Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’ve been writing since before I knew how to spell. As a child, I made up stories in the backyard and acted them out with my best friend down the road. I still make up stories in the backyard, but I’ve abandoned the acting! I’ve written over 10 full length mystery and suspense novels, but have only published the last 2. I’m currently working on the third.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Next Exit, Pay Toll is the second book in The Exit Series. The series follows a female assassin from New Jersey and explores how she rediscovers where she came from and who she was, and how she reconciles that with the professional she has become. I have always loved spy and assassin novels and movies. Creating a heroine who comes from South Jersey, where I live, just seemed to make sense.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I create storyboards for my novels to help me keep my plot and characters in line and in focus. It is a visual aid that helps me remember the key points that drive the plot. The storyboards are multi-colored and each color represents a different aspect of the book. Once those are done, I sit down and write. I write from page one straight through.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
So many! Some of the ones that come immediately to mind are Janet Evanovich, Dan Brown, Robert Ludlum, Ngaio Marsh and Daniel Silva.
What are you working on now?
I’m working on the third book in the Exit Series, tentatively titled Next Exit, Dead End. It’s a fun story set at Halloween in South Jersey. It has a haunted prison, dead bodies and a Mexican cartel. It’s coming along fabulously. I’m really excited about it!
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I have a website, www.cwbrowning.com, and I am also active on Facebook and Twitter.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Revise. Revise. Revise. Get your manuscript as perfect as you feel it can be, give it to some beta readers to get outside eyes on it, then take the feedback and revise some more. I usually take a break from the work while it’s with the beta readers so that I can go back to it with a fresh outlook. I have changed many things that slowed the pace of the story by doing this. I think we need that little break to see the forest for the trees.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Keep writing. No matter what, keep writing.
What are you reading now?
Death and the Dancing Footman by Ngaio Marsh. It’s an oldie, but goodie.
What’s next for you as a writer?
When I finish the third book of the Exit Series, I think I am going to take a break from the series. I’m considering an historical spy novel set in Europe in World War II. We’ll see.
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 Adventures of Sherlock Holmes
Homers The Iliad
The Bible
A blank book for writing. 🙂
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