#WriterWednesday Interview with Catherine McCarthy

I’d like to welcome author Catherine McCarthy to the blog for #WriterWendesday!

Things you never want to run out of:

Mascara, moisturizer, and good old British tea!

Things you wish you’d never bought:

Several lipsticks that make me resemble a corpse.

Hardest thing about being a writer:

Promoting one’s work is without doubt the hardest thing about being a writer.

Easiest thing about being a writer:

Revision and editing. Not everyone enjoys this aspect, but I love it.

Words that describe you:

Dark sense of humour, empathetic, nature lover

Words that describe you, but you wish they didn’t:

At times pedantic, but also prone to time wasting

Favorite smell:

Woodsmoke

Something that makes you hold your nose:

Barbecued meat

Things you always put in your books:

Birds, especially robins and crows

Things you never put in your books:

Gratuitous violence

Favorite places you’ve been:

A secret chapel, hidden in a French gorge. Simply magical!

Places you never want to go to again:

Alcúdia, Majorca and most cities

Favorite books (or genre):

Magical realism and anything gothic

Books you wouldn’t buy:

Hard sci-fi or steamy romance

Favorite things to do:

Walk the Welsh coast path and visit ancient monuments

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

Holiday on a cruise ship

The nicest thing a reader said to you:

When reviewing my recently published Gothic novel, A Moonlit Path of Madness, a reader said: "...her writing would shine on plain paper bound with twine. She is that good."

I couldn’t wish for more.

The craziest thing a reader said to you:

Though my work can be said to fall under the umbrella of ‘horror,’ I don’t see myself as a horror writer in the sense of violence or gore, nor do I advertise myself as such. I’m more concerned with providing a sense of creeping dread. So when one reviewer referred to my short story collection, Mists and Megaliths, as "About as scary as finding a fly in your orange juice" it really made me smile.

Besides writing, what’s the most creative thing you’ve done:

A few years back, I taught myself to sew. Since then, I’ve made everything from dresses to handbags.

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

I recently attempted to make a jumpsuit. The trouser part ended up huge, while the top half was tiny, as in several inches too small. Such a waste!

About Catherine:

Catherine McCarthy weaves dark tales on an ancient loom from her farmhouse in West Wales.

Her published novellas and novels include Immortelle, Mosaic, A Moonlit Path of Madness, and The Wolf and the Favour. Her short fiction has been published in various anthologies and magazines, including those by Black Spot Books, Nosetouch Press, and Dark Matter Ink.

In 2020 she won the Aberystwyth University Prize for her short fiction.

Time away from the loom is spent hiking the Welsh coast path or huddled in an ancient graveyard reading Dylan Thomas or Poe.

Let’s Be Social:

Find her at https://www.catherine-mccarthy-author.com/

or at https://twitter.com/serialsemantic

#WriterWednesday Interview with Christina Romeril

I’d like to welcome the fabulous Christina Romeril back to the blog this week!

Favorite thing to do when you have free time: Read

The thing you’ll always move to the bottom of your to do list: You know those window sills that need to be repainted, or the baseboards that need touching up? That’s what goes to the bottom of my list until I just can’t stand looking at them anymore.

Things you need when you’re in your writing cave: A beverage. Coke would be my first choice, but I try to only drink it once a week. I usually end up with water in one form or another. I also need notebooks, colorful pens, whiteboard, and my timer for reading sprints.

Things that distract you from writing: Usually, it’s my phone. I only mean to look up a salient point about whatever I’m writing, and end up in a research rabbit hole or scrolling social media.

Hardest thing about being a writer: Getting through a first draft.

Easiest thing about being a writer: Working on revisions.

Things you will run to the store for at midnight: Nothing. I like my sleep too much to be up late for snacks.

Things you never put on your shopping list: Twix. Is it a cookie? Is it a chocolate bar? I can’t stand indecision.

The coolest thing you’ve bought online: My blue computer keyboard. I love it!

The thing you wished you’d never bought. The Swell water bottle that leaks. By the time I got around to trying it and discovering it leaked, it was too late to return it.

Something you wanted to be when you were a kid: From the time I was six until I was seventeen I was going to be a nurse. I’m still fascinated by the medical profession and love to learn about drugs, illness, recovery, etc. I used to watch the surgery channel while I ate lunch.

Something you do that you never dreamed you’d do: Be a published author.

Last best thing you ate: Costco pizza, yup, one of my favorite things.

Last thing you regret eating: This is a tough one. I like food, and I don’t usually eat anything I think I’ll regret later. But I did drink a Diet Coke recently that I wish I hadn’t. I normally NEVER drink diet anything, but for some reason I got a Diet Coke and it was awful. Never again.

Things to say to an author: I love your book. Where can I leave a review?

Things to say to an author if you want to be fictionally killed off in their next book: When are you going to get a real job?

Most daring thing you’ve ever done: Visited Egypt alone.

Something you chickened out from doing: Going to a singles dance.

The funniest thing that happened to you on vacation: About a year and a half ago my husband and I stayed in a house in Mexico that had first been occupied by my son-in-law’s parents. Upon our arrival they had moved into a different condo and we took over the house. Shortly before we would be moving out of the house (we’d been there about two weeks at this point), we were visiting with the in-laws and they asked if we’d seen the blood stain yet. What? They told us to strip off the sheets and the mattress cover on the master bedroom bed and check it out. You know we were yanking those sheets off as soon as we got back to the house. And, oh boy. There was the mother of all blood stains in the middle of one side of the bed that could not have been from anything normal. Someone lost a significant amount of blood in that spot. We are not talking about a cut finger. Maybe a severed hand, or worse. And yes, I did continue to sleep in the bed and we still laugh about it.

The most embarrassing thing that happened to you on a vacation: This actually happened to my husband. I’m happy to say nothing particularly embarrassing has happened to me, knock on wood. Again in Mexico at a resort, my husband had just joined me on a path where I’d waited for him after he’d used a public rest room near one of the pools. As we began to walk I looked at him and noticed something white flapping against his calf, hanging down from the inside leg of his shorts. Of course, I stopped him and asked what it was. Well, he starts pulling at it. It’s toilet paper. He pulls, and pulls, and pulls. I promise it was at least five feet of the stuff he yanks out from the leg of his shorts as I’m busting a gut, laughing. He flings the accumulated toilet paper in a nearby garbage and practically runs away. Within minutes I’d texted the tale (no pun intended), to his sister with several appropriate gifs. It was some time before that story wasn’t shared at family gatherings.

The most exciting thing about your writing life: I get to make stuff up to entertain people. I can think up a hundred ways to kill someone and how to get away with it and no one thinks that’s weird.

The one thing you wish you could do over in your writing life: I wish I’d started writing sooner. I always claimed I was too busy, but I managed to find hours of time to watch TV. I wish I’d used that time to write.

Best piece of advice you received from another writer: Writers write. Get words on the page.

Something you would tell a younger you about your writing: Start sooner.

Recommendations for curing writer’s block: Set a timer, write whatever comes into your head until the bell goes. Give yourself permission to write utter crap. Eventually, you’ll wrestle something good out of all that.

Things you do to avoid writing: Research. I’m always convinced I need to do the research up front, in the middle, and at the end.

About Christina:

Christina Romeril is the author of the Killer Chocolate Mystery series. Book two, A NUTCRACKER NIGHTMARE, will be out October 17. The series is set in Montana at the foot of the Rocky Mountains, one of her favorite places to visit. She and her husband live a few hours away in a small village in Southern Alberta. When Christina isn’t writing she loves to hike in Waterton Lakes National Park, or just hang out there eating gourmet hot dogs and ice cream. Christina is a former banker and the daughter of German immigrants. Any similarity between her family and her fictional characters is purely coincidental. You can find out more about her at https://christinaromeril.com/about/

 Let’s Be Social":

She is on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/christinaromerilwriter/ and Instagram https://www.instagram.com/ChristinaRomerilWriter  as ChristinaRomerilWriter.

#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

#WriterWednesday Interview with Zaida Alfaro

I’d like to welcome Zaida Alfaro to the blog for #WriterWedsday!

Favorite thing to do when you have free time: I love sitting my living room, with a glass of red wine, and playing my guitar and learning new songs (that’s when I don’t have a gig!)

The thing you’ll always move to the bottom of your to do list: Without a question of a doubt, laundry!

Hardest thing about being a writer: Writing 60,000 words of dialogue between the characters.

Easiest thing about being a writer: Creating the outline: who, what, when, and why.

Favorite snacks: Spicy Peanut and Wasabi Mix

Things that make you want to gag: Mayonnaise

Something you’re really good at: Singing

Something you’re really bad at: Mathematics

Something you wanted to be when you were a kid: Astronaut

Something you do that you never dreamed you’d do: become a published mystery author, and being a Grammy Considered Artist

Something you wish you could do: Play the violin

Something you wish you’d never learned to do: Play the flute

Most daring thing you’ve ever done: Zipline

Something you chickened out from doing: Skydiving

The most exciting thing about your writing life: meeting fans at the book signings.

The one thing you wish you could do over in your writing life: Having more time to focus on the novel, so that I can complete it sooner. I think I would have four books out by now, if my time-management skills were better.

The nicest thing a reader said to you: “It’s very impressive that you published a book and have also released three records. You inspire me to reach for my goals no matter how far away they seem.”

The craziest thing a reader said to you: When I was at a book signing, my sister was there (backstory: one of my characters is based on her), and they asked if they could have her autograph instead of mine!

Best piece of advice you received from another writer: “Whatever you do, don’t give up. Your book may get rejected 100 times, but whatever you do, keep pushing it, send out 100 more query letters, and never self-publish.”

Something you would tell a younger you about your writing: Follow the silhouette of your life through your writing, and you will have a best seller!

About Zaida:

The Miami Music Mystery series’ main backdrop, the amazing city of Miami, Florida, is beloved and well-known to me.  I was born and raised in Miami, and like the novel’s main character Vy, I am a singer/songwriter, Grammy considered, independent artist.  All things relating to music or literature are my passion.  

Many years ago, I became an avid reader of cozy mysteries.  The story lines were intriguing, engaging, and funny at the same time.  I was so inspired by the authors, that I then decided to take my musical experiences, and put it on paper.  I published my first novel, The Last Note, a Miami Music Mystery.  Now, I have brought my characters back to life, in the sequel, In the Key of Dead, a Miami Music Mystery.  The phobia's, the dream sequences, and the quirkiness of the main characters, are all based on facts.  I hope that I was able to, once again, show the readers of my novels, the love I have for Miami, the Cuban culture, my family, and music.

 Let’s Be Social:

http://www.zaidamusic.com

http://www.instragram.com/zaidamusic 

http://www.facebook.com/zaidaauthor

http://www.twitter.com.zaidamusic

IN THE KEY OF DEAD: A Miami Music Mystery

In her debut mystery, The Last Note, vibrant, lead singer Vy proved that when it comes to singing, not even a murder at the venue can deter her from her performance.  Now, her killer songs and killer voice lands Vy in yet another melodic murder mystery.  Interlude Records signs Vy to a long-anticipated record deal after a lifetime of rejections and a fatal gig; but they never thought that murder was part of the deal.  Vy finds herself, yet again, at the center of a murder investigation that may change the course of her music career.  

Someone does not want Vy to record her album, and is doing everything to sabotage the release date, including murdering a key member of the production team.  Vy and her sister Alexia, are back at it again. This time they are using their quick-witted banter, and super sleuthing skills to ensure that Vy’s record makes it to the Top Billboard 100 list before the murderer makes it to the Miami Beach Police Department’s most wanted list.  

They say the music industry is cutthroat, but Vy has never taken that statement literally.  Could this be the strum of Vy’s guitar playing the last note in the key of dead?

#WriterWednesday Interview with Gerald Elias

I’d like to welcome Gerald Elias to the blog for #WriterWednesday!

Things you never want to run out of: Patience, coffee, and Mozart.

Things you wish you’d never bought: My first car, a 1975 Fiat, and my second car, a 1977 Plymouth Volare. After that, I learned my lesson and have driven Subarus ever since.

A few of your favorite things: Parmigiano Reggiano, travel just about anywhere, and those really comfortable jeans that have more holes than fabric.

Things you need to throw out: Those really comfortable jeans that have more holes than fabric; and the anchovies in the back of the fridge that are turning an unnatural shade of green.

Hardest thing about being a writer: Finding a publisher, self-promotion, and the dreaded social media.

Easiest thing about being a writer: Writing

Favorite foods: Umbrian porchetta, Japanese tempura soba, Peruvian ceviche, Southern fried chicken, and a Hebrew National frank with hot sauerkraut and deli mustard.

Things that make you want to gag: Sea cucumbers, Japanese natto, and Vegemite.

Favorite music or song: Mozart’s Symphony No. 38, Schubert’s String Quintet, and Verdi’s Otello.

Music that drives you crazy: Music at restaurants. Why? So unnecessary and distracting! Isn’t good food and good conversation enough?

Things you’d walk a mile for: Good coffee and just the enjoyment of being outdoors.

Things that make you want to run screaming from the room: People talking about their health issues.

Things you always put in your books: Real-life experiences, multi-dimensional yet quirky characters, and plot twists.

Things you never put in your books: Gore and high-tech nonsense.

Things to say to an author: Have a paying job so that you can write what you want.

Things to say to an author if you want to be fictionally killed off in their next book: “My grandchild in kindergarten can write better than you.”

Favorite places you’ve been: Tokyo, Japan; Umbria, Italy; Cuzco, Peru; Sydney, Australia; East Anglia, England; Lucerne, Switzerland; Iceland. Ah, the list goes on…

Places you never want to go to again: Texas, Florida, fast food chain restaurants.

Favorite books (or genre): Mysteries/thrillers: Anything by Donna Leon, Walter Mosley, John LeCarre, and Dick Francis.

Books you wouldn’t buy: Do Your Own Taxes and The Art of the Deal.

Favorite things to do: Play music, travel, cook, outdoor activities, watch sports, and make sand castles with the grandchildren.

Things you’d run through a fire or eat bugs to get out of doing: Calling a doctor’s office to try to get an appointment and going to a performance of a Bruckner symphony.

Most daring thing you’ve ever done: Trying to get my first book, Devil’s Trill, published. (It took 12 years and I had no idea what the hell I was doing.)

Something you chickened out from doing: Climbing ancient cliffside stone steps (no railing) to get to the archeological ruins of the Sun Temple, thousands of feet above Pisac, Peru. No way!

Some real-life story that made it to one of your books: The intense, grueling, harrowing pressure of auditioning for a major symphony orchestra I wrote about in Death and Transfiguration.

Something in your story that readers think is about you, but it’s not: My protagonist and amateur sleuth extraordinaire, Daniel Jacobus, is a blind, curmudgeonly, reclusive violin teacher. I once did a book event –– I think it was in Tucson or Albuquerque –– and the bookstore manager said, “So, Jerry, does that mean your books are autobiographical?” (Laughter from the crowd.) Before I had a chance to reply, he added, “Of course not, you’re not blind.” So while I do share a lot of Jacobus’s points of view, I’m not nearly the hardass that he is (I hope).

About Gerald:

Gerald Elias leads a double life as a critically acclaimed author and internationally recognized musician.

His gripping Daniel Jacobus mystery series, debuting with Devil’s Trill (a Barnes & Noble: Discover Great New Writers selection) takes place in the dark corners of the classical music world. Murder at the Royal Albert, the eighth and most recent installment of the series, received high praise from Publisher’s Weekly, which wrote: “The plot skates off in surprising directions and, as always, offers readers fascinating glimpses into the working life of a musician. One needn’t be a classical music aficionado to appreciate this clever, pacey entry.” Murder at the Royal Albert is currently being made into a unique audiobook with spellbinding performances by the Boston Symphony, renowned musicians, and Elias himself woven into the fabric of the narration.

 Elias has also penned two standalone novels: Roundtree Days, a 2023 finalist for Killer Nashville’s coveted Silver Falchion Award for best Western; and The Beethoven Sequence, a chilling political thriller.

Elias has published collection of eclectic short mysteries, It’s a Crime!  His essays and short stories have also been featured in prestigious journals and anthologies, ranging from The Strad magazine to Coolest American Stories 2023.

His prize-winning essay, “War & Peace. And Music,” excerpted from his self-published musical memoir, Symphonies & Scorpions, was the subject of a compelling 2019 TEDx presentation.

As a performer, conductor, composer, teacher, and former violinist with the Boston Symphony, Elias has performed on five continents and has been the conductor of Salt Lake City’s popular Vivaldi by Candlelight chamber orchestra series since 2004. In 2022, he released the first, highly regarded complete recording of the Opus 1 violin sonatas of the Baroque virtuoso-composer, Pietro Castrucci, on Centaur Records.

A native New Yorker, Elias now divides his time on the shores of Puget Sound in Seattle and the Berkshire hills of Massachusetts, savoring the outdoors and maintaining a vibrant concert career while continuing to expand his literary horizons. He particularly enjoys winter, coffee, cooking, travel, watching sports, and most of all, being a hands-on grandparent.

Let’s Be Social:

Website: https://geraldeliasmanofmystery.wordpress.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gerald.elias

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

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/geraldelias504/

#WriterWednesday Interview with Rebecca Saltzer

I’d like to welcome Rebecca Saltzer to the blog today for #WriterWednesday!

Things you always put in your books: Independent, smart women. They’re fun to read about and are the type of people I choose as friends.

Things you never put in your books: Sex and gratuitous violence. For me, the interesting part of a murder mystery is understanding the motivation behind the crime and solving the puzzle of who did it.

Some real-life story that made it to one of your books: Murder Over Broken Bonds is loosely based on a real fraud I investigated when I worked as a bond analyst at a NY City investment bank. And, a drunk trader really did throw up after a company party, all over my coat and shoes.

Something in your story that readers think is about you, but it’s not: I’m occasionally asked if someone actually got murdered because of the fraud. (Not that I know of.)

Hardest thing about being a writer: It’s solitary. You work for long periods of time, alone. To make sure I’m not writing in a vacuum, I link up with fellow authors through various writing organizations and belong to a critique group. It’s a great place to get candid feedback about which parts of the narrative work and, more importantly, which parts don’t.

Easiest thing about being a writer: Rewriting the story. You can’t do that in real life.

Things to say to an author: Did the stuff you write about really happen when you worked on Wall Street?

Things to say to an author if you want to be fictionally killed off in their next book: Have you read (fill-in-the-blank-with-a-completely-different genre)…? Maybe you could write something more like that.

Favorite books (or genre): I love clever mysteries and ghost stories, both long and short, but I don’t limit myself to just those types of books. I like to read widely to expand my view of the world. It’s one of the reasons I belong to several book clubs—often, I find myself enjoying something I never would have picked up on my own.

Books you wouldn’t buy: Noir is fine, but I absolutely hate slice & dice horror stories or novels about serial murderers. Too grisly and disturbing.

Things you need for your writing sessions: A laptop & thesaurus. I’m always trying to find a better word to describe what’s happening in the story and the computer allows me to quickly make revisions (something I spend a lot of time doing).

Things that hamper your writing: Noise & distractions. First thing in the morning I try to clear my desk (bills, email, etc) so that I can have a large chunk of uninterrupted time to focus on just my writing. Occasionally, I even turn off notifications (email, texts, etc) because I find the occasional bing is surprisingly disruptive. It can take a long time (and significant mental effort!) to get back on track again.

Favorite places you’ve been: Iceland, Australia, and New Zealand. The dramatic landscapes are breathtaking and the people few and far between. It’s the opposite of where I’ve tended to live (large cities with people crowded into small spaces). But those same city-folk provide lots of ideas for fun and intriguing characters (plus motives!) that can be woven together to create interesting murder mysteries.

Places you never want to go to again: Crawling into a tight lava tube. When I was a teenager, a couple of us went spelunking and almost got stuck. I still shudder when I think about how it felt to be surrounded by solid rock in all directions, akin (I’m guessing), to someone being buried alive. Horrifying!!!

The nicest thing a reader said to you: “It kept me guessing the entire time and I loved that final twist.” It’s incredibly satisfying to be told that you kept your reader wondering up until the final pages.

The craziest thing a reader said to you: “I never thought it would be so interesting to read about working on Wall Street. I couldn’t put your book down.” But, of course it’s fascinating! It’s the place where big money meets greets and temptation… and all sorts of things can go wrong.

About Rebecca:

Rebecca Saltzer worked as a bond analyst on the trading floor at Lehman Brothers in New York City in the financial heyday of the eighties. Like the protagonist in her novel, she sometimes encountered fraud and other questionable business practices, except in real life, none of it led to murder. In 2021, Rebecca received the William F. Deeck-Malice Domestic Grant for unpublished writers. When she’s not writing, she enjoys hiking with her two rescue dogs and exploring the great outdoors.

Let’s Be Social:

Author Website: http://www.saltzerbooks.com

Facebook: http://facebook.com/rebecca.saltzer.14/

Twitter/X: http://twitter.com/RebeccaSaltzer

#WriterWednesday Interview with Meg Halfdahl and Kelly Florence

I’d like to welcome Meg Halfdahl and Kelly Florence to the blog for #WriterWednesday!

Things you never want to run out of:

Kelly: Hopefully my house will never run out of coffee and I certainly don’t want to run out of ideas! I believe staying curious and wanting to always learn will keep me motivated, creative, and getting inspired to write.

Meg: Books to read! If that happens then I must be stranded on a desert island. I also need my pugs, if I run out of cuddles from my pugs, Muffin and Sunny I get very cranky.

Things you wish you’d never bought:

Kelly: There have been way too many impulsive clothing purchases because of a good sale. Just because something is discounted doesn’t mean it’s worth purchasing.

Meg: Oh, wow. Probably anything related to fad dieting. It never works, and I just end up feeling like a failure! Don’t buy diet plans, apps, shakes, or books, friends!

A few of your favorite things:

Kelly: My house is filled with movie memorabilia (mainly horror, of course) and my favorite piece is a vintage Stephen King poster from when he spoke in 1983 in New Mexico.

Meg: I have a soft spot for stuffed animals. I can’t seem to get rid of them, and they make me happy! I have kept my favorite childhood teddy, Mama Bear, who is fragile and needs to sit high on a shelf now. She was well-loved.

Things you need to throw out:

Kelly: As a fan of the show Hoarders, I’ve been inspired to throw a lot out recently. It’s just stuff!

Meg: Haha, probably a lot of books I didn’t like or am never going to read. Like stuffed animals, it’s tough for me to get rid of books. Even bad ones!

Things you need for your writing sessions:

Kelly: A comfy spot to sit, some caffeine, and a set aside period of time are all I need to write.

Meg: The aforementioned pugs by my side, silence, and some green tea with honey!

Things that hamper your writing:

Kelly: My ten-year-old daughter recently adopted a cat who likes to walk across my keyboard or sit in my lap while I’m writing. That definitely slows my progress!

Meg: Getting distracted by my phone, the piles of laundry, wanting to keep reading a great novel instead of writing one!

Hardest thing about being a writer:

Kelly: The hardest part of being a writer is having deadlines when life gets in the way. When it rains, it pours and several things tend to be due at once.

Meg: I’d say that editing can be a challenge for me, especially the developmental side of things. When you fix one thing then it causes a domino effect that makes things more complicated, especially in novels.

Easiest thing about being a writer:

Kelly: Writing with my best friend is the easiest part of being a writer because we can share the journey with each other, encourage one another, and get inspired by the other.

Meg: Ahh! Thanks Kelly! I’d say that when I get into the groove and I’m so excited about the words I’m putting down that time flies.

Words that describe you:

Kelly: I would describe myself as kind, sensitive, and thoughtful.

Meg: I agree that Kelly is all those things! And I’d say I’m funny, patient, and smart.

Words that describe you, but you wish they didn’t:

Kelly: The same three words can also be my downfall: kind to a fault, too sensitive, and sometimes overthinking.

Meg: Ooooh, probably anxious and easily overwhelmed.

Favorite foods:

Kelly: Give me pizza or pasta any day and I’m happy but I will never turn down tacos, soba, or the Minnesota staple tater tot hot dish.

Meg: What don’t I like? I’m a huge carb fan, give me bread in any form, and my treat is salmon once or twice a month. I also love fried eggs, rice, and tofu. All the food.

Things that make you want to gag:

Kelly: I used to like mushrooms but one bad experience later I can’t eat them anymore.

Meg: I also hate mushrooms. And Bloody Marys. Those are nasty!

Favorite smell:

Kelly: Fresh cut grass in the summer reminds me of childhood and happiness.

Meg: Coffee is such a bright scent that wakes me up. I’m also a sucker for lavender and eucalyptus, those are my go-to candles.

Something that makes you hold your nose:

Kelly: Any cologne or perfume that is worn heavily because the person applying it is nose blind to it is tough to take.

Meg: I’m not a big fan of super sweet scents in candles like frosted cupcake or caramel brownie, it’s too much!

Something you’re really good at:

Kelly: I feel like I’m very good at organizing and planning my time especially when it comes cooking, teaching, and writing.

Meg: I hope writing! Also word games, yoga, and guessing what time it is!

Something you’re really bad at:

Kelly: Sports or anything athletic are my weakest area in life so I tend to avoid them!

Meg: I can’t draw anything. And I’m not the most devoted cook. I’d much prefer letting Kelly cook!

Things you’d walk a mile for:

Kelly: I’d walk a mile for a lot of things including a movie premiere, a great restaurant, or anything involving my family.

Meg: I try to walk a couple miles every week, so just being out in nature and time to think or listen to an audio book is worth it for me!

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

Kelly: I’m not one who enjoys rodents or spiders, especially in my house, so I definitely don’t stick around long when I encounter one.

Meg: Awkward social interactions?

Favorite things to do:

Kelly: My favorite pastimes include watching TV and movies, reading, traveling, and attending live theatre.

Meg: Reading, yoga, traveling, puzzles, TV and movies, eating.

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

Kelly: I don’t know about eating bugs to avoid these but I don’t enjoy waking up excessively early, fixing technological issues with devices, and filling out mundane paperwork.

Meg: Tent camping or running a marathon. I love walking but hate running.

The nicest thing a reader said to you:

Kelly: We have met so many amazing readers over the years and are always thrilled when we connect with someone. A woman told us recently we inspired her to watch more horror movies because our books were a gateway into the genre for her.

Meg: When a character of mine resonates with a reader that really makes me feel fulfilled. I want my characters to feel real and to make sense to readers, maybe on a close, personal level for some, so that really has warmed my heart to hear!

The craziest thing a reader said to you:

Kelly: You never know who you’re going to meet and a reader told us last month she personally knows one of the Grady girls from The Shining film!

Meg: Haha, oh probably when they ask did you REALLY write this book?

Some real-life story that made it to one of your books:

Kelly: We include many personal stories in our books and readers often connect to that and appreciate our candor. For example, I’ve shared personal stories about past relationships as well as childhood memories that contributed to who I am today.

Meg: Oh yes, we share a lot of ourselves, like how I came to be enamored of the true-crime genre because of an Ed Gein biography I bought as a middle-schooler.

Something in your story that readers think is about you, but it’s not:

Kelly: Oftentimes, people will assume because we’re horror fans and write about horror that we ourselves are dark, macabre, and scary. We’re approachable and kind, I promise!

Meg: Yes, to echo Kelly, I was just told the other day that I was “too nice” to be a horror writer. We can like horror and still smile!

Let’s Be Social:

www.horrorrewind.com

www.kellyflorence.com

HOME | megspage (meghafdahl.com)

#WriterWednesday Interview with Ashley Earley

I’d like to welcome Ashley Earley to the blog for #WriterWednesday!

Things to say to an author: honestly, anything nice. We like criticism, but we also eat up compliments.

Things to say to an author if you want to be fictionally killed off in their next book: “being an author isn’t that hard” or “get a real job.”

Favorite books (or genre): A Court of Mist & Fury by Sarah J. Maas, Frankenstein by Mary Shelly, Dracula by Bram Stoker, and Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë.

Books you wouldn’t buy: I’m not a huge historical fiction or sci-fi girlie.

Things you need for your writing sessions: I need coffee/tea, true crime podcasts, and some kind of chocolatey snack.

Things that hamper your writing: loud noises or anyone who chit-chats on the phone nearby while I’m trying to get into my writing groove (aka my boyfriend).

The last thing you ordered online: custom box tape for my author PR boxes.

Words that describe you: goofy, creative, loyal, hard-working, and dedicated.

Words that describe you, but you wish they didn’t: workaholic and hyper-stressed.

Favorite smell: It’s a tie between freshly popped popcorn and rain.

Something that makes you hold your nose: cinnamon. While autumn is my favorite season, I do everything I can to avoid cinnamon-scented anything.

Hardest thing about being a writer: avoiding negative book reviews that could hurt your feelings.

Easiest thing about being a writer: being creative when it comes to putting together your book launch.

Most daring thing you’ve ever done: I started my own business right out of college.

Something you chickened out from doing: I tend to chicken out of riding crazy rollercoasters because of my fear of heights.

Favorite things to do: I enjoy snowboarding, cozy gaming, cooking, and hiking with my dog.

Things you’d run through a fire or eat bugs to get out of doing: I’d do anything to avoid going out in any scenario. I’m a stay at home and watch a movie with my dog kind of girl.

Something you’re really good at: talking myself into buying more books when I have plenty of books to read at home.

Something you’re really bad at: dancing. Can’t do it.

Some real-life story that made it to one of your books: I can’t reveal my secrets, but some personality traits of mine and from others in my life have ended up in Heart of Skulls.

Something in your story that readers think is about you, but it’s not: most readers might be convinced that I’m a serial killer after reading Heart of Skulls. I pinky promise I’m not. I just watch a lot of true crime.

About Ashley:

Ashley grew up in Georgia, but, today, she lives in Colorado with her dog and spends her time devouring any book she can get her hands on, writing, and editing for her clients at Earley Editing, LLC.

Her love of reading and writing began at a young age, which led her to graduate with distinction from the University of Colorado Boulder, receiving a Bachelor of Arts in English with an emphasis in Creative Writing. She also enjoys snowboarding, exploring, annoying her dog, constantly eating chocolate, and sharing her writing adventures on Instagram. 

Let’s Be Social:

Connect with her on TikTok, Instagram, and other platforms as @ashley_earley and on her website www.ashleyearley.com or reach out at www.earleyediting.com if you’re interested in her editing services!