Cozy Author Donna Huston Murray and I Have a Lively Discussion (Part 2)

[[Cozy Author Donna Huston Murray and I Have a Lively Discussion (Part 2)]]
Well, we’re at it again.

As I wrote in Cozy Author Donna Huston Murray and I Have a Lively Discussion (Part 1), I long ago interviewed Donna and we remained friends ever since. Donna helped me with some troublesome characters, plotting, and some marketing, and I sent her flowers and chocolate.

Okay, not really but I wanted to.

We stayed in touch and recently came up with an idea for an non-interview; just sitting and talking with each other. Minimal selling, lots of sharing.

Part 1 is linked to above.

This time out we discuss

  • Plotting v Pantsing
  • Method
  • Winning awards – being a bridesmaid
  • being insecure
  • playing pro football
  • Making sure you have extra rolls of film for your camera
  • How to get awards and their value as an author
  • Scam Awards
  • The SIEVE writing method
  • the value of constantly learning and studying
  • Writers’ Block
  • Listening to yourself
  • Using (and not using) visual description
  • Why readers skim lengthy descriptions/exposition/narration
  • The power of present-tense fillers
  • Getting a character’s voice down/Getting your authorial voice down
  • Writing characters unlike you
  • The stupidity of agents
  • and Characters with exploitable weaknesses

Enjoy!

 
By the way, you can find Donna via her website, on Amazon, and lots of other nifty places.

Did you hear my VoiceOfIndie Interview with Beem Weeks and Stephen Geez?

Beem, Stephen, and I had a good chat a little while back on Fresh Ink Group’s TheVoiceOfIndie podcast.

Now our chat is posted on several platforms.

YouTube
FreshInkGroup.com
BlogTalkRadio
Spotify
I Heart Radio
Google Podcasts
StephenGeez.com
BeemWeeks.com

 
Stop on by any of them, take a listen, and let us know what you think.

Cozy Author Donna Huston Murray and I Have a Lively Discussion (Part I)

[[Cozy Author Donna Huston Murray and I Have a Lively Discussion (Part I)]]
Long ago I interviewed Donna Huston Murray and we remained friends ever since. Donna helped me with some troublesome characters, plotting, and some marketing, and I sent her flowers and chocolate.

Okay, not really but I wanted to.

We stayed in touch and recently came up with an idea for an non-interview; just sitting and talking with each other. Minimal selling, lots of sharing.

 
By the way, you can find her via her website, on Amazon, and lots of other nifty places.

Fresh Ink Group’s Beem Weeks and Stephen Geez interview me on TheVoiceOfIndie

Yes, indeed, it is true and will happen on Wednesday, 26 July 2023, 8pmET on BlogTalkRadio’s TheVoiceOfIndie podcast.

I love talking with people. I’m always learning. The topic doesn’t matter, it’s the individual who interests me.

Long ago I worked for NASA and was having a ball. At a family dinner, my brother-in-law, John, asked what I did.

I don’t remember what I said, only that I shared my joy at doing science as a job, one of my many dreams as a kid.

Brother-in-law John smiled throughout. I have no idea how long I talked. John laughed when I finished. “I have no idea what you said, only that whatever it is you’re doing you’re real happy doing it.”

I always remember that when I talk with someone.

The words are the vector, the message is the energy of what is said.

So Beem Weeks and Stephen Geez are interviewing me. Hope they enjoy whatever it is I say.

Stop on by, take a listen. Let us know what you think.

 

FRIDAY’S FANTASTIC FINDS: Joseph Carrabis Featured Author of the Week

Patty Fletcher, kind, gentle, and giving person she is, interviewed me and published our exchange at FRIDAY’S FANTASTIC FINDS: Joseph Carrabis Featured Author of the Week.

We talked about

  • My drinking and smoking
  • Where I live
  • The true meaning of Friendship and what true friends really are
  • Living a different life
  • What makes something a favorite
  • My biggest pet peeve
  • My strengths and weaknesses as an author

All of which I enjoyed.

Now what I enjoyed even more?

Receiving this from Patty before the post when live:

This is the best interview I’ve ever seen.

I’m readying this masterpiece interview for my blog.

I would like to say, yours is the very best I’ve ever had in this column. That having been stated, I’m also going to place this in my Writer’s Grapevine Magazine.
I sent that draft to my publishers yesterday. They will be getting an updated copy to include this today.
You answered all the questions as I’d hoped people would do. When I was creating this interview questionnaire I first wrote favorites rather than favorite. Then, I thought, “Hmmm? What if I asked favorite? Would they only list one or would they declare that impossible?” None of my clients or guests have ever listed only one. However, no one has ever written so openly. My mouth literally dropped open in awe as I read.
Thank you so very much for participating.

Yeah, I’m liking it.