To Resolve or Not to Resolve, that is the question

I recently went back and looked at my post at the beginning of 2011 that contained my New Year's Goals and Resolutions. Oh boy, was that sobering!

For my writing goals, I did pretty well. I did indeed heavily promoted my two releases, Deadly Currents and A Real Basket Case. And I edited Wicked Eddies (and turned it in) and Basketful of Troubles (third book in the Claire Hanover Gift basket Designer series), though I haven't done a final pre-turn-in edit for Basketful of Troubles that addresses my agent's comments on the manuscript. So that's an incomplete goal. Another incomplete goal was to write the rough draft for Cataract Canyon, the third book in the RM Outdoor Adventures series. Instead of finishing, I'm about 3/4th's done and hope to finish in January.

One out of three goals met? Not so good. But at least the other two goals are both at least 3/4ths done.

Now, on to the resolutions. My writing-related one was to spend more time on writing and editing and less on promoting and networking. I think I did accomplish that, though I still spent more time on promoting and networking than I would have liked. If I'd been able to cut back more on those, maybe I would have finished those two goals. Sigh!

My non-writing-related resolution was to shed a few pounds. I did do that, but of course, I'd like to shed a few more. I just can't seem to get under my post-baby weight after my son was born 21 years ago. I gained ten pounds with each pregnancy, and that extra twenty pounds has very stubbornly hung on. I guess I should be grateful that I've managed to periodically lose extra pounds that I gained on top of those. My hope now is that moving to Breckenridge, Colorado will encourage me to adopt more of an outdoorsy, active lifestyle that will show positive results in weight loss.

So, given the mixed results on this year's goals and resolutions, my quandary now is whether or not to even bother to set some for 2012. What do you think? Should I? Are you? What are your goals and/or resolutions for the next year?

Third Time's the Charm

Today I'm blogging over at Inkspot, the blog for Midnight Ink authors, about rewriting a crucial scene three times until I got it right and it was neither underripe or overripe. Find out what went wrong each time and why I felt I had to fix it before moving on.

If you're a writer, have you had to rewrite a scene multiple times before you felt its flavor was perfect? If you're a reader, have you read a scene that you felt should have been rewritten until it tasted better? Please share!

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and Happy New Year!

In the hustle and bustle of moving, Christmas traditions in the Groundwater household got kind of shoved aside. Now that we've unpacked most, not all, of the boxes in the house (the garage is a whoooole different story), I've had a chance to breathe in some of that holiday spirit.

The big tree and all of its ornaments are still in boxes, but I set up a miniature tree on the table with a few gifts around it. And I've got butter softening on the kitchen counter for a batch of Christmas sugar cookies. It just isn't Christmas Eve, in my mind, without a mess of dough, cookie cutters, and sugar sprinkles in the kitchen! And tonight we'll be attending a candlelight Christmas Eve service at the local Methodist Church. I feel like we're back on track, pausing for a moment to remember what the winter holiday is all about--peace, love, family, charity, and hope.

I hope that all of my blog readers who celebrate Christmas have a very merry one! For those who celebrate other winter holidays, may yours be special and cheerful, too. And for everyone, here's my wish for a very Happy New Year, in which all your dreams come true. See you next year!

PS. C. Goold, email me at my website, bethgroundwater.com. You've won something!

Mystery Conferences

Well, I've done it. I made the commitment. I've paid my registration fees for the Malice Domestic and Bouchercon mystery conferences in 2012. I'm looking forward to seeing fellow mystery lovers in Bethesda, Maryland, April 27-29 for the Malice Domestic conference and in Cleveland, Ohio, October 4-7 for the Bouchercon conference.

I'm also planning to include some appearances at whitewater festivals and various Colorado bookstores in my 2012 event schedule, and I hope to be invited back to the Festival of Mystery in Oakmont, PA. That's about as far as my writing travel dollars will stretch, but if my husband and I do some personal traveling (Oregon to see our daughter?), I may be able to add on a bookstore appearance or two to that. Stay tuned to the Appearances page of my website, which I'll update as plans firm up.

In the meantime, I'd like to wish all of my blog readers a Happy Holidays! I hope you enjoy celebrating whatever winter holiday you embrace, and if you're traveling, may your travels be safe and uneventful.

Today's Colorado Mystery Author Guest: Mike Befeler

As promised yesterday, fellow Colorado mystery author Mike Befeler is visiting my blog today. To read his bio and see his photo, please page down to yesterday's post.

Above is the cover photo for his most recent book, Senior Moments Are Murder, which was published in August. In the book, cantankerous octogenarian Paul Jacobson must solve a series of murders while struggling with the problems of his short-term memory loss. Paul learns about the homeless community, graffiti artists, disreputable art dealers and the beach scene in Venice Beach, California, and must dance a geezer two-step to stay out of the clutches of the police and the bad guys.

Below are Mike's answers to my interview questions. Please leave a comment for Mike, and if you have a question of your own for him, ask it!

1. Who or what inspired you to start writing and when did you start?

I came to fiction writing late in life, at the age of 56. I thought over things I had really enjoyed doing over my lifetime and made the decision that I wanted to retire into fiction writing.

2. What tools and process do you use to “get to know” your characters before and while you’re writing the books?

I have kept logs of characteristics but for me a lot of it evolves as I write a character. I enjoy writing humor so a character’s sense of humor starts popping out as I write. The main character in my published mystery series, Paul Jacobson, is a punster, so ideas for puns appear as he speaks with other characters.

3. How do you construct your plots? Do you outline or do you write “by the seat of your pants”?

I start with a basic outline and see where things go from there. I’m always surprised at how a plot evolves as I get into the story. I often don’t know who the murderer is until I get over half way through the rough draft.

4. In the age-old question of character versus plot, which one do you think is most important in a murder mystery and which one do you emphasize in your writing? Why?

Readers today enjoy the puzzle aspect of a mystery but overwhelmingly state that want to read about interesting characters. I think it’s important to have a solid plot, but characters are what drive the story.

5. What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced as a writer and what inspires you and keeps you motivated?

Writing is full of rejection. I sold my first short story on my 112th submission. Perseverance is a must, and I keep going because I enjoy telling a story and writing about quirky characters.

6. What is a typical workday for you and how many hours a day (or week) do you devote to writing?

I’m a morning person and write every morning, every day of the week that I’m not doing an event or traveling. I typically write from seven to eleven, take a break for exercising in the middle of the day, and then do email, social networking and administrative tasks in the afternoon.

7. What advice do you have to offer to an aspiring author?

Two things: get started and keep going.

8. Now here’s a zinger. Tell us something about yourself that you have not revealed in another interview yet. Something as simple as your favorite TV show or food will do.

I’m a cookie-aholic. I get by fine if there are no cookies around, but if there is a plate of cookies in front of me, I’ll eat them until they’re gone (particularly chocolate chip).

9. What are you working on now and what are your future writing plans?

The fourth book in my Paul Jacobson Geezer-lit Mystery series is under contract with my publisher and will be released in December, 2012. It takes place on an Alaskan cruise ship and is titled, Cruising in Your Eighties Is Murder. I’m currently completing a spy novel titled, Spies Like Them, that I call a Skip Generational Story of International Intrigue because the main characters are two retired spies and their two teenage grandchildren.

10. Is there anything else you would like to tell my blog readers?

My Paul Jacobson Geezer-lit Mystery series includes three published books: Retirement Homes Are Murder, Living With Your Kids Is Murder and Senior Moments Are Murder. I encourage your blog readers to visit my website and my blog, and I welcome the opportunity to do conference call meetings with book clubs (contact me at mikebef@aol.com).


Thanks, Mike! Now, who has a comment or question for him?

Tomorrow's Guest: Mike Befeler

Tomorrow, fellow Colorado mystery author Mike Befeler will be a guest on my blog. In the May, 2008, issue of the AARP Bulletin, Mike was identified as one of four authors in a new emerging mystery sub-genre. Harlan Coben, president of Mystery Writers of America (MWA) stated, “We’ve just scratched the surface on geezer-lit. It could be the next frontier in crime fiction.”

Mike Befeler turned his attention to speaking and fiction writing after a career in high technology marketing. His debut novel, Retirement Homes Are Murder, was published in 2007. The second novel in his Paul Jacobson Geezer-lit Mystery Series, Living With Your Kids Is Murder, was a finalist for the Lefty Award for the best humorous mystery of 2009. The third book in the series, Senior Moments Are Murder, was released August, 2011. Mike is active in organizations promoting a positive image of aging and is Vice President of the Rocky Mountain Chapter of MWA. He is an acclaimed speaker and presents “The Secret of Growing Older Gracefully—Aging and Other Minor Inconveniences,” and “How to Survive Retirement” to service organizations and senior groups. He grew up in Honolulu, Hawaii, and now lives in Boulder, Colorado, with his wife, Wendy.

In his guest post tomorrow, Mike answers my interview questions, and I'm sure you'll be intrigued by what he has to say. Then, feel free to ask him some questions of your own in the comments.

Moving, Moving, Moving!

Today is packing day for my husband's and my big move to our retirement home in Breckenridge, Colorado. The truck will be loaded tomorrow and by Wednesday we expect to be happily ensconced in our new permanent home--among the mounds of boxes!

I do have a guest author this week on my blog, so I hope readers will tune in. The teaser will be tomorrow, and his guest post will appear on Wednesday. I even hope to check in on Wednesday myself! The computer will be one of the first things unpacked and set up.

It's been a hectic few weeks getting ready for this move, which included a lot of downsizing: selling furniture on Craig's List, toting vanloads of stuff to Goodwill, recycling, or the dump, pushing a lot of items into our kids' hands, donating books to the library, and more. I'm looking forward to being settled in a smaller home that will hopefully be easier to clean and maintain.

The last time we moved was in 1992, when we made the long relocation from Northern Virginia to Colorado Springs, Colorado. Does anyone have any moving tips for me? Any hints for maintaining my sanity? I'm sure I could use them!

Speaking at Libraries

I am blogging at Inkspot today, with an article about "Speaking at Libraries." I hope you'll head over there to read it and let me know what you think!

Today's Colorado Mystery Author Guest: Colleen Collins

As promised yesterday, fellow Colorado mystery author Colleen Collins is visiting my blog today. To read her bio and see her photo, please page down to yesterday's post.

Above is the cover photo for her most recent book, The Zen Man, which is being released this month. Just as washed-up criminal defense attorney, life-long Deadhead (nicknamed “The Zen Man”), and current PI Rick Levine decides to get relicensed as a lawyer, he’s charged with killing one, who also happens to be his ex-wife, and ends up in the slammer with a half-million bail. Out on bond with 30 days to find the real killer, Rick and and his girlfriend Laura dig for dirt from Denver’s shady legal backrooms to the city’s tony corporate centers. Dodging bullets, trumped-up charges and the FBI’s unwanted intervention, they continue tracking key suspects who have motive…until they face a final, deadly encounter with the surprise killer.

Below is Colleen's guest article. If you leave a comment or question for Colleen, you'll be entered into a contest for a free copy of her Kindle book, How Do Private Eyes Do That? Good luck to everyone!

When Writing a Whodunit, Think of Dear ol’ MOM
(Motive, Opportunity and Means)
By Colleen Collins

Recently a writer friend of mine who’s written dozens of romance novels landed a book contract where the publisher asked for a “complex crime” at the core of the story. My friend contacted me, worried. “I’ve never written a crime!” she said, “can you give me any advice?” “Sure, think MOM,” I answered, “which stands for motive, opportunity and means.”

Besides being a writer, I’m also a private investigator who’s married to her private investigator partner who’s also a criminal defense attorney. I tell you this because our lives are full of MOM, from crafting stories to trying criminal cases.

In U.S. criminal law, MOM encapsulates three sides of a crime necessary to convince a jury of guilt in a criminal proceeding. Did the defendant have a motive to commit the crime? Did the defendant have an opportunity, or chance, to accomplish the deed? Did the defendant also have the ability (means)?

Let’s look at some ways a fictional sleuth might use MOM in a story:

Conduct witness interviews. There’s the direct questions a sleuth might ask, and which we often hear in movies, such as “Where were you at nine o’clock on the night of April 12, Miss Smith?” (opportunity). But also think about your sleuth asking questions that delve into a suspect’s character (motive), history of violence or peacefulness (means/motive or lack of means/motive), or knowledge about using a certain type of weapon (means). A sleuth might also interview other people who’ve seen that suspect use the same type of weapon or conduct certain violent acts.

Examine the murder weapon. Let’s say your sleuth wants to prove the killer was someone other than the person charged with the crime. Your sleuth might looks for clues that show lack of means on the murder weapon (such as bloody hand imprints that are larger than the defendant’s or a strand of hair stuck in blood that's a different color than the defendant’s).

Recreate the homicide event. Your sleuth might reconstruct the event at the scene of the crime to prove a person had access to a weapon (means) as well as opportunity. For example, the reconstruction might show how easily a suspect could have reached for the murder weapon. Or, conversely, that the suspect wasn’t tall enough to reach the weapon, strong enough to lift it, or maybe even literate enough to have read the instructions on how to use the weapon. As a lawyer, Abraham Lincoln once reconstructed a crime scene to prove that a witness couldn’t possibly have seen what she claimed to have seen because there wasn’t ample lighting to clearly see at the time the incident occurred.

Find an alternate suspect. Your sleuth might research other people who had motive, opportunity and means to commit a crime. For example, the sleuth might analyze someone’s character for motive (such as his/her history of outbursts toward the victim), look for clues tying another person to the murder weapon (for example, his/her knowledge of how to use that weapon), or establish someone had opportunity (by analyzing a person’s timeline).

A last point to keep in mind: a court cannot convict based solely on motive, opportunity and means. A lawyer must provide convincing proof of all three. Obtaining this proof is, of course, what your sleuth (a detective, private investigator, amateur sleuth) has been doggedly investigating, with the help of MOM, throughout the course of your story.

Thank you to Beth Groundwater for hosting me today at her blog. I’d like to give away a Kindle copy of How Do Private Eyes Do That? to one of today’s commenters. You don’t need a Kindle to download the book (Amazon provides a free, easy-to-download app for downloading the ebook onto your PC, Mac and other devices).


And thank you, Colleen, for that excellent article! I'm expecting to see lots of comments here, since Colleen is giving away such a great prize.

Tomorrow's Guest: Colleen Collins

Tomorrow, fellow Colorado mystery author Colleen Collins will be a guest on my blog.

Colleen Collins is a multi-published author and private investigator who’s written 20 novels and anthologies for Harlequin (including a romantic paranormal thriller for Dorchester, writing as Cassandra Collins). Her books have placed first in the Colorado Gold, Romancing the Rockies, and Top of the Peak contests, and placed in the finals for the Holt Medallion, Coeur de Bois Readers Choice, Award of Excellence, More than Magic, and Romance Writers of America RITA contests. Her next novel, The Zen Man (“21st-century Nick and Nora”), available December 2011, relies on techniques discussed in tomorrow's article.

In her guest post tomorrow, Colleen writes about "When Writing a Whodunit, Think of Dear ol’ MOM", and I'm sure you'll be intrigued by what she has to say. After you read her article, feel free to ask her some questions in the comments. Every comment is an entry in a contest to win a Kindle copy of How Do Private Eyes Do That? Good luck to everyone!

What NOT to Give a Fiction Author for the Holidays

As holiday giving season approaches, those of you who are close friends or relatives of fiction authors may be wondering what kind of gift to give those authors. I'm here to tell you what NOT to give a fiction author for the holidays. :-)

1. Don't give a fiction author a sweatshirt that says "Careful, or you'll end up in my novel." If your writer friend has been writing fiction for over a year (even unpublished), it's guaranteed that s/he already has one. Every fiction author I know has at least one of these, given to them by a well-intentioned friend or relative. Yes, many of us wear them proudly, but we don't need more than one.

2. Similarly, don't give a fiction author a blank journal, even one with a lovely leather cover. We all have multiple blank journals, again given by well-intentioned friends and relatives, but most of us don't write in them. We write on computers, because our manuscripts need to be delivered in files, not on paper.

3. Don't give a fiction author a fancy, expensive pen to use at signings. It will just disappear, in some reader's hand, accidentally or not. Authors are very distracted at a signing, having conversations with readers while trying to remember names so they can be written in books. The last thing a hassled author needs to do is try to keep track of an expensive pen. Instead, give the author a box of inexpensive Sharpie permanent markers. I find the extra fine point to be the easiest to sign with.

By now you may be wondering what the ideal gift for a fiction author is. I'll tell you. It's very easy. Buy five or ten copies of his or her latest book for the other gift recipients on your list and ask the author to sign them!

Today's Mystery Author Guest: Jennifer Harlow

As promised yesterday, fellow Midnight Ink mystery author Jennifer Harlow is visiting my blog today. To read her bio and see her photo, please page down to yesterday's post.

Above is the cover photo for the first book in her F.R.E.A.K.S. Squad Investigation mystery series, titled Mind Over Monsters. The sleuth, Beatrice Alexander, is no ordinary schoolteacher—she can move objects with her mind, an embarassing skill she has yet to master or embrace. After nearly killing her brother in an accident, she joins the F.R.E.A.K.S. Squad, the Federal Response to Extra-Sensory and Kindred Supernaturals. This top secret branch of the FBI combats ghosts, ghouls, and other monsters threatening humanity. With her teammates—among them a handsome fomer-detective werewolf and an annoying vampire hell bent on seducting her—Beatrice investigates her first case. Disgustingly dismembered bodies have turned up, bearing the bite marks of the undead. Someone—or something—is raising a horde of hideous, bloodthirsty zombies. Armed with Bette, her trusty machete, Beatrice takes on the master of the flesh-devouring corpses who’s guarding a horrifying secret…


Shudder! Doesn't this sound like a fascinating read? And there's a lot of humor in it, so it's fun, too. Below is Jennifer's interview with Beatrice. Please leave a comment for either one of them, and if you have a question of your own for either, ask it!

An Interview with Special Agent Beatrice Alexander
By Jennifer Harlow

Through some of my Pentagon contacts (thanks Daddy and Uncle George W.) I was given exclusive access to the clandestine branch of the FBI known as the F.R.E.A.K.S. or Federal Response to Extra-Sensory and Kindred Supernaturals. Their newest agent, former schoolteacher and telekinetic Beatrice Alexander, agreed to meet with me under the cover of night at a coffee shop somewhere in the Midwest. (It rhymes with “Ansas”)

So, thanks for agreeing to do this.

BA: It’s okay. Gave me an excuse to get away from a pest. As long as I’m home in time for The World of Henry Orient. I love Peter Sellers.

I understand you just got back from your first case in Colorado. Killing zombies must be a far cry from finger-painting with fourth graders.

BA: Totally. Though about the same amount of biting involved.

What made you decide to make such a drastic career change?

BA: I, uh, almost killed my brother one night. He was saying awful things about me and I snapped. Almost blew out a vessel in his brain. I never had much control over my curs—sorry, gift, they insist we say that, and the F.R.E.A.K.S. offered me a chance to learn about it. Get that control.

Have you always been telekinetic?

BA: Ever since I was a kid. My mom’s boyfriend was about to hit her, so I sent a plate across the room flying right into his head. There were…other incidents too, but I don’t want to talk about them if you don’t mind. (pause) I don’t really like talking about what I can do full stop. Sorry. For years only three people ever knew, my brother, Nana, and friend April. She only found out because my first and only sleepover her stuffed animals were dancing in the air. She thought it was cool.

Most people would love to have your gift.

BA: Then they’re morons. Would they love to wake up and find their bed levitating? Getting angry and almost killing someone without lifting a finger? Knowing that if you tell someone what you can do they’ll run for the hills? Being called a freak, an aberration? (scoff) No, it is nothing to love.

Did you know that there were others out there like you before you joined? Others with gifts?

BA: No. God, no. If you came to me three months ago and told me Dracula and the Wolfman were alive and sharing a house, I’d have called you nuts. Like everyone else I thought they were all made up. Now I have a werewolf living across the hall and a vampire in the basement, among others.

Who else is in the Squad?

BA: There’s Carl, he touches things and knows all about their history. Uh, Andrew is a medium, Irie a pyrokinetic, and Nancy can teleport. She’s not big on privacy and locked doors. (a private smile; turning red) Then there’s Will. He’s the werewolf. Oh, and Oliver.

Was it hard joining such a tight knit group?

BA: Well, I moved around a lot as a kid, so I’m used to being the new girl, but still. Yeah. We had some growing pains, to say the least, but…we stopped the necromancer and all the zombies. Together. I think they’re warming to me. At least I hope they are. Time will tell. (face falling) Oh, crud. Not again.

When I turned to see what had gotten her so annoyed, my jaw dropped. Sauntering into the shop was the most gorgeous man I’d ever seen. The picture I viewed did not do him justice. I recognized him from my dossier as Oliver Montrose, another F.R.E.A.K. A vampire one. He slid into the booth right next to Beatrice but flashed me a smile that scrambled my brain. Thank God I had the tape recorder still running.

OM: Well, well, well, what do we have here? Who is your new, delectable friend here, Trixie?

BA: (shooting daggers with her eyes) None of your business. What are you doing here? Are you following me? Again? Because this is getting close to stalkerish. I’m beginning to feel like I’m in a Lifetime movie. (to me) He does this. All the time! I turn around, and there he is with that stupid grin on his face!

OM: My grin is not stupid. (to me; grinning to show fangs) Do you find my grin stupid, my dear?

BA: Oh, leave her alone! Now you’re just being childish. We’re trying to do an interview here. Go away.

OM: (cocking an eyebrow) An interview, you say? Fantastic. I do not mind answering a few questions about fair Trixie here. Perhaps your readers would be interested to know some nights she sleeps in nothing but a towel.

BA: (mouth dropping open) I do not…we have not…will you shut up? Get out of here or I’ll…

OM: What, tell Will? (to me) Our team leader has such a soft spot for Trixie here. If she asked him, he would stake me without a second thought. He almost did in Colorado. But my darling Trixie would not let him. (growing serious) She saved my life, you know. She saved us all.

BA: He’s exaggerating.

OM: No…I am not. She was magnificent. Truly.

Their eyes met, almost cooling her anger, replacing it with nervousness. She looked away.

BA: Just go away, okay. Please?

He stared at her face for a moment, almost sad to see she was serious. He rose.

OM: As you wish, my dear. See you at home.

He walked out of the café, and she shook her head.

BA: I am so sorry about that. Sometimes he’s really great and sometimes he’s…that.

It’s alright. So, how did you save his life?

BA: He’s exaggerating. He, um, the necromancer did something to him and he attacked me. Will wanted to stake him, but I wouldn’t let him. It wasn’t his fault. And as you can see he’s fine now. Relatively speaking.

Did this cause a problem with you and your team leader?

BA: Um, no, We’re fine now. Great. He’s actually, um, teaching me some more martial arts. (turning red again) Among other things. He used to be a police officer in D.C. so he knows a lot. He’s just…wonderful.

So far what do you like best about the job? Besides your team leader.

BA: Well, I really liked the whole investigation part of it. Interviewing people, finding clues, getting to the truth. I love mystery novels and now it’s like my life has become one. (sweet smile) Though I felt more like bumbling Stephanie Plum than Sherlock Holmes.

So all in all are you happy with your choice to join the F.R.E.A.K.S.? No regrets?

BA: (laughing) Of course I have regrets. What happened in Colorado was horrible. People died. I had to chop up two zombie hordes with a machete. I have literal scars from the whole ordeal. And it was my first case. But...a large part of me loved it. I’ve faced monsters and won. I can be myself here, warts and all. I need that. I never realized how much until I got here. I’m not alone anymore. That…makes it worth it.

Her cell phone rang. As she listened to the other end, she grew grave before standing up.

BA: I’m so sorry. There’s a golem on the loose in New Jersey, I have to go. Nice meeting you.

She ran out the door off to face another monster. I for one feel safer knowing she’s out there.


Thanks, Jennifer! Please visit Jennifer Harlow's website to read her blog “Tales From the Darkside” and to get the soundtrack to the book. You can also friend her on Facebook and follow her on Twitter at jenharlowbooks. Now, who has a comment or question for Jennifer or Beatrice?

Tomorrow's Guest: Jennifer Harlow

Tomorrow, fellow Midnight Ink mystery author Jennifer Harlow will be a guest on my blog.
Jennifer spent her restless childhood fighting with her three brothers and scaring the heck out of herself with horror movies and books. She grew up to earn a degree at the University of Virginia which she put to use as a radio DJ, crisis hotline volunteer, bookseller, lab assistant, wedding coordinator, and government investigator. Currently she calls Northern Virginia home but that restless itch is ever present. In her free time she continues to scare the beejepers out of herself watching scary movies and opening her credit card bills.

In her guest post tomorrow, Jennifer Harlow interviews her protagonist, FBI Special Agent Beatrice Alexander, and I'm sure you'll be intrigued by what Beatrice has to say. Then, feel free to ask her some questions of your own in the comments.

What I'm Grateful for this Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is a time for stepping back from the hubbub of everyday life to celebrate with family and/or friends all that we have to be grateful for. I'm grateful for my family, my health, financial security, and being lucky enough to live in the United States of America. I'm also grateful for my ability to write mystery novels and for the readers who read those novels and let me know how much they enjoyed them.

What are you grateful for?

I wish all of my blog readers a Happy Thanksgiving and many blessings for which you can be grateful!

Photos from a Book Tour - Part Two

Today I'll be sharing some more photos from my eight-day book tour with fellow mystery author Ann Parker. After leaving the Mount Princeton Hot Springs Resort Monday morning, we made our way to my home in Breckenridge, where we signed stock at Weber's Books & Drawings.

Tuesday, we drove to Ann's brother's home in Boulder, where we would stay the next three nights. That's when snafu number two happened. I left two hangers in my house that had my booksigning outfits on them, and all I had with me were a couple of nice tops and jeans and exercise pants. Ann's sister-in-law pointed me to a nearby thrift shop, where I found a cheap pair of black pants and a blouse to put together a couple of signing outfits. Then I arranged a rendezvous Thursday with my son, who would be returning to Denver from a couple of days of skiing in Breckenridge, to pick up the rest of my tour clothes from him.

Tuesday evening, we signed at Old Firehouse Books in Fort Collins. Fellow mystery authors Patricia Stoltey, Charlotte Hinger, and Cricket McRae were some of the folks who came out to support us, and they appear with Ann and me in the two photos below.



On Wednesday, we stopped at Who Else! Books in the Broadway Book Mall to sign stock and had a late lunch with Lauri Ver Schure, owner of Murder By the Book, and signed more stock for her. That evening we gave a presentation at the Highlands Ranch library and signed books provided by the Tattered Cover bookstore. Below is a photo of us with librarian Lisa Casper, who organized the event.

Thursday, I picked up my clothes from my son, and that evening we joined mystery author Michelle Black for a panel discussion and signing at the Oriental & Navajo Rug Gallery in Longmont, Colorado, organized by Cynthia Nye of High Crimes Mystery Bookshop. Below is a photo of Ann and me with Cynthia in front of one of the beautiful rugs.

Friday morning we drove to Leadville, Colorado for our last day of events. We presented a workshop at the Lake County Library in the afternoon and signed books at the Book Mine bookstore in the early evening. Below is a photo of us with two members of the Friends of the Library group who organized that event and provided goodies. We finished up the evening at my Breckenridge home again, and Ann caught a shuttle to the airport Saturday morning. It was a busy, whirlwind tour, but we enjoyed it all. Ann was a perfect tour buddy, and I'd do it all again with her!

Photos from a Book Tour - Part One

Last Saturday I concluded an eight-day book tour with fellow mystery author Ann Parker, whose historical mining era mysteries are set in Leadville and Manitou Springs, Colorado. Ann was promoting the fourth book in the series, Mercury's Rise, which was released in November, and I was promoting the November re-release of A Real Basket Case, though I think I signed just as many copies of Deadly Currents.

After flying in to Denver, Ann met me at the Denver Press Club Thursday evening, where we both attended a meeting of the Rocky Mountain Chapter of Mystery Writers of America. She rode back with me in the Colorado Springs carpool, and we used my Colorado Springs home as a base of operations for the next three nights. Our first event Friday evening was a wine, cheese, and chocolate signing at Black Cat Books in Manitou Springs, the setting for Mercury's Rise. The photo below was taken by Doris McCraw at the event.

Saturday we breakfasted with researchers who helped Ann with her book, then we attended an authors tea at the Pikes Peak Library for Mara Purl and Margaret Coel. Our own next event was a shift at the Pikes Peak Writers Fundraiser Booksigning at the Barnes & Noble Booksellers location in north Colorado Springs late Saturday afternoon. The first photo below shows us with Mark Stevens, who signed before us, and the second photo, taken by Doris McCraw again, shows Ann and I toward the end of our two hour shift, still laughing and having a great time. After our signing, we went to a launch party for my friend Donnell Bell's debut novel. A full day!



Sunday marked the first of two snafus that could have been disastrous. Ann and I loaded up my Prius with our luggage and books, and when I turned the ignition key, nothing happened. I looked up and saw one dome light burning dimly, so we had somehow left it on overnight and drained the car battery. AAA couldn't get there for at least 45 minutes, which would have put us in Salida, Colorado, our next stop, too late. So, we moved all of the stuff to my husband's SUV and used that vehicle instead for the rest of the trip. That made our gas cost higher, but we had the luxury of heated seats, too.

Unfortunately, we didn't get any photos of our "Constructing a Mystery" workshop at The Book Haven in Salida, probably because we were too busy having a good time and signing books. That night we gave ourselves the treat of a stay at the Mount Princeton Hot Springs Resort. We soaked in one of the hot springs pools until clouds moved in and snow started to fall. Then we had to come up with a quick exit strategy that got us out of the pool, dried off, into our snow boots and coats, across the bridge, down the stairs and around the corner into the bath house as fast as possible before we caught a chill. Being a "pantser," Ann said she did more planning for that run than she does when she starts a novel!

Tomorrow, I'll post more photos from the trip.

Today's Colorado Mystery Author Guest: Mark W. Danielson

As promised yesterday, fellow Colorado mystery author Mark W. Danielson is visiting my blog today. To read his bio and see his photo, please page down to yesterday's post.

Above is the cover photo for his most recent book, Writer's Block, A Maxx Watts Mystery, which is being released this month. Maxx Watts is no stranger to murder. As a Fort Worth homicide
detective, he has smelled death often. But this murder was twisted. A dead publisher lying face-down on a bloodied manuscript, the marble paperweight beside him labeled Writer’s Block. All evidence points to The Guillotine Press authors, but determining which one is only the beginning for Watts.

A writerly mystery! Below are Mark's answers to my interview questions. Please leave a comment for Mark, and if you have a question of your own for him, ask it!

1. Who or what inspired you to start writing and when did you start?

Like many novelists, my writing career began with writing non-fiction freelance articles in 1977. Most of my early work involved subjects on flying because it was a way to share valuable information. Since then, over one hundred of my articles have been published in various periodicals and I still contribute an occasional article.

2. What tools and process do you use to “get to know” your characters before and while you’re writing the books?

No doubt many of my characters evolve from my own investigative experience and/or encounters with others. Many of my friends and relatives have worked for police departments so it is easy to draw from them. My former position as an aircraft mishap investigator has certainly aided in creating believable situations and characters in my mysteries. Before beginning a new story, I have a good idea about what the main characters are like, but everyone in between is usually a surprise. I never know until the end who lives, who dies, who gets lucky, and whose luck runs out.

3. How do you construct your plots? Do you outline or do you write “by the seat of your pants”?

For fiction, I’m a “seat of the pants” guy. For non-fiction, everything must first be outlined. It’s a lot more fun giving my characters liberty to walk me through their stories. Since everything is told through their eyes, I often feel as if I’m watching from afar.

4. In the age-old question of character versus plot, which one do you think is most important in a murder mystery and which one do you emphasize in your writing? Why?

We’ve all seen movies with Oscar-winning casts that could not save the ghastly plot. Conversely, an unknown cast can be magnificent if the plot is masterful. Whether cinema or a novel, the plot must be sound or it will fail. In both mediums, the audience must connect with the characters. Even the antagonist must have a reason for being the way he or she is. Evil for evil’s sake never works. But to answer the question, I’m not sure you can separate the importance of plot versus character.

5. What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced as a writer and what inspires you and keeps you motivated?

Everything in life involves risk. We think nothing about car-jousting with opponents closing at two miles a minute because we’re certain we will pass shoulder to shoulder with inches to spare, but as we walk dark alleys and parking lots, our level of fear skyrockets because of the unknown. Mystery authors risk everything by opening their souls to strangers and choosing topics that publishers may not want. At the same time, mystery writers capitalize on their readers’ deepest fears. Go overboard and you either cross into horror or lose your audience. Although I take my writing very seriously, I am not overly concerned about the topics I write about. My main concern is to have fun and craft an entertaining story. There are endless tales yet to write, but I doubt I’ll live long enough to complete them all.

6. What is a typical workday for you and how many hours a day (or week) do you devote to writing?

As an airline pilot, my workdays are quite atypical. When I’m home, I spend much of my time on outings with my wife or getting things done around the house. When I’m on the road, I devote as much time as possible to writing. If my layover is long enough, I may write continuously for ten to fourteen hours whereas at home it may only be an hour or two. Given enough uninterrupted time, I can complete a first draft in thirty days, but most often it takes roughly three months.

7. What advice do you have to offer to an aspiring author?

I’m no different from anyone else when I say, “Read and write.” Reading other authors, particularly those in your genre, offers perspectives on what topics and styles are publishable. Writing is mostly a matter of persistence and dedication. Given the right mentoring, anyone can learn to write well. The most important thing is to have fun and never give up.

8. Now here’s a zinger. Tell us something about yourself that you have not revealed in another interview yet. Something as simple as your favorite TV show or food will do.

For me, writing has been an extension of painting. I’ve been painting my entire life, but it’s much easier to carry a laptop on a trip than an easel, brushes, and paint. For some reason, the TSA prefers it that way, too.

9. What are you working on now and what are your future writing plans?

Writer’s Block, a Maxx Watts murder mystery, was just released, and I am currently working on two sequels. The first one concerns a haunting in Fort Worth’s Scott Theater. Did this young man hang himself as legend says, or was he murdered? Maxx and his team are determined to find out. It’s been fun researching the paranormal for this story. The next story is a moving hostage situation where everyone, good and bad, has lost track of them. Both stories are a lot of fun.

10. Is there anything else you would like to tell my blog readers?

On November 19th, I’m making my tenth consecutive appearance at the Men of Mystery event in Irvine, California. Some of the biggest novelists in mystery have attended this event, and I am honored to be included. I am also among a group of talented authors who write for the Murderous Musings blog. My personal website shares my travels, pertinent articles, chapter previews for my books, and also some miscellaneous stuff just for fun. Please drop in!

Thanks, Mark! Now, who has a comment or question for him?

Tomorrow's Guest: Mark W. Danielson

Tomorrow, fellow Colorado mystery author Mark W. Danielson will be a guest on my blog. Mark and I both belong to the Rocky Mountain Chapter of Mystery Writers of America (RMMWA) and have come to know each other from hanging out together at the meetings.

When Mark has to miss a meeting, it's usually because he's off flying somewhere. He is an international airline pilot, retired fighter pilot, and reality-based mystery novelist. Many of the topics he has written about have since come to fruition, which gives credence to his stories. A long-time Texas resident, Mark finds Fort Worth an intriguing setting for his Maxx Watts series.

In his guest post tomorrow, Mark answers my interview questions, and I'm sure you'll be intrigued by what he has to say. Then, feel free to ask him some questions of your own in the comments.

An Amazing Gift from a Fellow Writer

Andrea Gonzales is a fellow Colorado crime fiction writer and member of Sisters in Crime and the Rocky Mountain Chapter of Mystery Writers of America (RMMWA). Recently I guested on her blog, answering a number of interview questions. As a thank-you for my appearance, and some other assistance I gave her, Andrea made a miniature tableau (see below) featuring my books and the whitewater rafting theme of my RM Outdoor Adventures mystery series, complete with lifejacket (PFD), raft, and paddles. It absolutely blew me away!


Andrea is an illustrator as well as a writer, and this tableau shows her artistic talent. I've already shown it off to my critique group and at the RMMWA meeting. I'm also placing it on my signing table during all of my Colorado-based events this week for people to admire (see the Appearances page of my website). I hope you'll visit Andrea's website to learn more about this talented lady. :)

Road Trip!

Today marks the first day of an eight-day book tour that I'm conducting in the state of Colorado with Ann Parker, author of the Silver Rush historical mystery series set in 1880s Colorado that features saloon owner Inez Stannert. She'll be promoting her November release, the fourth in the series, Mercury's Rise, and I'm be promoting the re-release in trade paperback and ebook of the first book in my Claire Hanover gift basket designer mystery series, A Real Basket Case.

If you live in Colorado, I hope you'll be able to make it one of our events:

Friday, November 11, 6 – 8 PM
Wine, Cheese and Chocolate Signing
Black Cat Books
720 Manitou Avenue, Manitou Springs, CO 80829

Saturday, November 12, 4 – 6 PM
Pikes Peak Writers Fundraiser Signing
Barnes & Noble Booksellers
1565 Briargate Boulevard, Colorado Springs, CO 80920

Sunday, November 13, 2 – 4:30 PM
“Constructing a Mystery” workshop followed by signing
The Book Haven
128 F Street, Salida, Colorado 81201

Tuesday, November 15, 6:30 – 8 PM
Joint Signing
Old Firehouse Books
232 Walnut Street, Fort Collins, CO 80524

Wednesday, November 16, 7 – 9 PM
Presentation and Signing
Highlands Ranch Public Library
9292 Ridgeline Blvd., Highlands Ranch, CO 80129

Thursday, November 17, 7 – 9 PM
Panel Signing with Michelle Black for High Crimes Mystery Bookshop
at The Oriental & Navajo Rug Gallery
927 Main Street, Longmont, CO 80501

Friday, November 18, 2 – 3:30 PM
“Constructing a Mystery” Workshop
Lake County Library
1115 Harrison Avenue, Leadville, CO 80461

Friday, November 18, 5 – 7 PM
Joint Signing
The Book Mine
522 Harrison Avenue, Leadville, CO 80461

Now, here's a special request for all of my blog readers, regardless of where you live. Please pray/hope that it doesn't snow on us during our travels and that the roads remain dry and safe. Thanks!

A Day in the Life of Claire Hanover

Today I am a guest on the blog, dru's book musings. My guest article is about "A Day in the Life of Claire Hanover by Beth Groundwater." Please stop by and read what a typical day is like for my gift basket designer amateur sleuth, then feel free to ask me a question or let me know what you think of the article in the comments. I'll be responding to comments all day. Also, I'll randomly draw the name of one commenter to win an autographed copy of A Real Basket Case, so be sure to comment to enter the contest!

A Guest on Pat Bertram Introduces

Today I am a guest on the blog, Pat Bertram Introduces.... She interviewed me, and I had fun responding to her interesting questions. Please stop by and read the interview, then feel free to ask me a question of your own in the comments. I'll be responding to comments all day.

Ta Da! Release Date!

Today is the official release date for the trade paperback and ebook re-release of A Real Basket Case, the first book in my Claire Hanover gift basket designer mystery series, though some retailers have been selling copies already. I hope you'll join me in celebrating the release with a libation of your choosing and by hollering hurrah! :)

Even better, you could buy a copy of your own or to give to someone on your holiday gift list.

A Real Basket Case was a finalist for the 2007 Best First Novel Agatha Award. Here's what some reviewers and fellow mystery authors had to say about it:

“This will appeal to Desperate Housewives fans and those who like cozies with a bit of spice.”
-- Barbara Bibel, Booklist Review, February 1, 2007

“Drugs and jealousy add up to a Rocky Mountain murder. A tense, exciting debut.”
-- Kirkus Review, January 1, 2007

“A crackling good novel with the kind of twists and turns that make roller coaster rides so scary and so much fun!”
-- Margaret Coel, author of Wind River reservation series

“A gutsy sleuth, a fast-paced plot, and intriguing characters that keep you guessing. A Real Basket Case is a real winner! Don't miss it.”
-- Maggie Sefton, bestselling author of the Knitting Mystery series

You can find out more about the book, read excerpts and more reviews, and find "buy-me" links, at my website.

Killer Crafts and Crafty Killers Blog

Today I am a guest at the Killer Crafts and Crafty Killers blog, with an article titled, ""Recipe for a Mystery Lover's Gift Basket." This is part of my on-line promotion for the trade paperback and ebook re-release of A Real Basket Case, the first book in my Claire Hanover gift basket designer mystery series, which was a finalist for the Best First Novel Agatha Award in 2007. I hope you'll visit the blog, read the article for gift basket ideas, and leave me a comment there. I'll respond to comments throughout the day.

The Writer's Chatroom and MORE!

Today from 5 - 7 PM MST, 7 - 9 EST, I will be hanging out at The Writer's Chatroom, answering questions from participants and discussing whatever topics of interest come up. Please come join me there! One lucky participant will win an autographed copy of A Real Basket Case!

Also, fellow Colorado author and publisher, Terry Wright, has spotlighted me on the Author Showcase section of his website. You can see my page HERE. Thanks, Terry!

Also, also, Kevin Tipple, one of my favorite reviewers (for his insightful and always interesting reviews) just posted his review of Deadly Currents on his blog, Kevin's Corner. I hope you'll read not only that review but also check out some of the other reviews on his blog. Thanks, Kevin!

Deadly Currents in a "Year's Best Books" List!

I'm thrilled that Colorado Country Life magazine picked Deadly Currents as one of their "Year's Best Books"!!! And they gave it a lovely review, too. :-)

NaNoWriMo or NaNoTryMo?

November is National Novel Writing Month, and writers around the world are working toward a goal of finishing a 50,000 word rough draft of a manuscript during the month. They're keeping track of their progress and encouraging each other at the official NaNoWriMo website.

My local writing organization in Colorado, Pikes Peak Writers, is encouraging their members (like me) who don't have it in them to crank out that many words in one month to set an alternate goal and work toward that. They call their project NaNoTryMo and are offering a number of "write-ins" to get writers working together on their goals. See the PPW website for information.


I won't be participating in the official NaNoWriMo site, because I'm working on an existing manuscript versus starting a new one. But, I've set a goal of 20,000 additional words on my current manuscript for November. That's continuing at my current goal rate of 5000 words/week. I already have about 35,000 words written, so if I meet my NaNoTryMo goal, I'll be at 55,000 words at the end of November.

This manuscript is the third book in my RM Outdoor Adventures mystery series, titled Cataract Canyon. I need to finish the rough draft by mid-January, when I receive the galley proof for the second book, Wicked Eddies, to review & edit. So, I'm looking for motivation & encouragement to keep on cranking out those words! What will make meeting this goal especially hard is that I'll be touring November 11-18, cramming 8 events into that week to promote the trade paperback and ebook re-release of A Real Basket Case.

Are you a writer? Have you set a goal for yourself for November? What is it and what's your plan for reaching that goal? Are you working with a group of fellow writers so you can encourage each other? I hope so! Good luck to all of you NaNoWriMo and NaNoTryMo writers out there!

A Blogtalk Radio Interview at GZONE

Today at 2 PM MST, 4 PM EST, I will be a guest on Giovanni Gelati's GZONE Blogtalk Radio program. I hope you will listen either during the broadcast (when you can phone in with questions) or later from the archives. You can find the program HERE.

Visiting the Barnes & Noble Mystery Book Club

Today I am a guest author on the Barnes & Noble Mystery Book Club. What is this, you might ask. It's an on-line discussion group at the Barnes & Noble Booksellers website, one of many Genre Book Clubs and Idea Boards that are available to readers at the website.

For those of you who are interested in mysteries (and who among my blog readers isn't?), I suggest you join this free discussion group and participate. The moderator, Becke Davis, is very active is encouraging mystery authors to visit and in posting worthwhile discussion topics.

My guest article today is about "Stretching the Boundaries of a Cozy Mystery," but I'm ready to discuss any topic or answer any question that book club members throw at me. So have at it!

Internet Appearances for A REAL BASKET CASE

For the trade paperback and ebook re-release of the first book in my Claire Hanover gift basket designer mystery series, A Real Basket Case, I've planned a tightly-packed joint appearances schedule during mid-November in Colorado with fellow Colorado-based mystery author Ann Parker. But, if you don't live in Colorado, don't despair! I'll also be winging my way all over the Internet. Here's where you can catch me:

Monday, October 31 - Sunday, November 6
International Thriller Writers Thriller Roundtable
"What moved you to write your first novel?"
(A very appropriate discussion since A Real Basket Case was my first published novel!)

Tuesday, November 1, all day
Barnes & Noble Mystery Book Club
Guest Post on "Stretching the Boundaries of a Cozy Mystery" and Q&A

Thursday, November 3, 2 PM MST, 4 PM EST
Interview and Discussion on
Gelatis Scoop GZONE Blogtalkradio Program

Sunday, November 6, 5 - 7 PM MST, 7 - 9 PM EST
Question & Answer Session
The Writers Chatroom
One lucky participant will win an autographed copy of A Real Basket Case!

Monday, November 7, all day
Killer Crafts and Crafty Killers
Guest Post "Recipe for a Mystery Lover's Gift Basket" and Q&A

Wednesday, November 9, all day
Pat Bertram Introduces...
Interview and Q&A

Thursday, November 10, all day
dru's book musings
Guest Post on "A Day in the Life of Claire Hanover by Beth Groundwater" and Q&A. I'll give away an autographed copy of A Real Basket Case on this blog, so be sure to comment to enter the contest!

Speaking of contests... I'm running a book giveaway contest at Goodreads, ending November 5th. You can enter it HERE. And for the whole month of November, I'm reactivating my Q&A Discussion group on Goodreads. If you're a Goodreads member, please join and join in the discussions!

Is that enough? I sure hope so!

Judging a Book By Its Cover

Over at Inkspot today, the blog for Midnight Ink authors, I posted an article about my Midnight Ink book covers and how I've been able to influence their design. Cover art is very, very important in marketing a book, so I, like most authors, tend to obsess over them just a wee bit. ;-) Please read the post and let me know what you think about the topic in the comments.

Today's Mystery Author Guest: Barbara Graham

As promised yesterday, fellow mystery author Barbara Graham is visiting my blog today. To read her bio and see her photo, please page down to yesterday's post. Above is the cover photo for Murder By Music: The Wedding Quilt, the third book in her quilting mystery series.

In the book, autumn brings cooler temperatures to the Smoky Mountains. While the weather may be cooling down in tiny Park County, Tennessee, crime is heating up. Weevil Beasley, the county's loan shark, is found dead and the body count begins. Sheriff Tony Abernathy is soon up to the top of his bald head in murder and mayhem.

Tony's quiltmaker wife Theo is in the thick of it. When she leads her quilting group on a retreat, a killer follows. While dealing with cranky quilters, distraught hotel owners and unfinished projects, Theo has to keep track of gossip for her husband and barely has time to hand out the pattern for her new mystery quilt.

Below are Barbara's answers to my interview questions. Please leave a comment for Barbara, and if you have a question of your own for her, ask it!

1. Who or what inspired you to start writing and when did you start?

I didn’t write anything down but I remember making up stories in the third grade and at the same time, I stopped learning math. My early stories usually involved my getting a horse or saving the world or my horse and I saving the world. I also told lies if they would keep me out of trouble.

2. What tools and process do you use to “get to know” your characters before and while you’re writing the books?

I like to visualize the whole person. My characters are very real to me no matter if they are irritating, lovable, stupid, bright, or killers. Because most of them are series people, it is a bit like sitting down with old friends and catching up—what’s new? Have you lost weight? Don’t tell me you’re talking to so-and-so again. Have you met the new teacher? What do you think about him?

3. How do you construct your plots? Do you outline or do you write “by the seat of your pants”?

I would love to outline—but—it’s not possible for me without a brain transplant. My writing style is more like the weather map view of a hurricane. I start with the victim and everything swirls around it. The characters totally control the story—an intricate plot without people is less interesting to me. A linear search for the solution is unlikely to hold me and real people have multiple facets to their lives.

4. In the age-old question of character versus plot, which one do you think is most important in a murder mystery and which one do you emphasize in your writing?

Absolutely character.

Why?

Because I believe in a mystery the victim is the most important character in the book. Without a fully conceived victim, I cannot imagine creating the plot. Why does this person die, on this day, in this manner? From there I can find the killer.

5. What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced as a writer and what inspires you and keeps you motivated?

The challenge of finding an agent—so far I’m still failing at that one.
Followed by finding a traditional publisher without an agent—achieved. This was very important to me. I am waaaaay too stubborn to self-publish and my books definitely are better after being edited.

6. What is a typical workday for you and how many hours a day (or week) do you devote to writing?

My workdays are different according to the season. In the winter, when I get the most work done, I hang out on the couch with pen, notebook and a dog. I think. I play with ideas. I take the time to listen to the voices. Then I spend hours at the keyboard, stopping about four o’clock. In the summer, I walk the dogs before it gets too hot, work in the garden and hope I can still remember the ideas that come to me there when I get back inside.

7. What advice do you have to offer to an aspiring author?

Write. Write more and more. Nothing is more valuable for any art form than practice. Musicians play scales. Artists have sketchbooks. Dancers take technique classes. Genius is rare, the rest of us require conferences, classes and critiques. Don’t rely on spell check. Don’t give up. Almost all of us have three to twenty unpublished books behind us.

8. Now here’s a zinger. Tell us something about yourself that you have not revealed in another interview yet. Something as simple as your favorite TV show or food will do.

I love Big Bang Theory!

9. What are you working on now and what are your future writing plans?

I’m doing publicity for Murder by Music: The Wedding Quilt which has on-sale date of 11/11/11 (how cool is that?). I’m doing rewrites for next year’s release Murder by Vegetable: The Baby Quilt and am plotting another in the series.

I am still searching for an agent, especially to represent a non-cozy suspense I have written.

10. Is there anything else you would like to tell my blog readers?

Visit my website please! I rarely blog, so thank you Beth for letting me chat on yours. I love to talk to readers, writers and quilters—although I realize I am geographically challenged by living where I do (think Yellowstone National Park)—I do enjoy traveling.

Thanks, Barbara! Now, who has a comment or question for her?

Tomorrow's Guest: Barbara Graham

Tomorrow, fellow mystery author Barbara Graham will be a guest on my blog. Barbara publishes with Five Star Books, who started my gift basket designer series, and that's how we got to know each other and become friends.

Barbara Graham began making up stories in the third grade. Learning to multiply and divide paled in comparison. Born and mostly raised in the Texas Panhandle, she later lived in Denver, New Orleans and East Tennessee. Inspiration for Silersville comes from her Tennessee period. An unrepentant quilting addict, she has been a travel agent, ballet teacher and stay-at-home mom. She lives in Wyoming with her long suffering husband and two dogs. She is a long distance member of various writing groups including—Mystery Writers of America, Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers, Sisters in Crime and International Thriller Writers.

In her guest post tomorrow, Barbara answers my interview questions, and I'm sure you'll be intrigued by what she has to say. Then, feel free to ask her some questions of your own in the comments.

Cover Art! Cover Art! Woot! Woot! Woot!

My Midnight Ink editor sent the cover art yesterday for the second book in my RM Outdoor Adventures mystery series, Wicked Eddies. that will be released in May, 2012. I know I'm biased, but I think it's absolutely stunning. What do YOU think?

Today's Colorado Author Guest: Terry Odell

As promised yesterday, fellow Colorado author Terry Odell is visiting my blog today. To read her bio and see her photo, please page down to yesterday's post. Above is the cover photo for Finding Sarah, the first book in her Pine Hills Police series. Terry recently regained the rights to the books in this series and republished them as ebooks after updating them.

Here's a short blurb for the book. Being robbed at gunpoint wasn’t part of Sarah Tucker’s business plan. Neither was falling in love with the detective who arrived to solve the case. For police detective Randy Detweiler, a routine robbery investigation turns into the biggest challenge of his career when he falls in love with the victim and ends up having to save more than her business.

Below are Terry's answers to my interview questions. Please leave a comment for Terry, and if you have a question of your own for her, ask it!

1. Who or what inspired you to start writing and when did you start?

Inspiration? I ran out of room on my walls for needlepoint. I'm not one of those who wrote her first book in crayon. I was a card-carrying AARP member before I started writing, and it was more of a whim. You can find the whole story on my website. Look for "How I Became a Write By Mistake" on my homepage.

2. What tools and process do you use to “get to know” your characters before and while you’re writing the books?

I follow Deb Dixon's GMC (Goal, Motivation, Conflict) method. I need to know what my characters want, why they want it, and what I can throw in their paths. For example, in FINDING SARAH, I created a cop who saw his job in black and white. I needed to know how far I could push him before he'd cross the line into shades of gray. In addition, because he became a cop because he wanted to help people, the heroine was a woman who wanted nothing more than to exert her independence, no matter what it took.

3. How do you construct your plots? Do you outline or do you write “by the seat of your pants”?

I'm a pantser, or perhaps, more accurately, a "plantser" because I do plan things out. Just not too far in advance. I use an "idea board" to brainstorm my plots, and a "tracking board" to keep me on the right path. I've got a description of my methods on my website—look for "Plotting for Non-Plotters."

4. In the age-old question of character versus plot, which one do you think is most important in a murder mystery or romantic suspense novel and which one do you emphasize in your writing? Why?

I'm character driven. Also, most of my books are categorized as romantic suspense, not murder mysteries. I've managed to have 7 books published, most of which don't center around a murder. Hidden Fire, the sequel to Finding Sarah, is one of the few that might be considered a classic murder mystery. Realistically, homicides in small towns don't happen the way they did on Murder She Wrote, and there are plenty of other monkey wrenches to throw into the lives of my characters. I disagree that a "mystery" automatically assumes a murder, but that's a topic for another day.

5. What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced as a writer and what inspires you and keeps you motivated?

Traditional publishers had very narrow ranges of what makes a viable book. Since I write what I want, and not necessarily what traditional publishers are looking for, getting someone to publish my books is the biggest challenge.

Although I consider my books to be 'Mysteries with Relationships", given the publishing definitions, they're called Romantic Suspense. However, I'm definitely a mystery lover, NOT a suspense lover. There's a basic difference in the two sub-genres, and it's a matter of preference, not right/wrong or good/bad. Plus in romantic suspense, you also have to resolve a hero/heroine relationship in one book, not across a series, the way you can in a mystery series. I did break the rules when I wrote a sequel to Finding Sarah. Hidden Fire actually follows the same hero and heroine in another mystery.

Now, the rapid changes in the world of publishing make it possible for someone like me to take the rights back to my earlier books and make them available to readers who enjoy reading books that stray from the narrower confines of traditional publishers. And, I can continue to write what I want, knowing there's a market for them.

6. What advice do you have to offer to an aspiring author?

Read. Write. Read. Read. Write, Write, and read some more. Writing should be as necessary as breathing. Barf it up first, fix it later. Get the words on the page. You can't fix a blank page.

7. Now here’s a zinger. Tell us something about yourself that you have not revealed in another interview yet. Something as simple as your favorite TV show or food will do.

When I was at Ralph Waldo Emerson Jr. High, all 7th graders had to write an essay about the school's namesake. There was a prize (of which I was totally unaware) and I was summoned to the auditorium for the annual award ceremony to receive my five silver dollars. (Given that the award assembly was for graduating 9th graders, I was totally out of place.) However, that really didn't inspire me to become a writer. It was an essay, nothing more than one more homework assignment.

8. What are you working on now and what are your future writing plans?

I've got a straight mystery with my editor, and I'm looking forward to publishing something outside of the romantic suspense world. I'm also writing another romantic suspense in my Pine Hills Police series—this one featuring new protagonists, but with many of the same characters from the first two books. I'm also considering putting together a few more short mystery stories featuring James T. Kirkland, a character who appears in a short story anthology, Deception, published by Highland Press. And of course, the boys from the covert side of Blackthorne, Inc. are always clamoring for their turn as heroes of another book.

9. Is there anything else you would like to tell my blog readers?

You can find me at my website. I have a new quarterly newsletter, and I hope you'll sign up for my mailing list. I also have a blog, Terry's Place, and I hope you'll follow me there. Keep an eye on the Deals and Steals tab—you'll never know what you might find.

Thanks, Terry! Now, who has a comment or question for her?