Interview and Two Book Giveaway with Alice Arenz

Congratulations to Ginger winner of "The Case of the Mystified M. D."

and

Nancee winner of "Mirrored Image"

 

 

 

Eccentric newspaper columnist Cassandra Chase and by-the-book Detective Jeff McMichaels clash over the murder investigation of Lynette Sandler -- a woman who looks eerily like the popular columnist. The uncanny similarities of the two women's lives and a rash of attacks on Cassie, lead her to the conclusion
that she, not Lynette Sandler, was the murderer's original mark. For McMichaels, the Sandler case becomes more than just a test of his mental acumen. Despite departmental regulations and his own common sense, he finds himself drawn to a woman he was determined to dislike.

First a foot, now a hand. What body part is next? When her puppy finds a severed hand on a walking trail, Glory Harper is positive the signet ring belongs to a missing college professor who caused a lot of trouble around town before he disappeared. With her sister, Jane, overwhelmed by trouble with her fiance and an arson fire in her home, Glory determines to uncover the identity of the murderer in spite of objections from Detective Rick Spencer. She soon latches onto an unlikely partner, and in short order the feisty grandma is
awash in secrets, blackmail, and arson. She feels as though she's stepped into the Twilight Zone--where nothing is as it appears and danger lurks around every corner . . . including from Spencer himself. Will Glory--and her relationship with Spencer--survive another murder case?

Can you tell us a little about yourself?
First I’d like to say hi to all those who read this blog. It’s a pleasure and an honor to be here. Thanks, Debbie.

I’ve been writing since I was a kid—always wanted to have the opportunity to have my work
published. It took a lot of twists and turns, along with a lot of learning and relearning, AND unlearning bad habits, before my dream came to fruition with the publication of my first book in 2008,
The Case of the Bouncing Grandma. It was followed in 2009 with the second in
the Bouncing Grandma Mysteries, The Case of the Mystified M.D., and in 2010 of a more serious mystery/suspense, Mirrored Image. Each of the books were ACFW Carol Award
finalists with The Case of the Mystified M.D. winning the award in 2010.

I’m a wife, the mother of two beautiful grown daughters, and grandmother to four totally
awesome kidlets ranging from 3-14.

Have you always enjoyed reading and writing?
Yes, I have. I was a voracious reader when I was a kid—and am sometimes that way now.
Reading set my imagination flying. It made me want to create stories that would fascinate me—and especially others. And when I discovered Christian fiction, that building a story around my faith, without being preachy, knew it was exactly what God wanted from me.

What was your journey to publication like?
Starting in the early 70s, I spent a lot of time studying Writer’s Digest and Writer’s
Market, searching for publishers and agents who might be open to receiving
unsolicited material. At first, all I ever got was a standard rejection letter. But as I learned more and worked
harder, I started to get little handwritten notes at the bottoms of the rejections offering suggestions and encouragement.

I signed with a New York literary agency in the mid 90s, and was with the agent for five years before
deciding it wasn’t working. I spent the next several years believing I’d never write again. Then I read a Brandilyn Collins suspense and ultimately got involved with ACFW. I met the future owner of Sheaf House shortly after joining ACFW. Several years later when she formed Sheaf House, she actually asked me to submit my manuscripts—which were the three ultimately published by Sheaf House.

Though my first three books were sold without one, what I really need now is an agent. I’d love to find someone who would look at my background (not sales, since publishing with a small press don’t produce much of those). With three Carol finalists and one Carol win, it’s my hope and prayer that someone will think I’m worth taking on as a client.

Your first books were cozy mysteries and your last one, Mirrored Image, was a romantic suspense. How different were they to write?
Actually, they weren’t all that much different. Mirrored Image is more a
mystery/suspense or even a “classic romantic suspense”—as in more like the old
form of the genre in the days of Mary Stewart, Phyllis A. Whitney, and such. The basis of the cozy is still the
mystery. It just has a bit more humor and is, well, cozy.

When my more serious mystery/suspense manuscripts weren’t going anywhere, I tried my
hand at a cozy—which is how The Case of the Bouncing Grandma came into being.
It was fun and appealed to folks at the time. I’ve been told that cozies aren’t selling
now, though.

Why did you choose to write mysteries?
I have always enjoyed a good mystery and suspense. It’s what I like to read as well as the genre that I prefer for movies and TV. I love to laugh, and when you join the comedy with the puzzle of a mystery, that’s the best—like the TV program Psych.

Alice, I know you've had some illnesses in your family and have put your writing on hold for now, but do you have any ideas for books in the future?
Things are hard for people all over the country. And like so many others, my husband was
laid off fourteen months ago. Between that and my own chronic illnesses and some recent developments in the health of my daughters, worry has never been far from our door. We recently lost our twelve year old
Himalayan cat to a fast-growing cancer, which added to the stress.

As for more books . . . my book An American Gothic was originally scheduled to be released October 2011, but the publisher changed their mind and it’s not even on the back burner. I would love to find a home
for it as well as another couple books involving the characters in Mirrored Image. I’ve also got a Women’s Fiction novel about spousal abuse nearly finished. But, as I said, first I need to procure an agent. ;)

What advice would you give writers who are on their own journey to publication?
Make certain this is really the road you want to go down. If you think writing your manuscript is
difficult, you’d better rethink the process. But if you feel God is leading you to this destination, then remember to keep studying and keep praying.

Alice, thank you so much for visiting with us. You are special to me, and I love your books. I can't wait for the next one. Since I have Fibromyalgia, a chronic illness, I understand how it affects our writing. It might take you a little longer, but it will be worth the wait.  :)

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