Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’ve lived all over this country—from the Midwest to the Deep South to Appalachia to the Mid-Atlantic to the Pacific Northwest and finally California—and yet I find I often start stories and recollections with “When I lived in the mountains of North Carolina ….” My interests in so many things—writing, hiking, nature, mountain music, organic gardening, ecology—took root while I lived on a small farm there, an eager participant in the back-to-the-land movement of the 1970s. I made mistakes by the wheelbarrowful, but I learned just about everything that matters to me today.
I was lucky to live near the Campbell Folk School, an amazing center for art, craft, and music (and featured in my novels as The Hickson School of American Studies). That’s where I was introduced to the music of my heritage. The first time I walked into the school’s wood-paneled community room where fiddlers played, it was like finding a lost relative.
My writing career also started at the Campell Folk School. One day the director asked if I’d like to learn public relations. To be honest, I should have answered, “What’s that?” Instead, I said, “Sure,” and took to it like ink to newsprint. I haven’t stopped writing since. These days, I spend my time writing my Appalachian Mountain Mysteries series. I started them as a way to share some of the unforgettable stories from my years in the mountains.
Before my novel-writing days, I crafted 1,200 articles for arts and culture magazines such as Southern Living, Country Living, AmericanStyle, Southwest Art, Yoga Journal, American Cinematographer, Chile Pepper, and Restaurants USA. Newspaper articles about art, food, and business ran in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Charlotte Observer, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, washingtonpost.com, among others. I’ve also written 15 nonfiction books, including several on the art and craft of writing.
I moved to the mountains of North Carolina on a whim. Why not? Let’s see what it’s like, we thought during those adventurous times. But decades later, I believe I was drawn to that place, signing on to a graduate program in life I didn’t realize I needed. By comparison, my life today seems so tame, but that doesn’t worry me. In the mountains of North Carolina, I also learned there is a season for everything.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
“Murder Ballad Blues” is the fourth book in my Appalachian Mountain Mysteries series (and I have two more books planned). I spent several months mulling over the plot of “Murder Ballad Blues”–and researching folk and bluegrass music. It’s more complex than the first three books in the series. I found it particularly challenging to get the dates and circumstances of the contemporary crimes to jibe with those of the historic murder ballads. Fortunately, I have a muse who comes sweeping in, anytime day or night, to offer ideas. The key for any writer is to listen and capture those gifts ASAP before they evaporate like a dream. For example, the character Wallis Harding came to me like that, and I think he’s one of the most successful characters I’ve ever developed. He’s funny, ornery, and kind, all wrapped in one.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I like to sleep on ideas. That’s not that unusual–or shouldn’t be–because for writers, our subconscious is the best co-author imaginable. Knowing that my subconscious will wake me up or speak to me first thing in the morning with creative ideas or necessary corrections let’s me write freely throughout the day. I know it has my back. I also take a lot of breaks. I’m not a believer in the misguided adage: “Writers must write every day.” Who says? I benefit from breaks that get me out into nature or put me in front of new people. We need that stimulation to make our writing fresher and more interesting.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
I love Michael Connelly’s clear and compelling storytelling style. His journalism background, like mine, taught him to think of his readers first. The art will follow. I also love William Kent Krueger. His heartfelt (but never saccharine) stories and beautiful writing are always inspiring. And who wouldn’t be inspired by Delia Owens and her lyrical writing style?
What are you working on now?
“Deep in the Forest,” the fifth book of the series (sixth counting the prequel novelette), is in its second draft. I love this phase–the hard work of bringing all the story components together is done. Now I get to fine-tune and add colorful or humorous touches. This book is a little different. It is a standalone, but the series characters all return for a trip to Ireland and England. There are still storylines set in Laurel Falls, N.C., but I’ve taken them to the New Forest in England, where I spent some very happy times earlier in my life. It’s slated to launch in the autumn of 2021.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I have found making my prequel (“Waiting for You”) and first book in the series (“A Life for a Life”) free has triples my sales of the rest of the series. And my reviews have gone way up too. Amazon continues to be my best site for sales, but promo sites like Awesome Gang, Fussy Librarian, and Robin Reads do a wonderful job of supporting my sales.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Don’t listen to your nagging, negative voice. I hope you don’t even have one, but most writers do. I’ve been a professional writer for 40 years, and I wish I had believed in myself sooner. Once I finally quit berating my nonfiction writing, I went on to write a lot of articles for major magazines and 15 nonfiction books. But when I started writing fiction about a decade ago, all that negative self-talk came back. Well, I finally vanquished that voice, too. But it’s hard work and takes time. So if you’re new at writing, start NOW to get rid of those unkind and untrue comments and ideas. Don’t believe them! If you really work at it and edit, edit, edit, you can be a good, maybe even great, writer.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Anne Lamott’s famous chapter from “Bird by Bird”–that all writers write awful first drafts. What a powerful step toward getting rid of negative self-talk! I thought to myself, “You mean I’m not the only one who writes bad first drafts.” She gave me permission to get the words down however they came and then work to make them better and better through a series of edits.
What are you reading now?
I just finished “Long Bright River” by Liz Moore. The storytelling style is very interesting–though the topic of dysfunctional families and drug addiction are difficult. But I persevered and was glad I read it. Excellent character developments and arcs.
What’s next for you as a writer?
I’ll keep plugging away at my Appalachian Mountain Mysteries series. I love my characters, so it’s fun to spend time with them.
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?
Black Echo, Michael Connelly
Where the Crawdads Sing, Delia Owens
A Prayer for Owen Meany, John Irving
This Tender Land, William Kent Krueger
Author Websites and Profiles
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