As a child, what did you want to become when you grow up?
I wanted to be a fireman, a doctor or a cop; however, in the 1950's, it was only appropriate for a girl to aspire to be the wife of a fireman, doctor or cop and I was strongly encouraged to be a housewife and a mommy or maybe a teacher or a nurse. Obviously, that didn't happen; I wanted to ROCK.
What was your favorite subject in school? How has your childhood inspired you as an adult?
English of course! I was reading Shakespeare for fun in 9th grade, invited to be part of the advanced Writing Roundtable school's literary magazine and contributing writer for the school paper. I was bullied throughout my childhood and it made me tough yet resilient.
What inspires you to get out of bed each day?
My wonderful husband, darling calico cat Weeble, beautiful home and... of course, writing.
Do you remember the first story you ever read and the impact it had on you?
The Lady and the Tiger by Frank R. Stockton. It's still a favorite. The impact was that, if I could reach my readers where the stories stuck with them and became favorites, I had done my job as a writer.
Who was the first person to know about your love for storytelling once you discovered it?
My grandmothers. They were both wonderful storytellers and "talking story" was one of our favorite ways to spend an afternoon. That, and reading of course.
What inspired the story of "The Indigo Hour: A Tough Luck Lounge Novel"?
When my brother was murdered, it sent me into a tailspin for a while. We had been estranged but I got involved in the investigation and wound up helping the cops catch the bad guy in five days. The Indigo Hour is about dealing with the death of a family member you neither love nor respect but, in the end, doing the right thing and finding forgiveness in your heart for them.
How did you come up with the character of Nicholas Densmore in "Shaken, Not Stirred"?
A friend of mine rented a blue Ferrari just for fun one day and his FaceBook post gave me the idea. He's tall, handsome, has silver hair (hence the nickname the "Silver Fox" for Densmore). Nicholas is for St. Nick because I write the stories for Christmastime). Densmore is in tribute to the Doors drummer, John Densmore.
How did you come up with the title of your book, Abra-Cadaver?
It's a takeoff on Abra-Cadabra. One day it just rolled off my tongue and there it was!
Is there anything you find particularly challenging in writing romance?
Yes. The ooey-gooey stuff makes me squirm (lol). I prefer writing straight-up thriller/action/mystery and if there's a kiss here or there, fair enough. But intimate scenes are behind closed doors, just the way I like it. However, I am dabbling in the rom com world and hope to have something fun and tasty down the road.
When you develop characters do you already know who they are before you begin writing or do you let them develop as you go?
Stacey Jennifer Longacer, my main heroine, a bartender by trade, came to me in a flash of inspiration for Tough Luck Lane. I needed a story for a writer's group. My husband and I were driving around Lake Okeechobee and I saw a street sign for Tough Luck Lane (it's a real street!). I asked my husband to drive down the street and back (it's a little street), and "I was born in a trailer off Tough Luck Lane, thirty years later, I'm heading out" hit me as did Stacey's character. The story morphed into the first Tough Luck Lounge novel.
I plot a little but mostly I'm a "Pantser." The best part of my writing experience is when the characters take over and I'm just typing away. They do the darndest things and I have to get them (the good ones, anyway), out of harm's way.
What would be the ideal date for your character bartender Stacey Jennifer Longacre in your book "Love on the Beach"?
Stacey isn't ready to date yet. She may have a friend with benefits here and there but she's not ready at the moment. She'll let me know when she is, I'm sure. Meanwhile, she's not "against" love and lovers and is all for helping Cupid along.
When it comes to writing romantic suspense, what are some of your top tips?
Create tension between the lovers. Leave it hanging. Go across town to something else then come back and resolve the situation.
What’s something you are really good at those few people to know about?
I held a First Class FCC License and was a Chief Engineer and DJ for radio stations in Philly and NJ. Yes, that included jumping towers and fixing transmitters and filing FCC Proof of Performance reports for a Priority I broadcast facility. PS My FCC Second Class License (you have to get that before your First Class License) certified me to fix jet airplanes.
Which is the next book you are writing? When is it due for release?
Working on Abra-Cadaver 2, Snowed Under (this year)
Make it a Double (of Trouble) a Stacey/Densmore thriller (Christmastime)
The Third Persuasion, Tough Luck Lounge Novel #3 (January, 2021)
The Girls of Gamma Chi (a rom-com for Summer, 2021)
The Last Romantic, Tough Luck Lounge Novel #4 (January 2022)
When did you first join AllAuthor and did you join as a free or pro-member first? What are your thoughts on this website?
I joined for free in May 2019, then went Pro. I love the website. It's fun and easy to use. It helps me with all kinds of promotional materials, scheduling Tweets, the monthly cover contest is fun and I look forward to learning and using it more!
