Good Morning, Booklovers!
Let me tell you, I need that coffee this morning just to keep warm. It’s below zero! Brr. But it hasn’t kept our guest author away, and I’d like to welcome mystery author Donnell Ann Bell to the Coffee Chat. Thanks for braving the cold, Donnell. How do you take your coffee?
DAB: Hi, Ally, thank you for having me! I drink Starbucks Café Verona dark roast, with cream and a teaspoon of Splenda.
Ally: Ah, another Starbucks addict. While I pour, please introduce yourself to readers.
Bio:
Donnell Ann Bell began her writing career at the Colorado Springs Business Journal and Pikes Peak Parent Newsmagazine before turning to fiction. An award-winning author, including the Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery/Suspense, Detroit Bookseller’s Best, and a two-time Golden Heart finalist, her books have been Amazon digital bestsellers. Black Pearl is her latest release, and she’s back to work on book two of the series.
Ally: Tell me something unique/unusual that isn't in your regular bio: “I write in Gregg shorthand, then I transcribe before going to the keyboard.”
Author links:
You can find all her social media links at www.donnellannbell.com
Donnell Ann Bell began her writing career at the Colorado Springs Business Journal and Pikes Peak Parent Newsmagazine before turning to fiction. An award-winning author, including the Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery/Suspense, Detroit Bookseller’s Best, and a two-time Golden Heart finalist, her books have been Amazon digital bestsellers. Black Pearl is her latest release, and she’s back to work on book two of the series.
Ally: Tell me something unique/unusual that isn't in your regular bio: “I write in Gregg shorthand, then I transcribe before going to the keyboard.”
Author links:
You can find all her social media links at www.donnellannbell.com
INTERVIEW:
Ally: What kind of story can readers expect when they open one of your novels?
DAB: I write Romantic Suspense, Suspense and Mystery. Any sex scenes focus on the emotional side rather than graphic, and in two of my books I simply didn’t have time to include one, or it would have slowed the pacing. The same for violence. I’m not into gratuitous anything. If a scene belongs in a book, it’s in there. My first editor said she bought my manuscript because I was a tight writer. I considered that a high compliment.
Ally: Why did you write your featured book?
DAB: I had to. This book had so many inceptions/so many starts. Normally, I’m stubborn about my openings. However, I couldn’t get this one right. My scrap file is a book unto its own. I love to write police procedurals, but in Black Pearl, I was breaking out of my comfort zone. I’d never written a female police officer. Should have been simple, right? I’m a woman. Wrong. I was writing a female patrol officer Field Training Officer (FTO), meaning this woman knew her stuff. I’ve been a victim’s advocate and during training, I’ve had deputies shout at me, “You’re such a girl!” So, writing Officer Allison Shannon was probably the biggest challenge of my career. To write her, I rode with an FTO on a 12-hour shift and consulted two female veteran police officers.
Ally: How did you choose its title?
DAB: My publisher chose it. I was a little concerned at first – there’s not a pirate in the entire book! But I must admit Black Pearl, A Cold Case Suspense, is growing on me.
Ally: Readers and friends often have plots they are eager for you to write. Have you ever used one?
DAB: No. If a reader or friend has a story idea, he or she should write it. Authors spend a lot of time with a plot and their characters. They should be passionate about the storyline.
Ally: Describe what makes a good villain. What characteristics will make us love to hate him/her?
DAB: A villain should be equal to the protagonist in smarts, strength and character. He/She should have his own backstory, and not be 100 percent bad or 100 percent good. He should be the hero of HIS journey and the reader should, at times, be able to sympathize. For my debut book, my editor had me read The Sociopath Next Door by Martha Stout to flesh out an antagonist. Fascinating book. I did a lot of research for Black Pearl, but think I’ll keep those research books quiet for now so I won’t give my plot away. :)
Ally: Do you use a professional editor? If not, what do you do to ensure a quality book?
DAB: Yes, I’ve had two fantastic editors Pat Van Wie and Debra Dixon. I have learned so much from both. I feel fortunate. Pat is a multi-published Bantam Dell author among others and studied under some of the top editors in New York. Debra Dixon, my publisher, is the author of Goal, Motivation and Conflict, a staple resource book in the writing industry.
Ally: Do your characters come to you fully formed with names and backgrounds?
DAB: No. I would love it if they did. I’ve tried doing character interviews, but my characters look at me like I’m nuts. Why would I tell YOU that? You created ME. You figure it out. Very very uncooperative.
Ally: What's the best writing/marketing advice you’ve been given?
DAB: The best writing advice I’ve ever received is, “Find Your Own Voice.”
Ally: What three books in your genre would you recommend to fans (after they’ve read your books, of course!).
DAB: What a hard question. There are so many good books that I just love!
Melinda Leigh, Say You’re Sorry
Annette Dashofy, No Way Home
Kylie Brant, Cold Dark Places
And . . . And . . . And . . .
Ally: What is your next writing project?
DAB: Book two which follows Black Pearl, another cold case suspense.
Ally: Which of the short answer questions did you select?
DAB:
Ally: What kind of story can readers expect when they open one of your novels?
DAB: I write Romantic Suspense, Suspense and Mystery. Any sex scenes focus on the emotional side rather than graphic, and in two of my books I simply didn’t have time to include one, or it would have slowed the pacing. The same for violence. I’m not into gratuitous anything. If a scene belongs in a book, it’s in there. My first editor said she bought my manuscript because I was a tight writer. I considered that a high compliment.
Ally: Why did you write your featured book?
DAB: I had to. This book had so many inceptions/so many starts. Normally, I’m stubborn about my openings. However, I couldn’t get this one right. My scrap file is a book unto its own. I love to write police procedurals, but in Black Pearl, I was breaking out of my comfort zone. I’d never written a female police officer. Should have been simple, right? I’m a woman. Wrong. I was writing a female patrol officer Field Training Officer (FTO), meaning this woman knew her stuff. I’ve been a victim’s advocate and during training, I’ve had deputies shout at me, “You’re such a girl!” So, writing Officer Allison Shannon was probably the biggest challenge of my career. To write her, I rode with an FTO on a 12-hour shift and consulted two female veteran police officers.
Ally: How did you choose its title?
DAB: My publisher chose it. I was a little concerned at first – there’s not a pirate in the entire book! But I must admit Black Pearl, A Cold Case Suspense, is growing on me.
Ally: Readers and friends often have plots they are eager for you to write. Have you ever used one?
DAB: No. If a reader or friend has a story idea, he or she should write it. Authors spend a lot of time with a plot and their characters. They should be passionate about the storyline.
Ally: Describe what makes a good villain. What characteristics will make us love to hate him/her?
DAB: A villain should be equal to the protagonist in smarts, strength and character. He/She should have his own backstory, and not be 100 percent bad or 100 percent good. He should be the hero of HIS journey and the reader should, at times, be able to sympathize. For my debut book, my editor had me read The Sociopath Next Door by Martha Stout to flesh out an antagonist. Fascinating book. I did a lot of research for Black Pearl, but think I’ll keep those research books quiet for now so I won’t give my plot away. :)
Ally: Do you use a professional editor? If not, what do you do to ensure a quality book?
DAB: Yes, I’ve had two fantastic editors Pat Van Wie and Debra Dixon. I have learned so much from both. I feel fortunate. Pat is a multi-published Bantam Dell author among others and studied under some of the top editors in New York. Debra Dixon, my publisher, is the author of Goal, Motivation and Conflict, a staple resource book in the writing industry.
Ally: Do your characters come to you fully formed with names and backgrounds?
DAB: No. I would love it if they did. I’ve tried doing character interviews, but my characters look at me like I’m nuts. Why would I tell YOU that? You created ME. You figure it out. Very very uncooperative.
Ally: What's the best writing/marketing advice you’ve been given?
DAB: The best writing advice I’ve ever received is, “Find Your Own Voice.”
Ally: What three books in your genre would you recommend to fans (after they’ve read your books, of course!).
DAB: What a hard question. There are so many good books that I just love!
Melinda Leigh, Say You’re Sorry
Annette Dashofy, No Way Home
Kylie Brant, Cold Dark Places
And . . . And . . . And . . .
Ally: What is your next writing project?
DAB: Book two which follows Black Pearl, another cold case suspense.
Ally: Which of the short answer questions did you select?
DAB:
- a. favorite book: Glory and the Lightning by Taylor Caldwell.
- b. book you're currently reading: 9 Chronicles of Crime by R.T. Lawton
- c. an author (living or dead) you'd love to take to lunch: This honor has already happened. I had dinner with Tess Gerritsen, our keynote speaker at the Pikes Peak Writers Conference two years ago.
- d. favorite tv show: FBI
- e. favorite movie: Dave with Kevin Kline and Sigourney Weaver
- f. favorite song: Come Monday by Jimmy Buffett
- g. supernatural ability you’d like to have: the ability to turn invisible
Black Pearl, A Cold Case Suspense
Genre: Mystery/Suspense
A cold case heats up when a 9-1-1 call puts police at a Denver murder scene, pointing investigators to the abduction of a Colorado teenager fourteen years before. The connection? A calling card—a single black pearl—is found on the newest victim. Is the murder a copycat? Or has a twisted serial killer, thought dead or in prison, returned to kill again?
The hunt for a multi-state killer is on and brings together an unexpected team: a Denver Major Crimes police lieutenant; an FBI special agent who investigated the previous murders; a rookie FBI agent with a specialty in psychology; and the only living victim of the Black Pearl Killer is now a cop.
For Special Agent Brian DiPietro, the case is an opportunity to find answers. For Officer Allison Shannon, the case will force her to face down the town that blamed her for surviving when another did not. And for both DiPietro and Shannon, it’s a chance to find closure to questions that have tormented them both for years.
Buy Links:
Amazon: https://amzn.to/30ZTjBt
Kobo: https://tinyurl.com/y28sbb72
Barnes & Noble: https://tinyurl.com/yyvrmyns
Google: https://tinyurl.com/yyjgxsw5
Apple: https://tinyurl.com/yxtowejf
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