juba Good, currently a finalist for the Ontario Library Association’s Golden Oak award. Under the pen name Eva Gates she is writing the Lighthouse Library cozy mystery series from Penguin Random House, set in a historic lighthouse on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. The second in the series, Booked for Trouble was released in September 2015.

Rest Ye Murdered Gentlemen, the first book in the Year Round Christmas series is Vicki’s 20th published book.

A former computer programmer and systems analyst, Vicki lives and writes in bucolic Prince Edward County Ontario. She is the current President of Crime Writers of Canada.

 

  • Tell us a little about your background

My career was as a computer programmer and systems analyst. I left that seven years ago and am now a full time writer, author of 20 published books (so far).  My three daughters are all grown up, and I live a quiet life in a little house in the countryside in Southern Ontario.

  • Tell us a bit about your latest book, REST YE MURDERED GENTLEMEN. Where did that idea for a Christmas cozy come from?

The bones of the idea was from my agent, Kim Lionetti of Bookends. She suggested a Christmas themed store, and I took that further and created a Christmas themed town.

  • Tell us about other books you’ve written.

I have three standalone novels of psychological suspense from Poisoned Pen Press, the Constable Molly Smith series, also from Poisoned Pen, of which the eighth, Unreasonable Doubt, will be released in February, four books in the Klondike Gold Rush Series. And under the pen name of Eva Gates, I write the Lighthouse Library cozy series for Penguin Random House

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

I used to be a true pantser, but now that I am writing for Penguin Random House, they require an outline, and I find I really like writing that way.  The outline’s the hard part.  Get that out of the way, and writing the book’s the easy bit. 

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

Character determines plot. People act in certainly ways because of their character. So, saying that, I think character comes first.

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

I got my agent, Kim Lionetti, because my good friend Mary Jane Maffini recommended me to her. Kim didn’t want the work I was proposing, but when she heard of something I might be able to do she contacted me. The moral of that story, I believe, is the importance of networking. Of making friends in the writing community.

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

I am currently writing the third in the Year Round Christmas series, Hark the Herald Angels Slay.  The third Lighthouse Library book, Reading Up A Storm, will be out in April. I hope to continue writing both those series, as well as the Constable Molly Smith books.

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

I am a total creature of routine.

I get up every morning, seven days a week.  I go to my main computer in my office, and read e-mails, read the papers online, spend a bit of time on Facebook or Twitter. 

Then it’s time to start to write.  I walk into the dining room and stand at my Netbook computer which is on the half-wall between the kitchen and the dining room and boot it up.  (In the summer I might sit outside on the deck) As I pass through the kitchen, I put one egg on to boil.

I always write, standing up, on the Netbook.  I read over everything I did the previous day, doing a light edit as I go.  I then take my egg into the study and eat it while checking email. 

Then back to the small computer for several writing hours, usually finishing around one.

And that’s pretty much it.  I can’t write in small chunks. I can’t write as the spirit moves me.  

Three to four hours a day, every day of the week, every day of the year when I am home, unless I have company.

  • 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?

I’d probably go for length, if they have to last me a year. The Lord of the Rings Trilogy would be one. (Is that cheating?). An Instance of the Fingerpost by Iain Pears, because it’s long but also because it’s one of my favorite books of all time.  And something that would require a lot of concentration: How about the collected works of William Shakespeare, or a history of the world perhaps.

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

My advice is always the same. Read, and read a lot. Only by reading extensively is a writer able to know what works, and perhaps more importantly, what doesn’t.

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

I drove across North America, and up and down (Ontario to the Pacific; Alaska to San Diego) alone when I first retired. Had a marvelous time.  I wouldn’t say that’s anything crazy though, because it’s what I like to do.

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

That I’m an extreme introvert.  But remember, introvert doesn’t mean shy. Because I’m not that.

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

Q: Tell us about the Crime Writers of Canada.

A: I’d be happy to. I am the current president of the CWC, which is the Canadian equivalent of the MWA in the US or the CWA in the UK. We are an organization representing professional Canadian writers of mystery, suspense and true crime.  Information about our members and our books can be found at www.crimewriterscanada.com

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

My web page is www.vickidelany.com.  Eva Gates has her own page at www.lighthouselibrarymysteries.com. I’m on Facebook at evagatesauthor and twitter @vickidelany

 

Just for Fun:

Night or Day? 

            Day

Dog or Cat? (answer carefully) 

            No contest. Dog. Unless it’s Charles the library cat in the Lighthouse Library series.

Beach or Pool?  

            Both

Steak or salad? 

            Salad

Favorite Drink? 

            A nice glass of Sauvignon Blanc

Favorite Book? 

            An Instance of the Fingerpost by Iain Pears

Favorite TV Series? 

            Don’t watch.

Favorite Movie? 

            Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring. (I don’t go to movies much either)

Dirty Martini or Pina Colada?

            Pina Colada, thanks.

Hawaii or Alaska?

            Alaska.

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

If I had just one wish, it would be_

World peace?_If it had to be personal, it would be health and happiness for my children.

If I could trade places with anyone in the world, it would be I’d rather just stay me, if that’s okay.

Find out more about Vicki at:

www.vickidelany.com, www.lighthouselibrarymysteries.com Twitter: @vickidelany Facebook: evagatesauthor

 

 

 

Sunday, December 20, 2015

We Welcome Leslea Newman to the blog!


Lesléa Newman is the author of the children's books, Ketzel, the Cat Who Composed; TheBest Cat in the World; and Cats, Cats, Cats! She has received two MuseMedallions from the Cat Writers Association, one for The Best Cat in the World,and one for her poem, Old  Girl. She is also the author of the middle grade

novel, Hachiko Waits, based upon the true story of Japan's famous Akita, and the

poetry collections I Carry My Mother and October Mourning: A Song for Matthew

Shepard (novel-in-verse). From 2008-2010, she served as the poet laureate of

Northampton, MA. Currently she teaches at Spalding University's low-residency

MFA in Writing program.



  • Welcome,Leslea! Tell us a little about your background

Thank you ROCCO. I was born in Brooklyn, NY and raised there and on Long Island. I started writing poetry as a teenager and had several poems published in Seventeen Magazine. I always knew I wanted to be a writer. And I always knew I had to have a pet. I had a Cairn terrier named Angus when I was growing up, and when I left home I was immediately adopted by a tuxedo cat named Blue. After Blue passed away, I had the good luck to be taken in by a Calico cat named Couscous and a orange tom cat named P.C. (Perfect Cat). When those kitties passed on, I was accepted into the pride of Princess Sheba Darling (a Turkish Van who is now 20) and Precious Sammy Dearest (an orange tom cat who has passed on).

  • Tell us a bit about your new release, Ketzel the Cat who Composed. Where did that idea come from ?

My rabbi mentioned Ketzel in my synagogue’s monthly newsletter. He talked about how Mr. Cotel, Ketzel’s person, wrote down what he heard when Ketzel strolled down his piano’s keyboard because he was alert and open to the beauty and magic of everyday life. He also mentioned that Ketzel’s composition  received an honorable mention in a piano solo competition and that Ketzel became quite a famous composer. She even had an obituary in the New York Times. This intrigued me; it seemed like a children’s book just waiting to happen.

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

When a book is based on a true story, I do as much research as I can. I’m pretty fanatical about it. After I “fill” my head with as much information as I can possibly find, I start to write. I write many many drafts –at least 20—and with every draft, I learn something new about my characters and about the story.

  • You write both children’s and adult books. Which do you prefer?.

As long as I am writing, I am happy.

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

I never outline. I put one word down, and then the next, and then the next. I never know where I am going until I get there!

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

My biggest challenge is coming up with an idea. I know that sounds odd, since I have written 70 books. However, each time I finish a project, I am terrified that I will never have another idea. At these times, I am terrified of the blank page. I call it “page fright.” For inspiration, I read a lot. Especially poetry. And what inspires me is a shrinking bank account and a growling stomach.

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

I am working on a book of poetry for adults as a follow up to my recent poetry collection, I Carry My Mother which explores a daughter’s journey through her mother’s illness and death and her own grief. That was a sad book. I would like to write a book of poetry that contains joy. I am also putting the finishing touches on a picture book called Sparkle Boy, which is about a little boy who likes sparkly things just like his sister. It will be released in 2017.

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

There is no typical workday for me because my schedule is so varied. If I am home, I am woken up at about 5:30 by Princess Sheba Darling who needs food, water, and pettings. After I attend to her, I go to work, and write for several hours. When I am on the road, I try to write on the plane or in the hotel room. I think it is important to write every day, even for a short period of time.

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

Write every day (see above). Read every day. Do something every day to further your career. And spend as much time as possible with cats!

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

Become a writer.

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

You can learn more about me and my books at www.lesleanewman.com


Just for Fun:

Night or Day?  Day

Dog or Cat? (answer carefully)   Cat!

Beach or Pool?   Beach

Steak or salad?  Salad

Favorite Drink?  Chocolate Egg Cream

Favorite Book?  The Little Prince

Favorite TV Series?  Seinfeld

Favorite Movie?  Wizard of Oz

If I could trade places with anyone in the world, it would be  Princess Sheba Darling. I would love to be as spoiled as she is!



Thank you, Leslea!  You can find out more about her at:



Twitter: @lesleanewman


email: leslea@lesleakids.com

Leslea will give away a signed copy of Ketzel, The Cat Who Composed to one lucky commenter!  To enter, leave your comment and email address in our comments section below. Random.org will select one winner. Contest closes midnight, December 23!


Sunday, December 13, 2015

Welcome Rebecca Adler to the blog!

Meow my guest today is auithor Rebecca Adler, who also writes as Gina Lee Nelson!

Rebecca Adler 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 down to the Southwest.
Prior to writing, Rebecca always found a way to add a touch of the dramatic to her life: dinner theatre in Mississippi, children’s theatre in Jacksonville, can-can club in Florida, flower shop in Germany, acting school on Broadway, sweatshirt boutique on Madison Avenue, waitress at an all-night dive on the Lower East Side, video series in Jersey, giant Furskin in Manhattan, and plays and musicals in the Southwest.
She’s currently content to pour her melodramatic tendencies into writing cozy mysteries and sweet romance with a Southern-fried flavor.

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, acting school on Broadway, waitress at an all-night dive on the Lower East Side, video series in Jersey, and 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 before embarking on a career in education, teaching theatre arts. I started writing as a creative outlet when my sons were younger.

Tell us a bit about your latest book , HERE TODAY GONE TAMALE. Where did that idea for Tex-Mex come from?
One of my editors on this book is a native Texan. She was the one who had the yummy idea of Josie Callahan's Latino family running a Tex-Mex restaurant. Josie is a bit down on her luck. She's returned home to Broken Boot after losing her job and her fiancé.  I loved the idea of the restaurant and her abuela’s tamales being both a comfort and a temptation.  Josie and I share that trait. Even before I moved to Texas several years ago, Tex-Mex was my favorite food group. No kidding. I eat Tex-Mex at least twice a week.
Tell us about other books you’ve written.
My first novel, Play It Loud, was a sweet romance for The Wild Rose Press under the name Gina Lee Nelson set in my former stomping ground of New York City. It was actually similar to this series in that the heroine was also an aspiring reporter; but in Claire's case, she saves the life of a popular singer, infiltrates his band, and earns her happily ever after admitting her selfish intentions.
Under the name Gina Lee Nelson, I've also written short stories in two Texas romance anthologies: Love Texas Style and Deep in the Hearts of Texas.
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 second book in the Taste of Texas series, The Good, the Bad, and the Guacamole. 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. The Bible, spirituality, history, romance, and prophecy rolled into one; Touch not the Cat by Mary Stewart, one of my childhood favorites; and To the Hilt by Dick Francis, Alexander Kinloch is my 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?
www.facebook.com/Author-Gina-Lee-NelsonRebecca-Adler
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3162024.Rebecca_Adler
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?  Touch Not the Cat
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_____

Rebecca will give away a copy of Here Today, Gone Tamale to one lucky person who leaves a comment below!

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, December 19!




Sunday, December 6, 2015

ROCCO welcomes author Amanda Flower!



 

Meow! My guest today is author Amanda Flower!

 

Amanda Flower, a three-time Agatha Award-nominated mystery author, started her writing career in elementary school when she read a story she wrote to her sixth grade class and had the class in stitches with her description of being stuck on the top of a Ferris wheel. She knew at that moment she’d found her calling of making people laugh with her words. She also writes mysteries as USA Today bestselling author Isabella Alan. In addition to being an author, Amanda is librarian living in northeast Ohio.

 

 

  • Welcome Amanda! Tell us a little about your background

Thanks ROCCO. I’ve wanted to write mysteries since I was child. They have always been my favorite books to read, but I love to read all genres. Along the way to being an author, I became a librarian too. I love my dual careers.

  • Tell us a bit about your latest book, MURDER PLAINLY READ. Where did that idea come from?

Murder, Plainly Read is the fourth book in the Amish Quilt Shop Mysteries. In this novel, Angie Braddock is solving a murder that happens on a library bookmobile in Amish Country with the help of the Amish ladies in her quilting circle and her trusty French bulldog Oliver.

I was speaking at a library conference about trends in Amish fiction a few years back, and the director of the Holmes County Dsitrict Library approached me after my talk. He invited me to visit his library and do a ride along in the bookmobile, which they use to provide books and services to the large number of Amish in the county. My Amish Quilt Shop Mysteries are set in Holmes County, and I jumped at the chance. I knew the moment I set foot on that bookmobile that I would write an Amish Quilt Shop Mystery about it. That book eventually became Murder, Plainly Read.

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

I don’t plot before I write, so my characters have to talk to me. I know that sounds strange, but many times their voices and characteristics just come to me in the process of writing. Sometimes they reveal themselves quickly, and other times I write many pages that never end up in the final book because I need to do that to understand the characters and their motives better.

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

I’m a pantser all the way.

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

Character. To me, it’s all about the characters. The plot can be great, but if I don’t care about the main characters and what’s happening to them, I don’t have a story.

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

My biggest challenge is time management. I am full time author and a full time librarian. I recently changed library jobs so that I can have more time to write and spend with my family. It was hard to leave my old job where I had been for a long time and my friends there, but I had to make the best choice for my writing career and personal life. I love my new job too!

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

My agent story is really long, but I will give you the short version. An author friend recommended that I query her agent’s new co-agent, who was building her list. I did and the agent asked me for some sample chapters. That’s a pretty common story. But now the plot twist. I was supposed to go on a Caribbean cruise off the coast of Florida and right before I left, someone in my family was very ill. I didn’t feel like I could leave the country with my family member so sick. I canceled the cruise, but I couldn’t cancel the flight to Florida without losing my money. My family member was doing better, so I decided to just go to Florida for the week and relax. If I needed to, I could fly home from there at a moment’s notice. My now agent lived in Florida, so the night before I left, I emailed her and said I would be in Florida and asked if she would meet me while I was there. She did, and the rest is history. That was almost five years ago and is a great example of how God can change something terrible into something wonderful.

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

Currently, I am writing the second of my Magical Bookshop Mysteries set in a little village near Niagara Falls, New York. It’s my first step into paranormal mysteries, and I’m thrill my publisher is letting me do it. The first novel is Crime and Poetry and releases in April 2016. Also in 2016, the second Living History Museum Mystery, The Final Tap, releases in May and the fifth Amish Quilt Shop Mystery, Murder, Handcrafted, releases in June.

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

Great question. If I am working at the library that day, I usually write 3-4 hours before or after work depending on my work schedule. If I’m not working at the library, I write 10-12 hours in a day.

  • 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?

No library? I couldn’t live without a library, but if I had to make this tough choice, they would be:

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

The Great Divorce by C.S. Lewis

A Potion to Die For by Heather Blake

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

Keep trying! It took me nine years to sell my first novel. Perseverance is the name of the game.

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

I’ve traveled to many places alone, but the craziest was when I went to Israel and Jordan without knowing a soul I was with. It was an adventure.

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

I spend a lot of time in my Amish books describing the Amish food, which is meat heavy, but I’ve been a vegetarian for seventeen years.

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

Who keeps you on task as you write? Those would be my feline editors Cheeps and Tummy. You can follow them on Instagram or on my facebook page.

For more info, visit my website www.amandflower.com!

Just for Fun:

Night or Day?  Day for fun, Night to write

Dog or Cat? (answer carefully)  Cat (but I love dogs too!)

Beach or Pool?   Beach

Steak or salad?  Salad

Favorite Drink?  Chai

Favorite Book?  Charlotte’s Web

Favorite TV Series?  Downton Abbey

Favorite Movie?  Pride and Prejudice (Keira Knightly version… I know I know purists like Colin Firth better)

Favorite Actor: Gregory Peck

Favorite Actress: Anne Hathaway

Dirty Martini or Pina Colada?  Pina Colada

Hawaii or Alaska? Alaska

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

If I had just one wish, it would be that my family and friends are healthy and happy.

If I could trade places with anyone in the world, it would be President Obama to see what it’s like to be president, but just for a day because I really love my own life and don’t want to have the kind of pressure!

Follow Amanda on Social Media at: Facebook Twitter Instagram



Amanda will give away a copy of Murder, Served Simply, the third Amish Quilt Mystery. This mystery is set during Christmas in Amish Country! To enter, leave your name and email address in our comments section below.  We wlll select the winner at random. Contest ends midnight, December 10.