Have you discovered Eva Pohler and her Gatekeeper’s Saga yet? Eva is featured this week on the blog hop, which gives you a great opportunity to learn about her and her work. I loved this comment:
At the very center of each of my stories is a woman fighting a battle. Sometimes it happens to be a literal battle, but even then, there are figurative ones. Always.
The Gatekeeper’s Secret
That’s something our work has in common–a strong woman, seeking justice. We’re proud of our heroines and all they accomplish, often against overwhelming odds. And while Greek mythology and Ozarks legends might not seem to have much in common, both series feature story lines focusing on family, love, and the need to avenge a wrong. In this, Eva knocks it right out of the park!
There’s mystery, myth, and legend just waiting for you. The fifth book in the series is due out very soon. Meanwhile, you can enjoy the first in the series free. Discover this great writer today!
The very talented Doranna Durgin has joined the blog hop party! Doranna is a marvelously prolific writer and I promise you’ll enjoy learning about her background, process, and current projects. I’ve invited her to share her post here, so check back soon. Meanwhile, here’s a link to her mystery fiction, featuring what just might be the world’s cutest Beagle!
There are lots of great authors out there writing in many genres. In today’s publishing world, authors often (usually) have to take the lead in marketing and publicizing their work. And so, in the spirit of collaboration, I’m inviting authors to share a bit of their writing lives here.
Whether these authors are old friends or new to you, I hope you’ll check out their work, click on their links, and share your thoughts about their books. This week, we’ll hear from mystery author Rae Davies. Let’s get to know her!
You’ve written in quite a few genres in your career. Tell us a bit about that experience, and how it shaped your writing today.
Rae Davies, Author with Despereaux and Nigel
I started in mystery and light, as in funny. That book was Loose Screw. While I was still shopping it, I started Love is All Around, my first romantic comedy. I sold that book very quickly which put me on a romance path and took me away from mysteries for quite some time.
Unfortunately, after two books it appeared light wasn’t selling. So I had rethink my career. Returning to mysteries would have required a huge shift—finding a new agent, leaving behind many contacts I’d made in the romance world, etc. So I went in another direction. I tried light paranormal, but that seemed a dead end for me. Then I went dark and sold to Harlequin’s Nocturne line. I wrote a number of books for them. I also wrote two urban fantasy novels which were published by Pocket Books. Those were also dark, but had shades of humor I think.
When authors discovered we could self-publish, do it well, find readers and pay our bills, I was there. I started with a vampire short story, but soon decided to go back to my very first book, Loose Screw and I’m glad I did. Writing the books make me happy and I love knowing the readers who “get” my books are happy too.
You and I share a common writing ground—the Ozarks. Which books use that setting?
I’m from the Ozarks and I am very proud of my heritage. My romantic comedies are set in the Missouri Ozarks. The people in Love is All Around and Love is All You Need are based on people I knew, many of whom I’m related to.
Your Dusty Deals mystery series features an amateur sleuth with a gorgeous Malamute. Tell us about them.
My main character, Lucy, lives in an old Montana mining community/ghost town that only has 20 year-round residents. She lives in an old log house bordered by National Forest with her Alaskan Malamute, Kiska.
I believe characters should love something so intensely they would do anything for that thing, person or place. Kiska is that for Lucy. Lucy’s a bit goofy, dives in to things headfirst, and is a little insecure, especially about her weight. Still, she is a good soul and I enjoy spending time with her and the quirky characters that surround her.
Where can readers find excerpts of your books?
I have an excerpt of my newest book, Let Loose, on my website. And you can download a free sample of my books from any of the ebook retailers.
What’s next in the Dusty Deals series?
I’m working on a novella right now set around Valentine’s Day. I’ve had readers ask for more time with Lucy and her cowboy detective boyfriend. In this novella the two of them, with Kiska, head out for a Valentine’s mystery weekend.
Continuing in the spirit of the hop, I’m inviting authors to share a bit about their writing lives here. You may already know some of these authors, while others might be new to you. And, like the blog hop, you’ll see a mix of writing styles and themes in the “Get to Know…” conversations. My first guest is the author Mike Faricy, who writes crime fiction. Let’s get to know him!
How did you come to the writing life?
From the time I was a little boy I’ve written stories. I was on the school paper and yearbook staff as a kid. When my children were young I’d write the first chapter of some future work of genius then put it aside for a while, write another first chapter, put it aside. After doing this for twenty-plus years I finally decided to either get serious or stop wasting paper.
A friend set up a lunch for me with William Kent Krueger, a local highly successful author. I knew without a doubt this was my ticket to the big leagues and showed him my manuscript. He laughed and told me that every writer has at least one project they keep hidden in a box under their bed. An inauspicious beginning if ever there was one! But he did encourage me to continue writing and make the next work better than the one I’d just completed. Probably some of the best advice I’ve gotten.
Some reviewers suggest your work is reminiscent of pulp fiction detectives. Another described your main character as “a ne’er-do-well detective.” What sort of character is he?
Dev Haskell is the sort of guy (or gal) we all knew in high school, he’s a little different. You wonder whatever became of him, but you also have enough sense to keep him at a distance. He’s not fighting terrorists or solving some major banking conspiracy. He’s not stopping some government coup. Instead, Dev deals with the social pool that lingers somewhere below polite society. The trouble these people find themselves in is due to their own bad decisions. But then, bad decisions make for interesting tales.
In addition to the Dev Haskell series, you have several stand-alone novels published. Of all your books, which is your favorite, and why?
My favorite is whichever book I’m working on. I just become totally absorbed. The relationships, clues, plot lines, character details. Does the person walk with a limp, or have a dog? All those intricacies take over completely. Once that book is finished, published, I’m onto the next project. If my manuscript is finished on Friday, Monday morning I’m writing page one of whatever the next work is.
What’s next for your readers?
Dev Haskell is back in Ting-A-Ling, due out later this month. You can keep up with Dev online at , and find news about all my work at Mike Faricy Books.
My thanks to Mike for giving us a chance to get to know him. Next week, I’ll interview Rae Davies, a fellow dog lover who writes mystery fiction. Please drop by and get to know this author!
If you’ve read my book Deadly Ties you know all the dog details match up with the standards and practices of the American Kennel Club. The AKC website is a treasure trove of information for dog lovers of all kinds.
Responsible Dog Ownership
So, whether you’re a professional in the dog world or you count a canine among your family members, there’s something on the AKC site that’s sure to appeal to you. One terrific resource provided by the AKC is WOOFipedia:
WOOFipedia, provided by the American Kennel Club, celebrates all dogs, and the people who love them. Our aim is to engage, entertain, and educate. The American Kennel Club is dedicated to upholding the integrity of its Registry, promoting the sport of purebred dogs and breeding for type and function. Founded in 1884, the AKC® and its affiliated organizations advocate for the purebred dog as a family companion, advance canine health and well-being, work to protect the rights of all dog owners and promote responsible dog ownership. For support, please contact us at: woof-info@woofipedia.com
Jump over to the Dogs, Dogs, Dogs section of this site to find links to two of my favorite WOOFipedia articles: Ten Surprising Truths about Dogs and Lessons Dogs Can Teach Us.
