Krista Lynn interview with David Alan Binder

Post date: Mar 5, 2018 11:54:23 PM

Krista Lynn interview with David Alan Binder

From her website: A memory-chapter I "read" often is about the cabin where we lived. From it could be seen a tall bluff that defined the course of the Agua Fria River. Old Indian, who lived with us, explained that an Indian burial ground was at the top of the bluff. He said we should never go there because it was sacred and protected by spirits.

Of course we did. We went there once. One time. My two brothers and I scrambled to the top of the cliff, and for two minutes it was just a small mesa dotted with cacti and mesquite brush. A jackrabbit burst from under its bushy shelter and birds flapped away at our intrusion. That was before everything went still - no breeze, no movement of any kind as the sun slipped behind a curtain of thin clouds, leaving the dim stage to our imagination. Imagination. That's what the adults said when we tried to explain what we felt and how, under a 110 degree desert sun, we were suddenly chilled to the bone before a dust devil kicked up dirt and pebbles and chased us off the mesa. And we heard voices....

See her site for the rest of the story under the ABOUT tab.

I'm writing a memoir of life on an Arizona gold mine called Three Days of Rain. I also write cozy mysteries in a series titled The Talking Board Mysteries that I am self-publishing this fall.

My author website: www.kristallynn.com

My Amazon Author Page: http://amzn.to/2uyZAo3

Blood Stones: http://bit.ly/BloodStonesCanyon

1. Where are you currently living?

I live in California with my husband and a menagerie of dogs, goats and one spoiled horse

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

There are many lessons that challenge a writer once he or she sets out to write a novel. I say ‘challenge’ because it takes time to learn the ropes, to study the craft of writing, to understand the industry, and ultimately navigate the road to publishing the story. So, the writer is always in learning mode, always striving staying in step with the process. For me, I think the one “truth” of writing is to stay true to your voice, trust your instincts, and write what you want to read. Have your work professionally edited and then let it fly!

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

I have no idea about this one J.

4. Tell us your insights on self-publish or use a publisher?

I started out with a publisher who offered very little editing and no promotional help. This publisher had a lot of issues and finally allowed anyone who wanted their rights back to be so issued. I opted to take my book and self-publish it. I am continuing that trilogy as a self-published work. I will seek a publisher for my next series as I’d like to be a “hybrid” published author.

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

I’m a new author just starting out with a supernatural romantic suspense series, so my experience is a bit limited. It is very easy to have both the eBook and print available with either Amazon CreateSpace or with any other online publishing platform. I think it is best to have both unless you are strictly going Amazon Kindle Unlimited (KU). A lot of KU authors don’t have print books at all.

But if you are planning on doing book signing, you, of course need to have physical books.

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

No secret here. Join a critique group that understands and enjoys the genre in which you write to keep you moving forward on the writing part. Join professional associations to keep abreast of the industry and to get guidance along the way.

But most important non-secret is – write, write, write, until you write the words THE END. This is the first draft and you must have that before you can go back and fix, edit, re-arrange until you have polished enough to send to an editor.

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

I didn’t pursue getting an agent, having watched several writer-friends try for over a year to get a positive response from the eighty or so agents they queried. I almost think it is a bit of luck to actually get one these days, especially in the romance and fantasy genre.

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

The surprising thing about writing has been how the story unwinds as I write. I tend to not do much beforehand in plotting out a story. I have a basic idea of the overall plot but a very clear idea of the characters. As I start writing, the characters take a life of their own. I’ve heard other writers say that their characters talk to them, and it’s true. They talk to me. I listen to them, feel who they are and somehow their dialog is spot on, their motivations become clear, and the reader is pulled in.

9. How many books have you written?

I have two books written and starting the third of the Sunset Canyon Series. The first book is available: Blood Stones: The Haunting of Sunset Canyon. Cast is Stone: The Secret of New Moon Mesa will be available in late summer.

I am also working on an compilation of my cozy mysteries: The Nora Pigeon Mysteries.

10. Do you have any tricks or tips to help others become a better writer (please be so specific that this most likely will not have been seen elsewhere)?

Get the story down. Write it and when you’re ready, there are several self-editing tricks. If you use Word, you can tighten your writing by using what I call Find and Destroy. One example is to find and re-write those sentences with word “was.” A reader is more engaged when the author is not using Passive Voice. Using ‘was’ is more Telling and not Showing. In other words, don’t tell your readers Jane was sad, show them how sad. “Jane sighed and wiped tears from the corners of her eyes.”

So, find the ‘was’’ in your story. You’ll be surprised at how many there are.

One should also identify the over-used words that all writers have. Like ‘Really’, ‘Well’, ‘Yeah’. There are online apps into which a writer can upload a manuscript and get a report back on the amount of times words are used. For Microsoft Word users, there’s a free Word Usage and Frequency add-in. Or, other online solutions are – TextFixer.com’s Online Word Counter, or WriteWords’ Word Frequency Counter.

Finding these over-used words can help you go back and possibly decide on other words to keep the writing fresh.

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

Always a good way to throw off the characters and the reader is to spring a betrayal into the mix. Someone who is trusted lies or somehow causes mayhem and possibly, for a time, misdirection before the heroine figures out what has happened.

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

Cover and Blurb! No doubt about it.

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

I promote on Twitter and Facebook at the moment. When Cast in Stone is released I will be more aggressive with paid ads.

I also promote my work and four other authors on my Speculative Fiction Writers website: http://bit.ly/speculativefictionwriters

This site offers writers opportunities to grow readership for our stories which fall into the genres of mystery, paranormal, urban fantasy, sci-fi, speculative history, and past lives. It also is a great site for those who read speculative fiction. We post short stories and flash fiction.

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

I would have waited until the Sunset Canyon Series was closer to completion before releasing the first book. If one has a continuing story, it is best to not keep your readers waiting!

15. What saying or mantra do you live by?

I LOVE Jim Croce songs.

I’ve Got a Name sort of fits, I guess, for a mantra because I identify with the truth of it. One has to believe in herself and not try to fit into other people’s ideas, but find those who are generally on the same path. Stick to your dream.

Like the fool I am and I'll always be

I've got a dream, I've got a dream

They can change their minds but they can't change me

I've got a dream, I've got a dream

Oh, I know I could share it if you'd want me to

If you're goin' my way, I'll go with you

16. Anything else you would like to say?

I love storytelling and one way to do that is with images. So, I started a graphic arts business which is mostly dedicated to producing book covers, designing websites and promotional graphics for authors. Please see my website: www.kristallynndesigns.com

Thank you!