Welcome to Readers Write to Know! I asked you, my readers, what questions they would ask their favorite authors if given the chance. This week, I am so pleased to introduce you to professional model turned Love Inspired Suspense author, Terri Reed! And, read on — Terri is giving away a copy of her book, Joint Investigation. To enter, see the Rafflecopter at the end of the interview!

Tell us a little bit about yourself. I’m a mother, wife and writer. I grew up in the foothills of the Sierra-Nevada Mountains of California in a small community that, at the time, had only one traffic light in the whole county. I caught the travel bug early in life when I spent my summers as a kid traveling with my grandparents. After high school I lived in Italy for a while before moving back to California. I attended college in Sacramento where I met my husband, then we moved to New York city while I pursued a career in modeling which took me all over the US. I married my college sweetheart and when we found out I was pregnant with our first child we were living in Portland Oregon and knew this was where we wanted to raise our children.

Tell us about your current release.  JOINT INVESTIGATION is the story of FBI agent Sami Bennett’s pursuit of a serial killer who is operating on both sides of the US/Canada border. Royal Mounted Canadian Police inspector Drew Kelley teams up with Sami to put a stop to the killing spree and in the process Sami and Drew find they must rely on their faith and each other if they are going to survive their joint investigation.

With all those characters in your head screaming to get out how do you write fast enough to get it all down? I am a heavy plotter, meaning I write a very detailed outline/synopsis and stick to it as I write. I also fill out many character development forms and charts before I start writing so I can keep the characters consistent. I struggle in my writing when I don’t do this so have learned that my process is to plot, plot, plot.

What is your personal, most effective way to get past writer’s block?   Exercise, brainstorming with my critique partner and naps. When we exercise we release endorphins that help the brain to function. I don’t always have time to get to the gym for a class so walking at night with my husband or just putting on some music to dance to during the day helps me to work through any issues. Kicking around ideas with my critique partners helps to view an issue from a different perspective. And naps help me to rejuvenate as well as allow my mind to work through a problem with at rest.

What advice do you have for aspiring writers? Never ever stop learning and honing your craft. There is always something new to incorporate into your writing. Perseverance and persistent are key to success in any career. And always treat your writing with respect and professionalism.

What is your preferred method of writing? (computer, pen & paper, etc.) A little of both. I do a lot of pre-writing by hand but the actual writing of the novel is done on a computer.

Who were some of your favorite authors as a child?  I discovered Trixie Belden when I was very young. Then moved on to Nancy Drew. I devoured those books. I also spent many summer hours in the library while my mother worked. My all time favorite book is A Tale of Two Cities by Dickens.

Find Terri online at her website, blog, and Love Inspired Suspense

on Kobo:

on Barnes & Noble:

Enter to win a copy of Terri’s book!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

I’m so grateful for your visit, today.
You would bless me if you added me to your feed reader or subscribed via email.
You can also become a fan on Facebook or follow me on Twitter. I would love to see more of you!