#ThisorThatThursday Author Interview with Eleanor Cawood Jones

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I’d like to welcome the fabulous Eleanor Cawood Jones to the blog for #ThisorThatThursday!

A few of your favorite things: My cat, talking about my cat, and taking pictures of my cat.

Things you need to throw out: 75% of everything I own. I just have to process that some of those clothes from the 80s may never be back in style, then I’m sure I’ll be able to move forward with this.

Favorite foods: Mom’s homemade beef stew, Italian anything, beautifully constructed club sandwiches with extra mayo.

Things that make you want to gag: Mushrooms, asparagus, eggplant, undercooked meat, rude people.

Something you’re really good at: Planning trips, making lists, and writing.

Something you’re really bad at: Trying to do too much when traveling, doing things on my lists, and making time to write.

Things you’d walk a mile for: That unlimited soup/salad bar/breadsticks thing at Olive Garden.

Things that make you want to run screaming from the room: Loud television or music. Mold. Anything with multiple stick-like legs that looks inclined to bite me.

Things you always put in your books: Something that really happened to me or somewhere I’ve actually been. Usually both. I really did get lost on Easter Island at night, for example. (“Keep Calm and Love Moai” in Murder Most Geographical.)

Things you never put in your books: Politics and politically correct things, crimes against children, and trigger warnings.

Favorite places you’ve been: Besides Easter Island? Cabo San Lucas, the Land of Oz in North Carolina, my friend Jenni’s house in England, and every US National Park I’ve ever visited.

Places you never want to go to again: St. Lucia and back to work at my old job.

Favorite things to do: Travel, nap, dine out with my honey, and pet the kitty when she lets me.

Things you’d run through a fire or eat bugs to get out of doing: Next year’s taxes. Fire—okay. But not bad enough to eat bugs.

Best thing you’ve ever done: Deciding I didn’t care what people thought of me.

Biggest mistake: Waiting so long to decide I didn’t care what people thought of me.

Most daring thing you’ve ever done: Appearing on Wheel of Fortune, traveling to Easter Island, Chile by myself and, equally exciting, publishing my first book.

Something you chickened out from doing: That big Gateway arch in St. Louis has these little egg/pod things you have to sit in to travel to the top of it. Took one look and turned right around. Claustrophobe’s nightmare!

The nicest thing a reader said to you: Eleanor makes murder fun again!

The craziest thing a reader said to you: See above.

Besides writing, what’s the most creative thing you’ve done: Decorated, painted, and remodeled my dilapidated condo, which is now known as the Condo of Glory.

A project that didn’t quite turn out the way you planned it: The novel I started 15 years ago, and that time I painted the dining nook lavender.

About Eleanor:

Inspired by Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine at a young age, Eleanor Cawood Jones grabbed a #2 pencil and began writing short mysteries starring her stuffed animals. Her more recent stories include “Batter, Batter, Swing!” (First Comes Love, Then Comes Murder), “The Importance of Being Urnest” (Black Cat Weekly), and 2021 Derringer Award-winning “The Great Bedbug Incident and the Invitation of Doom” (Chesapeake Crimes: Invitation to Murder). Her core group of characters travel together in the Destination Murders anthology series. A former newspaper reporter and reformed marketing director, Tennessee native Eleanor now works in airline customer service and splits her time between Virginia and California.

Let’s Be Social:

Twitter/X:  https://twitter.com/eleanorauthor

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/author.eleanor.cawood.jones


#ThisorThatThursday with Dan Flanigan

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I’d like to welcome Dan Flanigan to the blog for #ThisorThatThursday.

Hardest thing about being a writer: Writing a book.

Easiest thing about being a writer: Finishing a book.

Things you need for your writing sessions: Grit and extended periods (multiple successive days preferably) without other distractions or significant interruptions.

Things that hamper your writing: Almost everything.

Words that describe you: Dedicated, Hard-working, Visionary, Witty, Generous.

Words that describe you, but you wish they didn’t: Irritable, Impatient, Temperamental, Moody, Somewhat Messy.

Something you’re really good at: The practice of law (I hope).

Something you’re really bad at: Anything mechanical, i.e. anything useful.

Favorite music or song: Bach, Sacred choral music, Bob Dylan and Paul Simon, a lot of rock (especially 60s and early 70s)

Music that drives you crazy: Opera recitative (not the rest, just that part).

Things you always put in your books: Unattributed quotes from Wordsworth poems; one or more references to Bach’s music; references to Grail knights and blood brothers; the words “importunate” and “vouchsafe.”

Things you never put in your books: The words “journey,” “curate,” “iconic,” “game changer,” “cool” (unless spoken by a character I don’t like); “forever” when preceded by the verb “changed”; the word “chops” when referring to anything other than a cut of meat, especially “acting chops”; and any words that have become like invasive species, proliferating everywhere, whose original meanings have been so transformed that we are near forgetting what they really mean (e.g. “agency,” “existential”). And I could go on . . . and on . . .

Favorite books (or genre): Shakespeare, Dickens, 19th Century Russians, Yeats, Joyce, Fitzgerald, Faulkner, Robert Stone, E.L. Doctorow, Joseph Campbell

Books you wouldn’t buy: Anything by Milton Friedman or his ilk.

Favorite things to do: Working, Whale Watching (Carefully), Kayaking, Tennis.

Things you’d run through a fire or eat bugs to get out of doing: Cocktail parties.

Best thing you’ve ever done: Neck and neck between (1) recovering from alcoholism a day at a time for 41 years now and (2) helping my daughter and grandchildren along in life—the occurrence of (1) having been a necessary condition to the occurrence of (2).

Biggest mistake: Not valuing my wife of more than 40 years as much as she deserved or letting her know how much I did value her. She died in 2011. It’s too late now.

Besides writing, what’s the most creative thing you’ve done: The creation of Sierra Tucson, alcohol and drug treatment/center in Tucson, Az.

A project that didn’t quite turn out the way you planned it: The creation of Sierra Tucson, alcohol and drug treatment/center in Tucson, Az.

About Dan:

Dan Flanigan is a novelist, playwright, poet, and practicing lawyer. He holds a Ph.D. in History from Rice University and J.D. from the University of Houston. He taught Jurisprudence at the University of Houston and American Legal History at the University of Virginia. His first published book was his Ph.D. dissertation, The Criminal Law of Slavery and Freedom, 1800-1868.

He moved on from academia to serve the civil rights cause as a school desegregation lawyer, followed by a long career as a finance attorney in private law practice. He became a name partner in the Polsinelli law firm in Kansas City, created its Financial Services practice, chaired its Real Estate & Financial Services Department for two decades, and established the firm’s New York City office and served as its managing partner until October 2022.  His legal bio may be viewed at https://www.polsinelli.com/professionals/dflanigan.

Taking a break from the law practice for two years, he and his wife, Candy, founded Sierra Tucson, a prominent alcohol and drug treatment center located in Tucson, Arizona. 

Recently, he has been able to turn his attention to his lifelong ambition—creative writing. In 2019 he released a literary trifecta including Mink Eyes, the first in what would become the Peter O’Keefe series, and 2023 Best Book Award Legacy Fiction Finalist, Dewdrops, a collection of shorter fiction, and Tenebrae: A Memoir of Love and Death.

#ThisorThatThursday Interview with Fern Brady

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I’d like to welcome Fern Brady to the blog for #ThisorThatThursday!

Things you never want to run out of: Books. There’s no such thing as owning too many. One of my life goals is to die with books yet to be read on my bedside table.

Things you wish you’d never bought: House plants. I do not possess the gift of a green thumb. I have murdered so many unfortunate plants. I feel terrible about it.

Hardest thing about being a writer: Finding time to write. The truth is that most of us have full time jobs, families, and other obligations. Making your writing time a priority is a difficult thing, especially as so many of those who love us don’t see this as important. So it takes a lot of discipline and boundary setting to say to the world and all its demands: “This is my writing time and I will hold it sacred. No, you can’t take it for something else you deem more important.”

Easiest thing about being a writer: For me, the easiest thing is coming up with stories. I have a universe of planets and people in my head. Any prompt, whether words or pictures, can set off a story idea and it takes me no effort at all to place it in Thyrein’s Galactic Wall. The vast history of the universe I created lets me seamlessly weave random tales into it that later connect to larger novel sets.

Things you need for your writing sessions: Coffee and a good cigar. I love cigars. The ceremony and ritual of them helps place me in a zen space and the stop to puff makes me slow down and work my craft with greater care. There’s probably a healthier option, but we all die of something. I figure I’ll enjoy this vice and be happy it is not a worse one.

Things that hamper your writing: Obligations. Too often I still allow other things to seep into and take away from my writing time. I’m still working on setting boundaries and holding the space for my writing practice. But I’m getting better at it.

Favorite foods: Pizza. Fried Rice with sesame honey chicken. Cheese Enchiladas. Apple Cobbler with ice cream. Bread Pudding and Arroz con Leche

Things that make you want to gag: Sushi and other raw foods. Nope. Can’t do it. Oh, and oysters. Yuck!

Something you’re really good at: Time Management. I can partition time and block it out and use it very effectively and productively.

Something you’re really bad at: Math is my strongest weakness.

Favorite music or song: This is such a hard question. My taste in music is eclectic. I love Beethoven and the modern composers like Han Zimmer, John Williams, Howard Shore and others. I love music with a good beat to dance to as well as music with meaningful lyrics. I love music from around the world that expresses different cultures.

Music that drives you crazy: The two music styles I can’t stand are heavy metal and rap/hip-hop. I just can’t get into those.

The last thing you ordered online: I ordered some cute purple planters and miracle grow for succulent plants. My brother and his wife gave me two very cute cactus plants. I’m endeavoring not to murder them. Wish me luck.

The last thing you regret buying: Bought some sticky tack to use in my classroom and it actually didn’t work well at all.

Things you’d walk a mile for: Dogs. I love dogs. I would spend all my time hanging out with dogs if I could. Honestly, they are the best company.

Things that make you want to run screaming from the room:

Wasps. They are unrepentantly violent creatures.

Things you always put in your books: Love. No matter what the genre, stories are about people’s lives and without love life isn’t worth living. I always have relationships in my books and I enjoy building romance encounters.

Things you never put in your books: There’s really nothing I won’t put in a book. At the end of the day, I’m writing a reflection of the world, and I don’t shy away from making it real and raw. It’s important we think about and face the hard truths and fiction is a safe place for these discussions.

Things to say to an author: You don’t need anyone else to give their blessing to call yourself an author. You don’t need to have published work to call yourself an author. It doesn’t matter if you sell one copy or a million of your book. You have a voice and stories to tell and that’s what makes you an author.

Things to say to an author if you want to be fictionally killed off in their next book: It’s you’re not your. (grammar police)

Most daring thing you’ve ever done: Driving on Nurburg Ring. It is a wonderful experience and once is more than sufficient… for me.

Something you chickened out from doing: Rollercoasters. Yeah. No.

A few of your favorite things: Books. The beach. Dogs. Music. Dancing. Pens. Really Sharp Pencils. Swords, knives, daggers. Coloring. The sound of snow. The sound of the ocean waves. Rainy days.

Things you need to throw out: Old clothes that no longer fit. Clothes I bought hoping someday they would fit.

About Fern:

Fern Brady is the founder and CEO of Inklings Publishing. She holds multiple Masters degrees and several certifications. She began her professional life as a foreign correspondent, taught for fifteen years in Alief ISD, and is a full-time Realtor in Houston. She has published numerous short stories, two children's picture books, and a couple of poems. Her debut novel, United Vidden, which is book one in her Thyrein’s Galactic Wall Series, was given a glowing review by Dr. Who Online, the official site of the fandom. She also has volume one of her graphic novel/novella hybrid project, New Beginning. She has returned to the leadership of the Houston Writers Guild, with whom she served as CEO for four years previously. She serves as co-host for two podcasts – Author Talk and The Hot Mess Express. Besides being Municipal Liaison for Nanowrimo Houston, she is also a member of Blood Over Texas, Romance Writers of America, and American Booksellers Association. Follow Fern's writing at: http://fernbrady.com

Let’s Be Social:

Website: https://www.fernbrady.com/

Facebook: (3) Facebook





#ThisorThatThursday Interview with Candy Wolff

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I’d like to welcome Candy Wolff to the blog for #ThisorThatThursday!

Things you never want to run out of: My faith, hope, love and toilet paper.

Things you wish you’d never bought: The uncomfortable shoes and the clothes that looked amazing on the hanger.

Hardest thing about being a writer: Hoping my book will resonate with the readers

Easiest thing about being a writer: It’s my story, it true and will never change

Things you need for your writing sessions: Time and finding a quiet space.

Things that hamper your writing: Mental blocks and finding the right spot to start telling my story.

A few of your favorite things: My boys Zach, Eli and Noah and spending time with God and good friends

Things you need to throw out: junk mail and the clutter in my life like unneeded purchases.

Favorite foods: Pizza and a good salad

Things that make you want to gag: sushi

Something you’re really good at: connecting with people

Something you’re really bad at: saying no and over committing myself

Things you’d walk a mile for: walking on a beach at sunrise or sunset.

Things that make you want to run screaming from the room: cleaning my house.

Favorite places you’ve been: Mexico

Places you never want to go to again: Cabo police station

Best thing you’ve ever done: believe in myself to write my book

Biggest mistake: To many to count!

Besides writing, what’s the most creative thing you’ve done: Taking my book and evolving it into a speaking business.

A project that didn’t quite turn out the way you planned it: Planning my 50th birthday trip to Cabo and having my husband die, I could have never planned for that.

About Candy:

INSPIRATIONAL KEYNOTE SPEAKER/ AUTHOR

Candy Wolff, a devoted wife and mother of three grown boys, is not only a hardworking woman but also an inspirational speaker. Her journey took an unexpected turn during a much-needed vacation to Mexico with her husband. Seeking reconnection after navigating health concerns, financial difficulties, and depression, Candy discovered more than she had bargained for. In her compelling story, Candy shares a poignant narrative of tragedy and, with the grace of God, a triumphant journey from being lost to found in the heart of Mexico. Her experiences serve as a testament to resilience, faith, and the transformative power of hope.

Let’s Be Social:

Website:  candywolff.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/candywolf3/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/candy.wolff.5

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/candywolff/

#ThisorThatThursday Interview with Patrick Greenwood, the Cycle Writer

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I’d like to welcome Patrick Greenwood, the Cycle Writer, to the blog for #ThisorThatThursday.

Hardest thing about being a writer: The hardest thing about being a writer is overcoming impostor syndrome and questioning your abilities. We all have self-doubt, however everyday you step ahead and overcome, you become a happier and stronger person.

Easiest thing about being a writer: Reading your own stuff! I love reading my own novels! I even tear up after finishing them!

Things you need for your writing sessions: Coffee, espresso, green tea, Japanese flute music, and a view of the sunlight outside.

Things that hamper your writing: Stress. I stress over writing blogs for a technology clients. I write for several clients globally and writing ghostwriting is a exciting, yet very challenging.

Favorite foods: Mexican, Vietnamese, Italian, and Japanese food!

Things that make you want to gag: Spinach! My kryptonite!

Last best thing you ate: Southwest style breakfast in Scottsdale, Arizona complete with green chili sauce!

Last thing you regret eating: A hotdog at a movie theater!

Things you never put in your books: I will never place a story or plot with violence against children.

Things to say to an author: Love what you do everyday. Being a writer is more than just a financial means. Being an author is more about having the power to create something that came directly from you. How could that not be special?

Favorite books (or genre): Military, Romance, and spy thrillers. The Hunt for the Red October, Message from Nam, and Jason Bourne stories.

Books you wouldn’t buy: Books about religion.

Best thing you’ve ever done: Become a father.

Biggest mistake: Choosing to travel for work instead of being at home.

The funniest thing to happen to you: I began to sing U2 songs aloud while on a plane ride from Charlotte, North California to Orange County, California.

The most embarrassing thing to happen to you: I didn’t know I was singing U2 songs while wearing headphones on the plane 😊 OH MY.

The coolest person you’ve ever met: Josh Brolin (Actor). Absolutely, the nicest person in real life.

The celebrity who didn’t look like he/she did in pictures/video: Simon LeBon – Lead singer for Duran Duran – OMG He stood next to meet for a hour. No clue it was him until he left to catch his plane.

Some real-life story that made it to one of your books: My trips to Vietnam in “Forever Our Sunrise in Saigon.” A great portion of the book was true stories of my trips to Vietnam in 2012 including cycling around Saigon (HCMC), investing in a water company to help create clean water for children, and finding the nuns who helped saved many orphans at the end of the Vietnam War.

Something in your story that readers think is about you, but it’s not: Oh boy, yes. In the novel, Forever Our Sunrise in Saigon, the love story between Jack and Linh was 100% fiction. However, many people that have read the novel have asked, “come on, is the whole thing between them true?”

About Patrick:

After military service, embarked on a 25-year career in the information technology field, working in various roles in sales, engineering, support, and design. His inspiration for writing came from his business travels to places like Vietnam, China, Japan, Taiwan, and Portugal.   A true believer in listening to one’s passion, Patrick began writing in early 2020 based on several trips he made while cycling in various countries.  

In his debut award-winning novel, Forever Our Sunrise in Saigon (2022 Amazon.com), Patrick draws upon several non-fictional events in Vietnam, including the war with the US, the last days of Saigon falling, and the chaos at the US embassy.   Patrick’s follow-up novel, The Shores of Okinawa (Quill Hawk Publishing), due out in May 2024, continues the Jack Kendall series with even more intrigue and suspense!  

When Patrick isn’t writing his next novel, ghostwriting for cybersecurity companies, or writing blogs, he hosts the award-winning podcast, “Writers on Writers over a triple espresso.” The podcast broadcasts live on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 10:00 am PST.

Let’s Be Social:

Website: www.cyclewriterllc.com 

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrick-greenwood-4876a01b8/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CyclewriterPG/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/patrick_greenwood_author/

Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChUQwPH4YvZMRJsDuZSw8Ag

Book: https://shoresofokinawanovel.net/

#ThisorThatThursday Interview with Erica Wynters

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I’d like to welcome author Erica Wynters back to the blog for #ThisorThatThursday!

Favorite thing to do when you have free time: Read, nap, or if I have a lot of free time, do something fun with my family.

The thing you’ll always move to the bottom of your to do list: Meal planning

Things you need when you’re in your writing cave: A cozy blanket and an iced tea.

Things that distract you from writing: My phone! I do much better if it’s far away from me when I write.

Hardest thing about being a writer: The marketing

Easiest thing about being a writer: Coming up with book ideas. I have more ideas than I have time to write them all.

Something you wanted to be when you were a kid: An orca trainer at Sea World.

Something you do that you never dreamed you’d do: Being a writer! It surprised me, and I am so grateful for that.

Last best thing you ate: Crispy fish tacos at a local restaurant called Joyride Tacos.

Last thing you regret eating: An entire bag of kettle corn!

Favorite places you’ve been: Kaanapali Beach on Maui, Chicago, and Oak Creek Canyon in between Sedona and Flagstaff, Arizona.

Places you never want to go to again: The Midwest in the winter. I’ll stick to visiting in the summer when the weather is nice and warm!

Most daring thing you’ve ever done: Bungee jumping

Something you chickened out from doing: Cliff jumping in Maui. To be fair, it was more not wanting to climb up sharp lava rocks covered in little crabs to get to the top than the actual jump.

The nicest thing a reader said to you: I read your books when I’m stressed and I need a break from real life. I also love it when people tell me they’re waiting for my next book.

The craziest thing a reader said to you: I left a comment of support on another author’s Instagram post a couple of years ago when she was being harassed online just saying that I was sorry it was happening to her. The person harassing her must have been reading the comments, because she went to Goodreads and left one star reviews on every book I had out at the time.

Best piece of advice you received from another writer: Find a community of other authors. It’s really hard to do this journey alone.

Something you would tell a younger you about your writing: You’re going to get much better at writing the more you do it. You’re not going to believe this, but you’re going to have a cozy mystery series published by one of your favorite authors!

Recommendations for curing writer’s block: There’s a saying by writer Louis L’Amor, “Start writing no matter what, water does not flow until the water is turned on.”

Things you do to avoid writing: Almost anything. Social media, reading (which isn’t a bad distraction), watching a show, even cleaning if I’m desperate.

About Erica:

Erica Wynters may have lived most of her life in the frigid Midwest, but now she spends her time in the warmth and sunshine of Arizona. She loves hiking, hunting down waterfalls in the desert, reading (of course), and napping. Can napping be considered a hobby? When not weaving tales of mystery with plenty of quirky characters, laughs, and a dash of romance, Erica works as a Marriage and Family Therapist helping others find their Happily Ever Afters.

Let’s Be Social:

www.ericawynters.com

www.instagram.com/ericawyntersbooks

www.facebook.com/ericawynters


#ThisorThatThursday Interview with Keith Anthony Baird

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I’d like to welcome Keith Anthony Baird to the blog for #ThisorThatThursday!

Hardest thing about being a writer: For me, marketing is the hardest part because it’s not natural to me. I’m not really someone who sells themselves particularly well so I struggle outside of my comfort zone. However, I understand that’s what we must do in order to get the word out about our books.

Easiest thing about being a writer: Just doing what we love best: writing! I can literally disappear for days if I’m in the flow. I really immerse myself in the creative part. The editing and revision not so much, but it can be enjoyable when it leads to a better story.

Favorite foods: I used to be a fan of savoury foods and not sweet, but I’ve found I’ve developed a sweet tooth the older I’ve gotten (not a good thing!). Savoury foods – Thai dishes, seafood. Sweet foods – cheesecake and chocolate.

Things that make you want to gag: I don’t like anything with ginger in it!

Something you’re really good at: Carpentry. I renovated a couple of houses when I was younger and found I had a knack for it.

Something you’re really bad at: Wallpapering. It just gets full of air bubbles and I want to tear my hair out!

Favorite music or song: There are a few genres I like. Rock, Metal, Classical, Punk. Even the odd Pop song if it’s decent quality.

Music that drives you crazy: Dire Straits. Talking Heads. I literally just want to rip my ears off when I hear any of their music. It also makes me feel nauseous. That whole ‘nails down a blackboard’ thing.

Favorite places you’ve been: Africa, Canada, Brazil, Hungary.

Places you never want to go to again: Mexico. It wasn’t a very pleasant experience for me, unfortunately.

People you’d like to invite to dinner: My publishers Heather and Steve. Some author pals.

People you’d cancel dinner on: The Kardashians. Donald Trump. Kanye West.

Favorite things to do: Hike across mountains. Swim in lakes. Snorkel on coral reefs. Drink wine.

Things you’d run through a fire or eat bugs to get out of doing: Shopping! I can’t stand wasting endless hours in different stores around town. It’s mind-numbingly boring.

Most daring thing you’ve ever done: I abseiled off a 375 ft. bridge for charity.

Something you chickened out from doing: Eating ginger!

The nicest thing a reader said to you: One reader (someone I now consider a friend) sent me a video message saying he thought my writing was amazing. That blew me away.

The craziest thing a reader said to you: I had an author table at a con and a guy asked if my horror/dark fiction stories where ok for kids to read. He got a blank look.

Besides writing, what’s the most creative thing you’ve done: I’ve set up my own businesses in the past and doing that requires being creative in a very challenging way.

A project that didn’t quite turn out the way you planned it: The odd one or two carpentry projects that looked very different in real life than they did in my head! Lol. They got scrapped.

About Keith:

Keith Anthony Baird began writing dark fiction in 2016 as a self-published author.

After five years of releasing titles via Amazon and Audible he switched his focus

to the traditional publishing route.

His dark fantasy novella In the Grimdark Strands of the Spinneret was published via Brigids Gate Press (BGP) in 2022. Two further novellas are to be published in 2024 via BGP - SIN:THETICA (May) and a vampire saga in collaboration with fellow Brit author Beverley Lee - A Light of Little Radiance (November).

He is currently writing an alien invasion/post-apocalyptic novel called WIND RUST which

will be the first of a planned trilogy.

He lives in Cumbria, United Kingdom, on the edge of the Lake District National Park.

Let’s Be Social:

Twitter (X): https://twitter.com/kabauthor

Instagram: @kabauthor

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16771035.Keith_Anthony_Baird

Website: https://5f2dd297cf905.site123.me/

Universal Amazon link for SIN:THETICA: http://mybook.to//Sinthetica

#ThisorThatThusday Author Interview with Bethany Barker/Carol Silvis

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I’d like to welcome Bethany Barker (Carol Silvis) to the blog for #ThisorThatThursday!

Things you never want to run out of: chocolate, iced tea, TP

Things you wish you’d never bought: decorative items that now collect dust

Hardest thing about being a writer: Editing several times and still being objective

Easiest thing about being a writer: Coming up with ideas

Things you need for your writing sessions: pen, paper, computer, internet, reference books

Things that hamper your writing: interruptions

Words that describe you: outgoing, cheerful, intelligent

Words that describe you, but you wish they didn’t: not a risk taker

Favorite foods: chocolate, coconut cream pie, strawberry chicken salad, French onion soup

Things that make you want to gag: anything from the sea

Something you’re really good at: teaching

Something you’re really bad at: sports

Favorite music or song: I love country music—too many songs to choose one

Music that drives you crazy: rap

Favorite places you’ve been: I’ve been to 48 states and love traveling—favorite city is San Diego

Places you never want to go to again: Yuma, AZ

Favorite books (or genre): cozy mystery, thrillers, rom-com

Books you wouldn’t buy: horror

Favorite things to do: spend time with family and friends, travel, shop

Things you’d run through a fire or eat bugs to get out of doing: explore a cave

Besides writing, what’s the most creative thing you’ve done: flower arranging, crocheting, painting

A project that didn’t quite turn out the way you planned it: crocheted Easter basket

About Bethany/Carol:

Carol Silvis is the author of six college textbooks, three business books, a story in an anthology, an article in The Writer’s Market, a dozen creative nonfiction stories, and over fifty newsletter articles. Her first novel, Murder and Mayhem, The Suzie Tuft Mystery Series, is available under the pen name Bethany Barker.

She has been interviewed for Yahoo.com, AARP Online, CBSMoneywatch.com, newspapers, and magazines. She was video interviewed by Tory Johnson for ABCNews.com and appeared on half-hour shows for Cornerstone TV, HMC-TV Channel 20, and WIUP-TV.

Carol is a member of Sisters in Crime and Pennwriters. She has held several offices for Pennwriters, including president, and remains on the Board. A former teacher, she holds a master’s in adult education. She has given workshops at conferences nationwide.

Let’s Be Social:

Visit her website http://carolsilvis.com

Find her on carolsilvis@facebook.com, Instagram, and LinkedIn.