#WriterWednesday Interview with Ann Charles

I’d like to welcome Ann Charles back to the blog for #WriterWednesday!

Things you never want to run out of: Ha! That’s an easy one: coffee. Wait! Maybe dark chocolate. It’s a tie.

Things you wish you’d never bought: All of the clothes I think will look good on me and didn’t try on before buying them (many are still hanging in my closet because I can’t bring myself to get rid of them).

Hardest thing about being a writer: The constant marketing work—and the never-ending bookkeeping.

Easiest thing about being a writer: Signing an autograph

Favorite music or song: I don’t have a favorite type. I enjoy various songs from over the years from genres like classic rock, country, pop, alternative, old time classics and soundtracks from the 1940-1960s, disco tunes, and more. I think this comes from being the youngest kid in a big family where I often listened to my parents’ and siblings’ music. When I write, I like to listen to old songs in the background with a rain sound playing over them. Something about that is calming and allows me to focus.

Music that drives you crazy: Anything with screeching or loud screaming instead of singing. Also, anything with too much saxophone.

Favorite smell: Baking bread

Something that makes you hold your nose: Red Onions

Last best thing you ate: A fresh, breaded halibut sandwich at Mo’s restaurant in Yachats, Oregon.

Last thing you regret eating: Bad crab meat in Mazatlán, Mexico.

The last thing you ordered online: Books—author copies of my own books that I sell out of our online store. Oh, and cat treats. Our cats threatened to smother me in the night if I didn’t.

The last thing you regret buying: Cat treats—they eat them so fast I just know they don’t appreciate them.

Things to say to an author: Thank you for writing such a great story. It made me love reading and I didn’t want the book to end.

Things to say to an author if you want to be fictionally killed off in their next book: “Do better.”

People you’d like to invite to dinner: Anyone who is quick to laugh, loves to read books or to watch fiction movies/tv shows, and has crazy real-life stories to share.

People you’d cancel dinner on: Anyone who is going to REQUIRE me to dress in formal attire.

Favorite things to do: Take back roads while traveling, explore new-to-me places, laugh while reading, eat soft pretzels, drink frozen Coke Slushees.

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

The coolest person you’ve ever met: A fun old guy named George who taught me how to play horseshoes and kept me laughing the whole time.

The celebrity who didn’t look like he/she did in pictures/video: Louie Anderson, the comedian, looked like he did in videos, but he was even funnier in real life when we went to see him in Las Vegas. The way he worked with the audience to make the show more hilarious was amazing.

Some real-life story that made it to one of your books: My family and I once stumbled upon a real-life sword swallower in Uranus, Missouri at a circus museum. We were in the museum alone and she was happy to shock us with various swords that she slid way down her throat. I’ll never forget that day, nor worrying with my husband if we’d need to rush her to the emergency room if something went sideways.

Something in your story that readers think is about you, but it’s not: Readers often think that I based Violet Parker, the heroine in my Deadwood Mystery series, on me and my life. She may share a sense of humor with me and have two kids, same as me, but she is far more daring than I am. I often advise her not to chase after supernatural troublemakers, but she rarely listens to me.

About Ann:

Ann Charles is a USA Today Best-Selling author who writes spicy, award-winning mysteries full of mayhem, adventure, comedy, and suspense. She writes the Deadwood Mystery Series, Jackrabbit Junction Mystery Series, Dig Site Mystery Series, Deadwood Undertaker Series (with her husband, Sam Lucky), and AC Silly Circus Mystery Series. Her Deadwood Mystery Series has won multiple national awards, including the Daphne du Maurier for Excellence in Mystery/Suspense. Ann has a B.A. in English with an emphasis on creative writing from the University of Washington and is a member of Sisters in Crime and Western Writers of America. She is currently toiling away on her next book, wishing she was on a Mexican beach with an ice-cold Corona in one hand and a book in the other. When she is not dabbling in fiction, she is arm wrestling with her two kids, attempting to seduce her husband, and arguing with her sassy cats. 

Flashback to 1985 and Sheer Panic

1985: I remember walking out of the house without a phone on a daily basis because back then, it was attached to the wall in the kitchen. Now, everything has changed, and my phone is always within arm’s reach. I use the apps and check the time, the news, weather, and whatever trivia question pops in my head. We use it for the day gig too for authentication.

So, imagine my horror, when I got to work and realized I had left both my personal and work phones at home on my desk. I had flashbacks to the 80s.

I had an 8:00 meeting that morning, so there was no time to head back and get them. I called my husband (on a landline) and asked him to let family know that I wasn’t ignoring them. I was phoneless for the day.

After I finished chiding myself and stewing over everything I was missing, I realized how peaceful it was. It was nice to not have all the alerts. And I didn’t miss all that much.

I enjoyed the break, and it was a good reminder that I didn’t suffer any long-term damage from the experience. It was an important reminder to unplug every once in a while. Life, along with all the holiday prep, has been crazy around here.

The only downside about not checking emails at lunch was the full inbox waiting at home for me that night. But again, I survived.

I hope you had a wonderful holiday season and a peaceful new year ane found some time to relax and unplug.

#ThisorThatThursday Author Interview with Sarah Ickes

I’d like the welcome the multi-talented Sarah Ickes to the blog for #ThisorThatThursday!

Hardest thing about being a writer: Getting people to take a chance on your books.

Easiest thing about being a writer: Finding enjoyment in writing the story. (Now editing is another matter)

Things you need for your writing sessions: A clear mind and a small snack certainly helps.

Things that hamper your writing: Too many to count I’m afraid.

Something you’re really good at: Memorizing movie lines/quotes from numerous films.

Something you’re really bad at: Remembering road names is not my forte.

Last best thing you ate: A classic that doesn’t go out of style; a homemade chocolate chip cookie.

Last thing you regret eating: That final pound of candy corn when I was much younger, which is still the reason why I haven’t touched another piece since.

Favorite music or song: Uplifting music is more my speed.

Music that drives you crazy: Songs that are solely rap are not in my playlist.

Things you’d walk a mile for: My dog, family and friends…and in that order

Things that make you want to run screaming from the room: When someone touches my stuff!

Favorite books (or genre): Even though I write mysteries, I actually read more fantasy/adventure.

Books you wouldn’t buy: Romance isn’t my thing.

Favorite things to do: Draw, write, watch movies with my dog, explore the outdoors, and reading, of course!

Things you’d run through a fire or eat bugs to get out of doing: The laundry…most definitely.

The nicest thing a reader said to you: “Where’s the next one?”

The craziest thing a reader said to you: I haven’t had much experience with this side yet.

Some real-life story that made it to one of your books: In Angled for Revenge, I used my past experience from riding on a few steam engine trains to help bring more realism to the scene where they disembark in Nebraska. (This is just one example, as many of my books include a variety of researched materials and actual historical references.)

Something in your story that readers think is about you, but it’s not: Some think I’m Vectra Tillerman, the main character in my fantasy series, but the idea for her actually started from the concept of creating a character I would love to dress up as at a renaissance faire.

About Sarah:

Sarah Ickes has a devoted passion to art, a love for reading and writing, and has an old soul when it comes to television and films. Though she has a degree in Fine Arts, her life is not as simple as a piece of paper. She has worked in retail management, web designing, and marketing to name a few of the realms of her experiences. The pets in her life take precedence, as anyone with animals knows. Her interest in historical America comes vividly to life in her Murial Robertson mysteries, following the adventures of a woman in the 1880s. Currently, she has three books in the series, as well as one in her Vectra Tillerman Adventures (Action/Adventure/Greek Myth/Steampunk), and the first installment in her Cybil Lawson Mysteries (Cozy/Light-hearted Traditional Mystery).  

Let’s Be Social:

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#WriterWednesday with Lynn Slaughter

I’d like to welcome Lynn Slaughter to the blog for #WriterWednesday.

Things you need for your writing sessions: My copy of WALKING ON ALLIGATORS, A BOOK OF MEDITATIONS FOR WRITERS by Susan Shaughnessy (I always read one of the meditations before beginning day’s work), computer, scented candle, music, water, LOTS of coffee.

Things that hamper your writing: Scam calls, any other phone calls, pop-ups on computer I can’t seem to get rid of!

Words that describe you: warm, empathetic, good listener, hardworking, perseverant, analytical, humor lover

Words that describe you, but you wish they didn’t: naive, overly sensitive, mechanically challenged

Favorite foods: anything pasta, chocolate

Things that make you want to gag: eggs, liver, brussel sprouts, seafood

Something you’re really good at: listening, observing people, loving, laughing

Something you’re really bad at: driving directions, putting anything together, technical stuff, overall, mechanically challenged!

Favorite music or song: Love classical music from romantic era, the American Songbook, jazz, classical rock

Music that drives you crazy: misogynistic rap

Things you always put in your books: romance, mystery, conflict, flawed characters

Things you never put in your books: excessive violence, erotica

Favorite books (or genre): contemporary realistic young adult, romantic mystery, suspense

Books you wouldn’t buy: Not a big fan of science fiction or horror

Favorite things to do: hang out with my husband and grandchildren, write, go to libraries and bookstores, read, watch movies from the 1930s and 40s, sing with my community chorus, shop at consignment stores, estate sales, and yard sales

Things you’d run through a fire or eat bugs to get out of doing: I’m very good at procrastinating when it comes to cleaning my house or organizing my gobs of books, files, stuff!

The nicest thing a reader said to you: “The ending brought tears to my eyes.”

The craziest thing a reader said to you: (After reading one of my YA novels): “Your writing is so good you could probably write a novel for adults someday.”

Besides writing, what’s the most creative thing you’ve done: During my dancing days, I choreographed a lot of dances!

A project that didn’t quite turn out the way you planned it: I was trying to impress my new boyfriend (who later became my husband) for a dance company party by roasting a turkey. When he went to carve it, he discovered I’d never taken the giblets out. So much for my culinary skills.

About Lynn:

Lynn Slaughter is addicted to the arts, chocolate, and her husband’s cooking. After a long career as a professional dancer and dance educator, Lynn earned her MFA in Writing Popular Fiction from Seton Hill University. She is the award-winning author of five young adult romantic mysteries: MISSING MOM, DEADLY SETUP, LEISHA’S SONG, IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN YOU, AND WHILE I DANCED, as well as an adult mystery, MISSED CUE.  Lynn lives in Kentucky, where she’s at work on her next novel.

Let’s Be Social:

Website: https://lynnslaughter.com

 X: https://twitter.com/lslaughter2

 Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/lynnslaughter

What are Your Overused or Crutch Words

I know that I overuse certain words when I write, but it happens anyway. I don’t find them until the revisions, and then I’m shocked that I did it again. I finally made a list of the worst offenders that my critique group and editors have noticed over the years. Now during the early edits, I do a search and replace to get rid of the nasty critters.

Here’s my list:

• A lot

• Come on

• Definitely

• Few

• Going to

• Good

• Grabbed

• Hopefully

• Just

• Last

• Lately

• Little Dog

• More

• Only

• Other

• Out of the

• Probably

• Really

• Several

• Slightly

• Still

• Sure

• That

• Very

If you find that you have repeat words, make your list. If you weed out the duplicates during the editing stages, it will help make your writing stronger. (And you’ll be surprised how many times you use some of them.)

#ThisorThatThursday Author Interview with Wendy Neugent

I’d like to welcome the fabulous Wendy Neugent to the blog for #ThisorThatThursday.

Things you need for your writing sessions: Tea and my cat, Apurrham Lincoln.

Things that hamper your writing: Arthritis in my hands.

Favorite music or song: “Who’s Afraid of Little Old Me” by Taylor Swift is my new favorite song to sing loudly in my car when I am alone.

Music that drives you crazy: Any songs that have police sirens.

The last thing you ordered online: The book, Buried in the Backwater by Drew Strickland

The last thing you regret buying: An inflatable hot tub.

Things you’d walk a mile for: Really good gluten free donuts. I’ve been gluten free for over a decade. Yeast raised donuts are the food that I miss the most.

Things that make you want to run screaming from the room: When someone has the TV and everyone talks loudly to be heard over it.

Things you always put in your books: Vacation destinations.

Things you never put in your books: Graphic violence.

Favorite places you’ve been: Tahiti. It was the most amazing place I have ever been. Everywhere you turn, it looks like something out of a travel magazine. I got to swim with sharks, pet a sting ray, and kayak surrounded by dolphins. I’d love to spend a year there.

Places you never want to go to again: Twice I ended up in cities, Key West and Milwaukee, where they were having a Harley Davidson conventions! The cities were awesome, but the noise was not!

Besides writing, what’s the most creative thing you’ve done: Working as a headliner entertainer on ships for a decade. I was a magician and got to build my own illusions, do my own choreography, design and sew my costumes, and train my parrots. I started out with just a 10 minute set in the middle of a the revue show and grew my show until I had enough material to perform 2 forty five minutes shows. It was a lot of fun.

A project that didn’t quite turn out the way you planned it: Oh, so many! But sometimes the best things come from a plan that doesn’t go the way you expected.

Some real-life story that made it to one of your books: I worked on cruise ships for a decade so many things that happened to me during my years on ships are in my books, including a shipboard fire, a concussion, and the ship crashing into the dock. Thankfully, there weren’t any actual murders on any of the ships while I was there!

Something in your story that readers think is about you, but it’s not: Because I worked on ships as an entertainer like my character, readers think that everything that happens to Olivia is something that happened to me. A lot of Olivia’s adventures are pulled from my imagination or from things that happened to my co-workers.

The first 8-track, record, cassette, or CD you ever bought: The soundtrack to Grease!

A type of music that’s not your cup of tea: Rap music isn’t my cup of tea.

My favorite book as a child: Anne of Green Gables. I was lucky enough to get to visit the real Green Gables on Prince Edward Island when I was working on a Canada/New England cruise.

A book I’ve read more than once: Many of The Cat Who books. They are such a comfort read for me. Fun to visit Moose county and hang out with Koko and Yum Yum.

Your favorite movie as a child: Grease. I wanted to be Olivia Newton John when I grew up.

A TV show or movie that kept you awake at night as a kid (or as an adult): The Wizard of Oz. The flying monkeys were terrifying. Flying monkeys are still terrifying!

About Wendy:

Wendy Neugent spent a decade as part of an award-winning magic act performing on cruise ships all over the world.  She traveled from Alaska to Venezuela, Bermuda to Tahiti, and many exotic ports of call in between.

Now, Wendy uses her insider knowledge of cruise ship life to write fun and entertaining cozy mystery books set on cruise ships.

Wendy’s Cruise Ship Mysteries are the perfect books to read while taking a cruise or when you wish you were on a cruise.

Wendy Neugent’s debut mystery, Murder Takes a Bow was a Cozy Mystery Indie of the Year Finalist. All her books feature adorable pets, strong female protagonists, and riveting mysteries.

Do You Set Reading Goals?

I was the kid who was excited when the teacher said to read quietly. It’s rarely that I don’t have a book or my Kindle library more than an arm’s length away.

I don’t usually do New Year’s Resolutions, but I do set a reading goal each year on Goodreads to track my history. It’s helpful, and it reminds me to leave a review for the authors. The graphic that Goodreads creates each December is great to see your progress and your stats. Here’s mine for 2024.

For writers, reading is important. It helps you learn with what’s happening in the genre you write and to stay in tune with who is publishing what. Reading is research.

It’s also a great way to support your fellow authors. Buy and share their books. Write a review. Ask the library to add the books to its collection.

Hop over and follow me on Goodreads.

#ThisorThatThursday Author Interview with JM Shaw

I’d like to welcome JM Shaw to the blog for #ThisorThatThursday!

Things you never want to run out of: Coffee. It is the fuel of dreams.

Things you wish you’d never bought: Every journal I’ve ever bought. There is something compelling about those empty pages, but I have so many partially completed journals that it might qualify as an addiction.

Hardest thing about being a writer: Finding the time to write and dealing with the guilt of investing in a solo hobby that takes me away from my family.

Easiest thing about being a writer: Having the desire to write and finding inspiration in the unlikeliest of places. My “what if” mentality is a wellspring of creative ideas.

Things you need for your writing sessions: A hot cup of coffee and a clean workspace. Clutter is very distracting, and I am not fond of cold coffee.

Things that hamper your writing: I cannot write when my children are around. I love them to death, but they have no concept of personal boundaries, and they always seem to need copious snacks the instant I open my computer.

Something you’re really good at: I have an innate ability to think outside the box and imagine solutions or problems that others had not considered.

Something you’re really bad at: A frustrating side effect of autism and ADHD in my inability to manage my time effectively. Sometimes I struggle to get myself moving.

Favorite smell: I relish the smell of coffee in the morning. If only it tasted as good as it smells.

Something that makes you hold your nose: I can’t stand tea tree oil. If its strong enough, it will trigger me to have an asthma attack.

Last best thing you ate: I have a powerful sweet-tooth and a weakness for anything chocolate. I am particularly fond of mint aero bars.

Last thing you regret eating: I regret the donut I ate for breakfast this morning because I now must work off those calories.

The last thing you ordered online: I recently ordered a fancy looking office bag big enough to carry my laptop, agenda, wallet, and anything else I might.

The last thing you regret buying: I bought an expensive jacket in a size too small, hoping to motivate myself to lose weight. It’s been a year, and said garment hangs, used, in my closet, taunting me for my failure to reach my goal.

Things you always put in your books: I like to sprinkle wholesome life-lesson into my stories, weaving them throughout without making it too obvious. I also like slapstick comedy.

Things you never put in your books: While some of my stories contain romance elements, I will never write lovemaking scenes. The truth is far less entertaining and there is enough of that out there confusing a whole generation of young people, why would I add to that.

Things to say to an author: A simple, “I’ve read your book” is enough to encourage an author, regardless of whether you liked the story or not.

Things to say to an author if you want to be fictionally killed off in their next book: For those who have said to me, “writing’s not that hard”, there is a place waiting for your inspired character in my fictional graveyard.

Favorite places you’ve been: I recently visited Muir Wood in California and loved it.

Places you never want to go to again: I never want to step foot in my old high school. The buzz of those fluorescent lights still makes me shudder.

Favorite books (or genre): I am partial to any genre if the story has a thought-provoking narrative, in-depth characters with good moral standings, and is rife with action and adventure. I get bored easily.

Books you wouldn’t buy: I do not enjoy spicy romance. Reading about characters falling in love is fine, but I don’t need to know what happens in the boudoir. No one has three chapters worth of stamina.

Most daring thing you’ve ever done: My first book signing was a huge step outside my comfort zone. As an introvert, I prefer to avoid peopling wherever possible, but I pushed myself and discovered that I enjoy telling the world I exist.

Something you chickened out from doing: I could never bungee jump or skydive. I am too petrified of heights.

The funniest thing to happen to you: I was working as a cashier and opened my register to count out my customers change. When I close the till, the spring lever that holds down the bills caught the edge of a pen. The pen flipped twice before hitting my right between the eyes, painting a blue dot on the bridge of my nose. My customer and coworkers, assuming I’d done it intentionally, were impressed enough to applaud. Rather than correct their presumption, I simple accepted their adulation.

The most embarrassing thing to happen to you: I face planted on a frosted glass door in front of a waiting room full of people. When I looked back, everyone was trying not to laugh. Hoping to turn the situation around, I said, “You all saw nothing”. The laughter that erupted was heard from two offices away, but at least they weren’t laughing at my misstep.

About JM:

J.M. Shaw lives in Airdrie, Alberta, with her husband and two young children. She and her family embarked upon a journey of understanding, acceptance, and life-long learning when they discovered their shared diagnosis of autism and ADHD. Writing is her passion and, with experience and interests in healthcare, psychology, martial arts, and personal training, she pours her unique insights and knowledge into all her creative fictions.

Let’s Be Social:

Website: www.jmshawauthor.com.