Interview with JK Dark

Today we're chatting with author JK Dark who's got a new book coming out next month.

Welcome to We Do Write. Tell us a bit about yourself.

Well, I’m your typical middle aged balding white man. I was born and raised in St Louis, Missouri, and have had the good fortune to live on both the east & west coast of this beautiful country, before coming home in 1998. I have worked in the plant & soil science field all my adult life, which is an embellished way to say I know a lot about Fertilizer!

How long have you been writing?

I have been writing my entire life. I decided after prompting from family and friends, to really persue it seriously about 5 years ago. It beats writing copy for trade and industry publications, which is what I found myself spending a great deal of time doing career wise.

Let's hear about your new book. What's it called and what's it about?

Dark Thoughts and Dark Forces is the title, it is a collection of fictional short stories in the horror/ mystery/suspense genre. To summarize it, I suppose it examines and questions the mind of man and the mystery of killing human beings. There are a few supernatural twists in the stories and a glimpse of New Orleans voodoo sprinkled in for good measure. It is a departure from my normal genre, and one I enjoyed writing, As I found fiction removes the need for logical endings to a story.

How did the idea of the story come to you?

Gosh, these stories are a collection of experiences, cultures, and the search for understanding or order in a senseless mystery, which I find killing of man to be.

Do you have a critique group/partner or beta readers, ordo you self-edit?

I use my blog as a raw unedited sharing of my stories. I find the readers that visit regularly provide great feedback and are not hesitant to express like and dislikes to opinions or a subject. From that I have determined both by feedback and raw number of hits, what my audience not only likes, but as important reads and wants more of from me.

Are you a planner or a pantser?

I am very much a planner. I’m already planning two books ahead. Next is a full length novel of the same genre. I find most of my writer friends to be the same way, planning and crafting of a book is very much a planning function.

What’s the hardest part of writing for you?

Easily the hardest part has been editing, as you have discovered by now. Finding a professional editor to work with has been the best thing I have ever done. And learning to come to grips with the fact that perhaps what I believe to be my best paragraph or writing may need to be discarded in order to better the story or chapter. That can be a hard pill to swallow for a writer.

Let’s get to know you on a deeper level. What do you absolutely have to have nearby when writing?

Dorothy, if you find black coffee and cigarettes deep, then my CD collection must make me Hemmingway like!

LOL.

I don’t know how deep that probes or speaks to my writing habits, but I find all three to be both prominent and a necessity when writing. I hope to drop the cigarettes from the mix soon though.

Good idea. If you could have any super power, what would it be?

Easy, it would be Super hearing. Imagine the story possibilities!

What's the weirdest thing you've googled?

Oh Lord! I would be afraid to even look at my google history!
I guess on the exciting side, an erotic thesaurus, searching for the right words for a story. On the boring side, a data table on the fishing industry in Plaquemines Parrish Louisiana, while doing research for another story.

Quick writing test! Use the following words in a sentence: plastic wrap, dinosaur, and arguable.


The man’s body went in the plastic wrap in an arguable fashion, as he was still alive, but he would soon become as extinct as a dinosaur when the air escaped his lungs.

Here’s the part where you thank the people who aresupporting you. Let's hear your shout outs.

I will undoubtedly fail to mention someone; however I am blessed with many good friends who lend me encouragement and support. Among them, many writers who are arguably (do I get bonus points for the use in two sentences?) (Yes, you do!) are the most selfless people when it comes to helping or providing feedback to another writer. And of course my family, I promise I gave proper credit in the acknowledgement section of the new book.

And finally, where can people find you and your books online?

Both my first book: Anecdotes, Short Stories & Mind Clutter, as well as Dark Thoughts & Dark Forces, are available through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, As well as the many great Independent bookstores. They can also be found on my blog which is www.onthedarksidewordpress.com

I am also a contributor to The Good Men project www.goodmenproject.com which is an e-magazine.

Dark Thoughts and Dark Forces will be available April 1st in ebook format and April 15th in paperback.

Thanks so much for chatting with us today. I wish you continued success with your books.

Thanks!

Interview with Debra Purdy Kong

Hope you're all enjoying the holidays. Let's keep that Christmas spirit going a little longer by chatting with a fab author. Say hello to Debra Purdy Kong.

Welcome, Debra. Tell us a bit about yourself.

I've had a love of books since childhood, when the bookmobile used to come to our neighborhood every three weeks with a busload of books. In grade 7, I volunteered in our school's library, and forty years later, life still seems most natural with a book in my hand. I have a diploma in criminology, but preferred to write about crime and criminals rather than work in corrections or related fields.


I put myself through school by working as a secretary. After graduation, I sold my car and spent a year traveling and working in Europe, where I kept a journal, wrote long letters home, and began my first short story. I wound up working for a firm of solicitors in London, England, and sharing a flat with an aspiring singer/actress, who loved my writing. By the time I came home, I knew I wanted to be a writer, but I also knew it would be a long time before I made a living from it, if ever. So, I returned to secretarial work, then married, had two children, and continued writing whenever I could. I still love it; probably always will.


The European trip happened in 1979, so I've been writing for most of my adult life. Fifteen months ago, I signed a contract with TouchWood Editions, and left my part-time job, working in security (which turned out to be great book research) to write fulltime. It's been the best fifteen months of my life!

Tell us about your books. What are they about?

I self-published two mysteries that feature a young tax auditor, who stumbles into murder and finds himself in way over his head. Both books are centered around white-collar crime. For the first book, Taxed to Death, it's fraud, and in Fatal Encryption, it's computer sabotage.

My new series features transit security officer, Casey Holland. In the debut novel, The Opposite of Dark, Casey is told by police that her father's been murdered, however, she buried him in an open-casket ceremony three years earlier. The story, needless to say, is all about family and how the past we thought we knew isn't always the whole story at all. What happens in that book sets the tone and helps readers understand what drives Casey in future novels. The second instalment, Deadly Accusations, will be released in March 2012.

How did the idea of the stories come to you?

My Bellamy novels came out of my secretarial experience while working for a firm of chartered accountants. One day, I was having lunch with articling students and talking about mystery novels, and one of them said, "How come no one writes about us?" And I thought, yeah, why not? Because a lot of the C.A.s I met certainly didn't fit the stereotype.


The idea for my Casey novels also grew out of a work experience many years ago. I was doing temporary work for the bus company many years ago, when I learned that the company employed undercover security officers to catch thieves, perverts, vandals, and so forth. I thought this was a great idea for a character. After I published Taxed to Death, I began my first Casey novel, but it took a long time and twelve drafts before The Opposite of the Dark came to light, so to speak.

Do you have a critique group/partner or beta readers, or do you self-edit?

I have all three, actually. A critique group of writers, none of whom write mysteries, yet they offer a unique perspective. A colleague is currently reading the fourth Casey novel straight through for continuity and pacing, which really doesn't work in critique groups. I also do a lot of self-editing! 80% of my writing is actually editing.

I hear you! What’s the hardest part of writing for you?

The hardest part is tackling the second draft. I like to write a book straight through, and although I have an outline for most of it, there's still a lot I need to change and it feels like it takes forever to make those changes in the second draft.

Let’s get to know you on a deeper level. What do you absolutely have to have nearby when writing?

I have to have something to drink: coffee in the morning, tea in the afternoon, decaf green tea or peppermint tea in the evening, or a glass of water. Picking up the mug is my way of pausing to think about a sentence or paragraph I've just written which I'm not sure about.

If you could have any super power, what would it be?

Well, I don't know if it's a super power, but I'd have endless energy!

I need some of that, lol. Quick writing test! Use the following words in a sentence: subway, rhinoceros, and candy machine.

Desperate for a Milky Way, the rhinoceros charged through the subway and crashed into the candy machine.

Why do the Madagascar movies come to mind? LOL. Here’s the part where you thank the people who are supporting you. Let's hear your shout outs.

I'd love to give a shout out to the wonderful reviewers and readers who've taken the time to say they like my books. And a huge shout-out to my critique group who've been so amazing over the years.

And finally, where can people find you and your books online?

They can find me on Twitter @debrapurdykong and on Facebook. I also have a fan page called Casey Holland Transit Security Mysteries. I write a weekly blog about the strange and outrageous goings on in the white-collar crime world, and contribute to a shared blog all about the writing world at http://writetype.blogspot.com


All of my books are available on amazon.com, amazon.ca. Taxed to Death and Fatal Encryption are available on Kindle, and The Opposite of Dark is available at iBooks and on Kindle.


Link to reviews and book trailer for The Opposite of Dark can be found here.

Debra, thank you so much for chatting with us. Your books sound great. Good luck with all your writing!

Interview with Susan Schreyer

Hopefully you're all in good spirits, despite the hustle and bustle of the season. In keeping with being jolly, let's get to know magnificent writer Susan Schreyer.

Welcome to We Do Write, Susan. Tell us a bit about yourself.

I live in the great state of Washington and love the fact that wherever I look (when it's not cloudy) I can see mountains. I'm married -- twenty-one years now! -- have two almost-grown children, a rabbit with an attitude and a horse with an enormous number of fans from all corners of the planet. I love to laugh and wish I didn't have to watch my weight. Oh -- and my favorite color is green.

I think you've covered all the bases with that answer! How long have you been writing?

I started seriously writing mystery novels about 6 years ago, although like pretty much every other writer I've had the inclination all my life.

Tell us about the Thea Campbell mystery series. What are the stories about?

Death By A Dark Horse is the first of the Thea Campbell Mysteries. They take place in the real life town of Snohomish, Washington -- the antiques capital of the northwest -- and are "cozy-esque." I use that term because all the stories take place, at least in part, in a small town setting and involve people who know each other. However, the stories have been described not only as mysteries, but as suspense and romantic thrillers. Are they totally serious? Heck, no! Thea, the protagonist, as well as her friends and family, often show us the humor in life.

How did the idea of the stories come to you?

The major plot line for Death By A Dark Horse kept me up nights. Seriously. I wanted to write a mystery and all the advice I read said, "write what you know." My life is decidedly unmysterious, and I have no experience with solving murders. However, I do know horse people -- having been born that way -- so my thinking ran along the lines of what kind of situation would be so compelling to a horse owner that they simply had to become involved? Once I began writing the first story the characters took over. They weren't done with me. Story ideas won't leave me alone any more.

Do you have a critique group/partner or beta readers, or do you self-edit?

Yes! To everyone of those! I have several trusted critique partners who are accomplished writers in their own right, but I have a rather thorough self-editing process I go through before I hand my work over to them.

What’s the hardest part of writing for you?

All writing takes effort -- time, patience, willingness to learn craft and learn from others who have gone before. You learn quite a lot about yourself from the processed of discovering your own best method for working, and that self-discovery is not easy. The most difficult thing for me to learn to do was to be openly honest about emotions. Not only does it take an effort to admit to some of them, but you have to experience them as you write as well. If you don't, if you make a "best guess," or skirt an issue, your readers will know. So you have to feel the love, the fear, the anger -- all of it -- if your readers' emotions are going to be touched, too.

Let’s get to know you on a deeper level. What do you absolutely have to have nearby when writing?

Silence. Or at least something that resembles silence. Music distracts me, as does conversation, and shiny objects :)

If you could have any super power, what would it be?

I would be super organized. That would make my life so much easier. On the other hand, flying would be great fun.

Quick writing test! Use the following words in a sentence: cave, umbrella, and irresistible.

Exploring the cave held an irresistible appeal for me from the moment I saw the bats, although the actual act of venturing inside caused me to wish I'd equipped myself with an umbrella and worn hip boots.

Very nice sentence! Here’s the part where you thank the people who are supporting you. Let's hear your shout outs.

First, my family -- my husband and kids, my parents and sister and the whole lot of you. Then there are my writing friends, MK Windham, Lisa Stowe, Mary Buckham, Anne Christensen, Lisa Harris, the whole Sister in Crime Puget Sound Chapter, The Guppies Chapter of SinC, and last but never never least all the wonderful readers who have enjoyed my books and taken the time to tell me, their friends or both. Love you all!

And finally, where can people find you and your books online?

Death By A Dark Horse, Levels Of Deception and An Error In Judgment can be found in trade paperback on Amazon.com, and in digital format pretty much everywhere you can hope to find an ebook. Here's some popular sites;


Here's the link to Amazon for print and ebook: http://www.amazon.com/Susan-Schreyer/e/B004CLPMUG/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1


And the link to Smashwords for ebook: http://www.smashwords.com/books/search?query=susan+schreyer


Barnes & Noble Nook: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/susan-schreyer?keyword=susan+schreyer&store=ebook


Apple, Kobo and Sony have them as well.


Susan, thank you so much for stopping by and chatting with us. It was a pleasure getting to know more about you and your books.

Interview with H C Elliston

Mid-September already, can you believe it? It seems time is flying fast. With so much to do, and deadlines to do them by, I have to apologize if the blog seems a little slow. Theoretically I'd like to post at least three interviews a week, but you'll have to excuse me if I can only manage one. If anyone can understand me, writers can. Right?

So let's welcome our next interviewee. This time we're talking with a lovely lady who's written an exciting book. Say hello to H.C. Elliston.

Hi, Helen! Tell us a bit about yourself.

I live in West Yorkshire with my fiancé and dogs, near to my fiancé's children. I am a pet portrait artist, a vegetarian, and a trustee for a local animal rescue charity. People would probably describe my desk as organised chaos – and they’d be right! Hmmm... what else? I leave scraps of paper in every room so that I always have something at hand to write ideas on. I love hot chilli sauce, chocolate and icecream. Oh, and I adore my two dogs!

How long have you been writing?

I started writing about 4 years ago and have been hooked ever since!

Tell us about TICK TOCK RUN. What’s the story about?

105,000 words, 388 pages, of suspense, mystery and romance with a little humour thrown in.
TRUST NO ONE. SUSPECT EVERYONE.

The main character Chelsea receives a threatening e-mail which contains a ticking countdown timer. Likely it is spam or a virus, but when she crosses paths with a man at a bar whose brother had died after receiving a similar message, she realises her life is in danger. Someone has dragged her into a frightening game of revenge. Chelsea decides to find her assailant before he or she finds her. Soon, she starts to mistrust her instincts as she is thwarted by the people closest to her who have their own hidden agendas.

How did the idea of the story come to you?

The death clock in an email idea came to me while sitting with my dogs in my garden. One of those moments when you’re not even trying to think of ideas, and hey, presto!

Plot aside, I wanted to write what I enjoy in books and movies, and take the reader through a range of emotions. People often have to get creative to solve their own daily problems. I have simply done this on a larger scale. I enjoy throwing my characters into awful situations and watching them try to battle their way out.

Do you have a critique group/partner or beta readers, or do you self-edit?

I have a fantastic group of critique partners. It is so important to get other eyes on your work. Sometimes I can be so inside my own story that my brain fills in the errors, be it grammatical issues, plot holes, POV issues. Critique partners help ensure that I have covered all my bases, and help whip my stories into shape!

I agree, critique partners are very valuable. What’s the hardest part of writing for you?

I would have to say it is writing the first quarter of the book when I take my opening problem/scenario to a higher level, and I am still getting to know my characters.

Let’s get to know you on a deeper level. What do you absolutely have to have nearby when writing?

Coffee, coke, silence, and then a glass of wine later on. I tend to drop out of reality while writing. I need peace and quiet to be able to really put myself inside the scene in order to paint the picture and portray emotion.

If you could have any super power, what would it be?

Wouldn’t it be great to be able to snap your fingers and end up in a different location!

Quick writing test! Use the following words in a sentence: sheep, satellite, and birthday party.

When the satellite dish thudded to the ground, the sheep dog bolted across the lawn knocking a party guest who fell onto the birthday cake.

Here’s the part where you thank the people who are supporting you. Let's hear your shout outs.

A huge thanks to my critique partners for their help and encouragement, my friends and family for their support, and to readers for taking a chance on a new author!

My second novel is due for release in September, for a sneak preview please visit my website.

Speaking of websites, where can people find you and your book online?

The download version is available on Amazon, Smashwords, ibooks & Barnes & Noble.
The paperback version is available from Amazon.com


My author website is http://hcelliston.co.uk, and includes links to Twitter and Facebook.


My pet portrait website http://helenclaireart.co.uk

Thanks so much for chatting with us, and good luck with your books!

Thanks for the interview, Dorothy!

Interview with Rhys Bowen

My next guest is a delightful writer who has written a very interesting spy series. Let's jump right into the interview and get to know Rhys Bowen and her books.

Hello, Rhys! Tell us a bit about yourself.

Born and raised in England, lived in many places before settling in California. I'm married to a fellow Brit. We've four children and 5 grandchildren. We love to travel and now live in Arizona in the winter.

How long have you been writing?

I've been a professional writer all my life--last 15 years specializing in mysteries, my favorite reads.

Tell us about the Royal Spyness series, and in particular, about NAUGHTY IN NICE.

I wanted to write a series that was fun,funny, suspenseful and a little romantic. So Lady Georgiana is 34th in line to the English throne in the 1930s but her branch of the family is penniless. She's trying to make her own way during the Great Depression while those around her still live the life of the rich and famous. In Naughty in Nice the queen sends her on a secret assignment to the Riviera, to recover a stolen snuffbox. Her adventures include modeling for Chanel, flirting with a dashing marquis and finding a body. Lots of fun and I love including real people... Mrs. Simpson and the Prince of Wales, for example.


This book has already received a starred review from Publisher's Weekly and is a RT Reviews top pick so it's off to a good start.

Sounds awesome! What’s the hardest part of writing for you?

Not the ideas. They are lining up to be used. It's juggling the whole promotional part with my writing time.

Interesting, and an aspect I'm sure many aspiring authors don't often think about. Any tips you’ve learned about writing you’d like to share?

Yes--only write a book to please yourself. Your book has to read as if you're having a good time writing it.


And work on writing the best book of which you are able. The rest will happen.

Great tip. Let’s get to know you on a deeper level. What do you absolutely have to have nearby when writing?

My toys--wind up teeth, a couple of tops to spin, Egdar bobblehead and more. I need an excuse to stop and play when things are getting tense.

LOL, truly an original answer. If you could have any super power, what would it be?

To bring about world peace? End hunger? Actually it would be cool to be able to fly.

Quick writing test! Use the following words in a sentence: parchment, glowing, and antelope.

"And our specail tonight," the chef said, waving at the glowing embers of a barbecue, "is antelope haunch in parchement."

LOL, ew. Here’s the part where you thank the people who are supporting you. Let's hear your shout outs.

This could be as long as my novels: my family who have been so supportive. My agents Meg and Christina. My editor Jackie Cantor and publicist Kaitlyn Kennedy. May amazing SEO guru Terry Kate. All my writing friends in the mystery community--they are the most amazing warm and nurturing bunch. My Facebook friends and finally the ones I owe most too--my fans. If they didn't read my books and tell others about them, I'd still be at step one.

And finally, where can people find you online?

My website is www.rhysbowen.com.
My blogs are www.rhysbowen.blogspot.com
and www.jungleredwriters.com

I'm on Facebook and Twitter and love to hear from my readers.

Thanks so much for chatting with us, Rhys. I look forward to reading your series. Good luck with the new book!

Thank you for a fun interview!

Author Update: Denise Grover Swank

In May of last year, I interviewed up-and-coming author Denise Grover Swank. Well, time has flown by, and now Denise is successfully launching her novel TWENTY-EIGHT AND A HALF WISHES. I watched the book trailer, and now I really want to get my hands on this book. Let's take the opportunity to catch up with her.

Welcome back, Denise! Congratulations on your launch. Tell us about your new book.

Thanks for having me back, Dorothy! Twenty-Eight and a Half Wishes is the first book of the Rose Gardner Mysteries. It's part mystery, part romance, part chick-lit, and part humor that all combines to make a fun read. The synopsis is below:

For Rose Gardner, working at the DMV on a Friday afternoon is bad even before she sees a vision of herself dead. She’s had plenty of visions, usually boring ones like someone’s toilet’s overflowed, but she’s never seen one of herself before. When her overbearing momma winds up murdered on her sofa instead, two things are certain: There isn't enough hydrogen peroxide in the state of Arkansas to get that stain out, and Rose is the prime suspect.


Rose realizes she’s wasted twenty-four years of living and makes a list on the back of a Wal-Mart receipt: twenty-eight things she wants to accomplish before her vision comes true. She’s well on her way with the help of her next door neighbor Joe, who has no trouble teaching Rose the rules of drinking, but won’t help with number fifteen-- do more with a man. Joe’s new to town, but it doesn’t take a vision for Rose to realize he’s got plenty secrets of his own.


Somebody thinks Rose has something they want and they’ll do anything to get it. Her house is broken into, someone else she knows is murdered, and suddenly, dying a virgin in the Fenton County jail isn’t her biggest worry after all.

Sounds amazing! How did the idea for the book come to you?

I took my son to the DMV to get license plates for his car. It was a hot, humid June day and the room was stuffy and full of cranky customers. I told him "It would be awesome to have a character work at the DMV. You could get some interesting stories." He just rolled his eyes and gave me his "whatever Mom, you're acting weird again" look. But the wheels were spinning. I started the book four days later.

Muses work in mysterious ways. What was the easiest part about writing this book, and what was the hardest?

The easiest part about about writing this book was that the story literally fell out of my fingers. Rose started talking and didn't stop until the story was done. She's such a fun character that it was a thrilling, magical ride. I wrote the first draft in 30 days.


The hardest part was cutting it down. When I finished, the first draft the manuscript was 102,000 words. It took MANY passes during edits to get it down to it's current 93,000 words. And that wasn't even revising. The story is pretty much as a I wrote it with only very minor revisions. It was cutting down the side thoughts Rose tended to throw in. While many were entertaining, they sometimes slowed down the story. It took me awhile to clean some out. (Kill your darlings. LOL)

Sounds like Rose had a lot to say. Quick Writing Test! Use these words in a sentence: power drill, equilibrium, and symphony.

Awesome word choices! One of my characters, Joe, actually uses a drill in Twenty-Eight and a Half Wishes to fix Rose's busted door. I'll write the sentence from Rose's POV. I've set it up with a few other sentences. I also cheated. To make it all make sense, I used a semi-colon. *hangs head in shame*

A mechanical whine drifted from the kitchen, irritating my already aching head. But when I turned the corner to investigate, I froze. Joe hunched in my doorway, working on the doorjamb. The blood rushed from my head, upsetting my equilibrium; the noise of the power drill in his hand had become a symphony.

That was brilliant! So well done that I forgive your cheating. ;) So now that your book is out, are there any shout outs you'd like to throw out there?

This book wouldn't be possible without the help of my critique partners, Trisha Leigh, Eisley Jacobs and Kathy Collins. They believed in this story as much as I did and encouraged me every step of the way. I love you guys!

And finally, let our readers know where they can find your book.

You can find Twenty-Eight and a Half WIshes as a ebook and paperback at Amazon.com, ebook at Barnes & Noble and paperback my Createspace store page: https://www.createspace.com/3614250


Twenty-Eight and a Half Wishes is also listed on Goodreads and has a book trailer:

Thanks so much, Denise. I wish you continued success with your book. And be sure to let us know when your next book comes out!

Interview with R.A. Evans

Hello, blogosprites! Hope you're all having a great week so far. To bring a little more sunshine to your day, I've got a fun interview with a great writer. Let's all get to know R.A. Evans, shall we?

Welcome to We Do Write. Tell us a bit about yourself.

I'm the anti-moth. Just as those creepy bugs are attracted to flame, I tend to be drawn towards darkness. By day I prostitute my creativity for the advertising industry, and by night I write about things that are dark and terrible. In between I balance three kids and a supportive wife who lets me think I am much more dark and mysterious than I really am.

How long have you been writing?

In some way shape or form I've always been writing. I remember as a child reading books and thinking I could improve upon them. I would actually write new endings and ask my mom to send those pages back to the library when we returned the book.

Professionally, however, it really started after college. Of course, it wasn't until 2008 that I officially started my work on Asylum Lake. Now, I'm addicted and I simply can;t stop.

Tell us about ASYLUM LAKE. What’s the story about?

Asylum Lake is about the power of memories and how they can attach themselves to places and things. And no matter how you try to run from them...sometimes, the dark ones, grow restless and come looking for you. The dark memories in my novel lie beneath of murky waters of Asylum Lake and are drawn from the abandoned psychiatric hospital on its northern shore. They've haunted the small Michigan town of Bedlam Falls for years and when the secrets finally surface it sets off a chain of events which, I believe, readers will both connect with and be frightened by. The reviews have been tremendous and the sequel, Grave Undertakings, is scheduled for release in May.

Sounds cool! How did the idea of the story come to you?

I spent 11 years working as the public information officer for the public mental health system in West Michigan. It was during that time that I discovered the real Asylum Lake - a nature preserve in Kalamazoo, Michigan that is right next to the grounds of the Kalamazoo State Hospital. I immediately knew that the place and setting would be perfect for a thriller, but it took me returning home to the small town where I had grown up to really pull the story together. I bumped into my own memories and realized that at the bottom of Asylum Lake the unremembered must be growing restless. That was actually the first line I write.

Can you tell us a bit about GRAVE UNDERTAKINGS?

As the story's chilling conclusion, Grave Undertakings is both a prequel and a sequel to Asylum Lake. Asylum Lake's story unfolded over three time periods - the 1950's, the 1970's, and present day. With Grave Undertakings readers will be taken back even further into the history of the asylum, yet also continue the present day search for answers. Without giving too much away for those who have yet to dive into Asylum Lake, the secrets unearthed in Grave Undertakings shed light on the mysterious hospital superintendent Dr. Wesley Clovis and the ramifications of his dark experiments.

What’s the hardest part of writing for you?

Staying focused on one project. I currently have three different projects bouncing around in my head and I want to dive into all three. It's like choosing a favorite child.

Any tips you’ve learned about writing you’d like to share?

I have a writing schedule and its been fantastic. Each day from 3-6am I write. Some days I am lucky to get 300 words out an others it may be 3,000 or more! It's like anything else, practice makes perfect. And I've found that some of those 300 word days have contained nuggets of gold!

Great advice. I need to adjust my schedule. Let’s get to know you on a deeper level. What do you absolutely have to have nearby when writing?

My MP3 player. Music is vital to my writing process, as the readers of Asylum Lake can tell. I have a variety of playlists that I use for different moods and tones. It's odd, I know, but not uncommon for me to have both Neil Diamond and Five Finger Death Punch on the same playlist. Nothing says "It's time to shed some blood" like a little Sweet Caroline!

LOL! If you could have any super power, what would it be?


X-ray vision, of course! I'd want to see what evil truly lies in the heart of men.

Quick writing test! Use the following words in a sentence: feather, tornado, and garden slugs.

From the lowly garden slug to the last feather on the birds of the field, the tornado's fury spared not a thing. (ugh! Tough one!)

You did great! Here’s the part where you thank the people who are supporting you. Let's hear your shout outs.

First and foremost my wife and kids for allowing me the time and space to pursue my dreams. Having a writer in the family isn't all rainbows and unicorns - we tend to be a selfish and sensitive animal. I'd also like to thank Wendy Mersman, a dear friend who created the artwork and designed the website for Asylum Lake. She believed in me before I even believed in myself.

And finally, where can people find you and your books online?

Asylum Lake is available on Amazon for Kindle at http://amzn.to/hGNex for only $2.99. For those of you who still prefer the printed page, you can get an autographed copy of Asylum lake for $15 by visiting http://bit.ly/fi54Z3. Now is the perfect time to dive into the mysteries of Asylum Lake.


Thank you so much for chatting with us. Asylum Lake sounds like a spooky read that promises to keep us turning the page. Good luck with it and with GRAVE UNDERTAKINGS!

Interview with Victoria Hamilton

Here's an interview for all those mystery lovers out there, seeing as my interviewee kills people for a living. On paper, that is. Please welcome fabulous author Victoria Hamilton.

Hello, Victoria. Tell us a bit about yourself.

I am a passionate fan of cozy and not-so-cozy mysteries, and have been since I was very young. I love to cook, I collect vintage kitchenware, I crochet occasionally, cross stitch more often, and play with the kids... er... cats. I like chocolate and tea, wine and cookies (not all together) and have been known to sing in grocery stores to muzak.

Awesome mini bio. How long have you been writing?

A long time! I've been a romance author for years, but have been pining away to write my true love, murder mysteries! I'm fortunate enough to have been given a three book contract for Vintage Kitchen Mysteries, and am just finishing up Book One.

Congratulations! Tell us about the Vintage Kitchen Mystery series.

This is so much fun!! Book One introduces Jaymie Leighton, a vintage kitchenware collector (Wonder how I came up with that idea! LOL). At an estate auction, Jaymie sees and bids on the most gorgeous Hoosier cabinet she's ever seen. (Wondering what a Hoosier cabinet is? You'll know when the first book of my series comes out). After taking it - and all of her other purchases - to her Queensville, Michigan home, she is awoken in the middle of the night by horrible screaming and her little three-legged Yorkie-Poo Hoppy's insistent barking.


She rushes downstairs to find a murdered man on her summer porch, by the Hoosier, with some of the stuff from the other boxes of auction goodies spilled all around him. Why did the well-dressed fellow break into her home? Was he after something she bought at the auction? In the following days Jaymie tries to find out not only who the victim is, but also why he was murdered. She and her home become the target of another break-in and attack; is she getting a little too close to the truth?

Okay, not fair to stop there. Now I'll have to get the book to find out what happens. What attracts you to writing mysteries?

I love writing characters, interweaving their lives, giving them something to figure out. People are fascinating, and why people do what they do - from committing crimes to strange but everyday stuff - is incredibly interesting to write about. Also, I watch a lot of true crime shows - The First 48, American Justice, etc. - and it's interesting to watch detectives at work.

What’s the hardest part of writing for you?

Staying organized! I am terrible at the organizational side, which leads to confusion in something that requires ruthless attention to detail, like a murder mystery.

Any tips you’ve learned about writing mysteries you’d like to share?

For writing tips I would refer hopeful writers to Gillian Roberts' and Carolyn Hart's websites. But my own tip? What I have found is that staying open to the possibilities in your own plot is important. Sometimes you really think you know where something is going, and then it twists away from you, but that's good! It means your subconscious is taking the story and working with it.

Let’s get to know you on a deeper level. What do you absolutely have to have nearby when writing?

A window to stare out of. No, seriously! A good deal of a writer's time is spent staring out of windows. I keep trying to convince people I'm working when I do that, but I'm not sure they believe me.

If you could have any super power, what would it be?

Mind reading, for sure. Selectively, though. Haven't you ever seen somebody do something, and wondered, 'Now, why the heck did they do that?' If you could read their mind, you'd know. Maybe.

Quick writing test! Use the following words in a sentence: consequences, poodle, and lemonade.

If Lizzie had known the consequences of feeding a poodle lemonade, she wouldn't have to purchase a piddle-proof carpet.

Hehehe, fair enough. Here’s the part where you thank the people who are supporting you. Let's hear your shout outs.

Yay! Love 'shout outs'. Shout out to Jessica Faust of Bookends Literary; she is awesome, best agent ever! And Michelle Vega at Berkley Prime Crime; talking to her was the highlight of my year, truly. And my two cats, Bad and Worse, (just kidding) for being good sports about the lack of lap time lately. Redecorating your house while the holidays are coming and you have a November 30th deadline equals insanity.

And finally, where can people find you online?

I don't have my dot com up yet, but I will eventually be blogging at vintagekitchenmysteries.blogspot.com, and I am on twitter @MysteryVictoria, and I'm on Facebook.

Victoria, thank you so much for talking with us. Your books sound fantastic, I wish you the best of luck with them.