Write Like A Wizard: An Interview with Author, Deborah Coonts

An Interview with

Author, Deborah Coonts

DEBORAH COONTS BIO

My mother tells me I was born a very long time ago, but I’m not so sure—my mother can’t be trusted. These things I do know: I was raised in Texas on barbeque, Mexican food and beer. I am the author of WANNA GET LUCKY? (A NY Times Notable Crime Novel and double RITA™ Finalist), its five sequels, LUCKY CATCH, being the latest, and four between-the-books novellas. Currently I’m stretching my writer muscles working on a women’s fiction/contemporary romance series set in Napa, a dark thriller, as well as the next Lucky adventure, LUCKY BREAK, due out November 20, 2015—all very different projects. So, if you see me with a glass of Champagne in hand, you’ll understand. I can usually be found at the bar, but also at www.deborahcoonts.com.

Where are you from?

Born and groomed in Texas; it’s the South, you know. But I’m pretty much from wherever my imagination and my credit card can take me. Wanderlust is embedded in my DNA.

What inspired you to write your first book?

A borderline personality disorder and too much wine.

Turns out, I LOVE stories—I was a lawyer for many years, so I told a lot of stories! The leap to making up the facts and characters as well as weaving the story wasn’t too wide to take in a giant stride. But the craft! Now that took some time. Can you imagine a novel written in the same tone as a legal brief. Oh dear! I’d be out of publishing before I got startedJ

Do you write full-time or part-time? How do you balance your writing life with your family/work life?

I am lucky enough to write full-time. Balance? What’s that? I am a triple Type-A and my hobbies are all aspects of my writing career—so I’m a one-trick pony. Every now and again my family will force me out of my cave into the light. And then, there is that travel bug thing. But, that is one of the ways I refill the story well. As a writer, I need an every changing landscape outside my window. Yes, in case you are wondering, my son is grownJ

What book are you reading now?

I’m writing two and editing two—that’s enough folks in my head all talking at once!

Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest?

Sure. Tons. So many fabulous writers. I absolutely loved Deborah Harkness’s sAll-Souls Trilogy. I 4ead across genre: Nora Robert’s for description and a love, Allison Brennan, Catherin Coulter because they are awesome, Josie Brown to make me laugh and give me a wild ride; Kendra Elliot just because (I love her stories). The list is endless.

What are your current projects?

I’ve just finished a dark psychological thriller and am going through edits now. The first in a new series, CRUSHED, is done but for a few tweaks and will launch in January. Friends, food, wine, and dishy men, what’s not to like? I’m scribbling away on the first in a romantic suspense series titled DEEP WATER, and featuring a female helicopter pilot and a Coast Guard Commander AND the second book to follow CRUSHED, AGED. Then the next Lucky…..

Does anyone out there have enough stroke with the Powers That Be to get another 24 hours added to each day? I’d really appreciate that!

If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book?

Wow, it just came out so I haven’t had time to pick it apart yet. There are always things I’d change, but not necessarily things that would make the story better. Moving words around doesn’t help that much. To be honest, I really like how LUCKY BREAK came together. It has the elements I wanted. Hope others agree.

Can you share a little of your current work with us?

Not yet…..

How do you overcome writer’s block?

I don’t really have this problem. If I get stuck on a plot point or something, I find a way to take my mind off of it, go play. Usually somewhere in the playtime the answer rises to the surface. My subconscious is often a better writer than the me who whispers in my ear all the time

What was the most fun part of writing your book?

Lucky, Vegas, Lucky’s mother, Mona, Teddie, Jean-Charles… and a very nasty old nemesis—all of that is great fun!

What was the hardest part of writing your book?

Quitting for the day. I love playing in Lucky’s world.

Did you learn anything from writing your book and what was it?

I learn something from each book. Hopefully I grow in my craft and my storytelling, but, some books are easier to write than others. LUCKY BREAK was one of the easier ones—I’d had it in mind for a long time, so that helped. I think though the main lesson I’ve learned along this path is to just do it—to trust myself, my story and to have fun. Yep, I’ve killed my internal editor. That’s not to say that I don’t go back through the sories multiple times, hired editors and proofreaders—I do all of that. But I let myself have fun and play while I’m writing the first draft. After that I can make it pretty.

Do you have any advice for other writers?

Write every day. Never quite. Have fun!

Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?

Thank you! A million times thank you! Because of you I get to make stuff up for a living. How incredibly wonderful is that? I pinch myself every morning.

What do you think about e-publishing versus technical publishing?

I’m a HUGE fan of e-publishing. I have a foot in both worlds, and they both have their pluses and minues. BUT, the advent of digital publishing finally gave authors a choice…and with choices comes power. This is a very good thing.

Do you have an agent or publisher? How did you go about finding one?

Yes, I have an agent. I found him at ThrillerFest. I would recommend going to conferences and networking as the best way to find an agent.

If you could live anywhere, where would it be?

San Francisco. With a month or two a year sampling other places. I’m a dreamerJ

But, if you don’t dream then they can’t become reality.

If you could have any super power, what would it be?

To fly. I’m a pilot and that’s the closest I’ve gotten.

Publisher’s Weekly calls the Lucky books “Evanovich with a dose of CSI.”

A light-hearted romantic mystery set in Las Vegas where FUN is the name of the game.

With Christmas a few days away, Lucky O’Toole, Vice President of Customer Relations for the Babylon, Las Vegas’s premier Strip casino resort, is in a festive mood. The upcoming wedding of her assistant to the Beautiful Jeremy Whitlock and her own engagement to her delish French Chef, Jean-Charles Bouclet have Lucky in full holiday cheer.

And even bigger celebrations are afoot. The national media is focused on the grand opening of Jean-Charles’s restaurant atop Lucky’s very own slice-of-heaven hotel. The opening gets a boost when Holt Box, a retired country-western singing legend lends a hand in the kitchen, adding mega-watt celebrity buzz.

Lucky’s life is humming.

The only sour note is her former lover, Teddie.

Teddie claims Lucky’s father, the Big Boss, has put an end to his return to the Las Vegas stage by handing that stage to Holt Box. Box is returning from retirement, a comeback of epic magnitude that will give the Babylon—and Lucky’s career—an incredible boost.

Taken by surprise, Lucky takes the high road. Or rather, she does what she always does when life overwhelms… She ignores it.

Until she finds Teddie and her father, bloodied and angry, standing over the lifeless body of Holt Box, a dagger in Teddie’s fist.

The media sharks are circling. A Macau heavy-hitter in town, flying under the radar but making his presence felt. An old nemesis of Lucky’s is out of prison and salivating for revenge. Lucky’s mother is ramping up her political campaign while juggling her new twins, who still don’t have names. And Christmas is racing toward a crescendo.

Time is short as Lucky must discover whether Teddie is a killer.

And why she still cares.

What folks say about the Lucky Series:

Lucky’s life is humming.

The only sour note is her former lover, Teddie.

Taken by surprise, Lucky takes the high road. Or rather, she does what she always does when life overwhelms… She ignores it.

Until she finds Teddie and her father, bloodied and angry, standing over the lifeless body of Holt Box, a dagger in Teddie’s fist.

Time is short as Lucky must discover whether Teddie is a killer.

And why she still cares.

Amazon

Connect with Deborah

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/deborahcoonts/