Linda I am so honored to have you here today at the Pen to Paper.  Lets get started so you can tell us about your exciting books

1.       Tell us something about you and your books

      I’ve been writing since childhood and my “day job” has always involved the insurance industry.  In my 30+ years in insurance, I’ve founded two insurance agencies and an insurance education business.  When life interfered with my fiction writing, I began writing a newspaper column, magazine articles, and insurance continuing education texts and courses.  Then, when life became more reasonable, I resumed writing novels and published my first mystery.

2.        Are there any new authors who have grasped your attention?

      I don’t know if you mean “new” as in new to me or newly published.  In both instances, however, my attention has been grabbed a lot since February.  I created my Author Exchange Blog at that time for the purpose of self-promotion:  both for me and the published authors whom I interview.  I’m also doing book reviews for Minotaur Books (and any other agent, publisher, or publicist who is interested in sending me books per the Blog guidelines), which has introduced me to many “new” authors.  Two that immediately spring to mind are Sophie Littlefield and Mark Arsenault.  Sophie’s debut mystery, A BAD DAY FOR SORRY, was absolutely terrific as was Mark’s fourth book, LOOT THE MOON.  Other authors I’ve enjoyed during the past year include Andrea Sisco, Brenda Novak, William Tapply.

3.       What’s your latest book about?

My mystery, SECOND TIME AROUND, answers the question: “What do you do when the dead body you stumble across turns out to belong to your father, the father you thought abandoned you in infancy?”  That’s what Timmie Campbell asks herself.  Turns out her mother has been lying for years:  about her father’s abandonment, about him not contacting them, about a lot of things.  Unfortunately, Timmie can’t dwell on her mother’s deception because bodies begin piling up and she needs to stop the killer before he wipes out her entire family.

4.       Where do you get your information or ideas for your books?

Between my vivid imagination and the vagaries of human nature, I’m always working on plot ideas, characters, and snippets for scenes, dialogue, and setting.

5.       What promotional ideas can you give to other beginning authors?

Create a web presence, even if you aren’t published.  Don’t spend more time on promotion than you do on writing.  Tell everyone you’re writer.  Join writers’ groups and befriend other writers—regardless of their genre.  Research marketing and adopt strategies that suit your personality and budget.  I could continue, but that wouldn’t allow me time to answer the rest of the questions.

6.       As a child what did you want to do when you grew up?

I always wanted to be a writer—and began that in 5^th grade, when Mr. Calen published the crossword puzzles I designed.  I got extra credit for creating them and the other kids got extra credit for completing them.  I knew, even at that age, it was unlikely I’d be able to support myself writing—at least for a while–and decided to be a doctor.  Seventh grade biology quashed that goal:  dissecting earthworms and frogs did me in.  Then I wanted to be a teacher.  Unfortunately, I hated college and dropped out—which propelled me into the insurance industry.  I am now both a writer and a teacher; I write fiction, non-fiction, and lots of insurance stuff and I’m an insurance education provider in a number of western states.  Do you think that means I grew up?

7.  As a writer and published author how do you feel about e-publishing?

I’m an advocate of ePublishing, as my membership in EPIC and publication of SECOND TIME AROUND by an ePublisher indicate.  I doubt ePublishing will replace traditional publishing because, for some of us, there’s nothing like the feeling of a book in our hands.  But ePublishing accomplishes a number of important things:  it offers writers publishing opportunities that aren’t available with the dwindling number of traditional publishers in NY, it makes books available to people in lower income brackets because they’re more affordable, it’s expedient for people who are attached at the hip to their computer/laptop, and it’s convenient for travelers.

8.  How long does it take you to do research on the books you write?

I always perform research when writing and the length of time I spend depends upon a number of things:  how well-versed I am on the subject that requires research, how quickly I’m able to find an expert in that field, and how accomplished/timely my research partners are with their assistance.  Before giving credit, I always confirm with my research partners that they have no objections to me thanking them publicly (in the acknowledgements section of my books, in the content of my magazine and newspaper articles, and/or in the introductions of my insurance texts).  For example, an active duty member of the Marines provided research assistance and that individual did NOT want me to publish my thanks.

9.       Where do you do most of your writing?

Although I’m primarily right-brained, I have anal left-brained tendencies sometimes.  Where I write is one of them.  I prefer writing in the same spot, using the same laptop, because it’s easier to lose myself in writing if I’m comfortable and can repeat the same daily pattern.  Having said that, I sometimes get tremendous amounts of writing or plotting done in a hotel room during a business trip with the aid of a yellow legal pad and a ballpoint pen.

10.  Are you working on other things, if so what are they?

I write a monthly newspaper column, so I’m always on deadline for that.  I also develop and write 2-3 insurance courses a year and have one more to complete before January.  Aside from those projects, I’m working on two books right now.  One is on the back burner—that’s the sequel to SECOND TIME AROUND—because I got really involved in my current mystery, DEATH BENEFITS.  I expect to complete the first draft of DEATH BENEFITS by the end of January and TWO-TIMED (STA’s sequel) by April.

11.    What do you enjoy most about your writing?

Although I consider myself a wordsmith, I’ve never been able to articulate accurately how I feel about my writing.  I will, however, give it a shot.  Everything about writing is joyful:  each separate task and the sum of the tasks.  Writing is something that simply exists in the world of Linda:  like my curly hair, loud voice, and New York/New England accent.  It ain’t ever gonna go away!

Well Linda I have really enjoyed your stay, Please give us a link to your website and blog:

Walk in peace and harmony,

Melinda