Happy Tuesday readers.
I've got returning rose Brenda Whiteside with us today and we're talking
The Art of Love and Murder.
Thanks, Angela, for having me back on your terrific blog.
The Wild Rose Press is my publisher and they expect a five book series from me.
Book three is on my editor’s desk and book four is shaping up in my computer.
Book One, The Art of Love and Murder, opened the door for me in the romantic
suspense category. I’ve written contemporary romance and vintage romance, but
once I’d written murder and suspense into my romance, I was hooked. I didn’t
know I loved villains so much. An author has to get under the skin of her
characters to write them well. Not sure what it says about me, but I sure like
bringing my bad guys and women to life. My bad people run the spectrum from
educated and sophisticated older men to whacked-out young dudes to
it-can’t-be-her females.
Series can take several forms. My Love and Murder Series
books are all linked by the theme of love and murder and the characters. Except
for book three, they’re all set in Arizona. I had to send Lacy Dahl and her
daughter who appeared in book one to Austria for intrigue, murder, and romance.
Now, ask me a few questions, Angela. I’m ready.
What for you is the best part of writing? What
is the worst?
I imagine I am very ordinary with this answer. My
favorite part of sitting down at the computer and letting the story flow. Once
I have my basic research completed and a rough outline, the real fun begins. My
characters come to life with their conflict, humor, romance, fear and all the
other emotions of their personalities. The worse part – and really it’s not so
awful – is tying it up and ending the book. Usually, by the last couple of
chapters, when I know how it ends, I can’t finish it quickly enough. Another
book is already screaming to be started.
Is there a process you stick to, or do you just write
as it hits you?
I have a process now. I didn’t always. But as my stories
have gotten more complicated with the addition of suspense and murder, I had to
keep better notes. A series demands it also. Someone I mention in book one may
show up in book four and without my system, I’d forget age or color of eyes or
any number of other details. Every character has a file with all their
pertinent information. I keep track of what happens in each chapter with major
plot points. I have a rough outline. And I have all of my research notes. But
that said, as I write, new stuff happens. New characters pop up or a subplot
takes form. I’m not too rigid with my story line.
What is the ultimate goal you have for your career?
I want to write faster. I have several books percolating
in my head at any one time and I HAVE to get them down. I want to entertain
people. I love to read and I want readers to love to read me.
When not writing, what can you be found doing?
We live on a small family farm. Our household consists of
five adults, one child, and three dogs. One paragraph in my bio reads:
Brenda spends most of
her time writing stories of discovery and love entangled with suspense. The
rest of her time is spent tending vegetables on the small family farm she
shares with her husband, son, daughter-in-law and granddaughter. Together,
they’ve embraced an age-old lifestyle that has been mostly lost in the United
States - multiple generations living under one roof, who share the workload,
follow their individual dreams and reap the benefits of combined talents.
So when I’m not writing, I’m weeding vegetables or
harvesting. We sell at farmers’ markets so you’ll find me there on weekends. Or
I’m tending to the granddaughter who is more fun than anything else I can
imagine. I write a blog about our life on Tortuga Flats Farm most Thursdays. I
invite you to have a look: http://brendawhiteside.blogspot.com/
That sounds truly idyllic Brenda. Can't wait to visit your blog for some gardening tips. Sadly, my thumb is lacking in the green department.
Lacy Dahl never questioned her past
until the deaths of her adoptive parents and her husband. A husband who wasn't
what he seemed. Her research uncovers secrets about the mother she never knew;
secrets that dispute the identity of her father and threaten her life.
Sheriff Chance Meadowlark is still
haunted by the murder of his wife and the revenge he unleashed in the name of
justice. When he meets Lacy he is determined not to become involved, but their
pasts may make that impossible. As they move closer to the truth, saving Lacy
may be his only salvation.
Lacy begins to think the present is more important
than her past...until Chance's connection to her mother and a murder spin her
deeper into danger and further from love. Will the truth destroy Lacy and
Chance or will it be the answer that frees them?
The Art of Love and Murder buy links:
TWRP
Amazon
ARe
KOBO
Welcome back Brenda, so glad to have you here today. What is the best tip you would give any writer? What is the best tip you would give any gardener?
ReplyDeleteHi Angela. Great to be here. Sorry I had to take a break and be a grandma for a few hours while Mommy and Daddy had "date day." Best tip for a writer is write everyday, even if it's only for 15 minutes before you head out to your day job. I wrote a whole book in those short segments. But if no project in progress right now, write something anyway, every single day. As for gardeners, I hope you have a son with a green thumb. I'm just his worker bee! But I guess I'd say as a worker bee - keep the weeds pulled.
DeleteNot to be an idiot but what is the difference between suspense and mystery?
ReplyDeleteHi Angelina, the way I think of them is this: in a mystery, you won't know who the bad guy is for sure. You might have several suspicious characters but you won't know for most of the book for sure. In suspense, you can know who the villain is, but when he's going to do what, keeps you on the edge of your seat. That's how I differentiate. Good question. I had one review that dinged me because she thought it was supposed to be a mystery and I gave away who the villain was. Whoops. But I write suspense.
DeleteThanks for the explanation. I knew there was a difference but now I understand what it is. :)
DeleteSounds like you keep extremely busy between your writing and a small family farm, but it all sounds like fun. My hat is off to you for writing romantic suspense. I believe that's a tough genre to get right with just enough suspense but not too much so the characters can find their stories and romance. Enjoyed your blog!
ReplyDeleteBusy is my middle name, Hebby. Thanks for the comment.
DeleteWhat a fun life you have! I always say if I win the lottery, you will find me writing, gardening (mostly veggies) and cooking gourmet meals! A family farm sounds awesome.
ReplyDeleteWell, Susabelle, if I win the lottery I MIGHT garden but I think I'd be on the road traveling too much. And I certainly wouldn't be in the kitchen. LOL
DeleteThanks for sharing, Brenda. What a fascinating life you lead. My daughters and I always wanted to live on a farm together. We're very much country gals. Wishing you all the best with your series. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for dropping in, Mary.
Delete