4 Crime Stories in 4 Minutes

Benjamin Sobieck is my guest today. Welcome, Ben. Please tell us a little about yourself.

Thanks, Susan. I’m an online editor/journalist by day, journalist/online editor by night and crime fiction author when I should be sleeping. At this pace, I should be incoherent by 40.

How did you get into crime fiction?

I work in non-fiction 40 hours a week. You need a break from typing reality sometimes. I’ve keyed the word “recently” so much, I forget what it means. I just throw it into what I’m doing, because it must be in there somewhere.

I got into crime fiction back when I was a cub newspaper reporter. I covered crime and government - sometimes both at once. Since I already enjoyed creative writing, crime fiction seemed like a good fit. It let me analyze the screwball degenerates I was encountering.

So crime fiction allows you to explore crime itself?

Deep down, we’re all criminals. Save for your family and friends, the rest of the world can die on a vine so long as our basic needs are met. That means putting your neighbor on a pitchfork rotisserie to feed your family.

But most people don’t do that. The fabric of society partitions “people” from “animals fighting over food.” Most stay on the former, but criminals are in tune with the latter.

That’s why crime fiction is so appealing. It allows readers to reconnect with that primal instinct without killing someone. Unless they’re looking for inspiration. But psychopaths usually stick to literature.

Crime fiction readers are killers?

Absolutely. If released into the wild, they would put the Mongol hordes to shame.

Okay, you're really stepping on my tender toes now. LOL. I've be trying to hide that instinct.

I can only hope to distract their bloodlust for a few pages. I’m a humble author. It’s the best I can do.

How would you describe your style of writing?

I like incorporating experimental concepts into what I create. But not in a gimmicky or “Look what I can do, ma!” kind of way. The experimental twist is much more subtle. It isn’t obvious the way it hits you. When it does, you’ll probably say, “That was pretty cool,” not “This author is a douche.”

What experimental crime fiction have you put out recently?

Recently. There’s that word again! Agghh, I’m off to join the Mongol hordes.

Sorry:-|

As of late (that’s better), I put together an anthology of four flash fiction pieces published previously online. It’s called 4 Killer Crime Stories in 4 Minutes. It’s available as an ebook on my website (http://www.benjaminsobieck.webs.com), Smashwords, Scribd and some other online retailers that aren’t set up as of this interview.

The collection is actually a benefit. For me. Before you say, “Don’t all books benefit the author?” allow me to explain. I received a kidney transplant earlier this year. It saved my life, for which I’m forever grateful. But the pills and procedures necessary to keep me going put me in a tough spot, especially since this economy isn’t helping my wife find work.

It’s like this. Proceeds from 4 Killer Crime Stories in 4 Minutes go toward drugs I need to keep my kidney healthy. Readers get the bonus of good juju with their crime fiction.

Outside of that, my debut crime novel, Cleansing Eden, will be published June 15, 2011, by Shadow Line Press. That seems light years away for this anxious author.

Where can people find out more about you?

My website is http://www.benjaminsobieck.webs.com. I highly recommend it as a time waster at work. I worked hard to make it that way.

And since you’re already wasting time at work on Facebook and Twitter, I’m on there, too. Plus, CrimeSpace and Book Town.

Anything else you’d like to add?

To prevent young Timmy from killing again, I had no choice but to include his letter in 4 Killer Crime Stories in 4 Minutes. The Midwest can sleep in peace again tonight.

Gordon Mathieson: The Color of Ice

My guest today is author, Gordon Mathieson. Welcome, Gordon. Grab a cup of coffee and tell us a little about yourself.

I am retired now, finishing my 20 year career as Director of IT as Yale University. So my wife and I moved to Cape Cod where we always summered and with time on my hands I invented a trivia board game, The Cape Cod & islands Challenge. Now with all the research I had done, I decided to take the factoids and develop a mystery…..the rest is history as they say…..

What books came along at just the right time to influence your reading/writing?

I enjoy reading all sorts of books and genres, but favor mysteries. That is why my works are in the mystery genre…always in the mystery genre….but cozy mysteries where the average Jane or John Doe come across the crime and solve the mystery without cops, FBI or any authority.


Tell us about your latest book. Is it available in print, ebook, and Kindle formats?

My latest suspense mystery, The Color of Ice is available only in print, but I am open to other vehicles to get the story into the hands of readers.

Do you think your writing has improved since your first attempt? If so, in what way?

In so many ways, have I improved. Especially taking my time….. I actually enjoy the “re-work-editing” more than penning the original text….I likened it to sculpting, where you have a block of clay and make a rough model, but the fun and excitement is in the fine chiseling, shaping and smoothing.

Were any of your books more challenging to write than the others? If so, why?

I think my latest was the more challenging since I had to refresh my knowledge of Mandarin Chinese for some of the sentences and phrases…and also had to consult with scientists to ascertain some assumptions.

How do you develop characters? Setting?

I love to develop characters and readers tell me that is my forte. I try to give the reader a good visual and profile of the character early in the book, and if the character changes (arc) they will feel the change as well.

I write only about areas I am familiar with or have visited.

How do you determine voice in your writing?

I always take the third person and try to keep with only one POV, but in one book I had to used two POV.

Describe your ideal reader.

Someone who can spend at least a few hours as a time to read and not snippets during their lunch our etc. Someone who gets into the plot and lets themselves drift into the storyline, venue, etc.

After hours of intense writing, how do you unwind?

I walk…I love to walk

Me too!
Any current projects?

Yes. I just completed my first Young Adult mystery novel with a teenage girl as the super sleuth ala a contemporary Nancy Drew story.
Where can folks learn more about your books and events?

My website is gordonmathieson.com and people can ask questions of me through that. And I am on FaceBook.

Thanks for dropping by, Gordon, and continued success! By the way, congratulations on your recent cover award. It's quite eye-catching.

The Novels of Joyce Godwin Grubbs

My guest today is Joyce Godwin Grubbs. Joyce, welcome to my blog.

Please tell folks who you are.

Thanks, Susan. My experience with underground relocation and protection services for victims of rape/sexual assault and domestic violence victims was vital preparation to write my novels. I collaborated with decorated pioneer policewoman and sex crime expert Trula Godwin. I am Founder and direct “The Trula Godwin Project”, an underground victim's program in her name. (www.trulagodwinproject.webs.com).

I won the Epsilon Sigma Alpha International Award in Iowa, and finished in the top five in international competition. This was in recognition of a non-profit organization I co-founded to work with: the homeless, addicts, mentally ill and special need people. My many years of work as a trained advocate on the crisis lines, shelters, and as a nurse in adult and child psychiatric residential care, have provided unending opportunities for materials and unique insights.

I am a published photo/journalist and recipient of the “Editor’s Choice Award 2009" for contributions as a freelance writer for the internet news network. (CMN).Cable Muse Network and also contribute to the Cable Box Blog. I won publication of two winning non-fiction contest essays in the Quad City Times (circulation 67, 467) in consecutive years. I have done online technical writing for private corporate companies for their products, marketing, and political contributions. As a speaker, I have also been a ghostwriter for other speakers.

My life has led me to many intriguing experiences with politicians, criminals, and being privy to the integral workings of the “shadow world” that exists around us in our cities. I am honored to be among those to whom much trust was given by the people of the streets, and was protected by the “code of the street people” as I helped those who walked on “the wild side.”

I have completed eight novels ( romantic/suspense and mystery/suspense). All eight are on Amazon Kindle Ebooks. My novels are stand-alone manuscripts though known collectively as the “Greyhound Lady Walking” series.

I write strong ensemble stories, with lead characters that are often “damaged” but they never give up. They sometimes fail, but always achieve their goal and learn more through the process. I present strong female and male perspectives. These books are “insights” into a “shadow world “most people do not even know exists yet it is “happening” all around them as they live and sleep. The integration of real life cases, fictionalized assures the reader a powerful read. I invite you to join them in experiencing a literary walk on the wild side.

Intriguing, indeed. What a wonderful service you provide, and I'm certain that rich fodder for writing surrounds you.

What books came along at just the right time to influence your reading/writing?

What are your writing goals?

I want people to read my books for the second time then apply the “ new knowledge” to their lives. I call my novels “WAR stories for men and women”. Women, Adversity, Romance. In each book, a strong, lead, female character is overcoming adversity against great odds. I deal with issues of domestic violence, rape/sexual assault, child abuse, male rape, gang rapes, and recovery issues victims’ face in their sexuality. In each book are positive solutions, innovative new programs, and “possibilities” of new approaches to saving high-risk victims. Oh, and did I mention they are filled with humor?

What is your most rewarding experience during the writing process?

I had a content reader call me and want me to drive her to the location of the book so she could volunteer to work with “the program of the Monday Night Flight Club”. She had to see that place, and become a part of that work. I had to remind her it was fiction. However, it validated my goal is being reached; to get people into the hearts and minds of victims and cause them to become proactive in caring and supporting victim issues.

Tell us about your latest book. Is it available in print, ebook, and Kindle formats?

The Greyhound Lady Walking series (of seven novels) is on Kindle as is my mystery suspense book, Mysteries of the Dogwood Diaries. Synopsis: A legacy is left through generations of women who write in the Dogwood Diaries translating oral history to the printed word. The loss of one of the women and her diary is the catalyst for the determined family matriarch, Marguerite McKenna to find them, to preserve her family and its legacies. She summons Blaine Stryker in a public and not so subtle way.

Blaine Stryker has distinguished herself in investigative reporting and is a Pulitzer Prize nominee when her childhood nemesis summons her. Having gone underground in her youth, Blaine fights to protect her new identity but is forced to pay an old debt to Marguerite’s granddaughter and the indomitable “Biddy” who once helped save her life. This is complicated by the federal agent from Texas, Walker Rhoades who believes she is complicit in crimes against Ms. McKenna and murder. Blaine and Walker Rhoades will have to unite to solve five mysteries in the book to prove her innocence.

Do you think your writing has improved since your first attempt? If so, in what way?

Definitely grittier, and I go right to the heart of the matter. I write more about the story and less with the concern of whether it is entertaining. More about whether it is faithful in telling the essence of the truth about the events and feelings of the character. I found it became more than entertaining. It became life affirming to allow readers to walk on the wild side and be an integral part of the struggles and triumphs.

Were any of your books more challenging to write than the others? If so, why?

The most challenging book for me was Mysteries of the Dogwood Diaries. It was my first variation from the “Greyhound Lady Walking” series, and the eighth book. It is pure mystery and suspense, and the others were real cases fictionalized. I just had to put them all in context, but Dogwood Diaries was one hundred per cent imagination.

How does your environment/upbringing color your writing?

No doubt, my life experiences working so many years in active victim services, and creating an organization to put high-risk victims underground certainly contributed. I was fortunate to work with my sister who was a decorated, pioneer policewoman and a sex crime expert. She went on the force after being raped in her home after the birth of her fifth child. We collaborated for more than twenty years, until she succumbed to breast cancer.

After hours of intense writing, how do you unwind?

I spend time with my husband and greyhounds. I also mentor seniors to get them “techno-savvy” on the Internet and Kindles.

Any current projects?

 In November I am doing NANOWRIMO for the third time. Two of my books are the result of being a winner in 2008 and 2009, For those who are not familiar, it’s the international challenge to write a novel of at least 50,000 words in 30 days. I loved it and The Monday Night Flight Club was my first, and Mysteries of the Dogwood Diaries my second. Of course the rule is: write with no editing until December. They are actually two of my favorite books.

http://www.joycegodwingrubbs.webs.com/
Facebook account is: Joyce Godwin Grubbs

Twitter account is: GrassrootAuthor


Joyce, I have enjoyed interviewing you. I wish you well with your writing, your foundation, and your worthy endeavors.

Caitlyn Hunter's Storm Shadows

It's always a treat to interview a North Carolina writer, this week, Caitlyn Hunter.

Welcome. Tell us a little about yourself, Caitlyn.


I live in the Blue Ridge Mountains of western North Carolina with my husband and our two dogs, Des and Fletch. I write mostly romance, paranormal to contemporary, sensual to sweet, novels to short stories. I’m part Cherokee and all of my paranormal romances are based on one or more of the legends of my ancestors. When I’m not writing, I like to garden, can, quilt and like all writers, I’m an avid reader.

Tell us about Storm Shadows.

Storm Shadows is the second book in my Eternal Shadows series. The hero, Marcus, like his three brothers, was cursed hundreds of years ago by the Shamans for shirking their responsibilities to their tribe. As a result of the curse, they’re shape-shifters, have various psychic abilities, and they’re immortal—or so they think until Marc starts doing some research into Cherokee legends and beliefs.
Marc’s been having visions for a number of years that involve a woman. Because of the outcome of those visions, when the woman shows up on his mountain, he’s caught up in a fight or flight scenario. Should he let her into his life and risk the possibility of his visions coming true or stay as far away from her as he possibly can?
Betty Sue considers herself the ultimate plain Jane. She’s klutzy, shy, and woefully lacking in self-confidence. When her friend Nathan, Marc’s brother, offers her the opportunity to stay in his cabin on Eternity Mountain she jumps at the chance. After a few days exploring the mountain, she meets Marc and is instantly attracted to him. It’s obvious he’s interested in her too, but why is he doing everything possible to drive her away and what secrets hide behind the sadness she sees in his eyes?

Caitlyn, do you think your writing has improved since your first attempt? If so, in what way?

Oh definitely. My first book, which is no longer available (thank goodness!) was full of head-hopping. Of course, all the POV jumps were fixed in the editing process but I still have a tendency to head-hop. I'm getting better at staying with one character during a scene, but I still have to remind myself constantly which character’s POV I’m in while I’m writing the scene. I've even been known to stick a post-it note on my computer with the character's name on it.
I also have a tendency to tell instead of show which as you know, is a cardinal sin for writers. I blame it on the fact that I grew up listening to my dad tell stories about his childhood in the mountains of North Carolina. I still love to "hear" a good story and it doesn't bother me when an author "tells" more than "shows" but I know that's bad so I try to avoid it. It’s a tough battle—and a constant one for me!

Were any of your books more challenging to write than the others? If so, why?

Oh yeah, Storm Shadows. I don’t usually use an outline for my books; instead I start writing and let the characters drive me where they want to go. But with Storm, I actually had an outline. It was rough but I knew exactly where I wanted the book to go and how it was going to get there. The heroine, unfortunately, had other ideas. The whole time I was writing the book, I tried to stick with the outline but Betty Sue did some shape-shifting of her own, turning into a scene-stealing monster and refusing to follow my directions. She took me on a wild ride, down roads I’d never considered going, leading to places I’d never imagined. We argued constantly—and yes, I carry on conversations with my characters—and she came very close to driving me crazy before I finished the book. I happy to say I got through it but I really hope the heroine in the next book doesn’t present the same challenge.

How does your environment/upbringing color your writing?

Most of my stories take place in the mountains of western North Carolina. When my husband and I decided to move back to the South after living in Maine for eight years, we settled on western NC because it’s close to our families in east Tennessee and I had spent quite a bit of time here as a child visiting my dad’s family. Eternity Mountain, where the Eternal Shadows series takes place is based on childhood memories of the mountain where my grandmother and great aunt lived.
My first book and two of my short stories, however, were written when my husband and I lived in Maine and they both take place there. I also have a couple of YA fantasies I wrote while I lived there that are set in Maine.
As you can see, environment plays an important part in my writing and recently my upbringing has come to the forefront because my sister, Christy Tillery French, and I are co-writing a book about our great aunt’s life growing up in the historical town of Hot Springs, North Carolina. We’re doing our best to incorporate all those wonderful stories we heard from our dad when we were kids.

Yes, I've visited Hot Springs many times and wrote about it in one of my novels, Just North of Luck except that I have a serial killer on the loose in that little town.
Any current projects?

I have another paranormal romance, Winds of Fate, coming out soon. This one’s based on the Native American legend of the Blowing Rock in North Carolina and also includes elements of the Cherokee beliefs on reincarnation.

As I mentioned above, my sister and I are writing a book, Whistling Woman, about our great aunt’s life. We're very close to finishing the manuscript and hope to meet in Hot Springs for several days to edit and revise before we start the submission process.

What a great place to do that. I'm envious.

I’m also working on the next book in the Eternal Shadows series, Sun Shadows, which tells the story of the third Tassel brother, Luke. And I’m about ninety-five percent finished with a novella about an older, very professional woman who gets involved with a younger man, tentatively titled Strict Policies. Also, I recently pulled out one of those YA books and am playing around with it, hoping I’ll have the nerve to submit it…someday!

Wow! You're certainly a busy lady. Where can folks learn more about your books and events?

On my website, Romancing the Legends… at http://caitlynhunter.com, or on my blog, Cait-Tales at http://caitlynhunter.wordpress.com/. I also have a page on Author’s Den, Facebook, MySpace, and various other networking sites, all of which can be found through my website. I’m one of the Dames of Dialogue, a group of women writers who can be found at http://damesofdialogue.wordpress.com/.

Caitlyn, I hope we meet in person soon. Continued success with all that you have going on.
Thanks, Susan

S. Michael Wilson

I welcome S. Michael Wilson, author of Lugosi.
Tell us a little about yourself.

Born in Rochester, New York in 1973, I was transplanted to New Jersey at the tender age of eight, and have yet to make my escape. My generation was the first to grow up with twenty-four hour cable channels spewing nonstop movies, and so I grew up with an appreciation for film. In my adult life I have been employed as a postal worker, production assistant, warehouse manager, theater manager, underground fuel tank technician, stockroom clerk, office manager, projectionist, and even a lowly comic store clerk. During all of these various occupations, however, I have always been a writer. I was also named after a song, but I’m not telling which one.

Tell us about Performed by Lugosi.

Performed by Lugosi takes a closer look at the life and work of iconic horror actor Bela Lugosi by examining the classic literary origins of seven of his films, selected from various points in his career. Each section includes the complete short story that the film was based on, a detailed synopsis of the film, the origins and history of both, a comparison of the differences and similarities between the two, a look at Lugosi’s life and career at that point in time, and my own thoughts and reflections on his performance and the film.
The scope of the book is a little ambitious on my part, an attempt at an amalgam of literary criticism, film theory, biography and movie review, which is hopefully not nearly as boring as it sounds. I wanted to write something about Lugosi that was more than just historical documentation and anecdotal reminiscing; I wanted to show how I view and appreciate films, the different ways that films and performances are influenced, and the similar origins that can often yield vastly different results. I also wanted to show that you can have a love or an appreciation for performers or films without turning a blind eye to their obvious faults and shortcomings, so I don’t just spend the entire book praising Lugosi and his films.

Is it available in print and e-book formats?

Performed by Lugosi is available in print form from Amazon.com, really cool local bookstores. My publisher is currently working on making it and my previous book (Monster Rally) available on the Kindle as well as other electronic e-book devices.

How do you determine voice in your writing?

I think the subject matter and my connection to it usually determines my voice more than I do. I have rewritten entire articles I originally felt demanded a serious tone, yet upon review came off as boring and sterile. Performed by Lugosi was just the opposite. I started the project with the intention of writing a snarky and comical look at Lugosi’s films and career, but the more I researched and immersed myself in his work, the more I discovered that I respected it too much to treat it that way, and so my approach became a bit more measured and clinical. In the end, I think it all comes down to that intangible “Whatever feels right” mantra, which is one of the aspects of writing that can make it so frustrating, yet ultimately rewarding.

Do you have specific techniques you use while writing?

When it comes to film theory and criticism, I like to keep the film I am writing about playing in the background on a continuous loop. It might sound a bit simplistic, but I find that immersing myself in a film on an almost subconscious level helps me get past the first impressions and assumptions that can often influence the interpretation of a film. After the tenth or fifteenth viewing, even peripherally, the film becomes such a part of me that I begin to notice details or themes that normally would not occur to me. This is probably the reason, for instance, that I spend a whole page or so discussing the thematic implications of the missing arm of Lugosi’s character in "Phantom Ship".

What is your most rewarding experience during the writing process?

I stick to the old quote, attributed to various authors, “I hate writing. I love having written.” My most rewarding moment comes much later, when I am reading over a past project, and I come across a passage that I not only do not remember writing, but am actually surprised came from me. There is no better feeling than impressing yourself.

Any current projects?

Oh my, yes. My ongoing project/hobby/obsession is a film review podcast I co-host called "MovieSucktastic". It is mostly dedicated to bad movies, and is available on iTunes and at www.moviesucktastic.com, with written reviews and comments from the show available on the sister blog, boothreviews.blogspot.com.
As far as the books go, I am currently working on the forwards to several film novelization reprints scheduled for release by Idea Men Productions, a follow-up to Monster Rally, and a book on bad movies based on my work with MovieSuckastic. A screenplay I co-wrote, a romantic comedy involving a yard sale, is slated to shoot in the spring of 2011. I also have a short story collection and vampire novel in the works, but those are currently taking a back seat as I devote more time to my film-related projects.

Where can folks learn more about your books and events?

My official author page is www.smichaelwilson.com. There you can find the latest news about my current work, upcoming projects, and future appearances, as well as links to my Facebook and Twitter pages. My unofficial and less professional blog, scottsbookshelf.blogspot.com, is where I post my random, unorganized, and occasionally NSFW thoughts.

Michael, thanks for an interesting interview. Best of sales!

Joe Prentis: Abraham's Bones

Joe Prentis dropped by for a friendly interrogation. Welcome, Joe, and thanks for coming over. Tell us a little about yourself and your novels, Innocent and  Abraham's Bones.

Prentis: I guess you could say that I am pretty much your average guy, which means that I have the same ambitions, desires and fears as the rest of humanity. My father was interested in almost everything, and I learned to exercise my curiosity at an early age. Our home was filled with people from all walks of life. From listening to their conversations, I learned that the world was a huge, complicated, and wonderful place. My desire to write came about because I wanted others to experience the sense of wonder that captivated me at an early age and has continued throughout my life.

Q: What are your writing goals?

Prentis: I learned early in the process of becoming a writer that the idea of being one of the literary giants of the century was an illusion that I was not likely to realize. I write for the pure joy of creating a story that will entertain, inspire, or teach. My main goal is to produce stories that someone will love in the same way I love a good story. One of the most enjoyable experiences in my life was going into a library and being drafted by the librarian to read to the children. They were especially attentive when I read the story and did all of the voices. A few years later, I attended a book signing at the same library. One of the little girls was then in middle school. She announced to the crowd that she was my number one fan. It doesn’t get any better than that.

Q: Tell us about your latest book. Is it available in print and e-book formats?

Prentis: Several years ago, I started writing a book about the Middle East. I soon realized that one book would not tell the story I was trying to tell. It soon grew into a series. I finished the first book, Abraham’s Bones, and I’m now working on the second book in the series. It has a working title of The Relic, and should be available by the end of the year. I like adventure stories with suspense and human conflict. I think Abraham’s Bones meets both of these requirements. The book is available at Amazon, both in print and e-book format.

Q: How do you develop characters? Setting?

Prentis: I am a character driven writer. Characters sometimes spring into my head fully grown and then demand that I do something to improve their situation. When I was at a library meeting that hosted five different fiction writers, I was the only one who wrote character driven fiction. Someone asked me how I could possibly write without a detailed plot. I asked her to imagine what would happen if her best friend was carjacked, threatened, falsely accused, or imprisoned. Once you know your characters as well as you know the people around you, most of the plotting will take care of itself. Writing from a character driven prospective does not involve sloppy writing. If anything, it channels the process of plotting into a logical sequence that covers all the requirements for a well crafted story. I love books that contain detailed description of their setting. It is fun and a challenge to try to find new ways to make the reader see and feel the surroundings without weighing the story down with extraneous details.

Q: What are your protagonist’s strengths? Flaws?

Prentis: There are too many books where the characters are little more than cardboard cutouts. If you think about the books that really move you emotionally, it is the ones where the protagonist is strong, yet flawed. People are a lot more complex than some writers realize. We are all tugged in different directions, and if a writer wants a book to resonate with the reader, he will make the characters complicated and conflicted.

Q: Do you have specific techniques you use to develop the plot and stay on track.

Prentis: When I start a story, I usually have little more than one scene in mind and only a vague idea where the story is headed. My suspense novel, Innocent, grew out of a brief incident I witnessed when going into a shopping mall. A police officer held the door for a young woman, then bent and picked up her young daughter’s toy when she dropped it. There was something particularly moving in the way he presented the toy to the little girl. He was a tough looking veteran, but with the tender touch of someone who loved kids. After I have captured someone like that on the page, I ask myself where I am going with the story. It is at this point where I find it possible to present this person in conflict with life and the events surrounding him. By the time I finish the story, I have a tall stack of notes, most of them involving questions I ask myself about the plot. One carefully explained detail can lead the reader to anticipate what is going to happen in the next chapter, and most important of all, the reader can feel it as it happens. I make lots of notes, and usually create a storyboard outlining the sequence of events in the story. This allows me to tighten up the plot without leaving out any essential details.

Q: Where do you write? When? What do you have around you?

Prentis: I have an office at home where I have two computers. One is the conventional set down arrangement at a desk. The other computer is setting on a cabinet where I can stand up and write if I get tired of sitting. I have the blinds closed, the television and radio off. I also don’t want to be disturbed. I have a table where I have my notes arranged in order where I can look up any detail, and my storyboard where I can glance at it without too much of an interruption. I can write at any time of the day or night.

Q: Where can folks learn more about your books?
Prentis: My blog address is: http://www.prentisatpickwick.blogspot.com/

Thanks for coming by, Joe. Continued success.

Sharon Donovan's Her Biggest Fan

Sharon Donovan lives in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with her family. Prior to the loss of her vision, she was a legal secretary for the Court of Common Pleas where she prepared cases for judges in Domestic Relations. Painting was her passion. When she could no longer paint, she began attending creative writing classes and memoir workshops. After a long and winding road, a new dream arose. Today, instead of painting her pictures on canvas, Sharon paints her pictures with words.

Sharon writes stories of inspiration and suspense. She has certificates in business and medical transcription. Echo of a Raven, a narrative non-fiction about her struggles with diabetic retinopathy, received a CTRR award for outstanding writing, and The Claddagh Ring is a 2009 CAPA nominee for best inspirational of the year. Other books by Sharon Donovan are Mask of the Betrayer, Touched by an Angel and Lasting Love. Her Biggest Fan and Charade of Hearts are coming soon from The Wild Rose Press. You can visit Sharon at http://www.sharonadonovan.com/. Welcome, Sharon.




Tell us about Her Biggest Fan. Is it available in print and e-book formats?

My latest release is Her Biggest Fan, a romantic suspense published by the crimson line of The Wild Rose Press. It is available in both print and eBook format. When New York Times bestselling author Tess Kincaid wins the RITA award for her romantic suspense, little does she know she is being photographed. But when she finds a letter in her mailbox, hears her favorite classical song playing on her stereo, and receives an obscene phone call at midnight identifying himself as her biggest fan, she realizes she is being stalked. Plagued with fear, Tess flees to her childhood home, a century-old New England manor overlooking Frenchmen’s Bay. And when the psychotic fan follows her, Tess becomes ensnared in a bizarre game of cat and mouse. Using wax gargoyles, flickering candelabras and eerie music, her biggest fan sets out to drive the pretty little princess insane. But when Tess calls the police, all the props disappear. And when a ball of fire rolls down the hillside, threatening to burn her century-old estate to ashes, Tess calls the fire department. When they arrive, there is no sign of fire. No one believes the spoiled beauty with the bewitching green eyes. Authorities think she’s crazy as a loon. But sensing evil from deep in the woods, Tess Kincaid would bet her life someone is keeping vigil from the watch tower. With the help of her very handsome neighbor, Sheriff Mike Andretti, Tess is bound and determined to prove her biggest fan is real and put an end to this bizarre game.

Wow! how intriguing! Do you think your writing has improved since your first attempt? If so, in what way?

Oh, yes. As writers, we never stop learning. Smart writers learn from their mistakes, and I’ve certainly learned by mine. Initially, going back ten years ago, I had no concept of pov, no idea of how to create subplots or follow a constructive outline, or how to determine a sub-genre or for that matter even a general genre at times. These are all signs of the novice writer, and editors and agents will pick this up in a New York second and toss your carelessly put together manuscript in the slosh pile. Learn the genre you are marketing; otherwise, you’re just wasting your time and the time of the agent/editor. The best thing to do is to carefully read the guidelines of each publishing house that you want to submit to before submitting. Find out if they’re accepting your choice in genre, the word count the font, etc. But most of all, present the most flawless manuscript that you can, free of errors. Joining critique groups for constructive criticism is the best way to improve writing, aside from writing often. Readers are our biggest fans, and ultimately we must please our readers. If more than one person reads the ms and is lost, you have a problem that needs addressed before you submit to a house. These are the words that I live by. I’m a better writer than I was yesterday, but not as good a writer as I will be tomorrow.

Were any of your books more challenging to write than the others? If so, why?

Mask of the Betrayer was my biggest challenge. The main character is a twisted sociopath and serial killer. The mind has always fascinated me. It can bend. It can break. It can snap. In order to write Michael DeVeccio’s story, I had to get deep inside his mind, and in order to do this, I took psychology classes to best understand and study the complexity of the mind and its many disorders. For the most part, sociopaths have been severely traumatized in early childhood, causing their psyche to crack and unravel in later years. Getting into Michael’s head and telling his story from his pov was a frightening place to be. Research for me is everything, and if the facts are misleading to the reader, I haven’t done my homework and have no right stating so in print.

How do you develop characters? Setting?

Certain characters are roughly defined from people I know, while some are strictly from my imagination. Others stem from old television shows or movies or soap operas, combining several characterizations into one. I’ve been known to incorporate some of my own traits into characters, mingling the vulnerable with strengths. For setting, naturally the best way to bring one to life is by visiting the town or country. My visit to Ireland inspired me to write a mystic tale about The Claddagh Ring, and vacationing in the wild and majestic Hawaiian Islands was the backbone to my upcoming suspense Charade of Hearts. But since I can’t go to all the locations I choose to write about, I research the town or country thoroughly and often interview people who have first hand knowledge.

What are your protagonist’s strengths? Flaws?

In both the protagonist and antagonist, each has to have a little of both to make them human. Who do you know that is all good or all bad? I can think of certain people that consider themselves flawless, but in reality, are anything but. If I created a heroine that was so squeaky clean and so perfect, who could relate to her? She would come off as cold and unfeeling, not to mention selfish and snobbish. The same with the hero. What woman wants a man who is too perfect for words? How could she let her own hair down if she was afraid to let Mr. Perfect see her flaws or see her naked face without a ton of makeup? This would make for boring life and boring fiction. We all have our flaws, and it’s been my personal experience that admitting to them and finding the humor in them makes people relate to me and admit to a few of their own. Tess Kincaid is my heroine and the protagonist in Her Biggest Fan. She is a beauty with mahogany hair and bewitching green eyes and has been treated like a princess all of her life. On the downside, Tess is prone to migraines when under stress and anxiety attacks requiring medication. In Mask of the Betrayer, Margot Montgomery is polished and sophisticated and highly disciplined. But her flaw is something that she falls prey to, binging and purging when under stress.

How do you determine voice in your writing?

Oddly enough, through music. Music sets the scene for me and invites characters to form de mentions. For instance, in Her Biggest Fan, the song I use is "Midnight Sonata". The haunting piano keys of this old classic strum up an aura of mystery and has been the prelude for many a murder scene. I find the spiking of piano keys chilling when they reach a crushing crescendo, and this song plays from the antique phonograph in the old ballroom, adding the perfect ambiance for an eerie and otherworldly setting. It’s one of those songs that will stick in the head of the reader, sending chills skating down the spine. I hope this is what I’ve created for my readers in Her Biggest Fan.

For Mask of the Betrayer, I used the childhood nursery rhyme "The Farmer in the Del", changing the lyrics to “A hunting we will go, a hunting we will go. Heigh ho the dairy-o, a hunting we will go. We’ll catch a fox and put him in a box. Heigh ho the dairy-o, a hunting we will go." You can view the book video on my website:

www.sharonadonovan.com

Music sets the scene for drama, suspense and murder!

Where do you write? When? What do you have around you?

I write in my makeshift office and am surrounded by good luck charms and my collection of Mardi Gras face masks. I’m a dream weaver of mystic legends and lore, superstitions and a believer in magic and happily ever afters. My books are all inspired by the legends I collect, and Her Biggest Fan is no exception. My mother is from a small coal mining town in Shamrock, Pennsylvania. When she was growing up, there was a ball of fire that would roll down the hill every night at midnight. If anyone tried to get close, it would disappear. One day, it just vanished and the mystery was never solved. Some say that one of the coal miners lost his life in the shaft and was keeping vigil, protecting other coal miners from death. When my mom and her sisters were together a few years ago at a holiday get together, they talked about this bizarre ball of fire on the hillside. Even though Her Biggest Fan is not about a coal miner or a coal mining town, the ball of fire inspired me to write the book, and I dedicated it to my mother and the unsolved mystery of Shamrock.

Any current projects?

I am hard at work on Vendetta, the sequel to Mask of the Betrayer. Charade of Hearts will be released in December by the crimson line of The Wild Rose Press as part of the Jewel of the Night series. It stars Oliver, my sexy cyber butler.

Where can folks learn more about your books and events?

The best place is my website for book releases, excerpts and reviews. You can also learn what I’m up to under NEWS and don’t forget to sign up for my news letter. Oliver will be happy to serve you a drink with a smile and a wink and direct you to my blog. My website will direct you to my publishers where you can purchase my books. Thanks for reading, and Susan, thanks for the interview! Here’s my website:

www.sharonadonovan.com



Her Biggest Fan

The Wild Rose Press

www.thewildrosepress.com



Mask of the Betrayer

Whimsical Publications

http://www.whimsicalpublications.com/sharon_donovan/mask_of_the_betrayer.html


Sharon, you are truly an inspiration to all of us! Tremendous success!