Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’ve written three books – the first one was so bad it was not even suitable for self publishing. The second one “Deceptions of Chenille” a romantic suspense/white collar crime thriller, I published in early 2020, and the third one “Death is Personal” is a murder mystery novella/cozy mystery that I published in early 2021. I’m retired from a successful career as a Vice President for a large international bank. Fiction writing is the polar opposite of what I did for my vocation. Writing is a challenge that I enjoy.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Death is Personal was published in February 2021. The idea was spawned when I actually found a large, decorative knife on my morning walk! This novella is also inspired by my battle with stage 3 cancer. Death is Personal is listed in the top 800 of Kindle two hour reads.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Each writer is unique, so I have no idea if what I do is unusual. I’m retired from the everyday grind which can be both a blessing, and a curse. When you have too much time it’s easy to goof off and procrastinate. What works for me is setting personal deadlines, such as pledging to write 1,000 words a day, or setting a book up for pre-sale.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
I’m a fan of Sandra Brown, John Grisham, and Jodi Poccult. I want to write like them when I grow up. I just recently read Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert, and although I am not a big fan of her fiction work, Big Magic is a must read for budding authors. It focuses on self discipline, which is essential for success.
What are you working on now?
I’m working on books two and three of the Chenille Trilogy
Book One – Deceptions of Chenille – available now on Amazon
Book Two – Disappearance of Chenille – to be published in February 2022
Book Three – Delusions of Chenille – to be published in February 2023
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I have had the best luck with Bargain Booksey. For getting KDP reads my twitter posts seem to bring the most action. For building an email list I like Voracious Readers Only.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Self-publish! I read an interesting statistic a few years back. Of the millions of potential authors who start writing a fiction novel, only 25% ever finish. Of that, only 1% are published by a mainstream publisher. Of the remaining 24% only 5% actually take the step to self-publish. I’m an old lady, so if I can figure out the technology to self publish, anyone can!
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Years ago, early in my banking career, I was working on a complicated loan proposal for a real estate subdivision. One of the high-ranking Senior Vice Presidents (the boss of my boss, second in command to the bank president) told me I was tenacious. I’m embarrassed to say, I didn’t know what that word meant, and if it was a compliment or a criticism. I looked it up in the dictionary (pre-google times), and I’ve been tenacious ever since.
What are you reading now?
The Hypnotist’s Love story by Liane Moriarty. I have a new found interest in reading authors whose books get made into TV series. She wrote Pretty Little Lies. I’m analytical, so I want to know what makes a story attractive to a television producer? Why do they choose the plots that they do? Most movies and many shows are derived from books. I doubt I’ll figure it out.
What’s next for you as a writer?
I so want to get on the Kindle Vella band wagon. I may re-write my first book chapter by chapter and upload it as episodes. Also, I have a few ideas for non-fiction:
Realistic Retirement Planning
Personal Wealth Building
The Truth About Unaffordable Housing in California
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?
1) A book on survival skills
2) Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand because I’ve wanted to read that book for years, but the length overwhelms me
3) The Bible
4) The latest John Grisham legal thriller
Author Websites and Profiles
Sally Dallas Website
Sally Dallas Amazon Profile
Sally Dallas’s Social Media Links
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