Good Morning, Booklovers!
I hope all my fellow countrymen and women have recovered from the 4th of July celebrations! We had a fantastic day. But on to this week’s Coffee Chat, and a big welcome to our guest author, Mary Stojak, and her new release, Sissy Holmes and the Case of the Dead Hypnotist.
How do you take your coffee, Mary?
MS: I drink my coffee black! Thought I would never stray but a couple of trips to Ireland made me reconsider black and white. These days I sometimes have a latte in the evening.
Ally: I too have been to Ireland. Would that be a latte with Baileys? 😊 Never mind, it’s only morning, so black it is. While I pour, please tell readers something about yourself.
I hope all my fellow countrymen and women have recovered from the 4th of July celebrations! We had a fantastic day. But on to this week’s Coffee Chat, and a big welcome to our guest author, Mary Stojak, and her new release, Sissy Holmes and the Case of the Dead Hypnotist.
How do you take your coffee, Mary?
MS: I drink my coffee black! Thought I would never stray but a couple of trips to Ireland made me reconsider black and white. These days I sometimes have a latte in the evening.
Ally: I too have been to Ireland. Would that be a latte with Baileys? 😊 Never mind, it’s only morning, so black it is. While I pour, please tell readers something about yourself.
Bio:
I’ve had short stories published for quite a while and published a middle grade mystery called The Clan of the Crescent Moon. On June 22nd this year, my first adult mystery, Sissy Holmes and the Case of the Dead Hypnotist was published. Publishing short stories is lots of fun, but publishing a book is too! Every so often I run into one of my classmates from the Masters Fiction program at Johns Hopkins University and it energizes me knowing what I’ve done since I graduated. The workshops I attend do that too, as well as the conferences where I see my mystery writing buddies!
Something unique/unusual that isn't in your regular bio: “Usually, I remind people that I am a lifetime musician who is still playing! Flute and piccolo are where I started. For quite some time I’ve also been playing the bass flute although I had to switch to a vertical bass from the horizontal one on account of a bum shoulder. I’m playing in a bunch of concerts this summer. It’s great to be able to do that after the pandemic.”
Author Contacts:
FB: https://www.facebook.com/Writingsurvivor
Twitter: @Survivingwriter
I’ve had short stories published for quite a while and published a middle grade mystery called The Clan of the Crescent Moon. On June 22nd this year, my first adult mystery, Sissy Holmes and the Case of the Dead Hypnotist was published. Publishing short stories is lots of fun, but publishing a book is too! Every so often I run into one of my classmates from the Masters Fiction program at Johns Hopkins University and it energizes me knowing what I’ve done since I graduated. The workshops I attend do that too, as well as the conferences where I see my mystery writing buddies!
Something unique/unusual that isn't in your regular bio: “Usually, I remind people that I am a lifetime musician who is still playing! Flute and piccolo are where I started. For quite some time I’ve also been playing the bass flute although I had to switch to a vertical bass from the horizontal one on account of a bum shoulder. I’m playing in a bunch of concerts this summer. It’s great to be able to do that after the pandemic.”
Author Contacts:
FB: https://www.facebook.com/Writingsurvivor
Twitter: @Survivingwriter
INTERVIEW:
Ally: Let’s start by talking about what inspired you to write your featured book?
MS: I was just telling some of my writing friends at Hollins University last week about the inspiration for my Sissy Holmes book. All sorts of things kind of clump together for me. I’m a long-time Sherlockian and always wanted to write something inspired by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. But I wanted to write my own take like we’ve seen in recent years. I can’t remember why I thought of reincarnation, I think it just popped into my mind when I was researching how different authors had expressed their takes. No one, to my knowledge, had used it before. The government connection is me. I worked in the Federal government for many years, but not at the Food and Drug Administration or the National Institutes of Health that are mentioned in the book. Last but not least, my son quit smoking which gave me the idea of Sissy wanting to quit smoking and of course, how would she do that? That’s where we get the hypnotist!
Ally: Are you self-published or traditionally published? How did you make the decision?
MS: I’m both. There are books that are stuck in your head (at least for me) and don’t want to go away. Then maybe the market isn’t looking for books like the one you want to publish. I chose to publish my first complete book myself. My bucket list included having a book traditionally published so I ventured forth again with Sissy Holmes. I was happy that MX publishing had created a new imprint Orange Pip Books that was looking for books like mine! That doesn’t mean I won’t self-publish more books. I’ll probably make the decision on a book-by-book basis. I know many people who want their books published for all sorts of reasons and don’t want the hassle of getting an agent and all the hoopla. Even with MX who was great during the process, the latter part of getting the book out was challenging.
Ally: What is the easiest—or the hardest—part of writing for you? Explain.
MS: I think that drafting is sometimes more difficult. I used to think revision was the hardest but I love revision now. I’m always discovering more detail for my stories. Nanowrimo (where you try to write 50,000 during the month of November) can be lots of fun if you don’t have too many other demands on your time. I’ve drafted a half dozen books during Nano but didn’t participate last year because I wanted to concentrate on other projects.
Ally: Do you use critique groups or beta readers? Do you find them valuable?
MS: I am a member of two critique groups. I’ve also used beta readers. But taking too much advice from critique groups can be a mistake. Beta readers work well if they are available.
Ally: Do people you know sneak into your books as characters?
MS: Nope. That’s a no-no for me.
Ally: What's the best writing/marketing advice you’ve been given?
MS: One page at a time.
Ally: What is your next writing project? Anticipated release date?
MS: Sissy Holmes and the Case of the Dead Egyptians will most likely be out in about a year.
Ally: Which of the trivia questions did you pick to answer?
MS:
Ally: Let’s start by talking about what inspired you to write your featured book?
MS: I was just telling some of my writing friends at Hollins University last week about the inspiration for my Sissy Holmes book. All sorts of things kind of clump together for me. I’m a long-time Sherlockian and always wanted to write something inspired by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. But I wanted to write my own take like we’ve seen in recent years. I can’t remember why I thought of reincarnation, I think it just popped into my mind when I was researching how different authors had expressed their takes. No one, to my knowledge, had used it before. The government connection is me. I worked in the Federal government for many years, but not at the Food and Drug Administration or the National Institutes of Health that are mentioned in the book. Last but not least, my son quit smoking which gave me the idea of Sissy wanting to quit smoking and of course, how would she do that? That’s where we get the hypnotist!
Ally: Are you self-published or traditionally published? How did you make the decision?
MS: I’m both. There are books that are stuck in your head (at least for me) and don’t want to go away. Then maybe the market isn’t looking for books like the one you want to publish. I chose to publish my first complete book myself. My bucket list included having a book traditionally published so I ventured forth again with Sissy Holmes. I was happy that MX publishing had created a new imprint Orange Pip Books that was looking for books like mine! That doesn’t mean I won’t self-publish more books. I’ll probably make the decision on a book-by-book basis. I know many people who want their books published for all sorts of reasons and don’t want the hassle of getting an agent and all the hoopla. Even with MX who was great during the process, the latter part of getting the book out was challenging.
Ally: What is the easiest—or the hardest—part of writing for you? Explain.
MS: I think that drafting is sometimes more difficult. I used to think revision was the hardest but I love revision now. I’m always discovering more detail for my stories. Nanowrimo (where you try to write 50,000 during the month of November) can be lots of fun if you don’t have too many other demands on your time. I’ve drafted a half dozen books during Nano but didn’t participate last year because I wanted to concentrate on other projects.
Ally: Do you use critique groups or beta readers? Do you find them valuable?
MS: I am a member of two critique groups. I’ve also used beta readers. But taking too much advice from critique groups can be a mistake. Beta readers work well if they are available.
Ally: Do people you know sneak into your books as characters?
MS: Nope. That’s a no-no for me.
Ally: What's the best writing/marketing advice you’ve been given?
MS: One page at a time.
Ally: What is your next writing project? Anticipated release date?
MS: Sissy Holmes and the Case of the Dead Egyptians will most likely be out in about a year.
Ally: Which of the trivia questions did you pick to answer?
MS:
- An item on your bucket list: Going to Yellowstone
- If you were a color, what would it be and why? Green. I always want to grow.
- Your pets: cats, Callie and Bela
- If you had to evacuate your house (your family, pets, and laptop are already out safe), what one thing would you try to take with you? flute
- Do you re-read books? Any book in particular? Great Expectations
Sissy Holmes and the Case of the Dead Hypnotist
Genre: mystery
Rating: PG
What is reincarnation? Sissy Holmes doesn’t have a clue until a hypnotist (soon to be dead) delves too deeply into her psyche. The voice inside her head says he’s Sherlock Holmes and wants to investigate the murder. Sissy thinks she must be crazy.
As events unfold, she’s convinced she has no choice but to investigate with the help of Sherlock Holmes and her best friend El.
Buy Links:
MX Publishing: https://mxpublishing.com/products/sissy-holmes-and-the-case-of-the-dead-hypnotist
Also available from: Amazon USA Barnes and Noble Amazon UK
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