HISTORICAL MYSTERY AUTHOR MJ FINN ON DESIGNING AN HISTORICAL MYSTERY SERIES

M.J. Finn is an armchair pilot with a life-long interest in the Golden Age of Air Racing. Growing up in Chicago led to basing leading character TJ O’Connell there and provides an opportunity to describe the vibrant, growing city in the heart of the United States that was more than the stomping grounds for Al Capone and other famous criminals.

There are thousands of new books published every week on Amazon and other sites. This makes coming up with a unique story within the Mystery, Thriller, Suspense (MTS) category challenging. I was working with a writing coach who emphasized the need to come up with something that would stand apart from other books but still fit within genre expectations. His other advice was to write what I knew.

What did I know? I’m an avid reader of history and historical fiction, so setting the series in an historical period made sense. I also like thrillers and mysteries, so that meant fitting into the historical mystery/thriller space. But where and when to set the story so that it didn’t get lost in an ocean of books that had already been published? The Prohibition era in America was popular, especially for cozy mysteries, and many people identified Chicago with the era due to Al Capone and the gang wars. I grew up on the northside of Chicago, so setting the story there was an easy choice. Not only was Rogers Park a growing section of the city in that period, Al Capone had actually lived there for a year or so.

 

One of my other passions is flying and airplanes. The 1920s and 1930s have often been called the Golden Age of air racing, with plenty of unique characters, planes, and races. The National Air Races for 1930 were held north of Chicago, the only time they were held in that area. By making my protagonist a pilot, I could move him around the country for different settings, mysteries, and antagonists in future books. The possibilities were only limited by my imagination.

 

So now I had a basic concept for my series:

·      A young barnstorming pilot from Rogers Park in Chicago.

·      The first book would revolve around the 1930 National Air Races at Curtiss-Reynolds Field near Chicago.

·      Something forces this young pilot to solve a mystery that he’s involved in.

·      There needs to be life and death stakes and one or more mobs involved.

·      Many mysteries set in this period have protagonists from the upper class, who don’t seem to worry about money. This detective is from the middle class, and money will never be far from his thoughts.

 

A side benefit of writing historical fiction is doing research for each of the books. While some authors may see this as a chore or a necessary evil, I enjoy exploring different times and places and learning new things. While it was tempted to go too far down the rabbit hole of research, placing myself on a schedule to complete the first draft kept those temptations in check. I was lucky to discover the Rogers Park Historical Society and their series of books on the history and development of the neighborhood. The information and pictures were extremely helpful, and volunteers from the society answered a number of questions that came up as I wrote the first draft.

 

Curtiss-Reynolds Field later became Glenview Naval Air Station in WW II, so there was a lot of information about the field during that period available. Finding information and photographs from 1930 was more difficult, but cruising through newspaper archives and websites dedicated to air races uncovered a few gems. My home library was filled with books on racing planes and races from the period, so that was one of the easier research areas to complete. Then I ran into my first obstacle.

 

I wanted the pilot to be someone who had bigger dreams and visions than just racing planes. Someone who was an expert in one area, but who faces challenges in others. To make his financial challenges a bit more daunting, he became the first in his family to seek a college degree. It turns out they didn’t have degrees in aeronautical engineering at colleges in Chicago at that time. So, he ends up going to the Armour Institute seeking a Mechanical Engineering degree. Coincidentally, that’s where I went to school (it’s now the Illinois Institute of Technology). They have their yearbooks and school newspapers online, providing all the information needed to realistically include his college experiences. 

 

Now I was off to the races! There are currently three books in the series, with three more to follow in 2025. I hope you’ll fly along on TJ O’Connell’s adventures.

 

Fallen Aces

The Barnstorming Detective Series, Book One

 

All he wanted to do was fly his plane in the nationals, but they took that away from him. Now he’s seeking justice.

 

In the thrilling world of the 1930 Chicago Air Races, one young pilot's dream is derailed when disaster strikes.TJ O'Connell, a determined young Irish-American pilot from the north side of Chicago, aims to win the competition and fund his dream of attending college. However, tragedy strikes when a renowned American ace crashes during a practice run, and TJ is wrongfully accused of causing the disaster.

 

To clear his name and secure his future, TJ must find the truth with the help of allies he meets along the way. As they delve deeper into the aviation world, they unearth a web of secrets, rivalries, and prejudices that threaten to tarnish TJ's dreams.

 

From the gritty streets of Chicago to the dazzling heights of the racecourse, TJ must race against time to uncover the truth. Will he emerge victorious in both the hearing room and the skies, or will the shadows of suspicion forever eclipse his ambitions?

 

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AUTHOR MICHELLE CORBIER ON BIKING FOR MENTAL HEALTH

After over twenty years in clinical medicine, Michelle Corbier now works as a medical consultant. Her writing interests cover many genres—mystery, paranormal, and thrillers. When not writing, you can find her outside gardening or bicycling. Learn more about Michelle and her books at her website.

Bike for your mental health

One of the earliest skills I taught my son was to ride a bike. The first bike—only bike—I owned during childhood had orange handle grips with multicolored streamers. It had tall handlebars with a long narrow seat which accommodated me and my baby sister. Because my father served in the Navy, we moved frequently, and I lost that bike. But the desire to speed down a road on two wheels continues. 

 

Bicycling gives me the sensation of flying like a bird. Free, floating above all life’s concerns and complications. According to the Harvard School of Public Health, “Health benefits include improved cardiovascular fitness, stronger muscles, greater coordination and general mobility, and reduced body fat. As with other types of exercise, it can also help improve mental health by lowering stress levels and stimulating feel-good endorphins.” Well said.

 

In Hollow Voices the protagonist, Dr. Julia Toussaint, bicycles to release stress and remain fit. An activity she shared with her son before his death. While my son never appreciated bicycling, it’s something I still enjoy and wanted to include in my novel.

 

Medicine is a stressful occupation. While the benefits are many, it wears on medical professionals physically and mentally. The idea for the novel began during one of the most stressful moments in my career. I contemplated leaving medicine, a job to which I devoted most of my life. Caring for people gave me purpose. Medicine provided personal satisfaction, job security, and a stable income. Unfortunately, the work environment became hostile. When things became tense, I resorted to writing. 

 

In the novel, Julia suffers a total mental collapse following the death of her son. Disconnected from reality, she seeks treatment for her mental health. In time, she recovers and discovers a new purpose. But when the people she loves become threatened, she takes drastic action with fatal consequences.

 

Change is a fundamental component of life. While some changes are more traumatic than others, how we cope with those events defines our lives. In Hollow Voices, Julia experiences situations familiar to many people, from office politics, personal loss, to a mental health crisis. Books may transform readers to new vistas or reflect current circumstances. In this novel, a mystery collides with reality. 

 

If I’m having a hectic day, nothing satisfies like biking. Trudging up a hill admiring the scenery, matching my strength against nature, or soaring down a trail with the wind whistling in my ears. Join me. Hop on a bike and drift away on a cloud of endorphins. And when you finish, relax with a good book. 

 

Hollow Voices

Recovering after the death of her son, Dr. Julia Toussaint starts over at a new job with a narcissistic boss. Suddenly, the past catches up with her when a police officer blackmails her. In a fight for her sanity, Julia struggles to protect the people she loves. 

Time is crucial and she must remember what happened after Evens died because the decisions she makes will have fatal consequences. 

 

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NO TRICKS, JUST TREATS FLASH SALE!

 

Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mysteries, Books 5-6, plus more great mysteries, suspense, and thrillers on sale this weekend only at BlackbirdWriters.com.

BOOK CLUB FRIDAY--MYSTERY AND THRILLER AUTHOR JD WEBB REFLECTS ON THE MEANING OF SUCCESS

Award-winning mystery and thriller author J. D. Webb, served in the Air Force in Viet Nam and the Philippines as a Chinese linguist, as a corporate transportation manager, then shoe repair and sales shop owner, before becoming an author. Learn more about JD and his books at his website. 

What, Me a Success?

Authors’ egos are easily bent/damaged. We are constantly rejected and reminded that we are inadequate.Over these past few years, I’ve taken heart after hearing the stories of famous authors and their rejections.Then comes a question from a friend: Are you disappointed that you have not yet become a name like King or Patterson? Well, after wrestling away depression, I started thinking. Am I successful? Where do I draw the line? First answer – darn right I am. Then another bout with doubt. Why am I writing, and am I satisfied with my career?

 

After I had toiled in the corporate world for twenty-five years, the company decided they no longer needed me—or even my job. Cripes - rejection. I promoted myself to cobbler and owned my own business for eleven years. When the economy for shoe repair went south (predating the economy for others), I closed my business. Rejection number two.

 

I became a full-time author in 2002. Since that time, I’ve had six mystery novels published by small, respected electronic publishers. Each of these submissions paralleled the process for publication by the big guys: queryletter, first three chapters and then the entire manuscript. 

 

I’ve had several short stories published with one winning an international award. My novels have garnered awards and wonderful reviews. So I considered myself successful. At least until the question from my friend.

 

Holding that first printed copy of my book was the realization of a life-long dream. Finally, at age 65, my book was published. I’d always wanted to be an author, writing short stories all my life, and had the some-day dream of writing a novel. My very first goal was merely to finish a book. I had no inkling or thought about getting it published. I’d read enough about authors to know that every one of the famous names has a first novel stashed in the back of a desk drawer. 

 

A second book followed. An author friend in my writing group encouraged me to submit it to her publisher. I had already placed a bright red rejection folder in my file cabinet. With my track record, rejection seemed to be a forgone conclusion. I should be ready for it. To my astonishment, they wanted to publish the book. Well, the bug had dug its teeth in. I thought, “Hey, I have another book done, why not send it as well?” And three months after the first was in print, the second came out. I had no qualms saying I was a success. I even sold a bunch of them. Not thousands of copies, but actual people were reading my books. And liking them. I was in the library. Presto, I was a success. More books came.

 

But the question continues to taunt. Am I a success?  I ponder. And yes, by golly, at the moment, I am a success. I’m doing what I believe I was meant to do--tell stories. I’m giving pleasure and smiles to readers and enjoying every minute of the journey, even the dreaded promotion and business side of writing. And editing. I have a wonderful writing group who help me overcome my grammatical ineptitude. And my “job” allows me time to volunteer and give back to my community. 

 

When I listen to my characters talk to me and drive me to the finish line, I am in heaven on earth. I sometimes read what I have written and wonder where the heck that came from. I’ve made myself laugh and cry. Isn’t that what life is supposed to be about? Joy and sorrow? I thank you, God, for giving me the talent and tenacity to keep going. I am a success. Just ask me.

 

Bayou Chase

Chase Anderson, a war hero wounded in Afghanistan, gets a rebuilt knee, and falls in love with his surgeon. They marry, but nine months later, she’s raped and murdered the day she planned a meal to let Chase know he would soon be a dad. The Chicago Police Department compromises the killer's DNA left at the scene resulting in only a one-year sentence for breaking and entering. That’s too much for Chase to accept. He leaves no evidence when Chase drowns the killer in the man’s bathtub. The killer’s twin brothers, who work for a Chicago crime boss, identify Chase and travel to Louisiana for revenge, where Chase is recovering from his loss. Now, not only Chase, but his in-laws are swept into a fight for survival.

 

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MYSTERY AUTHOR KATHRYN LANE ON WHAT MAKES A GENIUS?

Kathryn Lane writes mystery and suspense novels usually set in foreign countries. Her latest book is a coming-of-age novel about a socially awkward math genius. Her early work life started out as an artist, but to earn a living, she became a certified public accountant and embarked on a career in international finance. Two decades later, she left the corporate world to write novels, drawing inspiration from her world travels. Learn more about Kathryn and her books at her website.

What Makes a Genius?

My latest novel, Stolen Diary, is a coming-of-age mystery about Jasmin, a young math genius.

 

To talk about this fictional character, I must return to my childhood, a time when I thought a person, by studying the right things, could become a genius. 

 

As a kid, I loved to draw and paint. Birthday gifts were usually books on Italian Renaissance artists, such as Michelangelo, Leonardo, and Rafael, who created masterpieces. At first, they were children’s books and as I became older, they were full tomes, all of which I read voraciously. These brilliant artists symbolized PERFECTION. 

 

At age nine or ten, I asked my parents if we could leave Mexico, my country of origin, and move to Italy. Intrigued, my mother wanted to know what had prompted that request.

 

“That’s where all the geniuses live,” I whined. “I don’t stand a chance to be a genius here.” 

 

Of course, we never moved to Italy. Years later when I attended the University of New Mexico, my world expanded, and I discovered theoretical physicists were also brilliant and I read about famous physicists like Richard Fineman, Hans Beta, and Enrico Fermi, an Italian American. Illustrious scientists still fascinate me. They may discover, someday, the answer to the philosophical question: Why are we here?

 

By my university days, I realized not all geniuses were Italian, and much to my chagrin, I also realized I was not on my way to becoming one myself. That was a shattering acknowledgement!

 

Fast forward a few decades after I’ve left an international finance career to become a mystery writer. I was listening to a piano concert in the lobby of a graceful old hotel in Budapest, Hungry, when Jasmin came to my mind out of nowhere. I think she came into my consciousness knowing that I’ve always been fascinated by extraordinary minds, and she wanted me to tell her story.

 

Since I’d set my Nikki Garcia mystery series in various countries, I thought I’d place Jasmin’s story in eastern Europe. For reasons unknown to me, she kept gravitating toward Mexico, so I let her lead me there. Later, she led me to Princeton, NJ. 

 

Although she is gifted, Jasmin’s story centers on family secrets and her pursuit of uncovering those hidden skeletons. Her mother cannot relate to her daughter’s brilliance, while her doting grandfather encourages her genius. She loves math, music, and theoretical physics. He supports her desire to build a spaceship against her mother’s wishes.

 

She steals her mother’s diary in hopes of finding the reasons that keep her mother distant. When it reveals nothing, she decides to hide the diary, causing a lot of family friction.

 

I don’t outline my plots. My characters give me the story as I write it. Jasmin revealed to me that she’s on the autism spectrum, yet I never mention that in the novel. She is the muse that inspired me to write about the challenges faced by brilliant yet socially awkward people. 

 

She has made the full circle for me – she’s from Mexico, not Italy, and although she’s a math prodigy, she also has social issues that make her life difficult and create challenges for her. 

 

This fictional character taught me that even geniuses are not perfect!

 

Stolen Diary: A Women’s Coming-of-Age Family Saga

Jasmin is super smart, but…

Can she deal with her disengaged mother?

When she steals a diary, she’s afraid to return it. Should she keep it?

Must she act on the secrets she discovers in the journal?

 

Aided by her grandfather, Jasmin retreats into a world of science and music, and while he wants her to become the next Einstein, her heart is set on gaining love and acceptance.

 

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AN INTERVIEW WITH KARINA CARDINAL FROM AUTHOR ELLEN BUTLER'S KARINA CARDINAL MYSTERIES

Today we sit down for a chat with Karina Cardinal from author Ellen Butler’s Karina Cardinal Mysteries. 

What was your life like before your author started pulling your strings?

I was just your average Joe working on Capitol Hill. Seriously, my life leaned toward the side of bland. I’d been dating this guy who seemed normal, and I worked for a medical association in their government affairs department. I attended lots of boring fundraisers and committee meetings. My life could not have been more ordinary. Then one day, it was like … poof … the end of my normal life. The guy I’m engaged to turns out to be a stalker. His father is involved with the mafia, and my own impetuosity gets me into a jam that endangers my life. Ever since then, I keep finding myself amid the most ridiculous capers. 

 

What’s the one trait you like most about yourself?

I’d have to say, I’m fiercely loyal to my friends and family. As a matter of fact, it is my utmost loyalty that has gotten me into some difficult situations. 

 

What do you like least about yourself?

Well, Mike would probably say it was my impulsiveness. It borderlines on recklessness. I’ll admit, patience is not my strength. I’m not good at waiting around, and, occasionally, I act before knowing all the facts. 

 

What is the strangest thing your author has had you do or had happen to you?

*eyeroll* Boy that’s a tough question to answer. So many choices—perhaps it was the time Rodrigo and I chased an assassin up I-95, until he turned the tables on us (Fatal Legislation). Maybe the time I allowed my neighbor to talk me into smuggling an Egyptian artifact into Mexico (Pharaoh’s Forgery). Or the latest, holding a séance at my aunt’s house to speak with the Civil War ghost living there (Spectral Revelations releasing October 2023). Really my author thinks up the most insane shenanigans. Sometimes I wonder if I’m in an I Love Lucy skit. 

 

Do you argue with your author? If so, what do you argue about?

Of course, we argue! It takes plenty of drafts and deletions before we’re both satisfied.

 

What is your greatest fear?

Losing my sister or family members during one of my escapades. 

 

What makes you happy?

Shoes. I love shoes. I’m an absolute shoe-a-holic. I should probably see someone about that. 

 

Of the other characters in your book, which one bugs you the most? Why?

That would be my neighbor down the hall, Jasper. He’s into reptiles, and his condo is like Wild Kingdom. He’s always wandering the halls with a snake or lizard. It freaks me out.

 

Of the other characters in your book, which one would you love to trade places with? Why?

My eccentric neighbor, Mrs. Thundermuffin. To say she’s colorful is an understatement. She’s also sharper than she lets on. I want to be like Mrs. T when I grow up.

 

Tell us a little something about your author. Where can readers find her website/blog? 

You can find her at her website. She also writes historical spy novels. You think I get into trouble. Wait until you read about her spies in WWII and the Cold War. Those ladies were something else. She bases the novels on true events.

 

What's next for you?
My author just finished the sixth book in my series, and she says she’s done with them. Perhaps, it means I can return to my normal life. However, you know the old saying—never say, never. Maybe in a few years, my author will come up with a new adventure. 

Ellen (the author): Don’t count on it. *crosses her arms and raises an eyebrow*

 

Pharaoh’s Forgery

A Karina Cardinal Mystery, Book 4

 

Margaritas, mayhem, and murder. Too bad her only defense is a cocktail umbrella.

 

After some of Karina Cardinal’s recent adventures—her lover Mike Finnegan would call them scrapes, jams, or pickles—she’s more than ready to blow this D.C. pop stand for a short girls’ trip to Mexico. Until Jillian’s roller skate wreck blows their plan out of the water.

 

With Jilly injured and Mike working, her fellow co-worker Rodrigo volunteers to share some sun, sand, and margaritas in Cancun. It’s tough to relax, though, knowing what’s in her suitcase. A package she promised to hand off to Mrs. Thundermuffin in Mexico.

 

Mrs. T’s evasive maneuvers around Karina’s questions wave more red flags than a bullfighter, leaving Karina no choice but to take a peek. Okay, so it’s not a kilo of something illegal. It’s an Egyptian death mask that turns out to be a magnet for crooks, conmen, kidnappers, and outright killers.

 

When the situation explodes into chaos, Karina and Rodrigo are lucky to have friends in the right place—at their backs. But they’re in one heck of a jam. And they could be going home in something tackier than a souvenir t-shirt—more like a body bag.

 

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AN INTERVIEW WITH THRILLER AND MYSTERY AUTHOR CARY J. GRIFFITH

Today we sit down for a chat with thriller and mystery author Cary J. Griffith. Learn more about him and his books at his website.

When did you realize you wanted to write novels?

The bug to write bit me mid-way through my sophomore year at the University of Iowa. That was more than three decades ago. I have been writing ever since. 

 

The urge to write novels came out of simply wanting to tell longer, more complicated stories that could not be told any other way. 

 

How long did it take you to realize your dream of publication?

I wrote lots of industry content about legal technology before publishing my first book. While my first book, Lost in the Wild, was nonfiction, I feel as though I used fiction-writing techniques to tell that story, as well as in the other nonfiction books I’ve written. My first novel came out soon after my first nonfiction book. That all happened around 2010. By that time, I had been pursuing creative fiction and nonfiction for more than two decades. So, it took approximately 20-25 years to realize my dream of publication. 

 

Are you traditionally published, indie published, or a hybrid author?

I am traditionally published. I have been able to sell all my books, fiction and nonfiction, to traditional publishers, without an agent. I admire and respect people who self-publish, or pursue the hybrid route, because I think it would be very difficult to handle every aspect of the publishing process. 

 

Where do you write?

Kitchen, study, home office, coffee shops, restaurants … wherever I can find an electrical outlet and a few spare moments, I write. 

 

Is silence golden, or do you need music to write by? What kind?

Silence is golden, but I can write with music in the background. Preferably classic. I would find it very hard to write while Bonnie Rait’s belting out Angel from Montgomery. 

 

How much of your plots and characters are drawn from real life? From your life in particular?

I have met very few really bad characters like the antagonists I write about in my novels. That said, Sam Rivers, the primary protagonist in my novels, is very much interested in the same things I am, wilderness and its flora and fauna. As a boy, he spent countless hours experiencing the transcendence and solace of nature, and so did I. 

 

Describe your process for naming your character?

I usually look for character names that sound good on multiple levels. Rivers is a great last name for Sam because it is indicative of his love of the outdoors and wilderness. Jon Lockhart, the primary antagonist in Killing Monarchs, is a very bad man, totally out of touch with his emotions. He has a locked heart. 

 

Real settings or fictional towns?

A little of both. Usually, I like to keep settings fictional to avoid any potential reader backlash. That said, sometimes I can’t help myself. There is a line in Cougar Claw in which I suggest residents of Shoreview, Minnesota (a real town) like to “dress up and put on …” – that was an observation that raised some reader’s ire. 

 

What’s the quirkiest quirk one of your characters has?

In Cougar Claw, Carla McGregor, the wife of the prominent businessman allegedly killed by a mountain lion, uses dice, numerology, and black magic to foretell the future. It’s only marginally effective. 

 

What’s your quirkiest quirk?

In daily life I am superstitious about the use of some numbers. For instance, I avoid using health club lockers that contain the numbers eight or five. Of course, I know this makes no sense whatsoever. 

 

If you could have written any book (one that someone else has already written,) which one would it be? Why?

A very, very, very tough question. There are so may I love and admire. Hemingway’s Old Man and the Sea because nearly every sentence moves me, Steinbeck’s Grapes of Wrath because it is such a well-told tale of family, poverty, and society. But if I had to say just one, it would probably be Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudicebecause it was confoundingly interesting, timeless, worked on so many levels, and was a beautiful love story. 

 

Everyone at some point wishes for a do-over. What’s yours?

That I could have the success I enjoy now, writing and publishing books, when I was in my thirties. 

 

What’s your biggest pet peeve?

For the life of me, I cannot find an agent. I have written seven books, both fiction and nonfiction, with more in the offing – some having won awards – but I have never been able to find an agent.

 

You’re stranded on a deserted island. What are your three must-haves?

Food

Water

The Complete Works of Shakespeare

 

What was the worst job you’ve ever held?

Laying sod. 

 

Who’s your all-time favorite literary character (any genre)? Why?

Ulysses, a hero who goes out into the world and has many incredible adventures and returns home penniless and wise. 

 

Ocean or mountains?

This is the toughest question on your list. I cannot choose.

 

City girl/guy or country girl/guy?

Both

 

What’s on the horizon for you?

I have three books coming out over the next year: Killing Monarchs and Dead Catch, both Sam Rivers Mysteries, and Gunflint Falling: Blowdown in the Boundary Waters (nonfiction).

 

Anything else you’d like to tell us about yourself and/or your books?

First, and foremost, thanks to Lois Winston for providing us writers with the space to talk about our craft, books, and whatever else comes uppermost to mind. 

 

Killing Monarchs

A Sam Rivers Mystery, Book 3

 

As a special agent for the US Fish & Wildlife Service, Sam Rivers has studied a variety of animals. He visits an elementary school to share photographs of the monarch butterfly, and he brings his drug-sniffing wolf dog, Gray, to give a demonstration of his partner’s remarkable skills.

 

Gray follows his nose to a school utility room, where Sam discovers the custodian, dead. Local police write it off as a drug overdose, but Sam is no stranger to crime scenes. He suspects foul play.

 

When Sam comes upon a second victim, the coincidences are too great to ignore. His instincts tell him there’ll be more deaths, but those instincts put him at odds with conventional law enforcement. Armed with his knowledge of the natural world and his wolf-dog companion, Sam must uncover answers to questions that few others believe exist—before anyone else is murdered.

 

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AN INTERVIEW WITH HARPER FROM AUTHOR KAREN CHARLES' THRILLER, FATEFUL CONNECTIONS

Today we sit down with Harper from author Karen Charles’ thriller, Fateful Connections.

 

What was your life like before your author started pulling your strings?  

Before my author started pulling my strings, life was pretty predictable, stable, and secure.  It was demanding but consistent.

 

What’s the one trait you like most about yourself?  

I am trustworthy, dependable, and honest.

 

What do you like least about yourself?  

The trait I like the least about myself is that I have a tendency to work too many hours.

 

What is the strangest thing your author has had you do or had happen to you?  

The strangest thing my author had me involved in was a major car accident.  I was hanging upside down in my seatbelt in an overturned car, unable to get out.

 

Do you argue with your author? If so, what do you argue about?  

I am a problem solver so once-in-a-while I would argue with the author about how to overcome obstacles.

 

What is your greatest fear?  

My greatest fear is a car accident with a fire.

 

What makes you happy?  

What makes me happy is a peaceful home with someone I love.

 

If you could rewrite a part of your story, what would it be? Why?  

If I could rewrite a part of the story, it would be the four of us traveling home safely without Oscar terrorizing us. It gives me nightmares.

 

Of the other characters in your book, which one bugs you the most? Why?  

The character in the book who bugs me the most is Ethan.  To him everything is black and white, whereas to me, life is full of uncertain gray areas.

 

Of the other characters in your book, which one would you love to trade places with? Why?  

Of all the other characters in the book, I would love to trade places with Anna. She has a wonderful life on the ranch with so much happening, great amenities, fun entertaining guests, and a chef.

 

Tell us a little something about your author. Where can readers find her website/blog?  

My author has great depth and insight in her writing, having lived in other cultures and traveled a lot.  She is a global citizen with a world view, respecting, understanding, and celebrating the differences in people, realizing we are all humans.  Find more about her at her website.

 

What's next for you?  

I hope to be a character in her next thriller.

 

Fateful Connections

Fateful Connections tells the story of four people brought together by the tragic events of 9/11 in the United States. These four individuals were attending a conference in Seattle, Washington, and found it nearly impossible to make it back to their homes, which were scattered across the country. They decide to rent a car and drive together, as they cannot get any flights home. As rental cars are also impossible to come upon, they find a friend who has access to a repossessed car, which he is willing to rent out. Unbeknownst to the friends, the rightful owner of the car wants his car back, and as they find out, hidden inside the car are drugs and guns. What ensues is a dangerous journey which impacts the four friends’ lives forever. The story follows them on their harrowing journey home, then one and two years later as they meet up for an annual reunion. 

 

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AUTHOR ANNE LOUISE BANNON ON JUGGLING GENRES AND THE VOICES IN HER HEAD

Author Anne Louise Bannon’s husband says that his wife kills people for a living. Bannon does mostly write mysteries, including the Old Los Angeles Series, the Freddie and Kathy series, and the Operation Quickline series. She has worked as a freelance journalist for magazines and newspapers, including the Los Angeles Times. She and her husband, Michael Holland, created the OddBallGrape.com wine education blog, and she co-wrote a book on poisons. Learn more about Anne and her books at her website.

Switching It Up

I am writing the final book in a time travel trilogy. I am thinking about a new cozy mystery series, and a new historical mystery series. I’ve also got my cozy spy series currently running on my blog. Not to mention a new tech thriller coming out in June.

 

What?

 

Am I crazy?

 

Well, yeah. Of course, I am. But I don’t read only one type of fiction. Why would I write only one type?

 

How do I keep all these different projects straight? That is harder to answer. Some of it is my native creative process. Since I tend to “hear” my writing before putting anything on the screen, my characters all sound very different to me. Jannie Miller, the protagonist in the thriller, Running Away to Boston, sounds nothing like Lisa Wycherly, who is the protagonist of the Operation Quickline series, book ten of which, From This Day Forward, is the serial currently running on my blog. Even more distinct is Maddie Wilcox of the Old Los Angeles series (the most recent release there is Death of an Heiress).

 

Even when I’m writing in third person, as I do in the time travel trilogy, it all sounds different to me.

 

Then there are the different tools I use to keep everything straight. Most of them are apps, such as Evernote, Aeon Timeline, Scrivener. But I still have plenty of paper on my desk, along with pens (including several dip pens that I use for the fun of it.)

 

Ultimately, I am telling a story, and the genre that the story happens to fall into is not usually what I’m thinking about when the characters are busy acting out their scenes in my head. The recently released Time Enough, the second in the time travel trilogy isn’t about time travel, per se. It’s about Robin Parker and Roger York and all the other characters that populate this world that I made up. From This Day Forward isn’t really about the spy business. It’s about Lisa and her new husband Sid Hackbirn and how they’re figuring out what being married is. The spy part is what they do for their jobs. Running Away to Boston isn’t about computer viruses and man-in-the-middle attacks. It’s about Jannie Miller and how she and her friends go up against this evil corporation creating a nasty virus.

 

The trick is marketing these different stories. People want to know what genre a story is to make it easier to decide what to read and what not to read. I get that. So I tell people about what kind of book a given story is and hope that it comes through. Because, trust me, no one knows what a cozy spy novel is. But that’s the story my brain wanted to tell, and I went with it.

 

So if I ask you to kindly consider reading the Operation Quickline series, please understand that Lisa and Sid are a lot of fun, and hopefully, people that you might recognize doing some pretty scary things. Same with Jannie Miller. And Robin and Roger, and all the other people in my head.

 

Because there is a real blessing to switching things up, writing-wise. I’m seldom bored with what I’m writing, which means my stories get more interesting as I go on. And I hope, more interesting for you.

 

From This Day Forward

An Operation Quickline Story

Come, share the joy…

It’s The Big Day. Sid Hackbirn and Lisa Wycherly are getting married. But in the days and weeks before the wedding, the pair discover that there is something very strange going on with their work as ultra-top-secret counter-espionage agents. Courier drops are coming in without the usual processing. The bad guys tailing them are unusually persistent.

 

Then Sid and Lisa take off for their honeymoon only to find that the nice, relaxing vacation in England that they had planned will be anything but. They’re being trained for their new job and will be touring the European continent, instead. Skiing in Gstaad, Switzerland, touring Venice, Italy, doesn’t sound so bad, except that the two get sucked into a dangerous plot, with bad guys trying to kill them. Still, trying to figure out what the potential killers are planning might actually be easier than trying to figure out how to be married.