Wednesday, February 29, 2012

An Interview with Carol Preflatish

Please join me in welcoming Carol Preflatish as she shares with us a little information about her writing as well as a peek at her latest release, Saved by the Sheriff.

INTERVIEW QUESTIONS:
1) Links to website and list of books with purchase links.
Books:
2) How long have you been writing? What got you in to writing?
I started writing seriously in 2000. My interest in writing started way back in high school composition classes. Then, the 1980's I started writing fan fiction. I enjoyed writing it so much, I decided to give writing regular fiction a shot. 

3) What was your first published book? Looking back, is there anything you’d change about it?
My first book was "Love, Lies & Deceit" released in 2009 from Red Rose Publishing. I believe I'm a better writer now than I was then and I'm sure there would be lots I would change if I edited it now.

4) What or Who has influenced your writing?
I think my creativity influences my writing the most. I love to think up new things for my characters to do.

5) Where do you get your ideas?
No place in particular. My current book is very loosely based on a real mystery that happened about 50-60 years ago near where I live.

6) What hinders your writing? (distractions? noise?)
My worse hindrance is my day job. I'm so tired when I get home, I don't want to write. The other distraction I have is photography. I recently got interested in it again and am participating in the 365project.org where you take and post a photo every day.

7) What genre are you most comfortable with? What would you like to explore?
I'm currently published in romantic suspense, but I really want to write a contemporary mystery and have started writing a mystery series, when I can find the time to work on it.

8) Are you a by-the-seat-of-your-pants kind of writer, or do you have to use an outline to put your collective thoughts into some semblance of common sense?
I do a little of both, but lean more toward a by-the-seat-of your-pants writer.

9) Which of your books is your favorite? Why?
Of my published books, my current one, "Saved by the Sheriff" is my favorite, but the mystery that I am working on is my passion right now.

10) Do you incorporate some of yourself into your characters? Personality traits? Likes? Dislikes?
I do like to incorporate some of my likes and dislikes into the characters, such as music, movies, and food.

11) What do you think is the perfect hero/heroine? Why?
I don't think anyone is perfect. They have to have flaws to make them realistic.

12) What is your latest release? Please share the blurb and purchase info with us.
My latest book is Saved by the Sheriff and can be purchased from Secret Cravings Publishing with several formats to choose from, for Kindle and for Nook .

Blurb:
New York City writer, Jaime Wilson wants the Assistant Editor job at Real Mystery Magazine. In order to get it, she has to write a kick-ass story, and what could be better than a 30-year old unsolved murder in a small town.

When Jaime visits Royal, Indiana to investigate, she soon finds that someone in the town doesn't want the mystery solved and she becomes a target. After an arrest for trespassing and an attempt on her life, Sheriff Ben Hunter lets her stay at his place where he can keep an eye on her while she continues to work on her story.

She didn't count on falling in love with the sheriff and he didn't think he would have to work so hard to keep her safe. Finally, when she finishes her story, she has to make her choice whether to stay with Ben or go back to New York.


Excerpt:
Jaime carefully walked up to the old house that stood near a newer home with a barn between the two. She took a few pictures through the windows. The inside of the house looked like no one had been there in years. Perhaps left just the way it was when the Murdock's had last been there. She stood at the front door and couldn't resist trying the knob. The door opened.

"I don't think that's a good idea," he warned.

"I'll just take one picture of the inside and then we'll go." She took one step into the house.

"I don't think that's a good idea," he related again.

"You should listen to the boy," a deep voice echoed from behind them.
She knew that voice.

"Come on out."

Jaime turned to see Ben standing at the corner of the old house, handcuffing Bobby behind his back. "What are you doing?" she asked, walking over to them.

"Arresting him for trespassing. You're next."

"What!"  

"Didn't you see the No Trespassing sign?" Ben asked.

"Yes, but..."

"Then you should have turned back. Now, turn around."

Jaime put her camera on the porch and turned around for Ben to handcuff her. "This isn't exactly what I had in mind when I thought of you handcuffing me," she mumbled to him.

He didn't answer, but instead picked up her camera and led them through the trees to his police car that was parked in front of the other house. She assumed it belonged to the Cook family. A woman in a housedress stood on the front porch.

"They won't be back out here again, Mrs. Cook," Ben called to the lady.
"Thanks, Sheriff."

He opened the back door of his car and Bobby got in. Before Jaime got in, she looked up at Ben. "I'm sorry."

He didn't answer, but put his hand on top of her head so she wouldn't bump it as he guided her into the car.


13) What do you have in the works?
I'm currently working on a story about a millionaire who meets and hires a personal chef to cook for his dinner parties. Things start heating up in the kitchen when these two start cooking.

14) Do you have any suggestions/comments for prospective authors?
My advice would be to not give up, always work on your writing skills, and at the same time learn about the business of writing.

4 comments:

Liz Flaherty said...

Hi, ladies! Good interview. I love the sound of what you're working on, too. Food and books--my favorite things!

Carol Preflatish said...

Thanks for stopping by, Liz. Food and books are my favorites too, as you can see. LOL

Molly Daniels said...

Hi Carol:)

Awesome interview and looking forward to reading this one AND the once about the personal chef:) Keep up the good work!

Carol Preflatish said...

Thanks, Molly. I'm still working on that one, but am trying to edit a different one to submit, and working on a mystery all at the same time. For some reason, I'm not getting much work done on any of them.