Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
In the Beginning is my first book. I wrote in back in 1997 and found it in my daughter’s garage in 2011. Decided to brush it off and get it published. Now it seems I’ve caught the bug. I’m now working on the sequel as well as the first book I hope will be part of at least a three-book series.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
In the Beginning is the name of my latest book. And it’s funny, I can’t remember what gave me the idea for it. I remember I had just lost my job and was sitting at home depressed. Worried how I would take care of my teenage children and my eighty year old mother you had recently came to live with me. And I remember thinking, I’m going to write a book.
Whatever the inspiration, I believe it to be unique as I have yet to come across another book with the story in my book.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
When I found the manuscript of the book and decided to publish it, I found I didn’t have an electronic copy of it so I had to rewrite the entire book. I learned during the rewrite that there are actual rules and methods employed by “real” writers. Who knew? One such rule is the use of an outline, or starting at the beginning of the book and writing straight through. I don’t. I write a scene here or there and fill in the rest of the chapter over time and then move it around until I find out where the chapter fits in. Sometimes, I hear conversations or new research that I think would fit nicely in the book, so then I write around that to make it fit into the book. It’s a haphazard way to write, I’m sure other writes shutter at my method, but it’s how I do it.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
I didn’t read before and during readying the book for publication. Once it was published, however, I decided that perhaps I should see how others write. (Again, to learn about those writing rules I didn’t know existed). People said that my story was akin to Dan Brown’s story, so I read him. I found I didn’t like his stories much, although his writing was good. (My book was written in 1997 so it actually pre-dated his books).
I found that The Secret of the Seventh Son by Glenn Cooper taught me that it’s not the writing necessarily that makes a book good, but how good the story. I also think that my writing is a lot like Harlan Coben’s and his books have influenced me not to worry so much about those pesky rules of writing, but just to be myself.
What are you working on now?
I’m working on the sequel to “In the Beginning” and it’s titled “The Westbury End Book Club.” Hopefully it’ll be out later this year. The story in my first book tells about manuscripts hidden 2,000 years ago at the caves of Qumran. The sequel will reveal how they got there.
I’ve also decided to start a series of books about a family tree. Each book will tell about a different branch of the family and their secrets and of course, all the dysfunction that happens within family. The stories will span from about the 1870s to the present. The first installment in the series “1203” will be out in early 2014.
I’m very excited about them still finding it hard to believe how much I love to write and what an active imagination I have after hitting the half century mark.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
During the time I was making an electronic copy of the book, I up chapters on authonomy.com. There I met a lot of people, so that helped to build an audience. I think that first reads and amazon.com are both good ways to promote books as well as social media platforms.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
GET AN EDITOR. It is so hard to see all of your mistakes because you are so close to your work. Even if it’s an unpaid editor, your neighbor, child, sibling, someone. Be sure to get someone to read over your work.
Another piece of advice, which is a pet peeve for me, is continuity. Make sure that you check on your facts as you progress through the book to make sure they add up. And be sure to let your readers know how you get from place to place, and from clues to conclusion. Don’t suddenly introduce people. And watch putting in facts or knowledge that others could not know about without explaining how that knowledge or fact was acquired.
Other than that I say, “Happy Writing.”
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
I think there are two things that I found good in my writing endeavors. The first is to use “I said” instead of “he exclaimed,” or “she mumbled,” or “she chuckled,” at the end of dialogue.
The second piece of advice is not to use too many beats around your dialogue. Let the dialogue set the mood, the tone and the feelings of the characters.
What are you reading now?
Harlan Coben. As much of him as I can. Right now I’m reading Stay Close and Caught. Just finished Six Days. I love mysteries and he does a good job.
I am also reading Unbound Brothers by Rob Rowntree. He just published and is a fellow member of goodreads.
What’s next for you as a writer?
To write, write and then, write some more.
What is your favorite book of all time?
In the Beginning by Abby L. Vandiver
(lol, can I say that?)
Author Websites and Profiles
Abby Vandiver Amazon Profile
Abby Vandiver’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
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