Welcome Stephanie Humphreys

I'd like to introduce you to another writer friend of mine - Stephanie Humphreys, who gracious let me interview her.

How did you pick the genre you write in?

I write whatever comes to my head. As I wrote Finding Rose, it surprised me when it came out a romance. The stories that usually spin around my head are usually suspense/mystery.


That's great to know! I too, love a good mystery! Do you plot or do you write by the seat of your pants?

I do both. I like to have a general idea of where the story is going, but I don't write too many details down before I begin telling the story. I am trying to get better at outlining because makes for fewer changes when I go back to edit. It seems to be a fine balance - if I don't plot, then the story wanders, but if I plot too much, then it feels like the story has already been told.


I hear ya! I'm the same way. If I plot too much I feel like I've already written the story. lol  So, what drew you to the subject of FINDING ROSE ?
Finding Rose was inspired by my great-great grandparent's lives. In the 1890's the LDS church had a contract with the Canadian government to bring men to Canada to help build the irrigation canals. My grandfather was called by Lorenzo Snow to do this and brought his family to Alberta. The beginning of Finding Rose shows Rose and her family dealing with a similar situation. Because there is such a large LDS population in Alberta,I wanted to write for them and tell a story showing LDS characters who leave Utah.


That's so awesome! I didn't know about that. Did you encounter any obstacles in researching it?
Not really. The hardest part about the research was not letting myself become distracted and forgetting to write the book. There are so many interesting historical events and people to read about.


I know what you mean. I LOVE doing research for my historical stories. Could you describe your book for the readers?

On his deathbed, Rose Sterling’s father asks her to consider Miles Crandall as a suitor. Then Rose is sent to live with an uncle in Spring Creek, Montana, far from her carefree life with her family in Utah. Miles is returning to his hometown of Spring Creek to set up a medical practice, so Rose is certain her being sent there is a setup. When Rose captures the attention of Miles’s younger, flamboyant brother as well as the town sheriff, Miles retreats even further from any attempt at courtship. How can Rose honor her father’s last wish if Miles doesn’t even try to court her? Will she have the courage to put her heart on the line and fight for the one she really loves?

This really sounds like a great story. What did you enjoy most about writing this book?

What I enjoyed most was seeing the story unfold. I wrote this book as part of National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) and I didn't do any advance plotting. I loved letting the characters tell their stories.


I love NaNo! It really helps writers to kick out that story quickly. So, what do you consider your strengths in terms of your writing?

My biggest strength is being able to write clean copy the first time through. This makes the editing process much easier. It allows me to focus more on the characters and story when I edit.


I'm so jealous! I wish I could do that. What do you consider your weakness and what strategies do you use to overcome it?

My weakness is plotting. I overcome this by keeping tons of notes. If I catch something that needs to be fixed I write it down so I can return to it later. That way I don't interrupt the flow of my writing time. With the book I am working on right now, I am trying to do more plotting in advance and fill in the holes and weaknesses of the story before I begin writing.


I love plotting! lol Where can readers find you and your books?

I would love to hear from readers. They can find me at

http://www.facebook.com/l/2dde3EOXzRG401Kt7ieLdnUbvvA;shumphreys.blogspot.com. They can purchase Finding Rose at http://www.facebook.com/l/2dde37VIUGQTR-ZP8CCDfn-zV4Q;DeseretBook.com
http://www.facebook.com/l/2dde3E9lAhO_agYU6a0-L2S5ROA;Amazon.com, or at their closest LDS bookstore.

Welcome Tristi Pinkston

I have recently met a fabulous author and I couldn't wait to interview her. Everyone welcome Tristi Pinkston!

How did you pick the genre you write in?


Well, it sort of picked me. I had started out my career in historical fiction, which I love, and will always love, and will continue to write, but when I had the idea for The Secret Sisters Mysteries, it just fell from the sky and smacked me on the head. The characters started talking to me like I’d known them for years, and it just snowballed from there.


I LOVE historicals!! I hope you write one soon. Do you plot or do you write by the seat of your pants?

I generally write by the seat of my pants, and then go back to add little threads of logic once I figure out where I’m going. It always makes me laugh when I get halfway through the mystery and then realize I now know who did it. You’d think I’d know that from the start, but no, not really.


Heeheee That sounds familiar since I do that as well. What drew you to the subject of Dearly Departed?

I’m trying to remember exactly how I got the idea for this particular story. I think it just leaped into my head, along with the others. I was particularly taken with the idea of little old women, one in a wheelchair with two casts, creeping down a hallway and trying to be inconspicuous.

You know...I can picture that too! lol  Did you encounter any obstacles in researching this story?

This story didn’t take a whole lot of research, but when I did have questions, I turned to my awesome critique group. One member, Heather Justesen, is an EMT, and another member, Nichole Giles, is married to a police officer. They help keep me on the straight and narrow with those kinds of details.


That critique group does sound awesome. What was the best writing advice someone gave you?

Several years ago, I signed at BYU’s Women’s Conference and got to sit next to Brenton Yorgason. He talked to me about the temptation to give in and write what the world would want me to write, and then he said to me, “Don’t ever pollute your pen.” I have never forgotten that and have tried to live up to that counsel.


That is great advice! Would you describe your book for us?

Dearly Departed is the sequel to Secret Sisters. Ida Mae has broken both her wrist and her ankle, and this gives her the perfect excuse to go investigate a suspicious death in a care facility. While she’s there, she interrogates the other patients, steals files from the doctor’s office, and gets herself in a spot of trouble of her own. But justice is served at the end.


This story sounds intriguing! What did you enjoy most about writing this book?

My characters. When I give them their head and just let them run, they come up with the most hysterical solutions to their problems. They make me laugh all the time.


I love when characters do that! What do you consider your strengths in terms of your writing?

With this series, definitely the characterizations, but I don’t think I can take credit for that. They just appeared, fully formed, and I wrote down what they said and did and who they were. They made it really easy for me.


I love when that happens, too. So what do you consider your weakness and what strategies do you use to overcome it?

I struggle to formulate all the little intricate details of the mystery. Sometimes it’s just not mysterious enough and I have to add stuff or take it out and throw in more red herrings. Again, that’s where my critique group comes in. They help me when things are just not making sense or when I haven’t laid out the scenario right.


You are truly blessed to have a wonderful critique group. Where can readers find you and your books?

You can generally find me right here at my computer, or taking a nap in my room, or … oh, wait, that’s not what you meant. You can find my blog at http://www.tristipinkston.blogspot.com/ and you can find my books here, which is my Amazon page:
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=tristi+pinkston&x=0&y=0

I also have a website at http://www.tristipinkston.com/, but it’s really outdated and I’m getting ready to launch a whole new one. It’s gonna be awesome.


Tristi, I can't wait to see your new website. Thanks for visiting my blog today, and I wish you TONS of success with your stories!

~Marie~

Book Cases!

No, not bookcases, but CASES for my books!  My husband loves to work with wood, and he built me some cases for my books, which now sit on my piano.

What do you think? They're beautiful, aren't they? And, if you are a writer, you know how important things like this are to help showcase our books.

(ignore the dates on the pics. I don't set my date on my camera. lol)

If any writers would like one (or more) for their books, let me know. My hubby will happily make them for you!! Send me your email.

~Marie~

Costco Book Signing

Hey all!  I'll be at Costco in Ogden, Utah, doing a book signing from 1-6. I'd LOVE for you to come see me. And bring your friends!!!

The address is 3656 Wall Avenue.

I'll be signing my romantic comedy - Winning Mr. Wrong!

I've been nominated TWICE!

So far 2011 is looking like a pretty good year for me. I found out that my book, Winning Mr. Wrong, was nominated for a Whitney Award. What makes this even more exciting is that a couple weeks ago I was told my book, Heart Of A Hero, was also nominated for a Whitney Award. WOO-HOO!!!

Here is the list of authors who have been nominated. http://whitneyawards.com/wordpress/2010/11/14/whos-been-nominated-for-a-whitney/

The judges will pick five finalists in each category by Feb. 1st. Keep your fingers crossed that I'm one of them!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2011!!

I'm really sorry to see 2010 go. I've had an extremely good year. In May I received my first contract for my Christian stories, then in August my first book was released, Winning Mr. Wrong, and in September my second book released, Heart Of A Hero. Earlier this month, I met with my publisher and they are impressed with my sales and my writing and they want more from me. So, as for now, they are going to publish three of my books in 2011. A release in Feburary, Hearts Through Time (my ghost story), and a release in June, and one in August. Then a few weeks ago a couple of agents shown interest in my writing...  Last but not least, I have gotten the Costco book signing schedule for January.

So, although 2010 was a very good year, I know 2011 will be even better!

Here is my schedule for Costco book signings...

January 7th - Costco in Orem, Utah from 1-6
January 8th - Costco in Ogden, Utah from 1-6
January 14th - Ogden from 1-6
January 21st - Bountiful, Utah from 1-6
January 22nd - Ogden from 1-6
January 28th - Ogden from 1-6
January 29th - Bountiful from 1-6

I'm looking forward to a fun-filled year!!

~Marie~