Interview and Giveaway with D.A. Featherling

CONGRAULATIONS

GAIL PALLOTTA

WINNER!

 

I'm happy to welcome Dorothy Featherling to Sleuths and Suspects this week. Dorothy writes cozy mysteries and has graciously offered one of her books as a giveaway. Just leave a comment and your email address and be a follower to enter for a chance to win. Here we go!!

1.           Tell us a little about yourself.

I’m a native Texan and have primarily lived in Central Texas. I’ve been writing for 10-12 years; took time out to open and run a home staging business for the past four years (it’s still active, BTW), but have decided to devote myself to writing now as my principal occupation. Since I’m retired, I can do that. I have one son and a most precious grandson. I started writing my first book on my lunch hour while working at the University of Texas and that began my writing journey. I enjoy reading (actually, I’m an avid reader and sometimes average one book a day), crafts, shopping, and of course, spending time with my family.

2.           Tell us about your most recent book/or the book we are focusing on.

My first book is what we’re discussing today. It’s a mystery, book 1 in a series entitled “It’s Murder at the Office”. The book is “It Adds Up to Murder.” The back cover copy reads:

“Abigail Newhouse is forced to work temporary jobs to make ends meet. She discovers that while the jobs can be murderous, there aren’t usually dead bodies involved. Abby isn’t expecting crime at her first long term assignment, but when it occurs, she wants to help. Will Homicide Lieutenant Nick Vaughn believe that – or is she his main suspect? Abby soon finds sleuthing has placed her in deadly peril when she finally confronts a merciless killer face-to-face.”

3.           Why did you choose this particular genre?

My favorite reads are mysteries and suspense, so it seemed natural for me to write in the genre. Of course, that didn’t occur until I’d written 6 other novels. I actually write in multiple genres. Besides mysteries, I write romantic comedy, futuristic suspense, and romance. I love the humor and there’s a tinge of that in everything I write.

4.           What was your journey to publication like?

When I began writing some years back, I went through all the steps most beginning authors do…attending seminars and conferences, reading books on writing, pursuing traditional publishers and acquiring an agent. Being the impatient type, after a few years of that, and then developing some health issues, the writing slacked off until, as I said, I began my own home staging business four years ago. I didn’t do any writing during that time, I was too busy. But now I’m back and have decided to pursue self-publishing since I have such a great backlog of previously written novels and I’m continuing to write new ones, of course.

5.           What is a couple of your favorite books and what are you reading now?

Don’t know that I would name specific books…more like authors. I love Dee Henderson’s O’Malley series…one of the best ever. I like Terri Blackstock’s books, Ronie Kendig’s military thrillers, Stephen Bly’s comical westerns…I could go on and on. At the moment, I just started re-reading Donn Taylor’s “Rhapsody in Red,” a unique mystery. I do keep and re-read books I really like.

6.           What are you working on now and can you give us a little peek inside it?

I’ll be publishing a second romantic comedy soon entitled “Kissing Frogs”…one woman’s tale of her adventures on the internet matchmaking highway. I’m currently writing the first book in a new mystery series called “Staged for Murder.” It’s about a home stager who keeps running afoul of crimes. Book 1 is entitled “Murder Outside the Box.” I’m about 2/3 of the way done and hope to publish it this fall. A little blurb about it is:

“Ari Ames is a home stager par excellence. She’s equally good at getting involved with murder. When Ari discovers a dead body in the bushes at a vacant home she’s to stage, it starts her on a pathway of murder, mayhem, and not-so-sweet revenge. Can her faith in God see her through to a perfectly staged outcome – or will her reliance on her own resources put her in more danger than she ever imagined?”

7.           What advice would you give authors who are on their own journey to publication?

You know, there are so many options open to writers today that weren’t present ten years ago such as indie publishing, e-books, etc. But my advice would be…learn the basics of good writing. You can find lots of books by multi-published authors telling you how to write. Go to seminars or conferences as you have opportunity. The more you know, the better your choices will be about how you want to handle publication. And most of all…READ.  Read in your genre and outside it as well. You’ll always learn something, even if it’s what NOT to do.

8.           Do you have any books or websites that have helped you with your writing that you could share with us?

Again, there are so many out there. I’m a member of ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers) and they are a great organization with chapters all over the country. Their website features information about writing and offers connections with some of the best authors today, courses and critiques…a multitude of advantages for all stages of writers. James Scott Bell’s books on writing are excellent, as well.

9.           Is there anything you’d like to tell us we haven’t covered?
Maybe just a word of encouragement to never give up your dream. Even if you take a ‘sabbatical’ of some years, if it’s the dream in your heart, then get back to it when you can. God wouldn’t put it on your mind and in your heart if you weren’t supposed to do something with it.

10.       Please let us know where we can find you on the web.
My author website is: www.dafeatherling.com  I invite folks to visit it and keep up with me. I also have an author page on Facebook where they can follow me as well.

  

 

Deborah has worked as a freelance writer and photographer, since 2001, for the historical magazine “Georgia Backroads.” She has had many articles and photographs published during this time. Her writing is featured in “Tales of the Rails” edited by Olin Jackson. She has also had a showing of her photographs at Floyd Medical Center Art Gallery as well as winning several awards.  Her debut cozy mystery, “Death in Dahlonega" is now available.

She is a current member of the Georgia Writers Association, and a member of American Christian Fiction Writers. She has an established blog, Butterfly Journey, where she reviews Christian Fiction.