#WriterWednesday with Jacquie Wilvers

I’d like to welcome Jacquie Wilvers to the blog for #WriterWednesday!

Things you need for your writing sessions: A cup of tea and chewing gum.

Things that hamper your writing: My cell phone, when it’s in the room with me.

Something you’re really good at: Delegating.

Something you’re really bad at: Decluttering my desk.

The last thing you ordered online: Slippers

The last thing you regret buying: Itchy wool sweater.

Favorite places you’ve been: Venice, Pompeii, Jerusalem, Petra, Cairo.

Places you never want to go to again: The city of Edfu.

Favorite books (or genre): Mysteries.

Books you wouldn’t buy: Horror.

Most daring thing you’ve ever done: Fly in an open cockpit biplane.

Something you chickened out from doing: Flying upside down in the open cockpit biplane.

The nicest thing a reader said to you: May I have your autograph?

The craziest thing a reader said to you: “You’re not the person I thought you were” after reading my gritty crime fiction short story, Underbelly.

The first 8-track, record, cassette, or CD you ever bought: Hotel California.

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

My favorite book as a child: Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak.

A book I’ve read more than once: The Art of Happiness by the Dalai Lama.

Your favorite movie as a child: Mary Poppins.

A movie that kept you awake at night as a kid: Hush Hush Sweet Charlotte.

About Jacquie:

Jacquie’s debut short story, “Underbelly,” appears in Angel City Beat, a Los Angeles mystery anthology. This gritty fictional story takes the reader on a journey of betrayal and murder inside the Hollywood film industry. In the niche world of screenwriting, the players are known and the competition fierce. When a talented newcomer appears seeking fortune, the plot turns murderous. Anything goes to get a hit film made.

The Angel City Beat anthology includes stories about life in Los Angeles. Hidden beneath its shiny surface are misdeeds, miscreants, and murderers. Angel City Beat shows life behind the plastic smiles of the rich and famous, the desperate pleas of the overlooked, and the promises of dreams forgotten. Angel City Beat is the beat of a city told by those who love her and can be found on Amazon.

Jacquie also recently finished writing her first book-length cozy mystery, A Venetian Moonlight Murder, which was inspired by a visit to the City of Lovers, Venice, Italy. She is currently polishing the manuscript for submission later in 2025.

A long-time resident of Long Beach, CA, Jacquie became an early mystery fan when she discovered Nancy Drew, Cherry Ames, and the Hardy Boys. She is a member of Sisters in Crime – Los Angeles, Orange County, and Guppy chapters. She is also a member of California Writer’s Club Orange County and the Author’s Guild.

Let’s Be Social:

Website/Newsletter Sign-up: http://jacquiewilvers.com

She earned a BA in newspaper journalism, an MA in theater arts management, and an MPA in Public Policy and Administration. Jacquie worked as a newspaper reporter, aerospace publication editor, and public education grant writer. She likes to create characters who misbehave and delights in reading other writers who do the same. She enjoys traveling, reading mysteries and historical novels, and spending time with friends and family.

The SinC Los Angeles Chapter has arranged for an official book launch of Angel City Beat. It will be at Vroman’s bookstore in Pasadena on Monday, February 24, at 7 p.m.

https://vromansbookstore.com/event/2025-02-24/sisters-crime-la-host-discussion-angel-city-beat-sisters-crime-los-angeles

All the Stuff I Didn't Know Writers Had to Do...

When I dreamed of being a published writer, I had no idea how much work was going to be involved. I was going to write books, do book signings, and spend my royalties. It wasn’t until that first contract arrived that I realized I didn’t know what I didn’t know.

Even if you have a publisher with a team to support you, there are still marketing and other tasks that you’re expected to do to promote your work.

Here are some of the things that turned my little hobby into a second job. What would you add to my list?

• Be prepared. You will read your manuscript more times than you’ll ever want to count to look for plotholes, typos, inconsistencies and areas to improve.

• Find a critique group or partner to give you feedback on your manuscript.

• Build and maintain a website and your social media presence.

• Schedule events.

• Organize your writing and promotional calendars.

• Network with booksellers, librarians, book clubs, reviewers, and podcasters.

• Network with other writers.

• Learn how to ask for blurbs. Write blurbs for others.

• Create a newsletter.

• Build a newsletter list of followers.

• Write a blog. Write content for your socials. Write content for your newsletter.

• Write guest blogs and do interviews.

• Prepare for interviews and speaking engagements.

• Create a street team of super fans.

• Learn how to use a variety of different software for book stuff.

• Be social on multiple social media sites and build your following.

• Get all the tax, sales tax, and business stuff straightened out.

• Add information to your will to take care of the business of your books.

#ThisorThatThursday Author Interview with Diane Kelly

I’d like to welcome the fabulous Diane Kelly to the blog today for #ThisorThatThursday.

Hardest thing about being a writer: Having to live a real life when all I want to do is disappear into my stories 24/7.

Easiest thing about being a writer: Coming up with story ideas. I have more than I’ll ever be able to write! I seem to find inspiration everywhere.

Things you need for your writing sessions: Cats to keep me company.

Things that hamper your writing: Cats keeping me company.

Words that describe you: Creative. Open-minded. Animal lover. Caring/compassionate. Organized (even if it doesn’t look like it). Hardworking.

Words that describe you, but you wish they didn’t: Impatient. Overextended. Easily distracted.

Favorite music or song: My all-time favorite song is “Drift Away” by Dobie Gray. I love 70’s and 80’s music – the songs of my formative years.

Music that drives you crazy: Jazz. To me, it’s too random and nerve-wracking.

Things you’d walk a mile for: A stray animal that needs help.

Things that make you want to run screaming from the room: The sound of someone chewing, especially crunchy foods.

Things you always put in your books: Pets.

Things you never put in your books: Sexual violence.

The nicest thing a reader said to you: In a review for Death, Taxes, and Sweet Potato Fries, which involves human smuggling/illegal immigration and young women escaping a desperate and violent situation, a reader said I handled the sensitive subject well. I appreciated that a lot.

The craziest thing a reader said to you: When I still had a day job, a coworker read my first book and later came into my office, closed the door, and told me she didn’t like it. She didn’t have a sense of humor and was definitely not my target audience. I was surprised she was so blunt, especially since she knew I’d been working hard for years to get published, but I know no book will be everyone’s cup of tea and I appreciate her keeping me humble.

Besides writing, what’s the most creative thing you’ve done: Being a mother. Parenthood puts a person in all kinds of situations where they have to think on their feet and come up with creative solutions to problems they never could have anticipated.

A project that didn’t quite turn out the way you planned it: My children. Ha-ha! They are definitely their own people which, truthfully, is exactly who I want them to be.

Some real-life story that made it to one of your books: When my son was a baby, I fed him too many orange baby foods and his skin turned orange. I used this in Death, Taxes, and Sweet Potato Fries, where I had my main character eat too many sweet potato fries and turn orange.

Something in your story that readers think is about you, but it’s not: The sex scenes in my Death and Taxes series. My sister told me she pictured me and my husband when she read the scenes. I was horrified! My main characters might share some of my traits or values (or not), but they are NOT me.

Your favorite movie as a child: Tie between Pippi Longstocking and Charlotte’s Web. The first because the thought of being independent and self-sufficient seemed fun, and the latter because it was about compassion for animals.

A TV show or movie that kept you awake at night as a kid (or as an adult): “The Blair Witch Project.” That movie scared me to death! It felt so realistic.

About Diane:

Diane Kelly writes funny mysteries featuring feisty female lead characters and their furry, four-footed sidekicks. Diane is the author of over three dozen novels and novellas, including the Death and Taxes white-collar crime series, the Paw Enforcement K-9 series, the House Flipper mystery series, the Busted female motorcycle cop series, the Southern Homebrew moonshine series, and the Mountain Lodge Mysteries series. When not writing, Diane enjoys volunteering at her local animal shelter, playing with her cats, or hiking with her dog in the beautiful woods of her home state of North Carolina. Learn more about Diane and her books at DianeKelly.com.

Let’s Be Social:

website: https://www.dianekelly.com/

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

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

Twitter/X: https://x.com/DianeKellyBooks

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DianeKellyBooks

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dianekellybooks

#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:

My Website

Facebook

Instagram

Pinterest

#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.)