#ThisorThatThursday Interview with Kristin Kisska

I’d like to welcome my friend, the fabulous Kristin Kisska, to the blog today for #ThisorThatThursday!

Things you need when you’re in your writing cave: I can’t work without coffee and absolute silence.

Things that distract you from writing: Pretty much all things on the internet. I need to put parental controls on my office computer.

Things you will run to the store for at midnight: A 9-volt battery to replace the dying one in my chirping smoke alarm. That’s usually the time it goes off as well.

Things you never put on your shopping list: Lumber. I’m not handy, so I have no business working with a hammer, nails, or wood.

The coolest thing you’ve bought online: This is tough, because I buy just about everything online these days. But, one of my very first online purchases ever was my wedding dress back in 1999!

The thing you wished you’d never bought: I bought a monthly subscription plan for a streaming “commercial free” radio service for my car, that took months to finally terminate our subscription, and now I’m on their marketing mailing list.

Favorite snacks: Ice cream, especially Gelato. I just returned from visiting my daughter in Rome, so I’m trying to break my daily afternoon Gelato habit.

Things that make you want to gag: Olives. I can’t even pick them off a Greek salad, because they make all the rest of the ingredients taste like olives.

Something you’re really good at: Making lists and spreadsheets.

Something you’re really bad at: Remembering to bring along my shopping list with me to the grocery store.

Something you wanted to be when you were a kid: Growing up, I wanted to be a veterinarian.

Something you do that you never dreamed you’d do: I never in a million years predicted I’d be a novelist, let alone publish one!

Things to say to an author: I couldn’t stop thinking about your book after it

Things to say to an author if you want to be fictionally killed off in their next book: I have a great idea for a book. If you write it, we can split the profits.

Favorite places you’ve been: I adore Prague, Czech Republic where I lived for three years, the Amalfi Coast, Italy, and the Exuma, Bahamas. In the USA, I love visiting Destin, Florida, Savannah, and Charleston.

Places you never want to go to again: Ohhhhh, that’s tough, because I think most places have something charming to them. But if pressed, it would be tough to convince me to visit Las Vegas.

Most daring thing you’ve ever done: In my twenties, I bought a one-way ticket to Prague and lived there for three years. My parents thought I was nuts, but it was the adventure of a lifetime.

Something you chickened out from doing: Skydiving. I don’t do heights. Ever.

The most exciting thing about your writing life: I love going to in person book events like festivals, conferences, and book clubs. While most writers are introverts—myself included—I get a rush chatting with book people.

The one thing you wish you could do over in your writing life: I wish I could learn how to write in quick bursts. I started out writing when my kiddos were napping or in preschool, and now I need a stretch of absolute quiet time or I can’t write.

The nicest thing a reader said to you: “If I could, I would give your novel [The Hint of Light] six stars!”

The craziest thing a reader said to you: “Did you hire a ghost writer?”

Recommendations for curing writer’s block: My go-to writer’s block cure is going for a walk. If that doesn’t work, I ask myself, “How can I make the situation worse for my main character?” And if all else fails, I enjoy an adult beverage. That usually helps ease through the pain.

Things you do to avoid writing: I can tell if I’m procrastinating if I start cleaning my home. That is my S.O.S. call!

About Kristin:

KRISTIN KISSKA used to be a finance geek, complete with MBA and Wall Street pedigree, but now she is a self-proclaimed #SuspenseGirl. Kristin has contributed short suspense stories to a dozen anthologies, including her first locked room mystery, “Cruise to Nowhere” in the revenge fiction anthology, First Comes Love, Then Comes Murder.  Her debut novel, The Hint of Light, was an Agatha Award finalist for Best First Mystery Novel. Kristin is a member of International Thriller Writers, Women’s Fiction Writers Association, and Sisters in Crime. Kristin lives in Richmond, Virginia with her family and their moody tabby cat, Boom. She loves hearing from friends, readers, and book clubs at www.KristinKisska.com

Let’s Be Social:

Instagram - @kristinkisskaauthor 

Twitter/X - @KKMHOO

Facebook - @KristinKisskaAuthor 

YouTube -  @KristinKisskaAuthor

Website - www.KristinKisska.com

Kristin’s short story, “Cruise to Nowhere” appears in the anthology, First Comes Love, Then Comes Murder.

#WriterWednesday Interview with Kristin Kisska

I’d like to welcome my friend, the fabulous Kristin Kisska, back to the blog for #WriterWednesday.

Things you never want to run out of: Lip balm and coffee. Without either of these, you’d have to lock me up.

Things you wish you’d never bought: Specialty cooking tools. Once a long, long while ago, I had great aspirations to level up my cooking skills, which dissipated soon after acquiring dozens of accessories. Now they’re just clutter.

A few of your favorite things: books, cats, and my beach chairs (especially when I’m using them on the sand)

Things you need to throw out: most of the boxes in my overstuffed attic.

Things you need for your writing sessions: coffee, my computer, and complete silence

Things that hamper your writing: the internet (I’m easily distracted by social media) and family members who wander into my writer’s cave to interrupt me.

Hardest thing about being a writer: Imposter syndrome. No matter what you’ve already accomplished, it’ll ambush you at any moment for any reason.

Easiest thing about being a writer: My absolute favorite part—other than typing The End—is the research phase. I love getting lost in discovering fascinating details about whatever topic I’m learning about for my current work in progress.

Favorite foods: peaches, steamed crabs, caprese salad, & tiramisu

Things that make you want to gag: olives, liver

Favorite beverage: coffee, followed by Pinot Grigio for special occasions

Something that gives you a sour face: Kombucha.  For whatever reason, it tastes like vinegar to me, no matter how it’s flavored.

Things you’d walk a mile for: I’d drive around to find the last, last, last parking spot in the furthest away lot to spend a day at the beach.

Things that make you want to run screaming from the room: Snakes. Sharks, too. Did I mention snakes?  I used to avoid flipping through National Geographic Magazine because inevitably, there was at least one photo of a snake in each issue.

Things to say to an author: “I loved your book and just left a glowing review on Goodreads and Amazon!”

Things to say to an author if you want to be fictionally killed off in their next book: “Send me a signed copy. My address is…”

Favorite books (or genre): I love all things suspense, so all derivatives (legal, medical, domestic, psychological, romantic, etc) of suspense/thriller novels are my jam.

Books you wouldn’t buy: No more cookbooks (see my answer to Question #1) 😊

Best thing you’ve ever done: I bought a one-way ticket to Prague and ended up living there for 3 years

Biggest mistake: I accepted a promotion that required me to relocate to Chicago. I’ve regretted leaving San Francisco, because friends and lifestyle.

The coolest person you’ve ever met: Madaleine Albright (before she became our Secretary of State)

The celebrity who didn’t look like he/she did in pictures/video: I sat next to movie actress, Regina Hall, on a flight. She was dressed down in sweats & Ugg boots, but I’d only ever seen her dressed to the nines in red carpet photographs.

The nicest thing a reader said to you: “I couldn’t stop thinking about your novel after I finished reading it. I even went back to reread a few scenes.”

The craziest thing a reader said to you: “I have a great idea for a book. If you write it, I’ll share the profits.”

About Kristin:

Kristin Kisska is a native of Virginia, where she currently resides with her family and their moody tabby, Boom. She holds a BS in commerce from the University of Virginia and an MBA from Northwestern University. She is the author of a dozen short stories published in anthologies. The Hint of Light is her debut novel. Kristin loves hearing from friends and readers at www.KristinKisska.com.

Let’s Be Social:

Website ~ www.KristinKisska.com

Instagram ~ @kristinkisskaauthor

Facebook ~ KristinKisskaAuthor

Twitter (a.k.a. X) ~ @KKMHOO

#ThisorThatThursday Author Interview with Kristin Kisska

I am so excited to welcome the amazing Kristin Kisska to the blog for #ThisorThatThursday!

Things you need when you’re in your writing cave:

I always have some sort of beverage near me in my writing cave, usually coffee, tea, or water. Sometimes I have more than one at hand!

Things that distract you from writing:

Noise, such as voices and music, keeps me from entering my writing zone. Oh, and social media is a huge temptation for me, but one that I have a hard time managing.

Hardest thing about being a writer:

Staring at a blank page with no idea what to write next, especially if you are writing on a deadline. Writer’s block is very real, and I dread the experience. I’m grateful it doesn’t happen very often, but when it does, my blood pressure escalates.

Easiest thing about being a writer:

Those rare, blissful moments when your characters hijack the story take over. Then, you are no longer creating the story but recording it as best as you can while it unfolds in new directions you hadn’t planned. The best part is that these writerly waves usually require the least amount of revising later on.

Things you will run to the store for at midnight:

Coffee grounds, especially if I don’t have enough to make a pot the next morning!

Things you never put on your shopping list:

Soda.

Favorite snacks:

Cheese, cheese, and cheese. My favorite type is brie, which I enjoy on pretzel chips, sandwiches, omelets, and even straight up by itself. Oh, did I mention cheese?

Things that make you want to gag:

I can’t stomach olives or liver. Yuck!

Something you’re really good at:

Parallel parking. I lived in Chicago for five years and learned how to street park the hard way.

Something you’re really bad at:

I can’t pronounce *epidemiologist* on the first try. EVER. And it’s been a fairly common word these past couple of years, for obvious reasons.

Something you wanted to be when you were a kid:

As a kid, I always wanted to be a veterinarian. In high school, I was able to volunteer at a local (human) hospital and changed my career aspirations to be a doctor. All it took was one chemistry lecture in college to reject medicine in general.

Something you do that you never dreamed you’d do:

A writer! I ended up majoring in business and even got my MBA. I worked on Wall Street and have owned a marketing firm for almost twenty years. So, about fifteen years ago, discovering that I had a story (actually many stories) to tell was a shock to my system, but here we are…I’m very grateful for my writerly muse!

Something you wish you could do:

I’d love to be able to whistle through my fingers—the really loud whistle. I’ve been attempting for years but still can’t get the hang of it, even by accident.

Something you wish you’d never learned to do:

Sewing buttons. I somehow became the button-sewer-oner in my family & I quit!

Things to say to an author:

I can’t wait to buy/read your (upcoming) book. Can you talk to my book club? I just loved your (insert story title).

Things to say to an author if you want to be fictionally killed off in their next book:

“You write fiction? What do you do for real?” Or, “Anyone can write a novel.”

Best thing you’ve ever done:

After college, I bought a one-way flight ticket to Prague. I ended up finding a job and lived there for three years. The best part was I got to travel all over Europe while I stayed there. My family and friends all thought I was crazy for doing it, but they all ended up visiting me and touring Prague anyway. I guess I got the last laugh.

Biggest mistake:

I turned down an offer to spend six months in Australia with my cousins while my uncle was on sabbatical. It meant I would’ve had to delay starting college by a year. Back then, a gap year wasn’t as common as now. Years later, I had the opportunity to visit Down Under and learned exactly what I’d missed by not saying “yes.”

The nicest thing a reader said to you:

“I wish I’d written your story.” This was from an author I idolized, so the compliment was especially meaningful.

The craziest thing a reader said to you:

A critique partner once read the first third of my draft novel and commented that nothing was happening in the story. The comment made more sense once I realized he was expecting the story to be a high-stakes thriller, not a slow burn suspense novel, but still…a lot was going on in the story. Ouch!

The most exciting thing about your writing life:

I absolutely adore book signing events. They make me feel like Cinderella at the ball.

The one thing you wish you could do over in your writing life:

After writing and polishing my first novel, I focused my time on researching and querying literary agents. In retrospect, I wish I’d continued writing during those months as it would’ve offered me both a distraction from what is a deflating process and a new manuscript to shop around sooner. At the end of the day, though, I found my writerly home with The Stringer Literary Agency, so everything worked out for the best.

About Kristin:

Kristin Kisska used to be a finance geek, complete with MBA and Wall Street pedigree, but now she is a self-proclaimed fictionista. Kristin contributed short suspense stories to nine anthologies, including Malice Domestic’s Agatha Award-winning anthology, MYSTERY MOST EDIBLE (2018). She’ll be releasing her tenth short story, “Vendetta by the Sea” in VIRGINIA IS FOR MYSTERIES: VOL III in February 2022.

Kristin is a member of International Thriller Writers, Women’s Fiction Writers Association, James River Writers, and is the Vice President of the Central Virginia chapter of Sisters in Crime. When not penning suspense novels, she can be found reading murdery books while cuddling with her kitty. Kristin lives in Richmond, Virginia with her family.

Let’s Be Social:

Facebook – KristinKisskaAuthor

Twitter - @KKMHOO

Instagram - @KristinKisskaAuthor

Website - www.KristinKisska.com

#ThisorThatThursday Interview with Kristin Kisska

I’d like to welcome my friend and very talented author, Kristin Kisska, back to the blog for #ThisorThatThursday.

Something crazy you did on vacation:

Years ago, I visited the Cayman Islands for a long weekend getaway with a friend.  She convinced me to go on a snorkeling trip to Stingray City, which is a sandbar area between the islands frequented by stingrays. For about two hours, I swam among dozens of wild stingrays. Very cool experience, but probably not one I’d ever repeat, especially since Steve Irwin died from a sting.

Something you’d never do again on vacation:

I decided to “brighten up” my home office. Famous last words.  Over one stay-cation, I selected a paint color I thought would be tan with rose undertones.  After all the walls had been painted, it looked more like Pepto Bismol. Ugh. I spent the rest of my vacation repainting my office gray. I will never do that again, nor will I undertake a DIY project as a “vacation.”

Your favorite thing to get from the ice cream truck:

Strawberry Shortcake Ice Cream bars.  I loved them as a kid and stumbled across one recently—they still sell them! Of course, I had to test and still see if it is my favorite. Yup!

Some dessert that you wish you’d never bought:

Shhhhhhh! Don’t tell anyone, but I’m really not a fan of chocolate ice cream and chocolate cake.

 Most favorite place to write/edit in the summer:

As much as I dream and fantasize about escaping to the beach for a DIY writing retreat, I know in my heart of hearts that I wouldn’t get any work done there.  Still, my go-to place to write is my writer’s cave (a.k.a. my home office).  My favorite summer place to *read* however, is absolutely at the beach.

The worst place to try to write in the summer because of all the distractions:

Any place I visit with my family over the summer qualifies as the worst place to write. Too many people juggling in too little space makes me a grumpy and frustrated writer.  I need quiet and routine to hit my creative zone.

 Favorite thing to do on a summer evening:

I love going for walks outside on a summer evening, especially in Virginia. With the sun out later, we usually get a break from the intense daytime heat, and the balmy evening is so calming. The crickets and cicadas offer a pure summer soundtrack. If I’m lucky, I’ll even get a peek at firefly or two.

Least favorite thing about summer:

Mosquitos.  They love nibbling on me for their breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Favorite place to visit in Virginia:

The beach is my happy place, so my favorite Virginia haunt is Sandbridge Beach.  It’s one of Virginia’s best-kept secrets and the setting of my upcoming short story, “Vendetta by the Sea,” which will be published in the mystery anthology VIRGINIA IS FOR MYSTERIES III this autumn.

Somewhere you’ve visited way too much. Been there. Done that. Got the T-shirt:

Tysons Corners mall in Vienna, Virginia. Honestly, I’m not a shopping person, to begin with, so malls hold little appeal.  Add massive crowds, gridlock traffic, and terrible parking, and you’ve created my perfect storm.

The thing you like most about being a writer:

My absolute favorite moment of being a writer is when my characters hijack my story and take over.  When this happens, I’m no longer the driver but a passenger along for the ride, and I try to capture the events unfolding as best I can.  I’m guessing it’s a lot like the thrill of surfing a wave.

The thing you like least about being a writer:

Writer's block. Nuff said.

The thing that you will most remember about your writing life:

I can’t pick just one because I’ve enjoyed a few personally epic milestones thus far in my writerly journey. My top three moments are: writing “The End” on my first novel, signing my first ever published short story, “The Sevens,” and getting a call from my literary agent to offer me representation.

Something in your writing life that you wish you could do over:

I wish I’d started attending writer conferences sooner. Much of writing is such a solitary adventure. Meeting and networking with other authors and those in the publishing industry would’ve helped me create a stronger support group over time. Book people are fantastic!

Most daring thing you’ve ever done:

In my twenties, I decided to move to Prague, so I bought a one-way ticket to give it a shot and see if I could find a job. Three years later, I moved back to the States to go to grad school. Those were (and always will be) the best and most adventurous years of my life.

Something you chickened out from doing:

As I was starting college, my professor uncle embarked on a year's sabbatical in Australia. He was taking his entire family to Sydney, and they extended an invitation for me to join them. I decided against going and started college on time, but I always will wonder about the fun adventures Down Under I might have had if I’d taken that gap year.

The nicest thing a reader said to you:

The comment came from another author who’d read one of my short stories, “A Colonial Grave.” She told me it was so good; she was jealous she hadn’t written it.

The craziest thing a reader said to you:

Someone wrote a review about one of my short stories: “To the Moon and Back” was the perfect mix of terror and pity.” While I appreciated that they honed in on the pity elements, I hadn’t been gunning for a tone of terror as much as motherly love.

The funniest thing that happened to you in an airport:

I lived in NYC in my twenties. At the time, Delta had hourly flights to Washington, D.C. called the Shuttle. Since my family was living in Virginia, I flew back for weekends fairly regularly.  One Friday evening, I rushed to LaGuardia airport after a long day at work to catch the Shuttle. After handing in my flight pass, I was allowed access to the passenger waiting lounge, where I promptly fell asleep and missed my flight. No one bothered to wake me up, so I woke up in a completely empty lounge. At least there was one more flight scheduled for later that night.

The most embarrassing thing that happened to you in an airport:

While going through TSA at O’Hare, my teen daughter’s bag was flagged for inspection because they found powder (her eye shadow case had broken). The guards determined that one of us had to be patted down, so I volunteered as tribute. With hundreds of passengers passing through the security zone witnessed my embarrassment as a female guard patted my body, swept under my bra line, and otherwise made me blush. One of the guards then asked for a Q-tip, and I was so grateful it was meant to swab my hands and not some other body cavity! We finally got the all-clear and made it to our gate on time, but my daughter will NEVER be allowed to carry makeup in her carry-on luggage again.

The best summer job you ever had:

While in college, I was considering a career in law. Since my home was right outside of Washington, D.C., I wrote to the United States Supreme Court to see if they offered any summer internships. They did, and I was ultimately offered one. For three months, I worked among the Supreme Court Justices as a courier and even met Thurgood Marshall and Sandra Day O’Connor. Though the internship was unpaid, it was an amazing experience!

The worst summer job you ever had:

In college, I worked nights and weekends as a seating hostess at a local restaurant and got a first-hand experience of how much attitude people can throw around if they have to wait for a table. Hostesses don’t earn tips, so it’s really a thankless job.

About Kristin:

Kristin Kisska used to be a finance geek, complete with MBA and Wall Street pedigree, but now she is a self-proclaimed fictionista. Kristin contributed short stories of mystery and suspense to nine anthologies, including Malice Domestic’s Agatha Award-winning anthology, MYSTERY MOST EDIBLE (2018). She’s looking forward to releasing her short stories of suspense “Swiping Right” in MURDER BY THE GLASS in autumn 2021.

Kristin is a member of International Thriller Writers, James River Writers, the Vice President of the Central Virginia chapter of Sisters in Crime, and has been a contributing blogger at SleuthSayers.org. When not writing, she can be found on her website~ KristinKisska.com, on Facebook at KristinKisskaAuthor, Tweeting @KKMHOO, and on Instagram @KristinKisskaAuthor. Kristin lives in Virginia with her husband and three children.

 Let’s Be Social:

Website - KristinKisska.com

Instagram -  @kristinkisskaauthor 

Twitter - @KKMHOO

Facebook - KristinKisskaMehigan

#ThisorThatThursday Author Interview with Kristin Kisska

I’d like to welcome author, Kristin Kisska, to the blog for #ThisorThatThursday!

A few of your favorite things: I am a beach girl at heart. I love cats, bookstores, coffee, spring flowers, and Chanel No. 19 perfume.

Things you need to throw out: My college textbooks. Someday I’ll get around to organizing my attic.  Maybe in a decade or two.

Things you need for your writing sessions: Complete quiet. No music. Oh, and I need coffee, too.

Things that hamper your writing: Humans breathing near my writer’s cave. I also have a pesky habit of checking Twitter when my creative wave runs dry.

Things you love about writing: Riding a wave of creativity. Every once in a while, one of my characters will do or say something I hadn’t plotted, and it’ll change the course of my story.  I love being surprised, even if it means I have more work to do!

Things you hate about writing: Every time I type the words “The End.” It’s a tease. I can celebrate for completing the first draft, but the next step in the process is to revise the story again. And again. And again.

 Hardest thing about being a writer: Staring at a blank page wondering how to start a story. That first sentence pulls a lot of weight and can be crazy-intimidating. Also, I harbor an inner fear that someday I’ll run out of story ideas, so I keep a running list of random concepts as they pop into my head.

Easiest thing about being a writer: Spending time in a fictional world that I’ve created, with characters I love. The feeling doesn’t get old!

 Things you never want to run out of: Highlighters in all colors. I’m a huge fan of the “rainbow editing” technique, so I use them to help me revise my stories. Unfortunately, they tend to run dry faster than I like, so I stock up whenever I see them on sale. Back to school shopping season is a good thing!

Things you wish you’d never bought: Pens. I placed a large order of purple-ink pens to hand out at my book signing events. The first batch I received had black ink. I contacted the manufacturer and offered to return them in exchange for the correct color, but they told me to keep the bad order and sent me the new ones. Now I have hundreds and hundreds of pens.

Favorite music or song: I’m a big 90s music fan, so I’m waiting for the 80s craze to fade out. One of my favorite songs from the era is “Hey Jealousy” by the Gin Blossoms.

Music that drives you crazy: Rap music.

 Favorite beverage: Coffee (I take mine with cream, no sugar)
Something that gives you a sour face: Sweet tea.  I enjoy iced tea, but if it’s sweet, I go running the other direction. By admitting this publicly, I risk getting evicted from Virginia. 

 Things to say to an author: “I loved your story, especially the twist at the end.”
Things to say to an author if you want to be fictionally killed off in their next book: “When is the action going to start?”

 Favorite places you’ve been: Savannah, Georgia. Destin, Florida. Prague, Czech Republic. Venice, Italy. Exuma, Bahamas. Sydney, Australia. Bali, Indonesia. (in no particular order)
Places you never want to go to again: Charleston, West Virginia.

 Favorite books (or genre): I love domestic suspense, especially if it’s Southern fiction. Right now, I’m reading WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING. I also love anything written by Mary Kubica.
Books you wouldn’t buy: Science fiction. While I enjoy watching it in the movies, reading it doesn’t interest me.

 Most daring thing you’ve ever done: In my 20s, I bought a one-way ticket to Prague. I didn’t speak the language, and my parents tried to talk me out of going, but I found a job and an apartment and lived there for three years.

Something you chickened out from doing: Sky diving. Never will I ever.

About Kristin:

Kristin Kisska used to be a finance geek, complete with MBA and Wall Street pedigree, but now she is a self-proclaimed fictionista. Kristin contributed short stories of mystery and suspense to seven anthologies, including DEADLY SOUTHERN CHARM (2019). She is a member of International Thriller Writers, Vice President of Sisters in Crime-Central Virginia, and James River Writers. When not writing, she can be found on her website~ KristinKisska.com, on Facebook at KristinKisskaAuthor, and Tweeting @KKMHOO. Kristin lives in Virginia with her husband and three children.

Let’s Be Social:

Website - www.KristinKisska.com

Twitter -  @KKMHOO    

Facebook -  KristinKisskaAuthor

Writing Advice from the DEADLY SOUTHERN CHARM Authors

I’m very excited to be a part of DEADLY SOUTHERN CHARM anthology, and I’m thrilled to have my writer friends as guests on the blog to share their advice on writing and book marketing.

What is the one thing about the writing life that you didn’t know until you were published?

 Mollie: I didn’t realize that you don’t make much money. Of course, I didn’t start writing to make money. I absolutely LOVE what I do. And the further I get into my career, the more I see that loving it the ONLY reason to do it. If you don’t love the thrill of a perfect sentence, or the way a story moves you, you won’t find the business gratifying.

 Heather: I didn’t realize how much marketing was involved with the book business. It takes a great deal of time to promote your work. You need to balance your writing tasks with your promotional ones.

 Lynn:  I didn’t realize that the moment I turned it into my publisher it wasn’t MY book anymore. It was OUR book. People kept messing with my book. Now, they were all good things and comments, but I didn’t know how collaborative book publishing really is. Even for my self- published books. Best advice? Make sure you agree with and trust the people working with you.

 Kristin: Authors write their first draft for themselves, but revise-revise-revise for their readers.

 Maggie: There’s a lot to do in the way of marketing, promotion, etc. My advice is to know your personal goals for your work: is it money (good luck!), love of writing, posterity? Perhaps publishing a book is a bucket list item, and multi-publishing isn’t your goal. It’s great to share inspiration and support with fellow authors, but avoid the keeping up the Joneses syndrome.

 Genilee: How important it is to force yourself to set aside time every day to write and how hard marketing a book can be in today’s complicated world of publishing.

 J.A.: How much work is involved that doesn’t involve writing. Marketing is a big part of the job and can be very time consuming.

 How long did it take you to get your first work published (from creation to actual book)? What was your first published work?

 Mollie: For fiction, it was probably 6 months. I had already been a published nonfiction author for years and agent said if I wanted to write fiction, they’d love to see it. I’d been write fiction for years  and had an idea brewing, so I wrote the first draft of “Scrapbook of Secrets” during National Novel Writing Month and after several drafts, sent it on to my agent.

 Heather:  My first mystery was a short story, “Washed up” in Virginia is for Mysteries, a Sister in Crime anthology. It took about six months to write and polish. The book process probably took another eight months or so. My first mystery novel, Secret Lives and Private Eyes took me about five years to write and rewrite (and rewrite). When it was finally accepted for publication, it took another seven months to become a book.

 Lynn:  My first published work was a couple of essays I wrote and got published during the year of cancer (2007). A few years after that I wrote for the Trues market – short emotional stories with a twist. (I fell in Love with a Carney was my first credit with them.) Then in 2012, I got back a book that had been rejected by a large romance publisher after two years of back and forth consideration. I sent it to a soon to open digital first imprint. It sold in a week. In total, the process took from creation to sale, about three years. My first mystery sold the next year in a three-book deal to Kensington.

 Kristin: I’d been writing fiction for about 6 years before I had anything published.  My first published work was a short historical mystery, “The Sevens” which was selected from a blind pool of submissions to be included in Bouchercon’s anthology, MURDER UNDER THE OAKS.  From the first moment I typed a word to the release date was ten months.

 Maggie: “A Not So Genteel Murder,” a short story featured in the Virginia is for Mysteries anthology, was my first published work (2014). Writing and polishing the story took about six months, and the publishing process another six to eight months. Later in 2014, I published my first novel, Murder at the Book Group. That took me forever to write—ten years!—and another 18 months from contract signing to release day.    

 Genilee: It took my mother four months to write the first book (Twist of Fate) in our five-book The Fate Series. It then took me six months to rewrite, edit and find a publisher. It took the publisher about four months to get it in print and formatted as an ebook.

 J.A.: My first published story was, Bikes, Books and Berries. It was part of the Virginia is for Mysteries Vol II mystery anthology. It took about six months to write and rewrite before submission.

 Plotter (one who plans or plots out every detail of the writing process) or Pantser (one who writes by the seat of his/her pants)?

 Mollie: Definitely a pantser—which I why the synopsis is so hard for me. I like the idea of a story unfolding organically and, in truth, it’s made some of the best stories in my career.

 Heather: I’m a combination of the two. I start out as a detailed plotter. I even bought a huge whiteboard for my writing room. And then I write. The story and the characters always go where they want to do.

 Lynn:  I’m definitely a pantser. I do an outline chart with all the chapters listed to keep my timelines straight. It also helps me keep my chapters about even. And I break out the story structure on that. Red Herring #1, Red Herring #2, Big Black Moment, Happy Ever After... It gives me something to write toward, but the story and character take over.

 Kristin: I’m a relaxed plotter.  I can’t start writing a story (novel or short) until I know the final scene or the twist.  I’ve stopped creating outlines, though.  Now I just jot down the major scene points and let my characters take the scenic route from stop to stop. I love when they surprise me!

 Maggie: Like Heather, I’m a plotser (combo of plotter and pantser). I have a general outline, but I “listen” to the characters as I write. They have their own ideas.

 Genilee: I think we’ve created a new term: plotser! I sit down to write with no particular direction in mind, but I’m outlining and redoing everything as I go to make it all make sense and flow.

 J.A.: Short stories I usually panster. Novels I’m a plotter. I like outlines, and I need them to make sure I don’t skip any necessary details.

 What is the easiest part of the writing process for you?

 Mollie: Coming with ideas is very easy. Making them work, not so easy.

 Heather: I love to write. I just tend to get bogged down in the editing and rewrites.

 Lynn:  There’s supposed to be an easy part? I worry that I’m taking too long to write. I worry that I’m too fast. I worry I didn’t do enough to launch the book... it goes on and on. The best part for me is the planning or scheduling. What am I writing this month, promotions, edits, releasing or travel, it all goes in a word document as well as on my on-line calendar. I love planning and can get lost in the process without writing if I’m not careful.

 Kristin: I love drafting.  I don’t let myself edit as I write my way through the first draft, so I feel like I’m merely transcribing a movie that’s scrolling in my mind. That said, all the magic happens in the revising stage.

 Maggie: Idea generation. I love the ideas I come up with on my daily walks. Developing them on the page? Not so easy.

 Genilee: Putting words together the right way. I do it for a living through different channels (magazines, newsletters and articles).

 J.A.:  I enjoy writing dialogue. If a scene is working the dialogue comes easy. When the dialogue is off, I know I need to rewrite.

 What advice do you have for a new writer?

 Mollie: Be patient with yourself. Learn the craft. Practice. Take classes. Write and rewrite. I don’t care how good your agent is or how much money you have to promote something—it’s your writing that will ultimately set you apart.

 Heather: Be persistent. If you want to be published, keep at it. Keep writing. Keep learning. Writing is a business.

 Lynn:  Writing is a business is a big one for me. Since I started with smaller publishers, I was around a lot of writers who were dabbling in the business without committing. You have to commit. You don’t have to write. It’s like giving yourself homework every night. But don’t tell me you WANT to be an author. Write or don’t, there is no try to paraphrase Yoda. And don’t get lost in the internet talk about the latest scandal (because there’s always a new one.) If it doesn’t affect your career, don’t let it steal your writing time.

 Kristin: There’s only one rule for writers: Keep your butt in the chair. Progress, even just a few paragraphs at a time, is still progress. 

 Maggie: Carve out time for writing every day (or most days), even if it’s just fifteen minutes. Use a notebook or recording method to keep track of ideas, to-do items, etc. Find systems that work for you. Read the best writers in your genre. Bottom line: write.

 Genilee: Don’t go into this field thinking you’ll be rich and famous. Do it because you love writing. It’s extremely rewarding to get published, but getting to point of making money is a constant process that takes many years (unless you are lucky of course!).

 J.A.: Social media is a time killer. You need an online presence if you want to be a commercial writer, but it’s easy to fall down the rabbit hole. A few minutes turns into several wasted hours that could have been spent writing. The same for research. Use both with restraint.

Many thanks to Mollie Cox Bryan, Lynn Cahoon, Kristin Kisska, Maggie King, Genilee Swope Parente, and JA Chalkley for the interview!

AUTHORS

Mollie Cox Bryan is the author of cookbooks, articles, essays, poetry, and fiction.  An Agatha Award nominee, she lives in Central Virginia.  www.molliecoxbryan.com

 Lynn Cahoon is the NYT and USA Today author of the best-selling Tourist Trap, Cat Latimer and Farm-to-Fork mystery series. www.lynncahoon.com

 J. A. Chalkley is a native Virginian. She is a writer, retired public safety communications officer, and a member of Sisters in Crime.

 Maggie King penned the Hazel Rose Book Group mysteries. Her short stories appear in the Virginia is for Mysteries and 50 Shades of Cabernet anthologies. www.maggieking.com

 Kristin Kisska is a member of International Thriller Writers and Sisters in Crime, and programs chair of the Sisters in Crime – Central Virginia chapter. www.kristinkisska.com

 Genilee Swope Parente has written the romantic mystery The Fate Series with her mother F. Sharon Swope. The two also have several collections of short stories. www.swopeparente.com

 Heather Weidner is the author of the Delanie Fitzgerald Mysteries.  She has short stories in the Virginia is for Mysteries series, 50 SHADES OF CABERNET and TO FETCH A THIEF.  She lives in Central Virginia with her husband and Jack Russell terriers.  www.heatherweidner.com

BOOK LINKS

Wildside

Wildside eBook

Amazon