Sunday, May 28, 2017

say hello to Marion Moore Hill


Due to a snafu with comments, ROCCO is re-running this post!

Meow, my guest today is MARION MOORE HILL



Welcome Marion. Tell us a bit about your background.

Thanks ROCCO!   I was born in Oklahoma and grew up in various small towns in Illinois and Kansas as the family moved around following my father's oil-field job.  After high school, I worked three years as a legal secretary, then attended junior college in Kansas and college in Shawnee, OK.  Following a master's at Stanford U., I taught journalism at Carson-Newman College (now University) in Jefferson City, TN.  There, I met and married Elbert Hill, and we lived in Knoxville and later in Memphis while he completed his master's degree.  We moved to Durant, OK, and both taught in the English Dept. at Southeastern Oklahoma State University, then moved to Lincoln, NE, where he earned a Ph.D., then back to Durant in 1972, where we've lived ever since.   I worked as a legal secretary in California while studying at Stanford.  We owned a small ethnic-foods store in Durant, OK, from 1976 to 1985, mostly serving the international students that attended SOSU, and I ran it.  Since about 1987, I've concentrated on writing fiction and finally had a short story published in 1999.  I now have six novels published in two different mystery series.

Tell us about your SCRAPPY LIBRARIAN series

 I adore libraries and wanted to write about a librarian, but I was put off by the stereotypical librarian often depicted in books:  a rigid, non-smiling, hair-in-a-bun martinet who can't imagine having fun herself, much less allowing anyone else to do so.  I wanted to write about a librarian more like the ones I know:  interesting individuals, interested in lots of subjects, and fun-loving, having a good sense of humor.  As I was thinking one day about that kind of librarian, I began hearing the voice of Juanita Wills, who's all those things I liked.  Juanita is a tad cynical about life, but she likes people and is passionate about justice.  The Scrappy Librarian was born, and I never get tired of spending time with Juanita and with the people she hangs out with in Wyndham, OK.

How did you get the idea for your DEADLY PAST series?

  I got the idea for this series when I learned about the odd will that Benjamin Franklin left (which I'd never heard about in any of my history courses).  He bequeathed money to the cities of Philadelphia and Boston but directed that the funds earn interest for 200 years after his death before the cities received all the money.  I thought, "What a fascinating idea for a legacy!"  At first, I couldn't figure out how to incorporate this idea into a novel.  Should I write a historical mystery set in Franklin's time?  But the real payoff for such a legacy was two centuries after Ben's death, after all the interest had accrued.  So I ended up having a fictitious acquaintance of Franklin's death copy his idea but leave the money (interest and all) not to cities but to his own descendants who would be alive two centuries after his death.  Predictably, once the heirs meet in Philadelphia in current day, some die under mysterious circumstances.  Deadly Will is the most successful of all my books so far, and I think that's at least partly because of its unusual plot, based on a little-known fact about a historical figure.

How do you get to know your characters?

 I have a basic idea of the type of character I need, and then I just start writing.  It isn't until I put characters into scenes and see and hear them interacting that I fully understand the characters and their relationships.  I haven't a clue how my brain does that—why it can develop a character in a scene but not apart from a scene—but that's how it happens for me.  And I sometimes discover things about continuing characters with each book I put them in, because they're doing other things and interacting with other characters than in the initial novel.

Plotter or pantser?

  I've never been able to outline a novel in great detail before I begin writing, as I've heard P. D. James say she could.  I know the beginning and ending of a novel, the identity of the victim and the murderer, and sometimes a few scenes that happen somewhere in the middle.  Then I begin writing.  When I'm well into writing the book, I pause and do more outlining, since I then have a better idea where the story is going.  All that said, I now am able to see a bit more of the book before I begin writing than I used to.  So gradually I'm becoming more of a Plotter.

Which is more important,plot or character?

 It's hard to choose between these, since they interact so much.  That is, I have trouble creating a character without also thinking of events in the plot that involve that character.  And I can't come up with a plot without thinking of the people who'll act in it.  But I do love good characters, so if I had to choose one or the other, it would be character.

What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced as an author?

  Probably my biggest challenge as a writer was keeping myself going in those lean early years while I was still learning to write fiction, before I got published or won any prizes for writing.  Once those began coming, and I could really think of myself as "a writer," staying motivated became much easier.  The challenge now is saying "no" when I'm asked to take on an interesting project—I have lots of interests and want to be involved in lots of things—but carving out time to write is essential.

Do you have an “how I got my agent” story?

 I don't have an agent.  I have tried from time to time to get one, and, although agents often told me they liked things about a work I had submitted, they didn't offer representation.  I have now worked with three publishers—all small independent presses—and haven't needed an agent for my mysteries.  That said, I am working on a standalone mainstream novel, and am trying to get an agent for that.

What are you working on now?

 I'm working on Deadly Kin, the third in my Deadly Past Mysteries series.  This will be set in the Boston area, and its plot relates to John, Abigail and Samuel Adams.  I've done most of the research for the book and have begun to write it.  I also hope to get my mainstream novel published, and its success or lack of it could affect which way my career then goes.  But right now, I'm planning to write more Scrappy Librarian and Deadly Past novels.


Do you have any advice for aspiring authors?

 I would advise any aspiring author to read a lot, write a lot, and accept that a piece you've written may need to go through several revisions before it's ready for publication.  I think many new writers assume they'll break into print with the first thing they write, in its first draft, but usually that doesn't happen.  For most of us, learning to write well is a process, much like training to become a doctor or a lawyer.  We improve with study and with practice.

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

  I don't do a lot of crazy things (that I'm willing to admit to, at least).  I guess one decision some would consider crazy was the time my husband and I, plus a younger friend, traveled by car from California to Oklahoma and decided it would be neat to watch the sun rise over the Grand Canyon.  So we stopped there overnight, slept in the car, and saw a spectacular display of colors as sunlight caressed the many surfaces of the canyon.  I've never seen anything to rival that sight since.  Crazy, maybe.  But so worth it.

What’s something your readers would be surprised to learn about you?

  I began my education by attending a one-room school in Illinois, moved during fourth grade to a "city" school where only pupils in my grade filled a whole room, then moved again that year (My dad got transferred around a lot when he was a young oil-field worker.) to a two-room school.  In my experience, the one- and two-room schools provided education that was far superior to that in the larger school.  Having fewer pupils does make a difference in what can be accomplished in a classroom!

What’s one question you wish interviewers would ask you (and what’s the answer?)

What interesting thing happened to you while doing research for your mysteries?  Answer:  My husband and I were in the Philadelphia area, scoping out locations to use in my novel "Deadly Will," and having dinner in a restaurant in Philly after having toured nearby Valley Forge National Historical Park.  We were saying things like:  "That corner of Valley Forge would be a good spot to kill so-and-so."  We noticed the women at the adjoining table had gotten quiet and were sneaking glances at us.  My husband asked if they were wondering what we were talking about.  They nodded, hesitantly, and we explained about the book.  They were local Philadelphians and then told us about other places around town that were "eerie" and would be good places "to stash a body."

If you entered the witness protection program, what career would you like to have?

Working as a cook at a fine restaurant (not the head chef, but maybe as a sous chef).  I love being around food and watching skilled hands create it.

What would you like a never ending supply of?

Ice cream.  My first thought was chocolate.  I do love chocolate, but vanilla ice cream beats that out.

What’s the last TV show that made you laugh:

Full Frontal" with Samantha Bee.  She's really funny, and her humor has a point.

What store could you browse in for hours?

  Nothing beats a bookstore for browsing, whether it's a big B&N or a small indy (as long as it contains a variety of interesting books).

FUN:
Night or Day? (both, really, but if I must choose)
Dog or Cat? (I like both, but dogs warm my heart more.)
Beach or Pool(neither, really—I'm not much of a swimmer.)
Salad or Steak?  (much more variety possible in a salad)
Favorite Book: To Kill a Mockingbird (so many books, so little time)
TV Show? Mash (terrific writing and acting)
Movie? The Lion in Winter  "     "     "
Actor: Paul Newman
Actress: Katherine Hepburn
Hawaii or Alaska? Alaska

Finish the below:
If I could meet anyone in the world, past or present, it would be :Benjamin Franklin.  Think of the great conversations!
If I had one wish, it would be :to have lots more readers find and enjoy my novels!
If I could trade places with anyone in the world, it would be: Joy Reid on MSNBC.  She's very sharp and gets to interview interesting people.

Readers can find me:
          At my website, www.marionmoorehill.net.  (Note that's .net.  I had the .com domain but lost it when I failed to renew in time one year.)  There's a page at my website for Author Tour, which lists events where I'll be speaking within the next few months.
          At many libraries.  I love giving talks at libraries, because you meet readers there, and there's nothing more fun than discussing books with others who love to read.
          At Malice Domestic mystery convention in Bethesda, MD, on April 29-30.  I'll be the sweet little old lady talking about murder (as if there won't be many others there doing the same thing).



Marion will give FIVE lucky readers their choice of any one of my six published novels (listed below in order of publication):
          Scrappy Librarian Mysteries:
                    BOOKMARKED FOR MURDER
                    DEATH BOOKS A RETURN
                    COOK THE BOOKS
                    BIG BOOK BETRAYAL
          Deadly Past Mysteries:
                    DEADLY WILL
                    DEADLY DESIGN

          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 closes midnight, May 31!




Sunday, May 21, 2017

ROCCO welcomes author Vickie Fee!

Meow! My guest this week is author Vickie Fee!



Vickie Fee blesses hearts and makes Jack Daniels whiskey balls that’ll scorch your tonsils. The third book in her Liv and Di in Dixie cozy mystery series from Kensington, One Fete in the Grave, comes out this month. Books 1 and 2, Death Crashes the Party and It’s Your Party, Die If You Want To, featuring intrepid party planner and amateur sleuth Liv McKay and best friend Di Souther, are available at bookstores and the usual online retailers. Vickie is hard at work on Til Death Do Us Party, which will release in March 2018.


• Welcome Vickie! Tell us a little about your background

Thanks ROCCO! At the moment, it’s a window with a view of Lake Superior, but I grew up in Memphis, Tennessee. I was an adult before I visited Graceland, so I wasn’t scarred too much by seeing the Jungle Room. I was weaned on Nancy Drew and sweet tea before discovering Agatha Christie and fantasizing that Miss Marple was my aunt, with whom I’d spend summers unraveling mysteries in quaint English villages. (Yes, I’m that big of a dork). I earned a degree in journalism from the University of Memphis and worked most of my adult life as a reporter at small town newspapers in western Tennessee. I didn’t realize it at the time, but my former newspaper career was actually research for my current career writing cozy mysteries set in the fictional town of Dixie, Tennessee.

• Tell us a bit about your Liv and Di in Dixie series. Where did that idea come from?

Dixie is fictional, but authentic to many of the small towns I covered as a reporter. So, those experiences informed the setting, complete with a charming town square and a supporting cast of colorful characters. As for the main characters, I wanted my protagonist to have a best friend. I thought that would make the murder-solving adventures more fun for her—and, hopefully, for the reader. I kind of see Liv and Di as a little bit Thelma and Louise and a little bit Lucy and Ethel.

• Tell us about your latest release… One Fete in the Grave, which comes out May 30, 2017

Party planner Liv McKay has outdone herself this time. She’s put together an unforgettable Fourth of July celebration for the town of Dixie, Tennessee—including breathtaking fireworks and an exciting Miss Dixie Beauty Pageant. Maybe a little too exciting.

As the party is winding down, Liv’s sense of triumph fizzles like a dud firework when the body of town councilman Bubba Rowland is discovered on the festival grounds. And now the prime suspect in his murder is Liv’s mother’s fiancĂ©, Earl, who had a flare-up recently with Bubba. To clear Earl’s name, Liv and her best friend Di burst into action to smoke out the real killer before another life is extinguished…

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

Since I write a series, I feel like I know my main characters pretty well by now. They definitely look over my shoulder as I’m writing, and if I have them say or do something that’s not true to their character they smack me upside the head. (Figuratively, of course, but it still hurts.) The same is true for the recurring characters in the supporting cast. Minor characters kind of show up as needed—sometimes fully formed, complete with a name, and other times as a rough sketch I flesh out as the story develops.

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

I only have a rough idea of the story when I start. I always have a clear idea for the discovery of the body scene, along with who gets killed and why some people wanted to kill him or her. For the first three books, I had to turn in a synopsis before I started the manuscript for the next book. So, I would make up a plot, but it always changed substantially as I wrote. The only things that don’t/can’t change are what’s included in the back cover teaser. That’s the information the cover artist uses to design the cover, and the cover design goes into production well before I turn in the manuscript.

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

A mystery isn’t complete without a compelling plot. But my books are definitely character driven. I think people who follow the series do so because they enjoy spending time with Liv and Di.

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

Like most writers, I guess, my biggest challenge was finding an agent and getting that first book deal. I had shopped around two previous completed manuscripts before I landed an agent with the Liv & Di manuscript that became Death Crashes the Party. Deadlines and contractual obligations keep me motivated! Actually, that’s not completely true. I was writing—and finishing—manuscripts long before I had a contract.

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

I’m on deadline to finish Book 4 in the series, Til Death Do Us Party, which will be released March 27, 2018. Liv and Di and the gang go to Las Vegas!

• Plotter or Pantser?

Pantser

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

Take the time to polish your query letters, carefully research agents and only send queries to agents who represent what your write

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

Probably the craziest thing any of us do is get married. But, I’m coming up on my 29th wedding anniversary, so I suppose he’s a keeper!

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

That I don’t like syrupy sweet iced tea, the Southern standard. I drink mine straight up, unsweet.

• If you entered the witness protection program and had to start over, what job would you want to do?

Mystery shopper

• What would you love to have a never-ending supply of?

Fresh brewed coffee

• What’s the last TV show that made you laugh?

The Andy Griffith Show. It was a re-run; I don’t mean to imply I haven’t laughed at a TV show since the 1960s!

• What store could you browse in for hours?

Any bookstore

Just for fun:

Night or Day? Night

Dog or Cat? (answer carefully) I like both

Beach or Pool? Beach

Steak or Salad? Steak salad with bleu cheese

Favorite Drink? Coffee

Favorite Book? I guess Mystery on the Nine-mile Marsh by Mary C. Jane. I checked it out so many times that my elementary school librarian told me I couldn’t check it out again.

Favorite TV Series? The X-Files. I’m totally geeked out about the upcoming new episodes!

Favorite Movie? That’s hard. Either The Thin Man or Monty Python and the Holy Grail. I’ve watched them both umpteen times.

Favorite Actor: Cary Grant

Favorite Actress: Katherine Hepburn

Dirty Martini or Pina Colada? Pina Colada

Hawaii or Alaska? Hawaii, although I live in Michigan’s upper peninsula, which is more like Alaska

Finish this sentence: If I could meet anyone in the world, past or present, it would be Agatha Christie. I know that’s clichĂ©, but I have questions for her!

If I had just one wish, it would be to finish my current manuscript by deadline!

If I could trade places with anyone in the world it would be no one. My life’s pretty sweet, and you never know what burdens other people are carrying.

• Where we can learn more about you and your books


Vickie will be giving away a signed copy of her latest novel, ONE FETE IN THE GRAVE, to one lucky reader!

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, May 27!









Sunday, May 14, 2017

ROCCO chats with EJ Copperman!



E.J. Copperman is not like other people. Well, some other people. A few other people. Let’s face it: E.J. Copperman is exactly like other people, except for writing mystery novels. A New Jersey native, E.J. has written for such publications as The New York TimesEntertainment WeeklyAmerican Baby and USA WeekendNight of the Living Deed is the first E.J. Copperman novel. It was followed by An Uninvited GhostOld HauntsA Wild Ghost ChaseChance of a GhostAn Open SpookThe Thrill of the HauntInspector SpecterGhost in the Wind and Spouse on Haunted Hill.
E.J., having worked as a newspaper reporter, teacher, magazine editor, and screenwriter, writes stories that combine humor and mystery with just the right amount of spooky supernatural happenings and a large does of Jersey attitude.
The fact is, E.J. Copperman is the pseudonym of a crime fiction writer who likes to specialize in making people laugh while delivering the suspects, clues, red herrings and plot twists that keep the pages turning.


  • Welcome, EJ! Tell us a bit about your latest book in your Mysterious Detective series.
Thanks ROCCO!  In EDITED OUT, Rachel Goldman is still trying to reconcile the idea that her fictional sleuth Duffy Madison appears to have come to life, working for a New Jersey county prosecutor near where she lives. So she sets out to prove that “living Duffy” is mistaken by tracking down a man who might have been his previous incarnation—and vanished from Poughkeepsie, New York five years ago. But somebody doesn’t want Duffy and Rachel to find out what happened to Damien Mosely…
  • Which do you consider more important, plot or character?
It’s not even close. Character IS plot. If you have a great plot “twist” and it’s not specific to your character, or the reader doesn’t care about your character, you don’t have that great a story. Character is what everything in a story flows from. Character, character, character.
  • What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced as a writer and what inspires you and keeps you motivated?
Um… selling stuff? That’s the challenge. Luckily I have a really good agent who knows how to do that, because I don’t. What inspires me? I get up every morning knowing I’m going to write 1000 words. Then they pay me. That’s motivation. I don’t know how to be a pipe fitter.
  • Do you have an “How I got my agent” story you want to share?
Not really.
  • What are you working on now and what are your future writing plans?
Now writing the third Rachel/Duffy book. It’ll be halfway done tomorrow. Then have another Asperger’s mystery to write and a Haunted Guesthouse after that. Hoping to have more to tell you about later.
  • Plotter or Pantser?
I pants. Figuring everything out ahead of time would kill the possibility of discovering story along the way, and what fun would that be? But whatever works for you—do that.
  • What’s the craziest thing you’ve ever done?
Every three weeks I go to a place where they pump toxic chemicals into me for eight hours. That’s pretty nuts. But it does seem to be working.
  • What’s one thing your readers would be surprised to find out about you?
That I’m actually a classically-trained baritone who sings at the Metropolitan Opera in New York. Actually, I’d be fairly shocked to find that out too, because it’s a complete lie.
  • What question do you wish interviewers would ask? (And what’s the answer?)
What’s more important: A surprise ending or being funny in the book? Answer: NOTHING is more important than writing a funny book. Except your health.
  •  Where can we learn more about you and your books?
At www.ejcopperman.com as well as jeffcohenbooks.com and at the blog HEY THERE’S A DEAD GUY IN THE LIVING ROOM, where I post every Monday.
  • What would you love to have a never ending supply of?
Life.
  • Whats the last tv show that made you laugh?
John Oliver and Samantha Bee make me laugh every week, but I still miss Jon Stewart. Other than that, most television comedy is pretty lame. Speechless is pretty good, but I don’t laugh out loud at it.

Thanks for a great interview, EJ!  and say hello to your good friend Jeff Cohen for me!



We'll be giving away a copy of the most recent Haunted Guesthouse mystery, SPOUSE ON HAUNTED HILL,  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!  Contest closes midnight, May 20!


Saturday, May 6, 2017

ROCCO WELCOMES ELENA HARTWELL

Meow, my guest today is author Elena Hartwell.




Elena Hartwell spent years in the theater before turning her dramatic skills to fiction. She writes the Eddie Shoes Mystery Series. One Dead, Two to Go, Two Heads Are Deader Than One, and Three Strikes, You’re Dead (launching April 15, 2018). According to Peter Clines, Eddie Shoes is “the most fun detective since Richard Castle stumbled into the 12th precinct.” Elena lives in Twin Peaks, called North Bend, Washington in the real world. The perfect place for a writer, especially one who kills people for a living.

R:  Welcome Elena! Tell us a little about your background:
E: Thanks ROCCO! I grew up in San Diego, but moved to the Seattle area in 1996. Other than three years out in Athens, Georgia, for graduate school, I’ve called the Pacific Northwest home ever since. Now I live in the little town of North Bend, the location where Twin Peaks was filmed. Before becoming a novelist, I worked in the theater world as a playwright, director, educator, designer, and technician. I still teach Playwriting at Bellevue College, so I have a foot in that arena as well. 

R: Tell us a bit about the Eddie Shoes mysteries. Where did that idea come from?
E: My husband and I were on a long drive and he came up with the name Eddie Shoes. I can’t remember what the conversation was about, or why he made up the name, but I remember thinking, that’s a great name for a Private Investigator! So I began wondering who was this Eddie Shoes? and what kind of trouble could she get into?

R: How do you “get to know” your characters before and while you’re writing the books?
E:  I spend a lot of time just thinking about characters. A friend of mine and I made up the expression “honor the mull” – by which we mean, you have to allow for time to let ideas percolate. Sitting down at a computer screen to “write a book” will almost always fail unless you have some idea of what or who you’re writing about. Now that I’m writing a series, I’ve got the basic details of my main characters already in mind, so I get to think about how they change and grow, which is a lot of fun. And also include new characters, which I find come from part people I meet, part people I know, and part me, mixed together with a healthy dose of imagination.

R: How do you construct your plots? Do you outline or do you write “by the seat of your pants”?
E: I typically know the beginning and the ending of my stories before I start, then I write to figure out the middle.

R: Which do you consider more important, plot or character?
E: Neither. They are inextricably linked. I find it easier to write character, so I have to work harder at plot, but you can’t have one without the other. One may take center stage, but stories are never solely one or the other and I think manuscripts that fail, fail because either the plot is weak or the characters are flat. No matter how brilliantly you’ve executed the other, you have to have both.

R: What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced as a writer and what inspires you and keeps you motivated?
E: This is very difficult to answer, because I can’t rank what’s hard about being a writer. There are a lot of things that one has to deal with, which are hard in different ways, learning craft, finishing a draft, then rewriting until it’s as good as you can get it, dealing with rejection, finding a publisher, promoting your books while writing the next one. I guess for me I would say social media is what’s hardest. I’m very much a face-to-face person, I love to do workshops and panels and talk one-on-one with readers. Engaging with people on the Internet is tricky and I have to work very consciously at it. What inspires me is when people I’ve never met contact me and tell me how much they enjoyed my book, or I hear a story about someone who loved it so much they bought ten copies to give away. Learning a reader enjoyed meeting me or hearing me speak or reading my book makes getting out and interacting, whether live or via social media, worthwhile.

R: Do you have an “How I got my agent” story you want to share?
E:  I’ll share a caution instead, when you have an agent interested in working with you, check them out. They need good writers just as much as you need a good agent. Don’t just jump into bed with anyone, make sure it’s a good fit. Trust your instincts. You’re better off with a great agent, but you’re better off without an agent than having a bad one.

R: What are you working on now and what are your future writing plans?
E:  I’m currently working on book three in the Eddie Shoes Mystery Series. “Three Strikes, You’re Out” launches April 15, 2018. I anticipate other books in the series, so I’m also thinking about four and five and what I might hint at in three that will be resolved down the line.

R: Plotter or Pantser?
E: I prefer “organic” J

R: What advice do you have to offer to an aspiring author?
E: Learn your craft. Lots of people write well, that’s not the same as writing a good manuscript. Story structure, genre expectations, presenting yourself as a professional, these things all matter. You may blow up traditional story structure, or write cross-genre, or meet your agent at a casual cocktail party, but you need to understand the underpinnings of this industry before you can make it your own.

R: What’s the craziest thing you’ve ever done?
E: That I’m willing to have my parents read about? Hmmm…. Again, a tough question – let’s just say it involved dressing up and pretending to be a performer for a singing telegram company to try to meet a rock star. Epic fail, but makes for a good story.

R: What’s one thing your readers would be surprised to find out about you?
E: I worked as an auto mechanic, primarily heavy line in a truck shop (engines/transmissions on 18-wheelers).

R: What question do you wish interviewers would ask? (And what’s the answer?)
E: What’s something readers can do to help out their favorite authors? Word of mouth is huge for authors. If you love a book, tell your friends, or even better, buy them a copy. Write reviews on Amazon and Goodreads and Barnes and Noble and other social media outlets, if you have a blog – blog about us. Follow us on social media and share our information. We work hard at writing, but we often have to work equally hard at promoting our work, and many of us aren’t very good at that!

R:  If you entered the witness protection program and had to start over, what job would you want to do?
E: I’d run an animal rescue.

R: What would you love to have a never ending supply of?
E: Oh, so many things. Chocolate, the really good dark kind that’s not overly sweet. Horses and dogs. One should never be without them. Frequent Flyer Miles.

R: What’s the last tv show that made you laugh?
E:  Goliath. Billy Bob Thornton is fantastic. He does dry humor so well. It’s not a comedy by any stretch of the imagination, but some of the dialogue makes me laugh out loud.

R: What store could you browse in for hours?
E: Any bookstore, especially if it also sells a good cappuccino!

Just for Fun:
Night or Day?  . Dusk J
Dog or Cat? (answer carefully)  Dog – though my dog comes with cats of his own, so that’s kind of fun.
Beach or Pool?   Pool on the beach. (See how good I am at not having to choose.)
Steak or salad?  Steak (Notice I didn’t have to think about that one too much!)
Favorite Drink?  Vodka/soda – I’m going through all the fruit infused vodkas to find my favorite. Pear is pretty great.
Favorite Book? The Hobbit
Favorite TV Series?  Currently – Goliath/Murdoch Mysteries
Favorite Movie?  Casablanca
Favorite Actor:  Sam Elliott comes to mind.
Favorite Actress: So many … Today I’ll go with Dame Judi Dench
Dirty Martini or Pina Colada? Pina Colada
Hawaii or Alaska? No fair, I can’t figure out how to get both in my answer. I think I have to go with Hawaii because it’s very different from where I live. But there’s so much of Alaska I haven’t seen yet, it’s a close second.
Finish this sentence:  If I could meet anyone in the world, past or present, it would be Ray Hunt. http://www.rayhunt.com/
If I had just one wish, it would be for zero population growth, worldwide.
If I could trade places with anyone in the world, it would be temporary, I’m actually really happy being me.

Thanks Elena!
You can find her at:
@Elena_Hartwell
https://www.instagram.com/hartwellelena/



GIVEAWAY TIME!!
Elena will give away  1 paperback copy of One Dead, Two to Go, and 1 paperback copy of Two Heads are Deader Than One 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:


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Winner will be chosen at random using random.org.  Don’t forget to mention all you’ve done in your comment. Good luck! Giveaway ends midnight, May 12!