Island Confidential: Terri L. Austin

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Author Interview: Sybil Johnson, Paint the Town Dead

The Ocean Painting Society invites you to join the painting wave…

It’s June in the quiet Los Angeles County city of Vista Beach, the place computer programmer and tole-painting enthusiast Aurora (Rory) Anderson calls home. Decorative painters are flocking to the newly built Akaw hotel to attend the Ocean Painting Society’s inaugural convention.

During the week-long event, Rory plans on shopping the trade show floor, working in her mother’s booth, taking classes and connecting with other decorative painting fans. She doesn’t expect to witness her childhood friend collapse in class and die. When the police find no evidence of foul play, Rory embarks on her own investigation. Can she brush aside the lies to uncover the truth and bring the killer to justice?

Q: Can you tell us what the book is about?

I’d love to! In PAINT THE TOWN DEAD, computer programmer and tole painting enthusiast Rory Anderson attends a painting convention at a newly built hotel in downtown Vista Beach, the California beach city where she lives. The hotel is embroiled in controversy. Protesters picket outside the main entrance and generally make life miserable for its owners and guests. Rory herself is targeted because she wrote software for the hotel. Even with all that’s going on in the city, she’s looking forward to shopping the trade show floor, taking classes, working at her mother’s booth and connecting with other decorative painting fans. She’s not expecting to witness a childhood friend collapse in class and die. When the police find no evidence of foul play, Rory launches her own investigation into her friend’s death.

Q: What is tole painting?

The term tole painting is traditionally applied to the art of painting on tin but, when I started taking classes in the 90s, it was used in a broader sense to mean the decoration of objects using various painting strokes and techniques. These days the term decorative painting is more commonly used, though I tend to use the two terms interchangeably. Folk art such as Norwegian Rosemaling, German Bauernmalerei and Russian Zhostovo fall under this umbrella. Today there’s a broad range of pattern books and packets available for the painter to choose from or you can come up with your own designs. Don’t tell my husband, but I’ve got a whole closet full of wood and other surfaces to paint. So many projects, so little time!

Q: How does your own painting experience inform your writing?

From all of the painting projects I’ve done over the years, I’ve learned a lot that I apply to my writing.
• Be patient with yourself, you can only paint/write based on your ability at the time. With regular practice comes improvement.
• Don’t constantly compare yourself to others, thinking everyone writes or paints better. Just do the best you can.
• You won’t know what a project will look like until it’s finished. The intermediate stages often seem ugly both in painting and writing. Don’t fret over it. Don’t give up. A painting project looks better after it’s varnished. A writing project looks better after it’s polished.
• Nothing is written in stone. You can always start over. Wood can be sanded. Paint can be removed from most surfaces. Characters can be changed, plots restructured, sentences reworded. Don’t make the mistake of thinking that, just because you’ve written something down, it can’t be modified.
• You don’t have to do everything the way the instructions say. Paint colors can be changed. Parts of a design can be omitted. Writing rules can be broken as long as you understand what those rules are and why you’re ignoring them.

Q: Your covers are so cute, who designed them? Who came up with the idea?

They are great, aren’t they? I really love them! Both of them were designed by the same artist, the talented Stephanie Chontos, in collaboration with my publisher, Henery Press.

Q: Being a writer seems like a big shift from working in computer science. How did you make the decision to leave tech?

I moved from the software development world into writing mysteries because I was looking for a new challenge. At that time, I was working freelance and my contract had ended. One morning I woke up with this vision of a young woman finding the body of her painting teacher in her garden so I decided to try writing. From that germ of an idea my first book, FATAL BRUSHSTROKE, was born and published many years later. I was lucky enough to be able to quit my day job and devote myself full-time to writing.

There are more similarities between programming and writing mysteries than you might think. The approach to writing a mystery and writing a program is fairly similar. In both, you start with an idea and a set of requirements. For a mystery it’s what a reader expects to see in the story; in programming it’s a list of features. They also both involve a period of design. At least that’s true for me since I’m an outliner not a pantser. In writing, I’m plotting the storyline and “designing” characters; in programming, I’m designing algorithms and deciding how to structure the code. There are also artistic aspects to writing code. An elegant piece of code can take my breath away just like a well-written/well-plotted book.

Q: Writing can be very solitary. How do you balance the need for solitude with the need to get out and be with people?

Even though I do enjoy being around people, I’m pretty content with staying at home for long periods of time so I try to schedule regular outings. I study Ancient Egyptian and Coptic with a group I’ve been a member of since the 90s, so that gets me out of the house on a regular basis. And I plan lunches with friends and attend Sisters in Crime/LA’s monthly meetings.

Q: Give your fellow writers one great tip–productivity, craft, marketing, anything!

Take time to celebrate your accomplishments. This is something I know I don’t do enough. With all the deadlines and writing one book while finishing up another, I think writers sometimes forget to take time to acknowledge what we’ve accomplished. Taking a germ of an idea and fashioning it into a finished novel is a huge achievement.

Q: What’s next for Aurora?

A heat wave, a little romance, a trompe l’oeil painting class and, of course, a murder to solve.

Sybil Johnson’s love affair with reading began in kindergarten with “The Three Little Pigs.” Visits to the library introduced her to Encyclopedia Brown, Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle and a host of other characters. Fast forward to college where she continued reading while studying Computer Science. After a rewarding career in the computer industry, Sybil decided to try her hand at writing mysteries. Her short fiction has appeared in Mysterical-E and Spinetingler Magazine, among others.

She’s the author of the Aurora Anderson Mystery series, set in the world of decorative painting. The first in the series, Fatal Brushstroke, will be released by Henery Press November 18, 2014.

Originally from the Pacific Northwest, she now lives in Southern California where she enjoys tole painting, studying ancient languages and spending time with friends and family. Visit Sybil at http://bit.ly/1Oay8Fc

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Filed under: Author Interviews, Fun, Terri L. Austin Tagged: Author Interviews, blog tour, cozy, cozy mystery, funny, paint the town dead, tole painting
from Author Interview: Sybil Johnson, Paint the Town Dead

Author Interview: LynDee Walker, Cover Shot (part of an Agatha-nominated series)

It’s been a slow news month in Richmond, and crime reporter Nichelle Clarke is enjoying the downtime when ominous messages and a dead body kick things into high gear. And that’s before the guy with the rifle takes a hospital full of people hostage.

Up to the top of her knee-high Prada boots in leads, Nichelle finds her favorite detectives under pressure to make an arrest, but it doesn’t add up—and ignoring the “why” of this story could cost Nichelle the most important person in her life.

With too much to lose, a shot at the story of a lifetime, and a missing bullet that might be the key, landing this headline could save the day, but can Nichelle dig up the truth before the killer buries her with it?

Books in the Headlines in High Heels Mystery Series:

Q: Aloha LynnDee, and thanks for stopping by! Cover Shot is #5 in the Agatha Award-nominated Headlines in High Heels Mystery series. Can you tell us what the series, and the newest book, is about?

A: The series follows crime reporter Nichelle Clarke as she moves into more investigative reporting. The books are humorous mysteries with a little romance, and the main storylines take on some big issues: police and political corruption, religion as a business, the healthcare system…Nichelle chases important stories, and we all get to have some laughs along the way.

For this book, I wanted to show how pivotal photos can be to a story, and I also wanted to take a big issue from current headlines and flip it on its head to see what would happen. It was probably the most complicated book in the series so far, but it’s also the one that gives me the biggest sense of accomplishment when I look at the finished product.

Q: You started out as a journalist. Was there anything about news reporting that you brought with you to fiction writing? What did you learn about drawing in readers and keeping them engaged?

A: The most helpful skills I brought from the newsroom are the ability to write in any noisy environment (great whether the noise is coming from my littles or a crowd at Starbucks) and the ability to write on deadline. When you’re a journalist, you don’t have the luxury of “waiting for the muse:” the editor expects his copy on time, and you’d better have it ready.

I think the ability to hook a reader and keep them turning pages has less to do with journalism and more to do with just being a good storyteller, though it’s a skill that serves authors and reporters both well. News writing did teach me that the first sentence is everything. That line is the one that gets picked apart and tinkered with the most in every one of my books.

Q: What are some similarities and differences between writing articles for a deadline and writing a novel?

A: With a first novel, you have the luxury of taking your time. You can study every single word and rewrite to your heart’s content. When you’re working under deadline, like with journalism, there comes a point when you have to be finished. That said, I do think it’s true that practice makes every author better, so what would’ve taken months of revising on a first book take s a couple days by the fifth. That part is nice.

In both cases, you want to write the best story you can in the fewest words you can. When I first started writing fiction, I made the mistake of using way too many big flowery words, and they weakened the story. Use strong words. Make every scene count. The same lessons I learned in journalism school, just reworked slightly for the longer form of novels.

Q: Your website is gorgeous, and fits very nicely with the feel of your books. What went into its design?

A: Weeks of work and a whole lot of swearwords. (I’m kidding. Sort of.)

Thank you for the sweet comment—I’m really proud of the fact that I did it myself. I am not a technical girl at all, but I had an idea of what I wanted and I taught myself web design via Google (“why are there gray boxes around my photos? Oh. This says to use this code to make them go away. Copy. Paste. Fixed.”) My editor sent me the artwork and color codes from the cover of Front Page Fatality, and I used those to make the site go with the books.

Q: Over the five books in the High Heels series, how have you allowed the characters to change, and what has stayed the same? How do you address characters’ aging over the course of a series?

A: I think everyone has changed in some way—it’s one of my favorite things about writing the series. The characters are like friends to me, and I love watching them learn and grow. Nichelle has realized a lot of things about herself, good and bad, that have given her more confidence or are helping her be a better person. Bob has learned he’s not Superman and has some limits, and he’s gotten more protective of Nichelle. Parker has gone from Captain Notch on the Bedpost to a one-woman guy. Joey has tried to fight his attraction to Nichelle pretty unsuccessfully, while Kyle has tried just as hard to win her back. I love opening a new file and getting to catch up with them all. The constant in my stories is that the main characters are good people at heart—flawed, sure, but all trying to make some kind of positive difference in their corner of the world.

Nichelle is aging, and since I have so many stories of hers I’d like to tell, I started her out pretty young (28) and I’m moving the timeline by only a few weeks or months at a time.

Q: Do you have any cast iron skillet recipes for a beginner? I have a cast iron skillet and no idea what to make in it.

A: My mother made the world’s best cornbread, and the skillet was the secret. Here’s how you do it:

1 cup white cornmeal
1 cup yellow cornmeal
2 cups all purpose flour
1 cup water
1 cup milk
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup butter (softened)
2 eggs
1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
1/4 cup honey
2 tablespoons vegetable oil

Preheat oven to 375.

Before you start mixing the batter, put the oil into your cast iron skillet, and put it in the oven to heat while you’re making the batter.

In a large bowl, beat sugar, butter, eggs, milk, honey, and water (I have a kitchenaid stand mixer that does this beautifully: use the flat paddle beater and speed 3).

In a separate bowl, combine cornmeal, flour, baking powder, and salt.

While mixing, slowly add dry mixture to batter. It will be slightly lumpy when fully mixed.

Take the skillet out of the oven (careful, it’s hot!), and tilt it so the inside gets coated with the oil. Quickly pour your batter into the skillet (the outside of the bread gets flash-fried in the hot oil, which is how you get the crispy crust), and then pop it into the oven.

Bake for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Q: So now that you’ve given us something delicious and fattening, what one or two things would you recommend to writers and other computer-bound people to maintain health and sanity?

A: Sunshine and exercise. It’s sometimes hard for me to follow my own advice, because between children and deadlines, my days stay full—but getting outside for a walk or a bike ride recharges me like nothing else.

Links to where readers can follow you (Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, etc.)

Twitter:
Facebook:
Pinterest:

Thanks so much for having me today! What a fun interview!

LynDee Walker’s award-winning journalistic work has appeared in newspapers and magazines across the nation.

Her debut novel, FRONT PAGE FATALITY, is an amazon and Barnes & Noble #1 bestseller, and was nominated for the Agatha Award for Best First Novel. DEVIL IN THE DEADLINE is the fourth in LynDee’s Headlines in High Heels mystery series. The fifth COVER SHOT is out November 2015.

LynDee adores her family, her readers, and enchiladas. She often works out tricky plot points while walking off the enchiladas. She lives in Richmond, Virginia, where she is either playing with her children, working on her next novel, or admiring beautiful shoes she can’t wear.

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Author Interview and giveaway: Terri L. Austin, Diner Knockout

Today’s guest is author Terri Austin, author of Diner Knockout and three previous Rose Strickland mysteries. If you’re a fan of greasy spoons and fight club goons, read on!

Q: Terri, can you tell us what the book is about?

A: I’d be happy to. And thanks so much for having me on today!

Rose Strickland’s life is complicated. Besides her waitressing gig, she works part-time for Andre Thomas, a PI with no faith in Rose’s ability to investigate, her love life with Sullivan has stalled, and her BFF, Roxy, has found a new bestie, leaving Rose out in the cold.

Determined to prove herself, Rose takes a case on the sly. As she searches for a missing MMA fighter, Rose discovers an illegal fight club, a group of ruthless businessmen, dead bodies, and a trail of drugs.

Hunting down clues that lead too close to home, Rose finds herself in the fight of her life. Can she beat the killer to the punch before she gets knocked out for good?

Q: What kind of research did you do for Rose’s PI job? Do you have any PI experience?

A: I have no PI experience, sadly. I find news articles and I also subscribe to a PI magazine that I find fascinating. I’m always surprised at the lengths to which criminals will go. If they’d just put all that initiative to good use!

Q: When I was younger, with a stronger stomach, I used to love going to diners– the sketchier, the better. Tell us about your favorite diner!

A: Unlike the fictional Ma’s Diner, my local greasy spoon is open for breakfast and lunch. The omelets are amazing and there’s always a wait time. The waitresses are tatted up, but super friendly. It’s homey and smells divine.

Q: Your series covers are fantastic–who designed them? Who came up with the idea?

A: Thank you! I love them, too. I have to give all the credit to my editor, Kendel, and the creative team at Henery Press. They’ve really branded their cozies with adorable covers.

Q: Your Amazon author page lists nine books, and the earliest publication date is 2012. What are your productivity tips for writing several books a year?

A: Life will try to horn in on your writing. Don’t let it! Make time to write. NaNoWriMo your way through each book if you have to. At the end of the year, that’s a lot of words on the page.

Q: Writing can be very solitary. How do you balance the need for solitude with the need to get out and be with people?

A: I’m an introvert, so I don’t mind holing up at home. I have a group of friends I see almost every Friday night for dinner and board games. They keep me from being a total hermit.

Q: What’s next for Rose?

A: More mysteries to solve. More family drama to wade through. And more time with the hottest crime lord in town, Sullivan!

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As a girl, Terri L. Austin thought she’d outgrow dreaming up stories and creating imaginary friends. Instead, she’s made a career of it. She met her own Prince Charming and together they live in Missouri. She loves to hear from readers. Drop her a note at TerriLAustin.com.

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