It's a fantastic Wednesday!
We're half-way through another week, and I, for one, am ready for book talk. This week's guest is mystery author Cathy Perkins, who writes about an amateur sleuth.
Good morning, Cathy! How do you take your coffee?
CPP: Hi Ally, thanks for letting me visit today. Coffee? I keep it simple – black coffee; lots of black coffee.
Ally: We have that in great supply. While I pour, please introduce yourself to readers.
We're half-way through another week, and I, for one, am ready for book talk. This week's guest is mystery author Cathy Perkins, who writes about an amateur sleuth.
Good morning, Cathy! How do you take your coffee?
CPP: Hi Ally, thanks for letting me visit today. Coffee? I keep it simple – black coffee; lots of black coffee.
Ally: We have that in great supply. While I pour, please introduce yourself to readers.
Bio:
An award-winning author of financial mysteries, Cathy Perkins writes twisting dark suspense and light amateur sleuth stories. When not writing, she battles with the beavers over the pond height or heads out on another travel adventure. She lives in Washington with her husband, children, several dogs and the resident deer herd.
Something unique/unusual that isn't in your regular bio: “I’m also a glass artist. I love the colors and the way light plays with the pieces.”
Links:
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorCathyPerkins
Twitter: @cperkinswrites https://twitter.com/cperkinswrites
BookBub – follow me! https://www.bookbub.com/profile/cathy-perkins
Amazon Author page: http://www.amazon.com/Cathy-Perkins/e/B006K0IKUQ
website: http://cperkinswrites.com
An award-winning author of financial mysteries, Cathy Perkins writes twisting dark suspense and light amateur sleuth stories. When not writing, she battles with the beavers over the pond height or heads out on another travel adventure. She lives in Washington with her husband, children, several dogs and the resident deer herd.
Something unique/unusual that isn't in your regular bio: “I’m also a glass artist. I love the colors and the way light plays with the pieces.”
Links:
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorCathyPerkins
Twitter: @cperkinswrites https://twitter.com/cperkinswrites
BookBub – follow me! https://www.bookbub.com/profile/cathy-perkins
Amazon Author page: http://www.amazon.com/Cathy-Perkins/e/B006K0IKUQ
website: http://cperkinswrites.com
INTERVIEW:
Ally: Describe your writing process. Schedule, goals, etc.
CPP: On a recent trip, I listened to Stephen King’s On Writing. The book is part memoire and part writing insights. The thing that resonated with me was King’s writing process. He writes every day. He goes to his writing space and doesn’t come out until he has at least 1500 words on the page.
I thought about that advice for the rest of the trip and decided to incorporate it into my own life. I admit, my goal is 1000 words rather than 1500. Some days, I decide 971 is close enough. On others, the words flow and the count approaches 2000. Writing every day has made a huge difference not only in my output but the consistency has also strengthened my “writing muscles.” As soon as I finished IN IT FOR THE MONEY, I jumped right into another project that I’ll share later. Oh, and the next book in the Holly Price series is already plotted, in case readers wonder what Holly and JC will do next.
Ally: What’s your favorite activity when you’re not writing?
CPP: I mentioned earlier that I create fused glass pieces. I also love getting outside into the Cascade Mountains here in Washington state. We’re blessed to have so much access to the beauty of our mountains, rivers, and national parks and forests. As a family, we hike, kayak and generally enjoy being here.
Ally: Does your real life ever show up in your writing? In what ways?
CPP: I had to laugh over this question. I’ll never forget a friend’s husband looking me over, then (in a very censorious voice) announcing he didn’t know I was “like that.” I have no idea what he was referring to. I swear I’ve never killed anyone.
A lot of authors (including me) have to reassure readers (and friends) that we’re separate from our characters. That said, like Holly Price, I do have a financial background and am a CPA, so the due diligence part of Holly’s job has been part of my professional life. I add a touch here and there from my day job to keep the story real, but the books are fiction. I’m hoping to take the reader for a ride with a story rather than teach them how to read a financial statement.
Ally: How much research do you do? How? Where?
CPP: I do a lot of research, although not much of it directly hits the page. My goal is always to have the details be a seamless part of the story. IN IT FOR THE MONEY features rockcrawlers. I know, say what? At a party, a friend’s nephew regaled me with (way too many) details of the specialized monster truck he wanted to design and build. While those details went completely over my head, I couldn’t help but relate to his passion for the project. And my writer’s brain went, Hmm… Rockcrawlers…That’s different. What can I do with that?
Ally: What is your next writing project? Anticipated release date?
CPP: I’m working on a new amateur sleuth series, featuring Holly’s half-sister, Keri Isles. Keri lives on a Christmas tree farm in the Cascades (did I mention I live on a Christmas tree farm?). I’m having way too much fun with the quirks of a city woman trying to manage a farm and the ups and down of living in a very small town. The first book is finished and scheduled for release in the fall. The next book will actually feature both Holly and Keri.
Let’s finish the interview with the following short answer questions:
Ally: Describe your writing process. Schedule, goals, etc.
CPP: On a recent trip, I listened to Stephen King’s On Writing. The book is part memoire and part writing insights. The thing that resonated with me was King’s writing process. He writes every day. He goes to his writing space and doesn’t come out until he has at least 1500 words on the page.
I thought about that advice for the rest of the trip and decided to incorporate it into my own life. I admit, my goal is 1000 words rather than 1500. Some days, I decide 971 is close enough. On others, the words flow and the count approaches 2000. Writing every day has made a huge difference not only in my output but the consistency has also strengthened my “writing muscles.” As soon as I finished IN IT FOR THE MONEY, I jumped right into another project that I’ll share later. Oh, and the next book in the Holly Price series is already plotted, in case readers wonder what Holly and JC will do next.
Ally: What’s your favorite activity when you’re not writing?
CPP: I mentioned earlier that I create fused glass pieces. I also love getting outside into the Cascade Mountains here in Washington state. We’re blessed to have so much access to the beauty of our mountains, rivers, and national parks and forests. As a family, we hike, kayak and generally enjoy being here.
Ally: Does your real life ever show up in your writing? In what ways?
CPP: I had to laugh over this question. I’ll never forget a friend’s husband looking me over, then (in a very censorious voice) announcing he didn’t know I was “like that.” I have no idea what he was referring to. I swear I’ve never killed anyone.
A lot of authors (including me) have to reassure readers (and friends) that we’re separate from our characters. That said, like Holly Price, I do have a financial background and am a CPA, so the due diligence part of Holly’s job has been part of my professional life. I add a touch here and there from my day job to keep the story real, but the books are fiction. I’m hoping to take the reader for a ride with a story rather than teach them how to read a financial statement.
Ally: How much research do you do? How? Where?
CPP: I do a lot of research, although not much of it directly hits the page. My goal is always to have the details be a seamless part of the story. IN IT FOR THE MONEY features rockcrawlers. I know, say what? At a party, a friend’s nephew regaled me with (way too many) details of the specialized monster truck he wanted to design and build. While those details went completely over my head, I couldn’t help but relate to his passion for the project. And my writer’s brain went, Hmm… Rockcrawlers…That’s different. What can I do with that?
Ally: What is your next writing project? Anticipated release date?
CPP: I’m working on a new amateur sleuth series, featuring Holly’s half-sister, Keri Isles. Keri lives on a Christmas tree farm in the Cascades (did I mention I live on a Christmas tree farm?). I’m having way too much fun with the quirks of a city woman trying to manage a farm and the ups and down of living in a very small town. The first book is finished and scheduled for release in the fall. The next book will actually feature both Holly and Keri.
Let’s finish the interview with the following short answer questions:
- a. manicure or pedicure – (examines fingernails) I could definitely use a manicure
- b. color of nail polish you have on – uhm, none
- c. high heels or sneakers – so barefoot isn’t a choice? After too many years wearing heels in the office, definitely sneakers
- d. hiking or sunbathing - hiking
- e. Your pets - type and names – we have two dogs, The Lab and The Puppy (a German wirehair) along with, at last count, 15 Canadian geese, 6 wood ducks, 9 mallards, and the resident deer herd.
IN IT FOR THE MONEY
Genre: mystery/amateur sleuth
Holly Price traded professional goals for personal plans when she agreed to leave her high-flying position with the Seattle Mergers and Acquisition team and take over the family accounting practice. Reunited with JC Dimitrak, her former fiancé, she’s already questioning whether she’s ready to flip her condo for marriage and a house in the ‘burbs.
When her cousin Tate needs investors for his innovative car suspension, Holly works her business matchmaking skills and connects him with a client. The Rockcrawler showcasing the new part crashes at its debut event, however, and the driver dies. Framed for the sabotage, Tate turns to Holly when the local cops—including JC—are ready to haul him to jail. Holly soon finds her cousin and client embroiled in multiple criminal schemes. She’s drawn into the investigation, a position that threatens her life, her family and her already shaky relationship with JC.
Buy Links:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Money-Holly-Price-Mystery-Book-ebook/dp/B07D6FDF2X
Nook: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/in-it-for-the-money-cathy-perkins/1128818688
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/in-it-for-the-money-1
iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/in-it-for-the-money/id1396554865
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