Welcome to my stop on the Crisis of Identity VBT! Today I have an interview with the author and my review will post this week. Please help me welcome Denise Moncrief!
How long have you been writing? How many published books do you have, and what genres?
I’ve been writing off and on since I was seventeen—more than a few years ago. I started writing seriously for publication in the spring of 2003.
My dream of being published came trust when my first short story,Snow White and the Seven Dogs, was published in April 2012. Since then, I’ve published two books, Deceptions of the Heart andCrisis of identity, as well as one novella, An Impostor in Town. I’ve also published numerous short stories, including Life and Death in a Cemetery in the Horror anthology released by Crooked Cat Publishing.
Do you write in multiple genres or just one? If just one, do you ever consider straying outside your genre?
Most of my work is romantic suspense. Occasionally, I’ll write contemporary romance without a suspenseful element. My latest fascination has been with the paranormal—mostly unusual psychic phenomena such as reading other people’s thoughts or seeing someone else’s memories. And… I’m hooked on ghost stories. One of my back listed works is a light-hearted short ghost story entitled,Ghost in the Garden. My latest work in process is also a ghost story, but it’s darker and more twisted.
Are you a plotter or do you write from the seat of your pants?
Definitely a pantser. I usually know how I want to start the book and where I want it to end, but in the middle I allow my characters to dictate the direction of the plot.
What is a typical writing day like for you?
I don’t write every day, because I’ve found once a writer is published, there is a lot of promotion and marketing involved in the process of selling books. But when I have a new premise, I can’t wait to get some word count laid down, so everything else takes a hiatus while I get the story started. When I’m in the writing zone, I’ll usually start writing after three in the afternoon because it takes that long for the coffee to kick in. J I usually write around 1,000 to 1,500 words in one session. By that time, I’m exhausted and need more coffee.
Who do you love to read? Favorite authors, favorite books?
My all time favorite book is Gone With the Wind. I first read it when I was in high school. It’s a long book! I wanted to be Margaret Mitchell when I grew up. But of course, no one writes quite like Mitchell anymore.
I love books with a light-hearted feel, like Mary Kay Andrews and Ellen Byerrum. But my favorite books always have an element of suspense. When I was younger, I read practically all of Phyllis Whitney and Victoria Holt’s books. Some of them still stand out as favorites. I don’t particularly like dark suspense. I want just enough suspense to keep me guessing what will happen next. One of the best books I’ve read lately was Gwenan Haines’ Vertigo. Hero. Heroine. Ghost. Lighthouse. Great premise. Lately, I’ve been reading Heather Graham’s Krewe of Hunters series. Romantic suspense with a good ghost story is a great combination.
What is something you'd like to accomplish in your writing career next year?
I want to continue to build my list of released titles. I have a couple of series that I’m working on that I’d like to finish polishing for submission. My goal is to release at least four books a year.
If you could have one paranormal ability, what would it be?
I want to read other people’s minds. Yep, then I wouldn’t have to guess what the heck they meant when they said what they said… Just saying.
If you could keep a mythical/ paranormal creature as a pet, what would you have?
A unicorn.
Tell us a little about your latest release.
The idea for Crisis of Identity came from the news coverage of Hurricane Ike. The authorities requested that anyone who wanted to ride the storm out write their social security number on the arm in permanent marker. I asked myself what would happen if someone used that as an opportunity to switch identities. From that the premise of the book was born.
Tess Copeland is an operator. Her motto? Necessity is the mother of a good a con. When Hurricane Irving slams into the Texas Gulf coast, Tess seizes the opportunity to escape her past by hijacking a dead woman’s life, but Shelby Coleman’s was the wrong identity to steal. And the cop that trails her? He’s a U.S. Marshall with the Fugitive Task Force for the northern district of Illinois. Tess left Chicago because the criminal justice system gave her no choice. Now she’s on the run from ghosts of misdeeds past—both hers and Shelby’s.
Enter Trevor Smith, a pseudo-cowboy from Houston, Texas, with good looks, a quick tongue, and testosterone poisoning. Will Tess succumb to his questionable charms and become his damsel in distress? She doesn’t have to faint at his feet—she’s capable of handling just about anything. But will she choose to let Trevor be the man? When Tess kidnaps her niece, her life changes. She must make some hard decisions. Does she trust the lawman that promises her redemption, or does she trust the cowboy that promises her nothing but himself?
What is something that you absolutely can't live without? (Other than family members)
Coffee. Chocolate. Writing. I might as well not breathe if I can’t have that combination.
Could you ever co author a book with someone? If so, who would you choose, and what would you write?
I actually tried writing a book with my daughter once. She has an amazing imagination and a unique way of putting words together. The project fell apart when other projects distracted us and we headed in different directions. I think the premise is still a good idea, but finding the time to get back together with her to write has been difficult.
If you could spend a day with anyone from history, dead or alive, who would it be, and what would you do? What would you ask them?
I love to read about conspiracy theories. Not that I actually buy into them, but I think the research behind the theories is fascinating. I’d ask Neil Armstrong if he really landed on the moon, or if the moon landing was filmed on a Hollywood back lot.
What are some of your other hobbies outside of writing?
Reading, travelling, scrapbooking.
If you were on the staff to have a book adapted to movie, what would you pick?
What is a talent you wish you had, but don't?
I wish I could dance. My arms and legs get tangled up in the choreography every time.
Favorite color?
Red.
Weather: Hot or cold?
Definitely cold. I’d rather vacation in the mountains than at the beach.
Favorite place to read?
On my bed.
Favorite meal.
Tex Mex. Particularly chicken chimichanga.
Favorite non-alcoholic drink.
Cappuccino.
If you could travel anywhere and do anything, no limits or money holding you back, where would you go?
I would do one of those around the world tours. There are so many places I haven’t been I’d love to see. Ireland. Scotland. London. The Black Forest. Barcelona. The Alps. Lucerne. Rome. The Sahara. The pyramids in Egypt. The Canary Islands. St. Lucia. Costa Rico. Brazil. The Australian outback. New Zealand. The South Pacific. Alaska. Hawaii. Alberta, Canada. Maybe I wouldn’t come home…
Tess Copeland is an operator. Her motto? Necessity is the mother of a good con. When Hurricane Irving slams into the Texas Gulf coast, Tess seizes the opportunity to escape her past by hijacking a dead woman’s life, but Shelby Coleman’s was the wrong identity to steal. And the cop that trails her? He’s a U.S. Marshall with the Fugitive Task Force for the northern district of Illinois. Tess left Chicago because the criminal justice system gave her no choice. Now she’s on the run from ghosts of misdeeds past—both hers and Shelby’s.
Enter Trevor Smith, a pseudo-cowboy from Houston, Texas, with good looks, a quick tongue, and testosterone poisoning. Will Tess succumb to his questionable charms and become his damsel in distress? She doesn’t have to faint at his feet—she’s capable of handling just about anything. But will she choose to let Trevor be the man? When Tess kidnaps her niece, her life changes. She must make some hard decisions. Does she trust the lawman that promises her redemption, or does she trust the cowboy that promises her nothing but himself?
Author Bio:
Denise wrote her first story when she was in high school—seventeen hand-written pages on school-ruled paper and an obvious rip-off of the last romance novel she read. She earned a degree in accounting, giving her some nice skills to earn a little money, but her passion has always been writing. She has written numerous short stories and more than a few full-length novels. Her favorite pastimes when she’s not writing are spending time with her family, traveling, reading, and scrapbooking. She lives in Louisiana with her husband, two children, and one very chubby dog.
Connect with Denise!
Website: www.denisemoncrief.com
Facebook page: www.facebook.com/DeniseMoncriefAuthor
Goodreads author page:http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5818900.Denise_Moncrief
Twitter: www.twitter.com/dmoncrief0131
Thanks for the interview! Good luck to Denise with her new book - Crisis of Identity sounds good!
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by, Maria!
DeleteThat was another fun interview to read :)
ReplyDeleteMinDaf @ Aol.com