Welcome to Readers Write to Know! I asked you, my readers, what questions they would ask their favorite authors if given the chance, and the authors visiting my blog answered them! This week, my friend Darlene Turner is my guest. Darlene and I have been together with Romantic Suspense A-Team for years. I love reading her books and I hope you enjoy her interview as much as I did (honestly, who didn’t love Scott Bao??). Read on to see how you can enter to win a copy of her latest release!
Tell us a little bit about yourself: My love of suspense began when I read my first Nancy Drew book. I’ve turned that passion into my writing and pray readers will be captured by my plots, inspired by my characters, and moved by my inspirational message. I’m represented by Tamela Hancock Murray of the Steve Laube Agency. Many of my books have made the Publishers Weekly Bestseller list and I’m so grateful!
I met my husband Jeff at the turtle races in Ontario, Canada. I love flavored coffee and I’m known for my love of plaid. You can connect with me at www.darlenelturner.com where there’s suspense beyond borders.
Tell us a little bit about your book: A killer on the loose.
A K-9 keeping watch.
Police constable Izzy Tremblay knows her father’s death was no accident, so when she finally discovers a lead and is immediately attacked, her suspicions are confirmed. The ambush leaves her in the hospital with three hours of crucial memory missing, which she knows holds the key to finding her father’s murderer. For protection, she takes refuge with her ex-partner, Austin Murray, on his K-9 ranch while she races to uncover the truth. But with danger still lurking, can they stay alive long enough to take down a killer?
Who was your first Screen/Musical Crush? Scott Baio. Loved him in Happy Days!
What is your personal, most effective way to get past writer s block? Step away from the keyboard. When I’m stuck, I will often go for a walk with my iPod and listen to music. This often helps me figure out how to move forward in my story.
What inspired you to start writing, or did you always want to write? My love of writing began with reading Nancy Drew as a girl, but even though I continued to read, the writing spark faded, and life happened. I started working, got married, and eventually moved to a different city. I didn’t have time to write…or at least, I didn’t think I had the gift, so I put it out of my mind.
Years flew by, and then the unspeakable happened. I went through some rough times and through my journey, I decided to take a creative writing course. This triggered the idea for the very first book I wrote. That’s when my love of writing re-surfaced and grew. So, God does use ALL circumstances in life to grow us, right?
Do you have your plot-line and character development already laid out before you begin writing a book, or do they develop as you write? Every writer’s process is different. I’ll share a bit about mine. I’m definitely a pantser, so plot, characters, and twists often come during rabbit trails! haha I come up with a basic storyline and pick the occupations for my characters. Then I take my hero, heroine, and villain through a character sketch to get to know them. This is my favorite part. It’s fun to create their likes, dislikes, fears, quirks, etc. I choose actors/actresses to base their physical descriptions on. I’m a visual person and need to “see” them! After I finish this, I begin chapter one. My first draft sometimes runs over the Harlequin’s Love Inspired 55K limit, so I normally have to cut words. I usually go through three to four rounds of editing before I do a read-through and send it off to my beta readers. Once I hear back from them, I finalize the manuscript and read it once more before sending to my LIS editor.
What advice do you have for aspiring writers? Keep at it! I totally understand. My road to publication took 10+ years. There were times I wanted to give up, but then I’d get encouraging words from someone who read one of my blogs. It was like God whispered in my ear, “Don’t give up.” Please, please…don’t give up. God really has the best journey in store for you!
What is your preferred method of writing? (computer, pen & paper, etc.) My laptop, but I’m now loving my Freewrite Traveler. It only has a little screen and forces me to keep writing and not edit. LOL
Who were some of your favorite authors as a child? (Book series, maybe?) Loved Nancy Drew.
Which of your characters most reflects your personality? I would say Madison Steele from Lethal Cover-Up. I actually wrote some of my fears and an experience from my childhood in that book. Plus, this book just happens to be set in my hometown province of New Brunswick!
What do you do when you hit a roadblock and have NO idea what to write? Brainstorm with my writer friends! It’s always fun to bounce ideas off each other.
Do you talk out plot lines with others, and if so, who? Yes a few authors. Mostly with Sami A. Abrams. It’s amazing how much we think alike! haha
How old were you when you wrote your first book? I started my own “Mindy Dobson” series when I was around 11. It was inspired by Nancy Drew. haha
Do you have a particular character that you fell in love with and keep them alive in your mind? Interestingly enough, it’s a secondary character from Alaskan Avalanche Escape – Bertie, the mountain man. I want to write his story into a novella. Hopefully soon!
Find Darlene online:
AFacebook (author page): https://bit.ly/2Woy8dK
Facebook (personal): https://bit.ly/3kLG5ST
Twitter: https://bit.ly/2Qso27O
LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/2UhbelT
BookBub: https://bit.ly/2QrdkhP
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/darlenel.turner/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19553274.Darlene_L_Turner
Amazon page: https://www.amazon.com/Darlene-L-Turner/e/B083RC78GW
Find Darlene’s book online:
Darlene is giving away a copy of K-9 Ranch Protection! Here’s how you can enter to win:
4 comments
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Love the cover!
Thanks so much, Lori!
Love that book cover it’s pretty much perfect, it calls me to read it and OH BOY do I ever look forward to reading this book and I’m excited to read this book. The book excerpt is so interesting and intriguing it makes me want to read the book heck what I’m trying to say everything about the book makes me want to read it
Thanks for chance to win
Thanks so much, Crystal!