Lindsay Downs has stopped by to talk about YA mysteries, intelligent K-9s and an Ice Queen.
MP-You use a collie in your books. Why that breed?
LD-Several years ago I was working on a book and found it was missing one elements, sort of a comic relief/hero. At the time I had a collie and thought it would be fun to use her, Kebi, in the story. I don’t think I would have included a different breed because I want something that is easily recognizable, friendly and has a natural protectiveness without being vicious. Intelligence was another factor. I feel the collie is one of the most intelligent of the breeds. I’ve seen them herd sheep with only whistle and or shepherd crook visual cues.
MP-What is your favorite genre to write? Read?
LD-Interestingly, what I write and read are totally different. I write YA-adult sweet contemporary mysteries. Shortly, I will be venturing into the regency romantic suspense genre for a project my publisher is putting together.
For reading my top choice is Regency romances but I’ve been known to read everything from contemporary to Sci-Fi. One of the few genres I don’t read is mystery.
MP-Of all your characters who would you like to punch in the face?
LD-Without a doubt the character would be ‘the brown-haired man’. Neither I nor my muse, Dakota, knows when he’s going to show up in a book until he does.
MP-Tell us more about the “Ice queen”.
LD-Ice Queen started out last year as a story based on the word prompt ‘ice’. I’m with a writing group (Tuesday Tales) and each week we write to a different word. A month or two later I decided to bring her back and over the weeks I’ve developed it into an interesting story line. Sometimes I don’t even know where I will be taking the story but in the end, when I do the BIG reveal, everything will come together into one complete story.
MP-What upcoming projects can we look forward to?
LD-On April 23, 2012 I signed the contract with my publisher, Astraea Press, for Emily Dahill, CID Part 2 so edits are definitely in my future. I’m also writing a story featuring several characters, Thaddeus Dahill and Sasha, from my Christmas story last year. This book will benefit The Pet Fund in helping to defray vet costs. For more information you can go to my blog. As I mentioned above I’m doing a Regency Christmas story for Astraea Press.
So, to say I’m busy is an understatement.
Blurb-
Special Agent Emily Dahill, Dakota along with her team of technicians are sent to Master Sergeant Annabelle Carlyle’s Victorian style house for what they think is a simple break-in. What they find however, turns out to be even more ominous and far reaching.
A secret passageway leads to a mysterious gunshot. When the prime suspect is cleared they still have no clue who the shooter is, or why. Could the shooter be the same individual who took a shot at Dakota?
Add into the mix the FBI and their unexpected involvement in the case.
Soon they learn the break-in had been a cover-up for a more nefarious crime. One that involves Emily’s nemesis, the brown-haired man, and millions of dollars being sent to terrorists.
Will they solve the case before the money disappears forever and more bodies turn up? Not even the inestimable Dakota is sure.
Astraea Press Amazon B&N
To request an autograph on your kindle (my author page)
http://kindlegraph.com/authors/ldowns2966
Bio and links-
It was from my parents that I developed a love for books. My father, a medieval scholar, collected the works of Sir Walter Scott with The Lady of the Lake, then and now my favorite. My mother collect Thomas Hardy. No comment on him.
When I was in high school I use to infuriate my English teachers by wanting to write my way, not the way they taught the class. Needless to say, I didn’t quietly rebel and usually won my argument.
Later when I started writing, with a focus toward being published, I remembered what I’d learned in school. All, that is, except for comma’s which I still can’t figure out.
After much trial and a lot of errors I developed my own, I sincerely hope, unique style or voice. Of course, my style now includes writing parts of my books in a POV which threw my editor for a loop until she realized that a collie was the hero of the stories
Blog- Murders and Mysteries
Twitter- Ldowns2966
LinkedIn- Lindsay Downs
Facebook/Author Page- Dakota-Hero
Goodreads- Lindsay Downs
Thanks
Michel
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