Jennifer Kincheloe interview with David Alan Binder

 Bio from her website:    I'm a research scientist with an MPH from Loma Linda University and a Ph.D. from UCLA, where I was on the research faculty. And like most people, I adore developing complex statistical models. Seriously, I love it.

So what am I doing writing mystery novels? After eleven years in nerddom, I got chronic fatigue and was in bed for two months. It was devastating. I couldn't work. I slept most of the time. I escaped to reading whenever I was awake. I read all the classics, non-fiction, genre fiction, right down to the autobiography of Ricky Martin.

 When I finally crawled out of bed, my head was filled with one single notion.

 WRITE.

I was crazy for writing.  I wanted to do research AND write. So, I picked up a pen.

 There was one hitch.

 I didn't know how to write fiction. (You're not actually born with it.) Scientific articles, I could do. But novels? I hadn't a clue. So when I wasn't writing or conducting research, I was reading every writing book I could get my hands on. I treated it like one more graduate degree. This took a couple of years.

 I wrote THE SECRET LIFE OF ANNA BLANC (my first novel) and it won the mystery category in a huge contest. This was one of the most thrilling moments of my life.  I stepped down from the contest because the publishing contract wasn't a good fit. But it got the attention of Zoe King and Elizabeth Bonsor at The Blair Partnership (J.K.Rowling's agency), who approached me through LinkedIn. I was so excited; I couldn't sleep. Zoe arranged a publishing contract with the hottest new mystery imprint in the country, Seventh Street Books.

 THE SECRET LIFE OF ANNA BLANC was a finalist in the Lefty Awards for Best Historical Mystery, The Colorado Author's League Award for Best Genre Fiction, the Macavity Sue Feder Award for Historical Mystery, the Mystery and Mayhem Award, and is the WINNER of the Colorado Gold for Best Mystery. Every time I win or get nominated, it's a high.

 Books two and three in the Anna Blanc mystery series are coming out in Fall of 2017 and 2018 respectively. I'm dying to share them with you. I'm also doing research on the jails for the Data Science Unit of the Denver County Sheriff's Department.

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1.     Where are you currently living?

Denver, Colorado

 

2.     What is the most important thing that you have learned in your writing experience, so far?

To keep writing, no matter what. If your work is bad, keep writing. It will be good in the end if you persist.

 

3.     What would you say is your most interesting writing, publishing, editing or illustrating quirk?

I almost always write in bed.

 

4.     Do you self-publish or use a publisher?

Traditional publisher

a.     Who is the name of your publisher and in what city are they located?

 

Seventh Street Books

 

5.     Any insights eBooks vs. print books and alternative vs. conventional publishing?

I love audiobooks. To me, audiobooks feel all the more like story telling. I listen to them while I drive, nap, paint the house, or whatever. EBooks are great for people who need larger print. I’m so happy that books are more accessible now.

 

Self-publishing is a great way to go for people who like to do all the work. Some people make a lot of money doing it. But writing can be a lonely occupation. I love being with a traditional publisher because I enjoy the comradery with the staff at Seventh Street Books and other Seventh Street authors.

 

6.     Do you have any secret tips for writers on getting a book published?      

Contests!

 

7.     How did you or would you suggest acquire an agent?  Any tips for new writers on getting one?

My agent found me, which is backwards. But if you’re going to query agents, I recommend the website http://queryshark.blogspot.com/

 

8.     Do you have any suggestions or helps for new writers (please be specific and informational as possible)?

Read books on writing to learn the craft. I recommend Stephen King’s book On Writing , The Writer’s Journey by Christopher Vogler, and Anne Lamott’s Bird by Bird

 

9.     What was one of the most surprising things you learned with your creative process with your books, editing, publishing or illustrating?

That I could do it at all! Who knew?

10.                        How many books have you written?

Two and a half.

11.                        Do you have any tricks or tips to help others become a better writer (please be as specific and information as you possibly can)?

Push through your writer’s block. It will go away. From time to time, every writer feels like they’re all washed up.

 

12.                        Do you have any suggestions for providing twists in a good story?

Throw out your first ten ideas. The ideas you really have to dig for are the freshest.

13.                        What makes your or any book stand out from the crowd?

My character, Anna Blanc. She’s delightfully flawed.

 

14.                        What are some ways in which you promote your work?

Facebook, book tours, radio shows, conference presentations.

 

15.                         What is the one thing you would do differently now (concerning writing or editing or publishing or illustrating) and why?

Not a thing.

 

16.                        What saying or mantra do you live by?

I think it all boils down to Love.