Belinda G. Buchanan

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
A native of Kentucky, I currently reside there with my wonderful and supportive husband of twenty-five years, two sons (one who loves me unconditionally, and one who loves me only when we’re not in public), and a menagerie of animals. I write edgy, women’s fiction & mystery. My novels deal with such topics as infidelity, mental illness, abuse, and alcoholism. The titles are After All Is Said And Done: A Novel of Infidelity, Healing, & Forgiveness, The Monster of Silver Creek, Seasons of Darkness, and Tragedy at Silver Creek.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Tragedy at Silver Creek was released in September and is a stand-alone sequel to The Monster of Silver Creek. After I’d published Monster, I found myself unable to let the characters go and realized that there was a whole new story just waiting to be written. Tragedy at Silver Creek is a story about a small town in Montana struggling to deal with the aftermath of a serial killer’s reign of terror.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I wouldn’t say my writing habits are unusual, but I am extremely picky. If I write a scene, I find that I absolutely cannot move on to the next one until every sentence in it is perfect. I also have an annoying habit of thinking about my book (when I’m working on one) ALL THE TIME. I usually go to sleep agonizing over a particular scene or chapter, and if I happen to wake up in the middle of the night, I find that those thoughts are still there and, unfortunately, my brain picks up right where I left off.

On a typical day, you can find me in my office staring at the computer screen scrutinizing my work with my cat in my lap and a can of Mt. Dew beside me.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
I think one of the first books I read that gave me inspiration to write was The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton. To read something that good, and to be written by someone so young, fueled my own desire to become an author.

I am also a big fan of Danielle Steel. Her characters are so colorful, I find myself wanting to take them home for dinner.

What are you working on now?
I’m about to begin working on a new mystery about a woman who married out of necessity but eventually learns that her husband isn’t all that she thought he would be.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
As vague as it sounds, I go the usual social media routes; however, as far as websites, there are a couple that really stand out. One of them is Indies Unlimited. There, you can search any topic you might have a questions about and chances are it has already been addressed. I have found a wealth of great promotion sites through them. The other is Chris The Story Reading Ape’s Blog, which also provides excellent advice on selling/promoting/writing your book.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
1. Never give up. If you like writing, keep doing it.
2. Join author support groups and learn all you can about the craft of self-publishing, marketing, promoting, and, of course, writing.
3. Write for yourself and not what you think others want you to write.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Don’t agonize over days that haven’t been given to you yet.

What are you reading now?
I just downloaded The Sound of Gravel by Ruth Wariner, and am looking forward to reading it.

What’s next for you as a writer?
My goal for this year is to work on my new book. Aside from that, I’ll be doing some extensive research for another project I hope to start later in the year. It’s a daring story that I hope will come to fruition!

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Hmm…probably anything written by Les Stroud (although I must say that I’d rather eat my own finger than a spider), my Bible, and a book on sand art.

Author Websites and Profiles
Belinda G. Buchanan Website
Belinda G. Buchanan Amazon Profile
Belinda G. Buchanan Author Profile on Smashwords

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