S. R. Leinbeck Interview Published on: 16, Sep 2022
Which city or town did you grow up in?
I moved around a little bit, but mostly grew up in Hubertus, WI.
Did you ever dream of writing your own book one day?I actually always wanted to be a journalist. Writing a book just happened after taking some online writing courses.
How did taking up classes improve your writing skills?It helped me look at writing from different points of view. I also learned a lot from reading assignments submitted by other students. It was very interesting how each person had their own take on the assignments.
What finally inspired you to write your first novel?The last assignment I had was to write a short story. I enjoyed it so much and had so much more to tell. It ended up turning into a book.
What case got you interested in true crime and why?I actually started listening to a true crime podcast during the pandemic. After that, I was hooked. I don’t think there was one case in particular.
What are the challenges of writing a true crime novel that fully illustrates the true nature of evil?The challenge for me was making sure it was realistic enough to be convincing. It is just a story, but I didn’t want things to be too out there that the reader didn’t believe it could happen.
How do you invent a serial killer in a mystery novel or a true crime novel? Why?I wanted to create a character that was believable but not too associated to actual known serial killers. They needed to be their own person.
How did you developed the plot of the novel, The Missing?The Missing is the second book in the series. I honestly wasn’t sure how to go forward after the first book. I just started writing random scenes and eventually it started to come together.
When writing the novel, The Badge, how did you leave clues behind for the main characters to find and solve?The Badge has a lot of flashbacks. The biggest clues for the current case the lead character was working on were actually from previous cases.
Is it true that it is harder to write crime novels and mystery novels compared to other genres?So far I have written crime and paranormal books. I actually found that writing the crime books was easier for me. The biggest issue was creating the plot interesting enough to keep the reader engaged. I didn’t want the books to start becoming boring or repetitive.
How do you keep yourself motivated? Did you ever want to give up?Being a new published author, I feel discouraged often. It’s easy to let one bad review push all the good reviews out of your mind. I just tell myself that there are people who enjoy reading my books and those are the people I write for.
What should every aspiring writer know about writing?I wish I would have started writing sooner. It can be exhausting at times, but the final product is always worth the time and effort.
What are the strangest or most eerie true crime cases you have read about?I think the unsolved cases are the ones that get me the most. Not knowing what actually happened can be frustrating.
Which is the next book you are working on? When is it due for release?I am finishing up a book called Mitchell Manor. Its different from my crime books. It takes more of a paranormal turn. I don’t have a release date, but I am hoping very soon.
When did you join AllAuthor? How has your experience been?I have been on AllAuthor since the beginning of 2022. I love the exposure I have to other authors. I have read so many books I never would have known about if it wasn’t for AllAuthor. I also love the marketing aspect of it. Being able to send out new release updates and twitter posts is very convenient and helpful. I also enjoy the cover of the month contests.
