Interview with Hope Callaghan



Deb: Tell us a little about yourself.
Hope:  I was born and raised in a small town in West Michigan. I lived there until early 2003 when I finally grew weary of the long, dreary winters. A job transfer to Central Florida came up and I was the first in line to apply for the job and leave the Mitten State.

I still live in Central Florida with my husband, my daughter, step-son and step-daughter. (All of the kids are currently in college!) When I'm not writing books, I love to read books, travel and take day trips to the beach.

Deb:  Tell us about your most recent book.
Hope:  I recently started a new cozy mystery series, Cruise Ship Cozy Mysteries and just published book number two, Port Side Peril.

Deb:  Whey did you choose this particular genre?
Hope:  I love the mystery genre, especially cozy mysteries! The setting for my most popular series, the Garden Girls, is in a small town, quite like the one I grew up in so I write about my own personal experiences, although all of the characters in my book are purely fictitious.

Deb:  What was your journey to publication like?
Hope:  I started writing non-fiction (travel books) and published my first book in 2013. I wrote several more and then switched to fiction in 2014, and haven't looked back since.

Deb:  What are a couple of your favorite books and what are you reading now?
Hope:  One of my favorite authors is Cynthia Hickey. She cracks me up. Jogging is Bad for Your Health, is next on my list. I also like to read Amanda Tru's time travel series. The idea of time travel is fascinating.

Deb:  What are you working on now and can you give us a little peek inside?
Hope:  I'm working on book number seven in the Garden Girls Series, which should be published the first week in August.

Deb:  What advice would you give authors who are on their own journey to publication?
Hope:  Write fiction.  I waited two years to publish my first fiction piece and I regret not starting sooner. Start with a short story to "get your feet wet." Write in a series. Readers love to get to know the characters and if they care about the characters, they will want to read your books.

Deb:  Do you have any books or websites that have helped you with your writing that you could share with us?
Hope:  I highly recommend Techniques of the Selling Writer by Dwight V. Swain. Although published in the early 80's this book has so much good information inside, it is worth the read. Some of the topics are a bit out dated but for the most part, it contains nuggets of pure gold for the writer.

Deb: Please let us know where we can find you on the web.
Hope:  www.hopecallaghan.com

Deborah Malone has worked as a freelance writer and photographer, since 2001, for the historical magazine "Georgia Backroads." Her writing is featured in "Tales of the Rails" edited by Olin Jackson. She is a member of Georgia Writers Association, American Christian Fiction Writers and Advanced Writers and Speakers Association.

Interview with Beverly Nault

 

 

 

INTERVIEW WITH BEVERLY NAULT

 by

Deborah Malone

 

Debbie: Tell us a little about yourself.
Bev: My husband and I decided that when our children both got married last summer it would be a really good idea to sell our house and put everything in storage for a couple of months while we found a condo closer to his office. So we moved into our RV, a 36' Diesel pusher, and we're still there! Do we miss the yard work, pool maintenance and house cleaning? Nope! Because he's a pilot, and well, maybe because we really are, we call her "Flight Risk." LOL Seriously, I'm enjoying more time to write, and we are enjoying the freedom of being downsized. Now we plan trips, for now they're close to home, but after retirement we're thinking of Alaska, the Midwest, and the Florida Keys, but probably not all in the same month.

Debbie: Tell us about your most recent book.
Bev:  "The Kaleidoscope" s the most recent, and a new genre for me. My fans will notice this one is written by B K Nault, but it's still me. I wanted an easy way for people to distinguish between my previous "cozy small town" style, and the high concept, suspense-mystery-romance style I'm tackling now.

In "The Kaleidoscope," the main character is a computer forensics expert named Harold who finds himself the guardian of a mysterious kaleidoscope that shows people a glimpse into their future. When the book starts, he a bit of a loner and know-it-all, but the 'scope forces him to ally with a colorful bunch of people who help him both come out of his shell, and also figure out where the mysterious gizmo came from and what makes it work. There's a ring of bad guys, but that's all I'm going to say about them, they will reveal themselves soon enough.

 

 

 

Here's a piece of the action from "The Kaleidoscope."

While living downstairs in the structure that had been around since De Mille directed epics beneath the Hollywood sign, Walter had persevered through his own endless trials, which took longer because of his equipment - an outdated computer, laughable to programmers pecking and coding elsewhere in the world, and a temperamental Dremel he'd found in a second-hand shop years ago. If he'd toiled in a state-of-the-art laboratory, his invention might have been ready years earlier.

 

Forced into hiding and sacrificing everything precious to him, Walter had accomplished something the rest of the tech-world vigorously debated was impossible. He'd worked as quickly as his limited resources allowed, but he finally reached his goal.

 

Now the prototype awaited one final step, and it would be ready for the real-world testing. A few more tweaks and the soft launch of which he'd dreamed was within his grasp. He unwound the protective length of fabric from the metal tube and exhaled a breath of adoration and pride. He'd polished the creation until it glimmered in the rays probing down through the high window into his basement workroom-slash-bedroom. He sighted down the shaft. His masterpiece, his swan song, was almost ready for the world.

 

One more piece of the puzzle, and the technology anticipated, even feared, would be born. If he'd calculated correctly, and Walter was meticulous about calculations, the day's mail should contain the gem he'd saved and scraped for. Every tip, handout, or penny literally scraped from the gutter had gone into that jar, and last week he'd exchanged the sum for a cashier's check and placed the order. If this final trial didn't work, he'd lose everything he'd slaved over. His ideas were running out, his home was about to be razed, and what made the urgency even more crucial, he sensed "they" were about to discover his hiding place.

 

Flipping the wall calendar over his workbench, Walter circled a date two weeks hence. That would give him sufficient time to install the final part, to test. and make note of his achievement. Perhaps even enjoy it himself before he turned it over to the one who would carry it to the world, who could safely deliver the technology where it would do the most good. It was time to plan the handoff.

 

Debbie:  What was your journey to publication like?

Bev:  I worked as a technical writer, but always wanted to write creatively for the general market, so I took a year-long correspondence course, began attending conferences, workshops and critique groups, and reading everything I could get my hands on about writing novels and narrative non-fiction.

 

In March 2011, my first two general market books released in the same month and I called them my fraternal twins! Both "Lessons from the Mountain, What I Learned from Erin Walton," that I co-wrote with the actress Mary McDonough about her experience growing up as a child actor and "Fresh Start Summer," came out side by side. "Fresh Start Summer" launched The Seasons of Cherryvale series about a fictional small town, similar to the Mitford or Cedar Cove stories, and I went on to write five more books about Cherryvale. (Four seasons + two bonus holiday novellas = Bev's math)

 

Debbie:  What are a couple of your favorite books and what are you reading now?

Bev:  So glad you asked! I'm reading Mary (Erin Walton) McDonough's first novel, "One Year," which ironically released this month, very close it its cousin, "The Kaleidoscope." I didn't help her with this one but I totally recommend it! She did a great job weaving together three women's lives in a small Virginia town. Hey, Mary, way to go!

 

Debbie:  What are you working on now and can you give us a little peek inside?

Bev:  My next project has the working title, "Misdirect," and it's another suspense-mystery-romance. The main character is a former CIA operative turned desk analyst who has to brush off her tradecraft skills and go back into the field. She finds herself riding camels in the Sahara desert to rescue her soon to be son-in-law who has been taken hostage. Again, more bad guys.

 

Here's a sample from "Misdirect."

Eve sighted down the barrel of her 9MM, raised to the height of an average man's heart. She took controlled breaths measured to match her own pulse. In. Out. Blood thrummed in her ears threatening to drown crucial communication. She sensed rather than saw the others in the hallway made dark by her advance team's removal of bulbs from Nixon-era fixtures. Shadows surrounded her with stealth movements. Bracing against the wall, Eve uttered, "Go."

 

A booted foot struck just below the knob with enough force to explode the doorframe. Dry rot splintered onto peeling linoleum and left a gaping hole into a black abyss. Before the rebounding door flew back someone blocked it and the team glided through. Backs together in simi-circle, their synchronicity so finely tuned, an infrared footprint would for decades confuse intelligence analysts as to the number of bodies at once. In silent choreography, they starburst, boots gliding silently, floating from room to room.

 

Debbie:  What advice would you give authors who are on their own journey to publication?

Bev:  Try new things, stretch yourself and be as creative as possible. There are a lot of "rules" about  what you should be doing as far as grammar, but what readers really want is a great page-turner. There are tons of ways to be published and to find an audience, and that's the fun part about being a writer these days. Find a group to meet with for honest feedback, and most of all, enjoy yourself!

 

Debbie:  Do you have any books or websites that have helped you with your writing that you could share?

Bev:  It's hard to narrow them down, but there are a few that spring to mind right away. I have subscribed to www.thepassivevoice for years and always find some article or information that I find helpful. Also, I read every blog post Kristen Lamb writes at We Are Not Alone. There are also some great podcasts for writers. Jack Cavanaugh's Let's Talk Novels is good for beginners, and Writing Excuses covers Fantasy and Sci-Fi, but they also do a great job discussing style and technique and how to give readers what they want.

 

Here's a list of books I highly recommend:

 

On Writing by Stephen King

The War of Art by Steven Pressfield

Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott

On Writing Well by William Zinsser

The Writing Life by Annie Dillard

Save the Cat by Blake Snyder (screenwriting, but excellent on writing page-turning tension)

Writing the Breakout Novel, and The Fire in Fiction by Donald Mass

 

Any writing book by James Scott Bell. And read the classics and bestsellers. Read. Everything.

 

Debbie:  Is there anything you'd like to tell us we haven't covered?

Bev:  It's a terrific time to be a writer and a reader! The world of publishing is opening up to so many new and interesting niches, allowing new voices and stories to be told like never before. If you're a writer, go for it, and if you're a reader, have fun exploring new stories, maybe you'll discover a new writer no one's heard of yet. And please, everyone, be kind enough to share positive reviews on books you like on Amazon or Barnes & Noble. Reviews are the new word of mouth and telling other "guess what kept me up into the wee hours reading!?" will do a lot to keep encouraging readers to buy and writers to continue penning good books.

 

And if you see a writer sitting behind a desk or table somewhere waiting to sign a copy or share a candy, don't be afraid to approach and ask about their book, we don't bite, I promise!

 

Debbie:  Please let us know where we can find you on the web.

Bev:  My blog, "Bev Said What?" is where I try to behave myself sometimes. The blog and all my titles are on my website, www.beverlynault.com and my Facebook is Beverly Nault,author. Tweet me @bevnault.

 

Thanks for having me, it's been fun!

 

 

Thanks for stopping by Bev and giving us a little more insight into what an author goes through in writing. Not only is Bev a great writer, but she is also a great editor. She has edited all of my Trixie Montgomery Cozy Mystery Series. Now hop on over to Amazon or Barnes and Noble and pick up a copy or two of Bev's books!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deborah Malone's first novel Death in Dahlonega, finaled in the American Christian Fiction Writer's Category Five writing contest! Deborah was also nominated for 2011 and 2012 Georgia Author of the Year in Novel category. She has worked as a freelance writer and photographer, for the historic magazine "Georgia Backroads," since 2001. She has had many articles and photographs published, and her writing is featured in "Tales of the Rails," edited by Olin Jackson, as well as the "Christian Communicator." She is a member of the Gerogia Writer's Association, Advanced Writer and Speaker's Association and the American Christian Fiction Writers. 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

Meet the Sleuths And Suspects Contributors!

by Jeff Reynolds

For my first blog of the year, I thought you might like to get to know the people who contribute regularly. True, you have gotten to know a little bit of Heidi from my interview with her and the four interviews of Deborah Malone (one by me, the other three by Deborah), but you might want to know a little more.

So here is my interview with the Sleuths and Suspects Angels. I'll let them decide who fits in each role, and I'll of course take the John Bosley role (I always loved his portrayal by David Doyle).

Q. Tell us a little about yourself: Area you live, marital status, how you came to Christ, how long you've been blogging with Sleuths & Suspects,  and what you'd be doing with your freetime if you weren't writing? 
Heidi Glick:  My husband and I live in a Cincinnati, OH suburb. We've been married for 14 years and have a son. I came to Christ at en early age after hearing the Gospel at Sunday School. I've been blogging at S&S since the very beginning. If I wasn't writing, I'd be spending time with my family.
Jackie Layton:  I live in Wilmore, KY. I have one terrific husband, two wonderful sons, a super daughter-in-law and two beautiful granddaughters. If I wasn't writing, I'd exercise more, read more, and probably golf with my husband. 
Deborah Malone:  I'm the youngest of three children. I have two older brothers, Curtis and Bill. My Dad was born in Opelika, Ala. and when he was a young man moved to Cincinnati, Ohio to work for General Electric. Then he met my mother. After having the two boys, Dad was transferred to North Georgia in 1953. I was born in 1954. I often wonder what my life would have been like if we'd stayed in Cincinnati. I have a ton of cousins who lived there. However I'm happy to be a born and bred Southerner. My parents both attended church and I can't remember a time we didn't go. It was natural I'd follow in their footsteps. If I wasn't writing I'd be taking photographs. I love macro photography!  
Jeff Reynolds: My wife, Becky -- we celebrated our 30th last July -- have lived in Orange County California, Phoenix Arizona, Valley Nebraska (a 2000 person town 20 miles west of Omaha), Bowling Green Kentucky, and Nashville Tennessee before moving to Indianapolis in '95. I became a Christian in '79 at a 2nd Chapter of Acts concert during my third semester at a Bible College in Phoenix: yes, that school taught the true Gospel, but I needed the gospel presented a little different for the Spirit to work. I've been blogging with S&S since last September. If I wasn't writing -- there's a lot I might be doing. Besides being a writer, I'm a songwriter, an ordained minister, a closet politician who's considered running for office, a Distinguished Toastmaster who's thought of starting a radio program, and an unabashed zoo-oholic -- Becky and I have been to over 40 zoos/wild animal parks.
Q. What is your writing genre, and what do you have published? 
HG: My genre is suspense. My debut novel, Dog Tags, was released in June 2013. I also have written two technical writing articles for Intercom. Currently, I'm working on a contemporary fiction short story set in Georgia.  
JL:  My favorite genre is romantic suspense. I'm not published. Biggest writing accomplishment was coming in second place in the romance section of the Category 5 contest.  
DM:  My genre is Cozy Mysteries. Cozies are a subgenre of Mysteries and are light in nature. The murder takes place off stage and the sleuth is an amateur person. I have three books published: Death in Dahlonega, Murder in Marietta, and Terror on Tybee Island. 
JR:  Fiction-wise, I'm an unpublished mystery writer, thought I've tried my hand at suspense recently and while younger have tried writing adventure and science fiction. I do have ideas for some novels that would be historical romance, science fiction, and fantasy, as well as mystery and suspense. However, I have had several letters to the editor published in both the Nashville Tennessean and the Indianapolis Star.
Q. Name your writing heroes both in and out of your genre. 
HG: Frank Peretti seems like a down-to-earth guy. I'd like to meet him sometime. I've enjoyed his novels. In terms of my style, Ted Dekker has influenced my writing the most. As for writing heroes, I look up to Sarah Sundin, who writes outside of my genre. I love her novels because she ensures every word is purposeful. I read a lot of books, and even with bestsellers, I tend to skim certain parts. But not with Sundin's writing. Also, she does a great job with character arcs.  
JL:  Writing heroes? Brandilyn Collins without a doubt. She is so kind and encouraging. I really admire her talent and always look forward to her next book. 
DM:  The writer that influenced me most was Anne George who wrote southern cozy mysteries. 
JR:  In genre, my hero definitely is Agatha Christie, with honorable mention going to Ellery Queen in print and to the Ellery Queen, Nero Wolfe, and Murder She Wrote TV series. Outside of genre, my heroes include Peretti (Christian speculative), Allistair MacLean (adventure), John R. Cooper (young adult baseball stories from several decades ago), Randy Singer (Christian legal suspense), and Kathy Tyers (Christian speculative).
Q. Which of your S&S blogs have been the most memorable, either because of how much fun it was writing it or because of how much fun it wasn't writing it? 
HG: My review of the last book in the Discarded Heroes series was memorable because I was sad the series ended but also because Ronie Kendig commented on the post. That was very cool. I have to admit; I was pretty excited.
 
JL:  I've met some great people through S&S, but I enjoyed posting about Tina Russo's story, The Rosetti Curse. 
DM:  I don't know if this is appropriate, but I enjoyed the ones where I interviewed myself:) Our readers are going to know me for sure, but I love doing giveaways. 
JR:  I'll share a couple that hit the most memorable. The first was when I interviewed Randy Singer last February. That interview was as enjoyable as reading one of his books. The second wasn't as fun -- it was hearing the times of testing Wanda Dyson has been through recently.
Q. What is your greatest concern in your life/society/etc., and what would it look like if you wrote a novel on that theme? Would you be crossing into another genre to write it? 
HG:  I can only choose one? I don't know that I'd say it's my greatest concern, but a concern of mine is human trafficking. I started a suspense novel set in Mexico that deals with the topic. Also, at some point, I'd like to incorporate the topic of infertility into my writing because I've experienced it firsthand and I'd like to encourage others.
 
JL:  My greatest concern is spreading the message of Jesus Christ. If I wrote a novel with this theme, I'd want to do something different than traditional missionary. I think I'd like to have a character travel to Europe for another purpose and go from there.

DM:  I miss the simple way of life we had when I was growing up. I'd love to write a story in that setting and yes, I'd probably go outside my genre.

JR:  I have a two-fold concern that is not completely unrelated. The first is for Christians to be more rooted in Scripture, trusting God's Word more than man's interpretations of God's Word. The second -- partially sparked by Becky's and my involvement with Voice of the Martyrs -- is that Christians in the United States are well on the road to persecution. Actually, my first mystery book focuses on the first issue by looking at the field of apologetics (defending the faith), and the follow up would be looking at persecution.
Q. What does 2014 look like for you, writing (including blogging) and otherwise? 
HG: Family life is keeping me busy, which is good. I write a little here and there as I can. I'm hoping to finish my contemporary short fiction story and another suspense novel this year.  
JL:  I hope to write the third story in my Kentucky Suspense trilogy. I plan to enter more contests this year, and I'd love to have an agent. 
DM:  Wow - this is a great question. I've been contemplating this myself. I've already wrote a fourth book in the Trixie Montgomery series, so this will be coming out in the fall of 2014. I'm working on a brand new series with new characters. It will also be a cozy mystery series. It is hard to go from one series to another, so I've been struggling with this.
 
JR:  That is a good question. Currently, the fiction writing fire is very low if not extinguished for the moment, so the above mentioned persecution mystery may be a fatality.  I still will be blogging here. I do have a thought for a non-fiction book. I'm still involved some with Toastmasters, want to start a men's prayer group, and Becky and I are talking about a mission trip. I did think of running for office, but I don't feel that's what I should be doing.

Q. I'd like to thank the three ladies for their time. The other guy? I'm not so sure about him. 
HG:  This was fun!  
JL:  Jeff, I can't wait to learn more about you all. This is a great idea!  
DM:  Oh we love our Jeff:) Thank you for being a part of Sleuths and Suspects. 
JR: I'm grateful to be a part of this blog. It's a nice thing to be doing when I'm not working or sleeping.

Interview and Book Giveaway With Debbie Malone

by Jeff Reynolds

 

My victim ... er, interviewee this month is a familiar name to this blog. I have the honor of interviewing my fellow contributor Debbie Malone.  The latest installment of her Trixie Montgomery Cozy Mysteries is hot off the presses, and we're giving away a copy -- see rules below.

Jeff Reynolds:  Welcome to Sleuths and Suspects, Debbie. As if you need a welcome. Could you tell us about how you came to faith in Christ, and how that tied in with your writing journey?
Debbie Malone:  Thank you for having me as a guest Jeff. I love your interviewing style. Now on to the question. I actually grew up in the church. My parents made sure we were there every time the doors were open so this gave me a good grounding. I have a little story about writing Christian fiction. I had always wanted to write it, but didn’t even know it existed until I came upon a Margaret Daley book. When I read it I knew that was what I was looking for. I’d already completed my first manuscript so I rewrote it as Christian fiction. I joined American Christian Fiction Writers and now I have three published books.

JR:  I'm in complete suspense in how you'd answer this question: Would you be interested in telling us about the mystery series you've written and especially the newest installment?

DM:  Does a duck like june bugs? Trixie Montgomery is the main character and her sidekick and best friend is Dee Dee Lamont. Trixie is a writer for a magazine and is sent on assignments to different towns. It seems everywhere they go a dead body turns up and Trixie and Dee Dee must find the person who committed the dastardly deed. Trixie’s eccentric great-aunt, Nana, joins in on the fun. With Nana around there’s never a dull moment. For instance she gets a tattoo in Terror on Tybee Island.

Terror on Tybee Island takes place on the beautiful Tybee Island off of Savannah. Trixie, Dee Dee, Nana and Trixie’s mother Betty Jo go for a relaxing vacation on the island. Betty Jo’s friend puts them up in her bed and breakfast. It turns out to be anything but relaxing when Trixie finds a body in the sand behind the house. Betty Jo’s friend, Laura, is accused of the murder. So of course Trixie and Dee Dee must come to the rescue when Betty Jo begs them to help Laura. They run into quite a few suspects as they attend a taping of Paula Deen’s cooking, a trip to the Mercer-Williams house, and a pirate festival.

During the festival Nana is kidnapped and you’ll have to read the book to see if Trixie and Dee Dee arrive in time to save her.

JR:  You've always been a mystery lover. If you could have lunch with three fictional detectives (at the same time), who would you select and why?

DM: Oh, I love this question. Of course, the first one would be Jessica Fletcher. Hummm, I need to think a moment. Matlock is a lawyer, but he solves crimes so I think I’d like to meet him. Okay I’ve got the third one, well actually there are two of them, but I’d like to meet the guys from Psych. I guess this shows I like to watch TV mysteries.

JR:  Writing is the fun and easy part of writing. Finding a publisher and marketing: Not as much, are they? How have you handled these challenges? Any tips? Any mistakes to avoid?

DM: Marketing is essential to have a successful book. You have to learn to put yourself out there and that’s hard for most people. Some of the places I’ve gone to are books clubs, libraries, writer’s groups, spoken at writer’s conferences, etc. The thing with marketing is you have to find a balance, because you’ve got to save time to write. A great book on marketing is Stress Free Marketing by Renea Winchester. It’s simple to read and chock full of good advice.

JR:  Besides your fiction series, you've written and photographed for the historical magazine "Georgia  Backroads." If someone asked you to pick one of your articles from this magazine to read, which would you select? Also, do your articles come out of your research for your novels? Or does your research for your articles give you ideas for your novel?

DM:  Another great question Jeff. I guess my favorite article was “Chasing the General” and was my very first article to be published. The General was a train the Yankees came down and stoleright under our noses. But we did get it back and most of the villains were hung. Not that I’m happy they were hung.

My research from my articles over the years has been a tremendous help with my novels in giving me ideals and also history to include in my novels.

JR:  You're a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and the Georgia Writer's Association. What are the strengths of these groups, and how have each contributed to your writing?

DM:  I can’t say enough about ACFW. I stumbled upon it and I’m so glad I did. I don’t believe I’d be published today if it weren't for the support I got from fellow members. This is an on-line group and they give courses, have a critique group and have loops where you can ask any question about writing. I’ve met so many wonderful Christian writers. I could go on and on - but I won’t. :)

GWA has a lot going on too. They have a class every month on some form of writing. They also have a great conference every year called “Red Clay.” The only downfall to GWA is that you have to travel to the classes and I have to drive about an hour to get to them. But I’ve found them to be very informative.

JR:  You mentioned in one of your previous interviews that you returned to college in your '40's and graduated at the age of 45. When you returned, was it to the same major? What was it like, and were there any lessons from that which applied to your writing?

DM:  Well, I earned a degree in Human Services which is a mix of psychology and sociology. It was very different returning as an adult. I think I appreciated the opportunity to learn much more than as a young adult. I took a creative writing course and that sparked a flame in me to write. I’d always wanted to, but never took the time to sit down and do it. So I’m thankful that my writing came from that class I took.

JR:  Thank you for your time. Before I let you go, where can we find you online (besides here, of course)? And could you give us a little description of each site?

DM:  Thank you for having me as a guest Jeff it’s been fun talking with you.

You can find me at www.cozymysterymagazine.blogspot.com This is where several of us cozy writer’s get together and take turns posting on the blog every day. There are a variety of topics.

Also, www.deborahsbutterflyjorney.blogspot.com This is my personal blog where I post interviews, giveaways and articles about writing.

My website is www.deborah-malone.com

Last, but not least I’m on amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com

Jeff Reynolds to the reader:  Time for the giveaway of Terror On Tybee Island. Three steps to win the book:

1. Leave a Comment
2. Leave your e-mail (too many forget this step).
3. I'll ask you a variation of a question I asked Debbie. If you had a choice of fictitious detectives to sit down and have a meal with (more than one would make the discussion more interesting, but one is fine), who would you select?

Giveaway and Interview With Bryan Powell

Let me introduce my friend and fellow author Bryan Powell. This is Bryan's fist time being on Sleuths and Suspects. Welcome Bryan! Without further ado let's get started with Bryan's interview. Oh, I forgot to say that Bryan is offering a free e-book to a follower who leaves a comment and email address.

Bryan Powell

 

              Tell us a little about yourself.

Hi, my name is Bryan Powell, I’m a 63-year-old white guy who sometimes writes from a black guy’s POV, that’s point of view, for the writers among us. But before I tell you why and how I do that, let me finish introducing myself. I’m a full-time writer. To me, that means, I write all the time, and as a means of paying my bills. This is not a hobby or an avocation. It’s what I do. Before that, I was a full-time choir director. As a part of that position, I wrote music. I’ve written over 80 choral pieces ranging from children’s songs to youth, choral and adult choir numbers. Many of those, I’ve orchestrated and some have actually been published. My wife is my biggest fan and first reader. She and I read (out loud) everything I write, and we edit it together. We’ve done it that way since my first book in 2011. Three of my seven grandchildren are my second biggest fans. I tell folks, these are G-Rated books, meaning. The G stands for my grandchildren. If my 16, 14,and 11 year old grandchildren can’t read it, I won’t write it. But enough about me.

             Tell us about your most recent book.

My most recent book was one that I tried not to write. I write Adult Fiction/Suspense, and to say I’ve read a Biography or Auto-biography would be a stretch. So when my pastor approached me about writing his father’s story, I resisted. I didn’t think there would be enough; conflict, drama or intrigue. I was wrong. Reluctantly, I accepted the challenge along with 126 pages of handwritten notes to read over the Christmas break. I found myself drawn into Mr. Gillis’s life, and yes, there was plenty of conflict, and drama. Plus, there was a paycheck at the end of the tunnel and that was exactly what I thought I needed at the time. Little did I know, the lessons I would learn from this dear man. So I wrote Faith, Family, and a Lot of Hard Work…the Grady Gillis Story.
Why did you choose this genre?

Faith, Family, and a Lot of Hard Work…the Grady Gillis Story is way outside of my usual genre. It’s a creative memoir, and my genre is Mystery/Suspense/Action/Thrillers. I’ve written 16 of them. But this book took on a life of its own as I began to see life from Mr. Gillis’s POV. For those precious moments as I wrote his story, I actually became Grady Gillis. I began to speak and express my thoughts as I might have. It’s called a Creative Memoir because I wrote it like a novel rather than a straight Biography. It is chock-full of Mr. Gillis’ wit and humor with enough wisdom for us all to learn.

             What was your journey to publication like?

My journey to publication began as I, as a raw-boned newbie, began to look for a publisher. Sorry to say, at that time, I knew nothing of agents and traditional presses. I looked up publishers and found a plethora of “For Fee” publishers. After reading their various programs and statements of faith, etc. I settled with Tate Publications, located in Mustang, OK. In 2011, submitted my manuscript, Stranger in the Pulpit, and to my amazement, it was accepted. Of course, it took a little under $4,000 to lubricate the presses, but what’s that among friends. They did a great job of designing a cover and layout, not so good on the marketing. So I learned really early, if was going to get done, I had to do it myself. Thus, I became a marketing guru over-night. My second mystery novel, Stranger in the White House, was submitted in 2012 and after negotiating a better “Author contribution,” it was accepted and published in late 2012. When it came time to submit book three in the Stranger Series, I felt like I’d made Tate enough money for them to publish it with no “Contribution.” That didn’t work out and so I sought another publisher. I was at a big signing event down in Carrolton, GA, and met John Bell with Vabella Publishing. I found out that we had much in common. That Vabella was a small, independent, traditional press. I submitted The Stranger Among Us, and again, to my amazement, it was accepted. It was released this past October.

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

               My wife and I have read all of the Joel Rosenburg novels, along with the Left-Behind Series, and I’ve got to say, Joel is my favorite author. That said, I just finished reading Don Brown’s Black Sea Affair and totally enjoyed it. Patty and I are reading (when I say reading, I mean, she is reading and I am driving the car…listening). Currently, she is reading Joanie Bruce’s thriller, Marked for Murder. It’s a nail-biter.

             Can you give us a little peek inside what you are working on now?

Currently, I am working on the second book in the Jared Russell Series. Book one, Sisters of the Vail, is a Kindle Direct Publishing book. It has been widely distributed in an E-book, but is awaiting its physical, soft-cover debut. Book two, Blood Brothers, picks up where Sisters left off. Jared Russell (a black, former Marine, turned architect) and his wife Fatemah go to Lebanon. Xavier and Wright Architectural Group has contracted with Lebanon International University to do their expansion and Jared is the liaison. He is provided with a lavished salary and expense account. Fatemah sees this as an opportunity to open the Harbor House, a “safe place” for new converts. However, when a “Fatwa” is declared, they and soon find themselves caught in a web of intrigue and deceit. The more they learn about Anita, their housekeeper, the more they are drawn into an international conflict. When it is discovered that Anita is Fatemah’s cousin and the daughter of the prime minister, things begin to spin out of control. You will fall in love with Anita, my feisty, out-spoken and endearing character, just as Habib did. Oh, did I tell you there is, as in all my novels, a romance percolating. Yes, big time. Guess who’s falling in love. To complicate matters, Anita has two brothers, thus the name. You will have to wait to discover their plot, but suffice it to say, America, watch your back, because the Blood Brothers are coming.

            What advice would you give to those who are on their own journey to publication.

       My advice to aspiring writers is this. Buy Velcro. You may question the wisdom or sanity of my absurd statement, but let me explain. Buy some Velcro, open the package, and follow the instructions. Sew one side to your chair and the other to the seat of your britches and sit. Don’t get up until you’ve written something. So my advice is simple. Writers write. And after they’ve written, they re-write, and re-write. Don’t get discouraged. Writing is a lonely business, so join a writers group. They will be your biggest supporters.

Can you share any books or websites that have helped you with your writing? 

      Let me recommend Renea Winchester’s book Stress-Free Marketing: Practical Advice for the Newly Published Author. For a fun read, check out her book In the Garden with Billy, as well.

              Please give us some links where you can be found.

You can find me by going to http://www.facebook.com/authorbryanpowell. My website is www.newlifepublicationsonline.com with the header Author Bryan Powell’s Books. I can be reached by e-mail by pasting in authorbryanpowell@reagan.com.

Author Bio: Deborah Malone’s first novel Death

in Dahlonega, finaled in the American Christian Fiction Writer’s Category Five writing contest! Deborah was also nominated for 2012 Georgia Author of the Year in First Novel category. She has worked as a freelance writer and photographer, for the historic magazine “Georgia Backroads.” She has had many articles and photographs published, and her writing is featured in “Tales of the Rails,” edited by Olin Jackson. She is a member of the Georgia Writer’s Association as well as Advanced Writer’s and Speakers Association. As a current member of the American Christian Fiction Writer she has established a blog where she reviews Christian Fiction.  

 



 

Interview and Giveaway with Deborah Malone by Deborah Malone

It's time for an interview with one of my favorite writer's - moi'.  If you leave a comment telling me your definition of a cozy mystery and are a follower of this site then you could be the winner of your choice of one of my books "Death in Dahlonega" or "Murder in Marietta."


 

Can you give us a sneak peek at your new release “Murder in Marietta?”

     Trixie and Dee Dee head off to Marietta, Georgia for another assignment. They visit the Marietta History Museum where they spend the night to see if they can sight the resident ghosts. Sometime during the night a murder takes place in the museum and the director, Doc Pennington, is put on the suspect list. He asks Trixie and Dee Dee to help him find the real killer. Nana takes a larger role in this book and she won’t disappoint you with her antics.  All of this together makes a recipe for murder and mayhem.

Update:  My third book in the Trixie Montgomery series “Terror on Tybee Island” should be out in December.

 

What inspired this book?

     I’ve always loved to read so I think it was natural that I’d transition into writing. Mysteries have been my genre of choice since I was a young girl and loved to read Nancy Drew.  Cozy mysteries are one of my favorites and Ann George has been a big influence on my writing. As for writing Christian Fiction – Margaret Daley’s books were a big influence.

 

How did you know you were called to write?

     I’ve always wanted to write, but while I was writing my manuscript I wrote it as a secular book. While I was writing it I was thinking I’d like to write it in a manner that wouldn’t be offensive. I didn’t even know there was such a thing as “Christian fiction.” I had finished the manuscript when I read one of Margaret Daley’s books and went to her website where I ‘discovered’ Christian fiction. I couldn’t get enough. I joined ACFW and began to study how other writers wrote their books. I went back and rewrote my manuscript as Christian fiction.

 

 

Are you a panster or do you outline?

     I’m definitely a panster. I have a general outline on how I want the manuscript to progress, but that’s it. Then I might do a general outline for each chapter, but none of it is done in detail. Now after I’ve written a chapter I will go in Microsoft One Note and detail the chapter so I can keep up with my characters, timeline, setting, etc.

 

How long have you been writing?

     I started writing seriously in 2001 when I started writing for “Georgia Backroads” a historical magazine. I am still writing for them. I started on my book in 2002, but life got in the way and so I came back to it around 2009/10.

 

Tell us something silly about you.

     My friends and family could probably answer this better than me. The one thing I can think about is that I love to sing – but I can’t carry a tune in a bucket. So I sing in the car with the windows rolled up and the radio/CD’s going to cover up my singing.

 

What do you hope readers will take away from this book?

     There aren’t any deep messages in “Murder in Marietta, but there is a theme of forgiveness and faith. For the most part I hope I make someone laugh and take them away from the stresses of real life for just a while. I want them to have some laugh out loud moments

 

What is your favorite season?

     Spring

 

What project are you currently working on?

     My third book in the Trixie Montgomery series “Terror on Tybee Island” should be out the first of December. Trixie and Dee Dee along with Nana and Trixie’s mama Betty Jo have gone to Savannah/Tybee Island, Georgia for a vacation. Of course they are going to have to help someone find a killer. My next book in the series is “Chilled in Chattanooga.”

 

What has been your most challenging experience writing a book?

     I don’t think I can list just oneJ  Learning the craft/rules of writing was a big curve for me. Then there is the editing. Then there is submitting to publishers. And then when you are finally published you think you are home free – not! Then there is the marketing. It seems there are always new challenges to learn in writing and publishing a book.

 

What is your favorite color?

     Blue

 

What is a fond childhood memory?

     I have many fond memories, but one that stands out is when my grandmother bought me a horse. My parents weren’t able to afford one so she chipped in to help and one Christmas they surprised me. Boy was I surprised.

 

What book are you currently reading?

     I just finished “Honored Redeemed” by Loree Lough.

 

Links for books: www.amazon.com and www.barnesandnoble.com

 

Links where you can find Deborah:

www.deborah-malone.com

www.deborahsbutterflyjourney.blogspot.com

www.sleuthsandsuspects.blogspot.com

www.cozymysterymagazine.blogspot.com

 

 

: Deborah Malone’s first novel Death in Dahlonega, finaled in the American Christian Fiction Writer’s Category Five writing contest! Deborah was also nominated for 2012 Georgia Author of the Year in First Novel category. She has worked as a freelance writer and photographer, for the historic magazine “Georgia Backroads.” She has had many articles and photographs published, and her writing is featured in “Tales of the Rails,” edited by Olin Jackson. She is a member of the Georgia Writer’s Association as well as Advanced Writer’s and Speakers Association. As a current member of the American Christian Fiction Writer she has established a blog where she reviews Christian Fiction.  

 

 

 

 

 

Interview and Giveaway with Margaret Daley

Margaret Daley has a special place in my heart. When reading one of Margaret's books I became acquainted with Christian Fiction. I knew that is what I wanted to write. I'd already written my manuscript so I rewrote it to fit Christian Fiction. Margaret has written and published over 100 books. She writes in many different genres, one of them being Romantic Suspense. I look forward to this interview to learn more about her. She has graciously offered a giveaway of one of her books. To b eligible just leave a comment for Margaret, be a follower, and leave our email so we can contact you. Without further ado lets get started!

 

 

 

 

Interview Questions/Sleuths and Suspects Blog

         Tell us a little about yourself. I've been writing for over thirty years and married for over forty years. I have one son and four granddaughters. I love to travel, go to lunch and a movie with a friend and read when I get a chance.

        Tell us about your most recent book/or the book we are focusing on. Another book focusing on the Texas Rangers is out this October called Severed Trust. It is the fourth book in The Men of the Texas Rangers Series for Abingdon Press. The blurb for Severed Trust is: The day Sadie Thompson finds her high school student, Lexie, asleep in class and can't wake her is the day she realizes how entrenched a prescription drug ring is in her school. As Sadie is pulled into doing something about the growing problem, she becomes involved with Ethan Stone—a Texas Ranger who suspects the drug ring reaches far beyond the high school. Helping Lexie recover from the overdose, Sadie feels she is making a difference—until the 16-year-old's best friend dies from the apparent mixing of various prescription drugs. Lexie doesn't think her friend took her own life, but her relationship with her Uncle Ethan is precarious and she doesn’t know if either he or Sadie will help her discover the truth.

         Why did you choose this particular genre? I love to read romantic suspense, and it just seemed natural to write it.

         What was your journey to publication like? I first sold in 1980 to a secular publisher and wrote in that market for twenty years. I sold ten books then went through an eight year dry spell before I sold again. I thought of giving up writing, but I didn't. I went on to sell some more secular books before God gave me a book that could only be told as an inspirational romance. I sold that one in 2000 and have gone on to sell 63 books in the Christian market. If I had given up and walked away completely during my dry spell, I would have never written my Christian books, which is where I belong. God knew that as He knows everything. It took me a while to realize it. He didn't give up on me.

 

 

         What is a couple of your favorite books and what are you reading now? Amazonia by James Rollins and Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton are two of my favorites. At the moment I'm not reading because I'm so busy, but I have James Rollins' latest book waiting for me when I have some time to read.

         What are you working on now and can you give us a little peek inside it? I just signed an eight book contract with LI/LIS and will be starting the first book soon—a third book in my Caring Canines Series (first book was out in August, Healing Hearts, and second one will be out in December called Her Holiday Hero). This series is about service and therapy dogs and how they can help people. I will be starting a new series soon for Love Inspired Suspense—a search and rescue series in Alaska.

         What advice would you give authors who are on their own journey to publication? Keep writing. Persistence is important if you want to succeed.

         Do you have any books or websites that have helped you with your writing that you could share with us? One of my favorites is Debra Dixon's Goals, Motivation and Conflict. Great book to help with developing characters and plot lines.

         Is there anything you’d like to tell us we haven’t covered? Write with the market in mind, but write what you enjoy writing. It will show if you don't.

        Please let us know where we can find you on the web. Website: http://www.margaretdaley.com Blog: http://www.margaretdaley.com/margarets-blog/ Twitter: http://twitter.com/margaretdaley Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/margaretdaleybooks

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