My guest this week on the Mystery We Write Blog Tour is Jennifer Di Camillo. Jennifer lives in a haunted hollow in the Missouri Ozarks, just north of Branson. Her property is a humble little place on 9 or 10 wooded acres that was originally deeded by Ulysses S. Grant.
Jennifer is a believer in manifesting positive destiny. For years, she had an email where her user name was POORBOY. All the while, she was short of money. Her husband, Tony, insisted she change that to something more positive. JENNtheRICHwriter@centurytel.net was born. Ever since, her books have sold. Her speaking career has blossomed again. And she's won more awards than she can count. Okay, that was a slight exaggeration, but she won 22 last year alone.
But, if there's one thing she could share with you, beside her wonderful stories, she'd like to encourage you to think about things in the positive. HOPE for things. BELIEVE you will receive.
Welcome to my little corner of the blogosphere, Jennifer. Let’s talk writing!
Jennifer - Two detectives race against the clock to solve the city’s worst case in years. Four victims are dead. All leads are exhausted. The murderer is still out there. Who will he pick next?
Detective Beth Thompson and her partner, Mike Barber, come to the horrifying conclusion that she is the likeliest target. Scared for her life, Beth determines to live her last week in a big way. She asks Mike to line up a date with each one of his three brothers. Jealous and protective, Mike stakes his heart.
Anne - Do you have a fear, phobia, or habit you’d rather no one knew about?
Jennifer - Rodents horrify me. Rats, mice, any of their relatives…including the big gopher/beaver/whatever that lives in my shed. I once laid on the floor in my living room with a bb gun, waiting for the mouse under my stove to come out. Nailed him with the first shot, killed him instantly, had no remorse, but couldn’t go into the kitchen for hours because it was there and my husband wasn’t home to remove it. I don’t touch mice.
I once had another mouse appear and I jumped up, grabbed the keys and went up town to purchase rat and mice killer. When my husband got home, I had dcon visible from every spot in the house. He looked around, noticed it at once, and that my feet were curled up beneath me on the couch, and asked “Have a scary day, hon?” So, yeah, I’m not very friendly to rodents.
Anne - I've had a few experiences with rats, and not a fan either. Eek! What one how-to write book is a must on your bookshelf? Why?
Jennifer - I’ve written a book called JOURNAL JUMPSTART. It’s got a lot of writing exercises/prompts in it, and stories from my childhood which give examples. It’s a book to have if you’re a writer. AND, if you do all the exercises in the workbook, you’ll have a short journal of your own life. It’s really worth the money.
Anne - How long does it take you to write a book?
Jennifer - I worked on my first novel for a year or so, but since then, I’ve written a few books in as little as two weeks, including editing. I’m a little obsessive compulsive and sometimes get on a roll where I sit in the computer chair 20 hours straight. It’s like those stories are burning up my fingers to get out.
Anne - Describe your home office as appears right now. Is this a good or bad thing?!
Jennifer - My home office? My computer’s in the living room. The desk is piled pretty high with stacks of stuff. I dunno if another writer could write there. The tv is 4 feet away. My 19 yr old son, who still lives at home, also uses the computer, so I often find things like his Fushigi ball sitting between my keyboard and screen. It’s chaos, but so are the thoughts about books in my head. My file cabinet is so full, you can’t fit anything else in it, and I need another one—but I haven’t bothered to go get one. So, chaos reigns.
Anne - What is the hardest part of writing for you?
Jennifer - I have a lot of health problems. I broke my back in over a dozen places about 15 years ago and sometimes it is excruciating to sit at the computer. I have pain that runs down my legs—sciatica issues, and fibromyalgia in my shoulders that just kills me sometimes. When they are acting up, I have trouble focusing on writing.
Anne - I am not surprised. You're an inspiration to all writers. If you can write with pain, what is our excuse?! Any words of advice for struggling, unpublished writers?
Jennifer - The business is a networking business. Learn to edify those who are already published and help those who are behind you on the writing path. Understand that most writers are introverts, not snobs—although it may seem otherwise. Remember that editors, agents, and publishers are all people with families and pets and “real lives” too, and you won’t be as intimidated by them, and can talk to them like a normal person. It’ll get you a whole lot farther on the trail to publishing than shaking in your boots over talking to them. And, given a chance, buy them a drink. I don’t care if it’s grape soda, water, coffee, or something stronger. A lot of books get contracted over a drink.
Anne - Quick. Your five favorites – author, actor, movie, song, quote.
Jennifer - Five faves, huh? Susan Wiggs, Nicholas Cage, Raising Arizona, On My Own from Les Miserables, and Edmond Burke’s “All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.”
Anne – Thank you, Jennifer. I wish you every success at and away from the keyboard!
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