Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m a retired police detective. I worked for two major agencies. After retiring, I decided to write the book that had been in my head for years. Not a cop story but a love story I wanted to tell. I sat down and just started to tell the story. But, I also knew I needed to learn the craft and began attending various writer’s workshops, seminars and conferences. As I learned I would edit my manuscript to apply the new info. After several years, I finally felt the book ready. A friend of mine had started her own small publishing agency and asked if I’d consider publishing with her. I did and haven’t looked back. I now have books in publication: 5 are historical romance, 3 are historical suspense (book 3 will be released 2/28/20) 2 contemporary thrillers, and 2 novellas-a holiday story that is part of my Bloodstone series and a WW2 romance.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest which is coming Feb. 28, 2020 but up for pre-order on Feb. 14, called A Venomous Love. It is part of my Bloodstone series, which is set in Victorian London. My protagonist is Detective Rudyard Bloodstone. I love writing him. I never wanted to write a modern cop story but enjoy setting my detective in the Victorian era.
In this story the killer uses a very deadly cobra as a weapon. This idea came from a story a London Metropolitan police officer told me years ago. She was vacationing in Morocco when a British couple came dashing into the lobby distressed and loudly announcing they’d just been robbed at snake-point. I locked the idea away and thought one day I might use that in a book.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
None that I can think of. I set aside 3-4 hours a day, six days a week to write. I write in the afternoon. I am not a morning person and try to take care of personal business in the morning to free up writing time in the afternoons. I stop around 4 or 5 and spend the rest of the evening with my husband relaxing.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Bernard Cornwell is my favorite historical writer. I love his Saxon Tales and when I wrote my historical romance series (Knights in Time) there was a major battle, Poitiers (1356) that connected the heroes of the books. They were time travels. I used Cornwell’s intense and extreme visual description of battles as a guide for mine.
I think Joe Wambaugh is the best cop writer around but then he was a cop with LAPD. I especially love the Hollywood Station series and use his combo of humor and pathos for my Bloodstone series.
My favorite romance writer is Julie Anne Long. She writes the most interesting love scenes and interaction between her heroes and heroines. I try to incorporate the beauty of her love scenes when I write them in romances (that include those scenes, not all my romances do).
What are you working on now?
I’m working on preparing for a couple upcoming blog tours for A Venomous Love. While I do that I have also started book 2 in my WW2 romance series of novellas. The first is called Moonlight Serenade. It’s about an American Marine on leave in Australia in 1945. He falls in love with an Aussie big-band singer. The current work is set in England during the war and is called The Ack-Ack Girl. It’s the story of a anti-aircraft spotter (one of the women who did this in the war) and how she falls in love with an RAF pilot.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I try to book several blog tours. I use Buoni Amici as my publicists and they set up multi-stop tours for me. I’m also booked on Partners in Crime Tours, and looking into TRS. My books are available on Booksprout for reviewers and I will send ARC copies to anyone who is interested in doing a review.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
I’d use the Nike refrain: Just Do It! Making time to write is one of the most difficult things to do, I believe. We have such busy lives but I’d suggest trying to set time to write, even if it is only 15 minutes a day. Just sit and type and tell the story in your head. I’d also suggest joining a critique group. Other eyes have to see your work, other than your family who might not be totally honest with you.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Don’t start with long passages of what happened to bring the characters to this point. Introductions to a story are always passive and the reader can be informed through dialogue and action.
What are you reading now?
The Flame Bearer by Bernard Cornwell for pleasure
Reach For the Sky by Paul Brickwell about England’s greatest RAF pilot, which I’m reading for research.
What’s next for you as a writer?
Beside promoting A Venomous Love. I hope to complete my WW2 novella, The Ack-Ack- Girl by the holidays. Then I hope to write the fourth Bloodstone book but this one will have Rudyard’s brother, Will Bloodstone as the protagonist. He has a lot of page time in A Venomous Love and was well liked by my critique group and me:)
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?
The Legend of Lyon Redmond by Julie Anne Long
The Last Kingdom by Bernard Cornwell (but it’s tough b/c all the books are so good)
The Lions of Al-Rassan by Guy Gavriel Kay
The Vampire Lestat by Anne Rice but I’d be equally happy with Interview with the Vampire
Author Websites and Profiles
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