Interviews seem to be popular on blogs like this, so I thought perhaps it was time for me to interview an author I know as well as I know myself. Actually, it is myself. Here are answers to some of the questions I never get asked.
Q. Writers and editors are always talking about a "voice." How did you find your particular "voice?"
A. While trying to learn enough to write my non-fiction book,
The Tender Scar: Life After The Death Of A Spouse, I was challenged (sort of) to try my hand at fiction. I tried conventional fiction, novels about baseball, even cozy mysteries--no takers. But when I started writing "medical suspense with heart," readers (and equally important, editors) liked what I was writing. I still don't know what truly constitutes my "voice," but apparently it's pretty natural, so I've made no efforts to change it.
Q. Whoa! You mentioned novels about baseball. Had any of these published?
A. No. I still recall the members of my mentoring group at Mount Hermon Writers' Conference, who told me (after the fact), "When I saw we were going to have to read a chapter of your book, I didn't think I'd like it because it's about baseball. But now I'm anxious to see how it turns out." Unfortunately, they were the only ones who liked it, so that book is still on my hard drive. One of these days...
Q. You've been published by Abingdon Press and by Thomas Nelson (now Harper Collins Christian Fiction). Who will be the publisher of your next novel?
A. That's a good question, one to which I don't have an answer. As some of you know, Abingdon has discontinued its fiction line, so my next novel,
Medical Judgment, will be the last one from them. There's no word yet on who will publish the one after that,
Cardiac Event. But if the Lord tarries and I can keep writing, there will be more books from me. Meanwhile, I've also self-published a couple of novellas,
Rx Murder and
Silent Night, Deadly Night, available in both Kindle and print formats.
Q. What advice would you like to leave with blog readers?
A. Since I know the guy writing this blog pretty well, if you leave questions in the comments section, I think we can arrange for them to be answered in future posts. Meanwhile, thanks for this opportunity.
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