Interviewing Kathryn Lively on Her New Release, Dead Barchetta

Today I am interviewing Kathryn Lively on her new mystery release Dead Barchetta. Once I am done with the book, I will be posting a review of it on my blog too. If you have any questions for Kathryn, do leave them in the comments. I'll have to approve them but she will see them and answer them, too.

1.) -Please tell us about your latest book.

Dead Barchetta is a mystery written by my "alter ego," the saint to my sinner (LOL). It is the result of six years of false starts and the resolve to fulfill an auction bid made at a convention for Rush fans. It is a story of how an attempted killing leads to a realization of mistaken identity, and consequently one man's spiral into paranoia and desire to find answers about the forces working against him (or, at least what he perceives as much). In the end, our hero discovers perhaps his life has been a lie all along.


2.) -Can we expect more mysteries from you in the future?

That’s the plan. I have a partial written that I need to finish. It is also set in Virginia Beach against a music background. Plus, I intend to write a sequel to Dead Barchetta.

3.) - What motivated you to start writing?

I don’t believe there was a time when I didn’t write. I honestly believe the desire was born with me. All through elementary and middle school I made up stories, and they must have been memorable since my principal once suggested I should do it professionally.

4.) – What kind of research did you do for this book?

I have musician friends who were able to clarify some of the finer points with regards to the guitars Lerxst plays. I also have a friend in law enforcement I bug for information. Since part of the story is set in New York, I made a trip up there to get a feel for the setting.

5.) Do you have a set schedule for writing or do you just go with the flow?
Given my work and home schedule, I write when I have a free moment. I used my iTouch mainly to write this last book, stealing moments to write a sentence here and there. The bulk of my work, though, is done at night pretty much until 1:00 A.M.

6.) - Where do your ideas come from?

All sorts of places and experiences – some come from dreams, some are suggested by non-writer friends (my previous mystery, PITHED, was semi-based on my father’s experiences in teaching). Other times I’ll see something while driving on the way home and come up with an idea. I have more than I know what to do with!

7.) - Who, if anyone, has influenced your writing?

I tend to drift toward humorous writers like Carl Hiaasen and Dave Barry as far as the mystery is concerned.

8.) - Have you always wanted to be a writer?

I suppose I have. I really can’t think of anything else I’d rather do.

9.) - What is the most rewarding thing about being a writer?

I think the most rewarding thing for me is to receive a letter from somebody who enjoyed your book…somebody who isn’t a relative!

10.) - Please tell us about yourself (family, hobbies, education, etc.)

Well, the short version: I’m originally from Florida and hope to get back there one day. My day job is working in social media, helping people boost their visibility in Facebook and Twitter. As for hobbies, I don’t have many – I’ve recently taken up knitting and I try to exercise when I can. Mainly I work, take care of my little girl, and write.

11.) - Are there any words of encouragement for unpublished writers?

Write, revise, and revise some more. Don’t be discouraged by rejection slips – often times the quality of the writing is not the issue. For all the creativity involved in writing, the publishing part is business. Find the house that best suits what you write.

12.) Tell us your website, MySpace, Blog, any urls so the readers can find out more about you.

I am all over the place. Here are the main URLs:

http://www.kathrynlively.com
http://www.deadbarchetta.com
http://www.facebook.com/livelywriter

13.) Now for something fun:

Chocolate or vanilla?
Chocolate, the more the better!

A walk in the woods or comfy indoors front of a fire? Walk in the woods.

All time favorite book? Hard to pick, but I’ll go with To Kill a Mockingbird.

Favorite color? Purple

Do you like science fiction, fantasy or horror?
I like all three, but tend to read more fantasy and horror than sci-fi. I once went through six of Mercedes Lackey’s novels in two months.

All time favorite actor? Kenneth Branagh. Never get tired of seeing his Henry V.

Actress? Hard to say. I try to watch Kate Winslet’s movies when I can, but I also enjoy watching Meryl Streep’s films, too.

Favorite TV show? M*A*S*H. I think I’ve seen every one.

Favorite Movie? Dr. Strangelove. I see something new every time I watch.
What makes you laugh out loud? The silliest things. My daughter could say something goofy and set me off for minutes.

If you could go anywhere in the universe where would that be? Someplace quiet, a deserted beach with white sand.

A secret desire? More time to write, but that’s not really a secret.

Thank you, Kathryn, for dropping by and letting me interview you.

Kathryn Lively is an award-winning writer and editor, and executive editor of Phaze Books. She is an EPIC Award nominee and has edited EPIC Award nominated titles for Phaze Books, Whiskey Creek Press, and FrancisIsidore ePress. She also maintains a pen name, L.K. Ellwood, for other mysteries.
Kathryn assists businesses with Virginia Beach social media services, and also works as a freelance writer.

BUY AT AMAZON

BUY AT SMASHWORDS