I’d like to welcome Ivanka Fear to the blog for #WriterWednesday.

A few of your favorite things: I love animals (especially cats), nature, summer, the beach (all bodies of water), and flower gardens. I enjoy reading books, watching movies, and looking at family photos. I cherish gifts and keepsakes given to me by family.

Things you need to throw out: Too much space is taken up in my house with old clothes and linens, old receipts, old electronics, knickknacks that serve no purpose, stuff I’ve bought over the years and been keeping for ages and can’t bear to part with but will never use.

Things you need for your writing sessions: I don’t need much. Ideas flow when I’m going for a walk, doing chores, lying in bed. For the actual writing, I need my laptop, a comfy chair, music for inspiration, some snacks, and peace and quiet.

Things that hamper your writing: My laptop is a necessity but a problem because I spend too much time on social media and scrolling, getting distracted. Also, the television needs to be turned off. Cats on my lap are welcome, but it’s hard to write with a cat on your laptop.

Things you love about writing: I love creating a setting, characters and problems, situations for my characters to work their way through and resolve. I enjoy all stages of the writing process, having ideas roll through my head, molding those ideas into sentences and paragraphs, and finishing a piece of writing. Great satisfaction comes from reading back what I’ve written, sharing it with others, and seeing my work in print.

Things you hate about writing: The dreaded writer’s block (which I didn’t believe in at one point) is a real downer, and getting stuck about what comes next in a storyline, is not fun. The editing (especially cutting out parts) is hard for me.

Hardest thing about being a writer: As an introvert, marketing myself is difficult. In-person events, on-line events – they all make me nervous. I’m not good at PR. Also, technology is not my forte. And accepting criticism, as well-intentioned as I know it is, is tough.

Easiest thing about being a writer: Writing. I just love to write.

Favorite foods: If it’s unhealthy, I’ll eat it. That means lasagna, pizza, chocolate, ice cream, cake, doughnuts, anything sweet. Salted snacks work, too.

Things that make you want to gag: I don’t like to see onions, peppers, and other spices in my food, but if they are well-hidden, I will tolerate them. Anything too spicy or greasy is a no for me. I’m also not a fan of seafood.

Favorite music or song: As I’ve grown older, I love to listen to the oldies and classics. Mostly I enjoy rock/pop/country music. My all-time favorite musical artists are Michael Jackson and Elvis Presley.

Music that drives you crazy: I don’t listen to rap, and repetitive lyrics drive me up the wall.

Something you wish you could do: I wanted to take piano lessons when I was young. I would love to be able to play an instrument and to sing well.

Something you wish you’d never learned to do: I can’t think of anything. All learning is good. I should have learned more things. I guess that’s the teacher in me.

Things you always put in your books: My protagonist is usually a strong independent woman with issues. Cats and the lake (if I can fit them into the storyline) have a place in my books. A bit of romance and humor takes the edge off the darkness which is an inherent part of crime fiction.

Things you never put in your books: I don’t like to read or write excessive gore and violence.

Things to say to an author: I heard good things about this book. I couldn’t stop reading your book. I wish it had been longer. I can’t wait for your next book to come out.

Things to say to an author if you want to be fictionally killed off in their next book: I couldn’t relate to your main character. They seemed unrealistic. How much did you have to pay to get this published, anyway?

Favorite places you’ve been: I love Europe and the places I’ve been fortunate enough to visit -- Slovenia (which is where I was born) and Croatia, Venice, Vienna, Cote d’Azure, the Adriatic. In North America, I loved the Gulf of Mexico in Florida, and the Rocky Mountains in Canada. Mountains and lakes and oceans are my favorite places.

Places you never want to go to again: Any place that doesn’t have an easy escape or is up high is somewhere I don’t want to be. So narrow caves and gondolas, elevators and airplanes (although that is unrealistic) are out of the question.

Favorite books (or genre): I mostly read and write in the same genre. That means suspense, thriller, mystery, but also gothic, and romance. Some of my favorite authors (although there are so many) are Janet Evanovich, Linwood Barclay, and Shari Lapena. And I enjoy classics like Wuthering Heights and Little Women.

Books you wouldn’t buy: I don’t read fantasy and sci-fi, and not much non-fiction either..

Favorite things to do: The best thing is to spend time with my family. I love to go to the beach, and to travel. I enjoy reading, writing, and watching mysteries.

Things you’d run through a fire or eat bugs to get out of doing: No bugs, please, or spiders, or worms or snakes or other slithery skittery creatures.

Best thing you’ve ever done: I met and married my husband, became a mom, then grandma. My family is the best thing in my life.

Biggest mistake: I worked too hard at work, and took life too seriously, when I should have concentrated more on the fun things.

About Ivanka:

Ivanka Fear is Canadian writer, born in Slovenia. She earned her B.A. and B.Ed. in English and French at Western University. Prior to pursuing writing full time, she enjoyed a long career in education. Her debut novel, The Dead Lie, is the first in her Blue Water Mysteries series. Ivanka is a member of International Thriller Writers and Sisters in Crime. She resides in Ontario, Canada, with her family and the stray cats that wandered in. When not reading and writing, Ivanka enjoys watching mystery series and romance movies, gardening, going for walks, and watching the waves roll in at the lake.

Let’s Be Social:

Visit her at www.ivankafear.com